Audit by the inspector general follows a BGA/Medill investigation that found under Mayor Rahm Emanuel the city’s environmental enforcement declined amid cuts to inspection staff.
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Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Millions in Tax Breaks for Ed Burke’s Law Clients Fronted by Fellow Aldermen
Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson and former Ald. Michael R. Zalewski sponsored six resolutions that benefited clients of Burke’s law firm. The moves allowed the now-indicted alderman to skirt city conflict-of-interest rules.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Dillon: Let the people speak (for more than 30 minutes)
Chicago aldermen should welcome citizen participation at City Council meetings — instead of acting like public input is something to be endured.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Evidence Shows Most of the Men in Famous ‘Declaration of Independence’ Painting Were Slaveholders
In a viral tweet, a Chicago documentary filmmaker used red dots to indicate 34 of the 47 founding fathers depicted in the painting held slaves. That checks out.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Lightfoot Stretches the Numbers on Downstate Public Safety Pension Funds
Chicago’s mayor said she hopes to raise a “call to arms” on the condition of local pensions across Illinois. To underscore her point about the need for action, she cited a heavily inflated figure.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Does Science Say Time Is Running Out to Stop Climate Disaster?
Congressman Sean Casten claimed most climate scientists agree the planet will face an irreversible ‘worst case scenario’ if climate change isn’t tackled within the decade. That oversimplifies a more nuanced consensus among experts.
Posted inUncategorized
Pension Outlook Database
The Pension Outlook Database from the Better Government Association has been discontinued. The raw data from the project can be downloaded here.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Dillon: Time to Bite the Bullet on Consolidation
Eliminating some of Illinois’ nearly 7,000 local governments is part of any serious discussion about property tax relief.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Are Handguns Used to Commit Nearly All Murders?
Following recent mass shootings, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger voiced his support for certain forms of gun control. Asked if he’d back an assault rifle ban, however, he cited a statistic that stretches the facts.
Posted inPress Release
BGA Named Finalist for Top Online Award, Best Newsroom
Better Government Association is a finalist for two of the Online News Association’s 2019 Online Journalism Awards, including a nomination for digital innovation for its recycling story.