Alex Nitkin
@alexnitkin.bsky.social
Government Finance & Accountability reporter,
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: Anitkin@bettergov.org
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: Anitkin@bettergov.org
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Crain’s is good about revenue sources and splits
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
Last-minute, $1.5B transit compromise being debated in Springfield
The transit revenue package relies on increasing the transit sales tax in the six-county region and transportation related sources. It also includes a steep tollway hike.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Tune into @wbez.org at 9 a.m. to hear me do my best to recap the whirlwind veto session that landed a $1.5 billion transit package on the governor's desk:
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago
www.wbez.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Tune into @wbez.org at 9 a.m. to hear me do my best to recap the whirlwind veto session that landed a $1.5 billion transit package on the governor's desk:
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
Watch the live House committee debate, with Rep. Delgado answering questions about the bill:
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
October 31, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Watch the live House committee debate, with Rep. Delgado answering questions about the bill:
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
A loophole lets counties spend millions in transit taxes not on transit...but on jails & courts
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
A Little-Known Legal Loophole Has Scrambled State Efforts to Save Transit Agencies From Financial Disaster
Suburban counties last year spent $83M in RTA sales taxes on jails and courts; they'll fight to keep the money as the state scrapes for cash.
illinoisanswers.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
A loophole lets counties spend millions in transit taxes not on transit...but on jails & courts
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
As transit funding hangs in the balance in veto session this week, @gracehauck.bsky.social and I have a pair of stories looking at the stakes for a part of the state that's gotten relatively little attention: the collar counties.
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/legal-loophole-scrambled-state-efforts-to-plug-transit-agencies-funding/
t.co
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
As transit funding hangs in the balance in veto session this week, @gracehauck.bsky.social and I have a pair of stories looking at the stakes for a part of the state that's gotten relatively little attention: the collar counties.
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
October 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
October 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
.@chicagosmayor.bsky.social is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
October 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
.@chicagosmayor.bsky.social is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
New from me:
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/tightening-chicago-budget-faces-hurdles-amid-few-options-for-pain-free-cuts/
t.co
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
New from me:
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
105/N. Feds rammed a car that crashed into another, then a foot chase. #chicago
Here's video of the crash. Top of frame the white SUV makes contact with back of the red SUV which spins into a parked car and a foot chase follows. Crowd gathers after. 105/N. #chicago (via kwisstin on IG.)
October 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
105/N. Feds rammed a car that crashed into another, then a foot chase. #chicago
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
Compromise ADU ordinance PASSES City Council in a 46-0 vote, ending a 7-year legislative battle over a modest affordable housing tool already common elsewhere in the country. Story TK
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
September 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Compromise ADU ordinance PASSES City Council in a 46-0 vote, ending a 7-year legislative battle over a modest affordable housing tool already common elsewhere in the country. Story TK
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
September 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
August 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
The newly beefed-up City Council Office of Financial Analysis quietly dropped its mid-year budget report last week, including a 1st-ever report on city employee vacancies by department.
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov
August 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The newly beefed-up City Council Office of Financial Analysis quietly dropped its mid-year budget report last week, including a 1st-ever report on city employee vacancies by department.
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
The infamous Evanston Brothel Law!
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
July 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The infamous Evanston Brothel Law!
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
In 2016, as Chicago mayor, Emanuel banned city employees from making most trips at the city’s expense to North Carolina, which banned trans people from using the bathroom that aligned with their gender.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
Rahm Emanuel criticized Dems for talking about "pronouns," but Megyn Kelly is the first interviewer I've seen drill down for his views.
Boys + girls are "fundamentally, physically different." No "men claiming they're women" in women's prisons.
"Can a man become a woman? No."
Boys + girls are "fundamentally, physically different." No "men claiming they're women" in women's prisons.
"Can a man become a woman? No."
July 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
In 2016, as Chicago mayor, Emanuel banned city employees from making most trips at the city’s expense to North Carolina, which banned trans people from using the bathroom that aligned with their gender.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
I’ll be talking about the ordinance to allow citywide construction of ADUs, which just advanced out of the City Council Zoning Committee in a 13-7 vote
Reporter @alexnitkin.bsky.social will be on @wbez.org’s Reset today at 12:20 p.m. to discuss ADUs in Chicago.
