By Fran Spielman Chicago Sun-Times Mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle vowed Tuesday to bring equity to an overly punitive ticketing policy that has unfairly targeted minority motorists and forced thousands of them into bankruptcy. In vowing to go easier on motorists,...
By Elliott Ramos, WBEZ & Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved the first reforms aimed at helping the city’s low-income motorists cope with ticket debt, with more significant changes potentially on the way. The approved...
Anna Valencia proposed creating city sticker options so low-income drivers can afford to be in compliance and avoid costly tickets. by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ City Clerk Anna Valencia on Tuesday called for changes to Chicago’s vehicle sticker program...
By Alex Kotlowitz, The New Yorker There’s deep concern that if Jason Van Dyke, the police officer who killed Laquan McDonald, is acquitted of murder, already aggrieved parts of Chicago could erupt in anger. The Reverend Ira Acree, like so many in...
Letters to the Editor by Dory Rand in The Chicago Sun-Times Robocallers are nothing if not persistent. lllinois area codes received more than 148 million robocalls in July and it could get worse. Wall Street banks and corporations using robocalls for debt...
By Nimayi Dixit, S&P Global Market Intelligence Funding day-to-day operations is a persistent challenge for U.S. small businesses. A recent S&P Global Market Intelligence survey found that, over the past two years, small businesses in the U.S. sought...
By Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune The item in my column last Sunday about the exorbitantly punitive fines Chicago levies on those like me who fail to renew their city vehicle stickers on time seemed to strike a nerve with so...
By Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Seven weeks after the city pledged to address the issue, drivers are still on the hook — and now Chicago’s ticketing practices are becoming an issue in the mayor’s race. The City of...
By Curtis Black Chicago Reporter All governments need money. But under Rahm Emanuel, Chicago stands out for jacking up fees and fines on low- and middle-income folks while doling out subsidies and tax breaks to well-connected developers and corporations....
By Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago has issued 20,000 duplicate city sticker tickets since 2007. City officials are now looking at whether this violates a city ordinance and say motorists might be in for a refund. In less...