Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | News | AAN.org

The Politics of Potnew

Are politicians too paranoid to decriminalize marijuana?

Chicago Reader | Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky | 12-05-2011 | Drugs

Tags: Medical Marijuana, marijuana tax, marijauna legalization

The $78 Million Bagnew

That's what Cook County spent last year on weed (or to arrest and prosecute those possessing it).

Chicago Reader | Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky | 10-07-2011 | Drugs

Tags: Chicago Police Departmnet, Cook County, John Fritchey, marijuana arrests, marijuana tax, marjauna legalization, Rahm Emanuel

Wake Up, Chicago Teachers Unionnew

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has changed the rules—and you need to get in the game.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | 10-04-2011 | Business & Labor

Tags: Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Teachers Union, John Kugler, Rahm Emanuel

The Grass Gapnew

People all over Chicago smoke pot—but almost everyone busted for it is black.

Chicago Reader | Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky | 07-07-2011 | Race & Class

Tags: marijuana, Drug Laws, racial bias

What's Next for Chicago Public Schools?new

Now that Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman is gone, the next step will be Rahm's.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | 03-21-2011 | Education

Tags: Ron Huberman, Rahm Emanuel

"Honorably terminated" teachers -- some nationally recognized -- say they can't get so much as a callback about jobs in the Chicago Public Schools. One colleague's bureaucratic nightmare has given them reason to fear the worst.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky and Dave Glowacz | 09-27-2010 | Education

Tags: Education, Lourdes Guerrero, Mike Quigley

Chicago Public Schools Are Broke, So Why Are Top Bureaucrats Taking Raises?new

Teachers have been asked to share the pain. Coaches have been asked to work for free. Bigger class sizes have been threatened. So why are CEO Ron Huberman and other top bureaucrats taking raises?

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | 04-05-2010 | Education

Tags: Chicago Public Schools, Ron Huberman, Education

Chicago May Have Leased out Its Parking Meters for a Fraction of Their Worthnew

The Daley administration hid its process for privatizing Chicago's parking meters from the public and the City Council. Now, three months into the deal, new evidence suggests the taxpayers were hosed out of billions of dollars.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke | 05-18-2009 | Policy Issues

Tags: parking meters, Chicago, public policy

The Story of Chicago's Parking Meter Lease Dealnew

How Mayor Daley and his crew hid their process from the public, ignored their own rules, railroaded the City Council, and screwed the taxpayers on the parking meter lease deal.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke | 04-10-2009 | Policy Issues

Tags: parking meters, Chicago, ethics, public policy, privatization, Richard Daley

When Chicago's Slush Fund Dries Upnew

The TIF kitty is still growing, per the county clerk's annual report -- but it may not be growing fast enough to cover the bets Chicago has made against it.

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | 11-10-2008 | Policy Issues

Tags: Taxes, Chicago, public policy issues, TIFs

Is the Midway Airport Lease Really a Good Deal for Chicago Taxpayers?new

Midway Airport is arguably one of the city of Chicago's better-run operations -- it is profitable to the tune of about $100 million a year. So why would the city be in such a hurry to pawn it off, railroading the $2.5 billion transaction through the City Council with little scrutiny or debate?

Chicago Reader | Ben Joravsky | 10-20-2008 | Policy Issues

Tags: Chicago, privatization, Airports, FAA, Midway Airport, tax revenue