Late last month, we were the first outlet in the city to report on a bill sponsored by State Rep. Joe Lyons (HB 6000) that would make it far more difficult for candidates to challenge sitting City Council members in next year's aldermanic elections. Both the Tribune newsroom and editorial board followed us in bringing attention to the legislation and Gapers Block's Ramsin Canon went on to ask if local activists were going to make any noise about it.

The weeks since have been discouragingly quiet.  But this morning, the group Northside Democracy for America sent an email to its followers urging them to call their legislators regarding the measure:

We already know that the deck is stacked in favor of incumbents, but legislation has been introduced in Springfield that would stack that deck even higher. ... In less than a year all fifty Chicago aldermen -- and the mayor, city clerk and city treasurer -- will be up for re-election. HB 6000 has already passed out of committee -- the first step towards being made into law. Now is the time to do something about it. Contact your representatives TODAY and tell them how you feel about HB 6000.

To learn more about the bill's specifics, read our original posts.