Tune in live here: www.wbez.org
And read his story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...
Tune in live here: www.wbez.org
And read his story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...
WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago
www.wbez.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I’ll be talking about the ordinance to allow citywide construction of ADUs, which just advanced out of the City Council Zoning Committee in a 13-7 vote
Mayor to force a vote next week on legalizing ADUs citywide, Fran Spielman reports.
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Mayor to force a vote next week on legalizing ADUs citywide, Fran Spielman reports.
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
Thanks @wbez.org for having me on Reset yesterday to talk ADUs! Take a listen:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
A Solution To Chicago’s Housing Crisis?
Podcast Episode · Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons · 06/24/2025 · 26m
podcasts.apple.com
June 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Thanks @wbez.org for having me on Reset yesterday to talk ADUs! Take a listen:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
🧵(1/4)
I remember walking into the City Hall press room at age 26 on my first day on the beat and being floored by the sheer force of Craig's kindness and sincerity. Like...veteran journalists are not supposed to act like this! Who did this guy think he was??
I remember walking into the City Hall press room at age 26 on my first day on the beat and being floored by the sheer force of Craig's kindness and sincerity. Like...veteran journalists are not supposed to act like this! Who did this guy think he was??
Chicago journalism icon Craig Dellimore retires after 42 years at WBBM
Chicago journalism icon Craig Dellimore retires after 42 years at WBBM
Chicago radio icon Craig Dellimore is retiring from WBBM Newsradio this week after more than four decades with the station. He recently spoke with Rob Hart for “At Issue” about journalism, radio,...
www.audacy.com
June 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
🧵(1/4)
I remember walking into the City Hall press room at age 26 on my first day on the beat and being floored by the sheer force of Craig's kindness and sincerity. Like...veteran journalists are not supposed to act like this! Who did this guy think he was??
I remember walking into the City Hall press room at age 26 on my first day on the beat and being floored by the sheer force of Craig's kindness and sincerity. Like...veteran journalists are not supposed to act like this! Who did this guy think he was??
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
WBEZ Reset host right now:
*WHY does there need to be a community meeting for a homeowner to add a unit??*
(they are talking about ADUs, and referred to this statement in @alexnitkin.bsky.social's recent article)
*WHY does there need to be a community meeting for a homeowner to add a unit??*
(they are talking about ADUs, and referred to this statement in @alexnitkin.bsky.social's recent article)
June 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
WBEZ Reset host right now:
*WHY does there need to be a community meeting for a homeowner to add a unit??*
(they are talking about ADUs, and referred to this statement in @alexnitkin.bsky.social's recent article)
*WHY does there need to be a community meeting for a homeowner to add a unit??*
(they are talking about ADUs, and referred to this statement in @alexnitkin.bsky.social's recent article)
Here's my story, on an affordable housing tool nearly everyone seems to agree is a good idea, but that the Chicago City Council and (so far) state legislators can't manage to push forward:
t.co/YDh0XBRHiP
(1/6)
t.co/YDh0XBRHiP
(1/6)
May 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Here's my story, on an affordable housing tool nearly everyone seems to agree is a good idea, but that the Chicago City Council and (so far) state legislators can't manage to push forward:
t.co/YDh0XBRHiP
(1/6)
t.co/YDh0XBRHiP
(1/6)
In awe of this important, ambitious project — a collab between
@illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @southsideweekly.bsky.social — and proud of the small part I got to play in it:
makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org
Please check it out today.
@illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @southsideweekly.bsky.social — and proud of the small part I got to play in it:
makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org
Please check it out today.
Detours and Dead Ends on the Path to Opportunity
makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org
May 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
In awe of this important, ambitious project — a collab between
@illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @southsideweekly.bsky.social — and proud of the small part I got to play in it:
makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org
Please check it out today.
@illinoisanswers.bsky.social and @southsideweekly.bsky.social — and proud of the small part I got to play in it:
makingitinchicago.illinoisanswers.org
Please check it out today.