In this audio piece, Chicago Police Dept. Superintendent Larry Snelling lent support to the controversial Shotspotter system--which Mayor Brandon Johnson has opposed. The top cop's remarks came at a January 13, 2024 public meeting of Chicago's Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability. Length 17.5 minutes ..read more

In this audio piece, a Chicago Police Dept. sergeant revealed unsafe and unhealthy conditions at the 11th District police station on the West Side. Length 9.1 minutes ..read more

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben evaluated meetings of the Chicago City Council that took place in November of 2023. In the standard version, council members reacted to 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's move to censure 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. In the premium version: One alderman claims, explicitly, what Rosa did to intimidate her; Rosa's act of contrition; controversy around two proposals for referenda to be put before voters in March; and the raucous rules committee meeting. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 11 ..read more

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben probed audio from several meetings of the Chicago City Council in September, 2023. In the standard version, Mayor Brandon Johnson and aldermen introduced a measure to use real estate transfer taxes for housing the unhoused. In the premium version: aldermen discussed tax-increment financing to buy a building intended as a migrant shelter; a controversy around Mayor Johnson's pick for city comptroller; and why and how the the Sept. 13 full-council "phantom" meeting took place. (For the full-length version, subscribe at ch ..read more

In audio from a June 2, 2023 public meeting, lawyers from the city of Chicago and the American Civil Liberties Union clashed on the pace of police reforms mandated by the 2019 Consent Decree. Length 23.2 minutes ..read more

In this audio piece, a public safety commission member questioned police workforce allocation--a matter also highlighted in a report by Mayor Brandon Johnson's transition team. Length 6.8 minutes ..read more

In this audio piece, members of Chicago’s Use of Force Community Working Group criticized use-of-force training by the Chicago Police Department. Length 8.5 minutes ..read more

In an audio interview, former Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson described an effort to formalize the training of new aldermen, and gave insights into why it failed. In the standard version, Ferguson described how the idea of an aldermanic handbook came to him. In the premium version, Ferguson explained how the handbook came together, why it fell apart, and how some of the fundamental challenges of city governance could be addressed by comprehensive, formalized aldermanic training. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 6.5 minutes ..read more

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben listened to and evaluated audio from a special March 30 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen spoke against expanding the number of council committees from 19 to 28. In the premium version: aldermen spoke in favor of the new committees and related rules; how claims of independence smack of hypocracy; and whether the council must vote on the new committee structure again. (For the full-length version, subscribe at chigov.com.) Length 11.2 minutes ..read more

In a discussion by journalists Dave Glowacz and Ben Joravsky, Dave and Ben heard and weighed parts of the March 2023 meeting of the full Chicago City Council. In the standard version, aldermen passionately debated whether to accept state funding for the city's migrant efforts. In the premium version: the state-funding debate continued, including a suprise parliamentary move; aldermen and Mayor Lightfoot doubled down on parliamentary moves and avoided debate on a controversial labor-union law; and different aldermen's "parting shots"--both favorable and not--at the outgoing mayor. (For the full ..read more