Bryan Zarou, the Better Government Association’s vice president of policy, has been appointed to serve on the City of Chicago’s Inspector General Search Committee. The Inspector General is one of […]
Perspectives
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Bryan Zarou: The state of ethics reform in a post-Michael Madigan Illinois
Michael Madigan is going to prison, but Illinois still has work to do to make state government more accountable.
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The Public Should Have Open Access to Judicial Records. A Recent Investigation Shows Why.
BGA Policy has long documented the perils that come with the judiciary being exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. This lack of public oversight puts those in the courts’ […]
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Civic leaders: How do we resolve Illinois’ pension mess? These 10 principles are a start.
A new day in Illinois’ fiscal future may be on the horizon. Responsible stewardship of the state’s budget over the past few years and the elimination of the state’s unpaid […]
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Zarou: The New Term Limit for Chicago’s Inspector General Hopefully Will Start a Trend
Advocating for term limits for an office you hold is not the norm. Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg deserves praise.
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100 Days In, BGA Policy Reviews Mayor Johnson’s Government Ethics Campaign Promises
100 days ago this Wednesday, Brandon Johnson was sworn in as mayor of Chicago. During the campaign, Johnson, along with all other candidates except incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot, responded to […]
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Sophia Van Pelt: Illinois Juvenile Detention Centers Can Hide Mistreatment Behind FOIA Exclusion
It’s hardly news that the juvenile justice system in Illinois is failing the young people it is supposed to serve. In the Cook County detention center alone, advocates and journalists in […]
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Cubbage: City Council Has New Committees. Now It’s Time to Reform Committee Staffing.
The City Council has an opportunity to eliminate the practice of letting individual committee chairs control the hiring of their staff.
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Cubbage: It’s Past Time for the City Council To Name Its Own Committee Leadership
There’s no reason for the City Council to maintain its unspoken power-sharing agreement with the mayor when it comes to committees.
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Zarou: Aldermanic Ethics Reform Package Could Be a Second Chance for Lightfoot To Fulfill Her Vow
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s track record on reform is a mixed bag. A wide-ranging ethics reform proposal could help her follow through on her promises.