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The Chicago Reader

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Columns & Opinion, On Transportation Feb 28, 2019
A hole is a hole

The election will likely decide the fate of Elon Musk’s plan for the O’Hare Express, which transit experts view with skepticism.
- By John Greenfield
- Tags: Transportation, Elon Musk, Rahm Emanuel, the Boring Company, O’Hare Express, Chicago Infrastructure Trust, Jennifer Martinez, Gery Chico, Toni Preckwinkle, Paul Vallas, P.S. Sriraj, Joe Schwieterman, Fritz Plous, Rick Harnish, Midwest High Speed Rail Association

News & Politics, Politics Feb 22, 2019
Fourteen candidates?!

The Reader's mayoral cheat sheet is here to help.
- By Reader staff
- Tags: Politics, Politics, Bill Daley, Jerry Joyce, Gary McCarthy, Susana Mendoza, Paul Vallas, Willie Wilson, Lori Lightfoot, Amara Enyia, 2019 mayoral campaign, Chicago Mayoral Election, Bob Fioretti

News & Politics, Politics Feb 7, 2019
Our first-ever mayoral candidate questionnaire

The mayoral hopefuls lay out a "Chicago Marshall Plan," promise a beefed-up police force, address shared public spaces—or ignore your questions, and more.
- By Reader staff
- Tags: Politics, Bill Daley, Jerry Joyce, Gary McCarthy, Susana Mendoza, Paul Vallas, Willie Wilson, Lori Lightfoot, Amara Enyia, 2019 mayoral campaign, Chicago Mayoral Election

News & Politics, Politics Jan 28, 2019
Different planets

A tale of two endorsement sessions—the Tribune v. the Grassroots Collaborative
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, Chicago mayoral election, mayoral election 2019, Chicago Tribune editorial board, mayoral endorsements, mayoral endorsement session, mayoral forum, Grassroots Collaborative, community activists, mayoral candidates, Toni Preckwinkle, Lori Lightfoot, Amara Enyia, Susana Mendoza, La Shawn Davis, Willie Wilson, New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, #ReimagineChicago Mayoral Forum, #ReimagineChicago, Lincoln Yards, Rezko Field, the 78, Garry "Big Mac" McCarthy, Paul Vallas, Bill Daley, Gery Chico, gentrification, tax increment financing, TIF district, TIFs, Ashley Galvan Ramos, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Bruce Dold, John Kass, Chicago City Council, rubber-stamping

News & Politics, Feature Dec 18, 2018
Mayoral forum recap: all the answers, none of the bullshit

At back-to-back forums last week 11 candidates fielded questions and even provided some answers.
- By Maya Dukmasova
- Tags: Feature, Politics, News, Chicago mayor, mayoral election, Toni Preckwinkle, Ja’mal Green, Lori Lightfoot, Amara Enyia, Garry McCarthy, Dorothy Brown, Paul Vallas, Gery Chico, Susana Mendoza, Willie Wilson, La Shawn Ford, Rahm Emanuel, political debate, candidate forum, elections, Chicago Housing Initiative, CHI, Jefferson Park, UIC Forum, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Association of Realtors, Ben Joravsky, Copernicus Center, One North Side, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Donald Trump, President Trump, Mayor Rahm, rent control, affordable housing, lead, People for Community Recovery, Access Living, 38th Ward Democrats, Patti Vasquez, Fraternal Order of Police, Kevin Graham, police accountability, police reform, Laquan McDonald, Chicago Public Schools, CPS, school closures, Affordable Requirements Ordinance, ARO, Altgeld Gardens, environmental justice, environmental racism, Real Estate Transfer Tax, public housing, Chicago Housing Authority, CHA, community benefits agreement, Obama Presidential Center, Obama Library, Barack Obama, President Barack Obama, aldermanic prerogative, pensions, Lincoln Yards, Sterling Bay, TIFs, Tax Increment Financing, development

Blogs, Bleader Aug 13, 2018
The golden age of democracy finally shows up—in the raft of former insiders turned mayoral candidates

If nothing else the mayoral race is full of experienced players equipped to speak some truth to Rahm.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, News, Rahm Emanuel, Lori Lightfoot, Troy LaRaviere, Garry McCarthy, Pat Quinn, Paul Vallas, term limits, Police Board, Chicago Police Accountability Task Force, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Sun-Times

