Chicago City Council

Rule Changes

Voted to ban most hemp THC products; mayor vetoed

Most Illinois sellers must stop selling hemp-derived THC drinks on Nov. 12, but the state has agreed not to enforce the ban against about 250 businesses involved in a federal lawsuit until Nov. 19. That is when U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold is scheduled to hear their request to block the law.

Updated 8 hours ago

Rule Changes

Pressing the administration for a replacement contract

Chicago still has no gunshot-detection system on its streets. On Nov. 9, Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration said it will let every short-listed bidder demonstrate its technology in a six-month pilot across six South and West Side police districts, dropping an earlier single-vendor plan.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

Must approve any vacancy tax

Chicago voters approved a nonbinding referendum on Tuesday that would tax owners of long-term vacant or undeveloped commercial and investment property to fund Chicago Public Schools. Nearly 74% voted yes, with 163,655 of 624,339 voters opposed.

Updated 5 days ago

Built World

Final approval authority for zoning changes

The former Leona's restaurant at 6929 N. Sheridan Road is a cleared lot. Chicago Equity Partners plans a five-story building there with 80 apartments, 3,600 square feet of ground-floor retail and 16 affordable units.

Updated 6 days ago

Money Moves

Passed ordinance 44-6 over mayor's plan.

Chicago's City Council voted 44-6 on Monday to force Mayor Brandon Johnson to use a $75 million parking-meter payment for an extra pension payment this year. The vote blew a $75 million hole in a 2027 budget already balanced with borrowing and tax increases.

Updated Nov 2

Money Moves

All 50 members opted into the 2027 raise

All 50 Chicago aldermen accepted the inflation-tied 2027 pay raise, the first time every council member opted in. The 2.3% bump lifts the top aldermanic salary to $159,264 and costs taxpayers almost $200,000 more.

Updated Nov 1

Built World

Holding budget hearings; aldermen pressuring CDOT

The Chicago Avenue bridge, closed since 2025, will now reopen in spring 2027, Chicago transportation officials said. The project had been scheduled to finish in December 2026.

Updated Oct 30

Money Moves

Approved the $260.8 million settlement unanimously

The Chicago City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to pay $260.8 million to 17 men framed by former detective Reynaldo Guevara. The men spent a combined 383 years in prison. City lawyers said a jury trial could have cost more than $1 billion.

Updated Oct 21