Blogs, Bleader May 10, 2018
With nine candidates for mayor, the hustle for signatures will be harder than ever

The more candidates who run, the harder it is to make the ballot—especially given the signature-challenge game.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: News, Politics, Rahm Emanuel, Troy LaRaviere, Lori Lightfoot, Michael Kasper, Neal Sales-Griffin, Ja'mal Green, Willie Wilson, Dorothy Brown, Garry McCarthy, Paul Vallas, Adolfo Mondragon, ballot access, Chicago Board of Elections, signature challenges, election law, election law attorney

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Feb 15, 2018
Looking for the most progressive Democrat in the governor's race who's least likely to sell us out

Biss, Daiber, Hardiman, Kennedy, Pritzker—man, I can’t make up my mind.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: On Politics, Illinois governor's race, Democratic primaries, J.B. Pritzker, Daniel Biss, Chris Kennedy, Tio Hardiman, Bob Daiber, Bruce Rauner, Jeanne Ives, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Bernie bros, Stephanie Neely, Litesa Wallace, Juliana Stratton, Paul Vallas, Carol Ammons

Blogs, Bleader Feb 1, 2018
Potential mayoral candidate Paul Vallas strikes out at Emanuel after Chicago State drama, and other news

Also, Tinley Park police release a new image of the Lane Bryant shooting suspect ten years after the tragedy.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Paul Vallas, Chicago State University, Rahm Emanuel, Pat Quinn, Illinois General Assembly, Election 2019, unsolved murders, gun violence, mass shootings, Tinley Park, Lane Bryant, DACA, Dreamers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Cook County, sanctuary cities, ICE, immigration issues, Amandla Charter School, Chicago Public Schools, school closings, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, football, Chicago Bears, Mike Adamle, Au Cheval, Katz's Deli, pastrami

Blogs, Bleader Jan 29, 2018
Rauner reaches a compromise with officials on school funding ahead of State of the State address, and other Chicago news

Also, speculation is growing that Paul Vallas will run against Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Bruce Rauner, Election 2018, Paul Vallas, Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago State University, Election 2019, O'Hare International Airport, Marilyn Hartman, Transportation Security Administration, Lewis University, Naperville, unsolved murders, northwest Indiana, Stephanie Izard

Blogs, Bleader Apr 10, 2017
Prosecutors want to put ex-CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett in prison for more than seven years, and other Chicago news

Also, the Chicago Mariachi Project is working to preserve Mexican culture among local students.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, Rahm Emanuel, Donald Trump, Syria, cruise missile strikes, DNA, cold cases, Metra, Paul Vallas, Chicago State University, Bruce Rauner, Mexico, Mexican culture, mariachi music, Chicago Mariachi Project

Blogs, Bleader Jan 18, 2017
Video
Rauner taps Democrat Paul Vallas to turn around Chicago State University, and other news

Also, Obama's Chicago staff reflect on working in the White House.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Bruce Rauner, Paul Vallas, Pat Quinn, Chicago State University, Illinois, budget impasse, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Sheila Nix, Jill Biden, Bill Daley, Eddie Johnson, Chicago Police Department, community policing, Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, Tom Ricketts, Wrigleyville, Gibsons Restaurant Group, restaurants, food scene, Wicked, musicals, theater, Broadway in Chicago, Video

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Apr 27, 2016
CPS still won't say exactly why it yanked beloved principal Troy LaRaviere

The district did say LaRaviere is free to run for head of the principals' association.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: On Politics, News, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, Troy LaRaviere, Karen Lewis, Arne Duncan, Paul Vallas, Janice Jackson, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, Blaine Elementary School

Blogs, Bleader Apr 9, 2014
Pension accountability, Chicago style

When it comes to correcting past pension mistakes, geezers and ordinary taxpayers pay the price, while the powerful few who made the mistakes continue to prosper.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, News, Illinois, Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Paul Vallas, Gery Chico, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Bruce Rauner, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Ed Burke, Alderman Pat O'Connor

Blogs, Bleader Jul 10, 2013
Before Mayor Rahm there was a big boss man at CPS called Paul Vallas

A history lesson, young teachers: top-down mandates by egomaniacal autocrats is not something that started with Mayor Emanuel.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Education, News, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Paul Vallas, Chicago Public Schools, George Schmidt, Bobby Hull, Michael Jordan, Bridgeport Connecticut, Substance newspaper

Blogs, Bleader Apr 12, 2013
Nine schools in 12 years: One teacher's tale of life in Chicago's public schools

Hey, wannabe teachers: If you want to teach in Chicago, get ready to be moved to different schools all over town, many times!
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Education, News, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Richard Daley, Paul Vallas, Ron Huberman, Arne Duncan, Jean-Claude Brizard, Barbara Byrd-Bennett

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Feb 26, 2013
Chicago's new BFF is a legislator from Waukegan

State representative Rita Mayfield isn't from the city, but who else is sticking up for its taxpayers?
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Ben Joravsky on Politics, Rita Mayfield, Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan, Ron Huberman, Jean-Claude Brizard, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, HB 197, TIFs, Illinois General Assembly, Laura Farr, Patrick O'Connor, 40th Ward, Chicago City Council, tax increment financing, tax caps, school funding, schools, CPS, Chicago Public Schools, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, Richard M. Daley, education, CTU, Chicago Teachers Union, Kenneth Dunkin, Esther Golar, Marcus Evans Jr., Monique Davis, Camille Lily, Waukegan

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Jan 8, 2013
Keeping up with the Jones high school plans

How Mayor Emanuel could turn Jones high into a neighborhood school—and win my almost undying support
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Ben Joravsky on Politics, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, Pacific Garden Mission, CPS, high schools, college preparatory high schools, Jones high school, Jones Commercial School, William Jones College Preparatory, Jones College Prep, Richard M. Daley, South Loop, gentrification, Arne Duncan, Robert Fioretti, Paul Vallas, Becky Carrol, neighborhood schools

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Sep 19, 2012
Democracy is messy—welcome to the teachers' union

Why teachers' union politics gets a little messy
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Ben Joravsky on Politics, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, education, Chicago Teachers Union, teachers' strike, Joe Moreno, Karen Lewis, Thomas Reece, Deborah Lynch, Paul Vallas, democracy

Blogs, Bleader Jul 10, 2012
CEO Brizard to Mayor Rahm: Look what I found!

It's budget time at the Chicago Public Schools, which means our CEO will say what he has to say so he can say that it's balanced
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Education, Politics, Clout City, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, Ron Huberman, Jean-Claude Brizard, Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan, Dusty Springfield

Columns & Opinion, On Media Jul 7, 2011
One big Blagojevich blamefest

Can't we elect better candidates? What's wrong with us?
- By Michael Miner
- Tags: Michael Miner on Media, Rod Blagojevich, Ald. Richard Mell, John Kass, Mark Brown, politics, Illinois, George Ryan, Gov. Pat Quinn, Jim Ryan, Roland Burris, Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times

Columns & Opinion, On Politics May 5, 2011
An open letter to Chicago Public Schools' new CEO
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: On Politics, Jean-Claude Brizard, Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Daley, TIF, Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan, Ron Huberman, Bob Palmer, Housing Action Illinois

Blogs, Bleader Dec 31, 2009
Paul Vallas endorses David Hoffman—then points out his flaws

Former Chicago schools chief Paul Vallas announced his support for David Hoffman's Senate bid Wednesday—then talked about how much he likes Hoffman's Republican rival Mark Kirk.
- By Mick Dumke
- Tags: Politics, Clout City, News, Paul Vallas, David Hoffman, Alexi Giannoulias, Mark Kirk, 2010 elections, U.S. Senate, Senate campaign, Chicago, politics

News & Politics, Media Dec 10, 2009
The Bulldog at the Gate

Journalists say new CPS flack Monique Bond is making it harder to report on the schools. Is that what she was hired to do?
- By Michael Miner
- Tags: Media, Chicago Public Schools, CPS, Arne Duncan, Ron Huberman, Paul Vallas, Monique Bond, Lorraine Forte, Catalyst Chicago, Freshmen On-Track Lab Project, Ben Joravsky, Peter Cunningham, Mike Vaughn, Chicago schools, City Hall, Board of Education

Blogs, Bleader Sep 16, 2009
TIFs: The budget surplus that dares not speak its acronym
- By Whet Moser
- Tags: Chicagoland, Politics, Clout City, Mayor Daley, Tribune poll, 35% approval rating, parking meters, TIFs, tax increment financing, TIF districts, city budget, city budget deficit, layoffs, furloughs, Chicago Tribune, Paul Vallas, 2016 Olympics, Chicago Olympics, bad economy, property taxes

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