Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Tuesday, November 7, 2017.
- Ameya Pawar slams Ed Burke for representing Trump in tax refund lawsuit
Alderman Ed Burke was called a disgrace by fellow alderman and former gubernatorial candidate Ameya Pawar Monday for filing a sixth “lawsuit aimed at winning property tax refunds for the hotel and vacant retail space in the riverfront tower that bears the name of President Donald Trump,” according to the Sun-Times. “Stop representing Donald Trump and his interests,” he rebuked the 14th Ward alderman. “You are representing a racist and a bigot and a demagogue who wants the tax cut to further defund the institutions . . . we all represent. There are times like this when chasing the dollar—chasing every last dollar—[isn’t right]. We have a moral responsibility to think about the city first.” [Sun-Times]
- Chicago is close to surpassing 600 homicides for the second year in a row
At 593 homicides as of Monday morning, Chicago is inching closer to reaching 600 for the second year in a row for only the second time since 2003, the Tribune reports. The only good news is that there have been fewer murders this year as compared to last; in 2016, the city had recorded 681 homicides by early November. [Tribune]
- Archaeologists dig up Bronzeville’s hidden Civil War history
Archaeologists made some interesting discoveries while digging through a Bronzeville yard on the former site of Civil War prison camp, Camp Douglas. The group “unearthed bits of costume jewelry, pieces of teacups, the eye of a porcelain doll, a crucifix, and a .58-caliber minie ball bullet used by Civil War soldiers” October 30, according to the Sun-Times. “Right in our backyard we have one of the most notorious prisoner-of-war camps from the Civil War,” Andrew Leith, an archaeologist involved with the Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation, said. [Sun-Times]
- Emanuel visits Washington, D.C., for 25th anniversary of Clinton’s 1992 election
Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in Washington, D.C., Monday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of former president Bill Clinton’s 1992 election at a Georgetown University symposium. Emanuel was heavily involved in the Clinton campaign and White House, serving as a policy and strategy senior adviser. [Sun-Times]
- Oak Park business owner/village trustee closes Felony Franks
Oak Park village trustee Deno Andrews is closing his hot dog stand Felony Franks, best known for helping ex-offenders, the Tribune reports. “The cost of doing business has increased faster than our ability to bring in new business,” Andrews wrote in a Facebook post Monday. “Property taxes, new labor laws and the cost of goods increased faster than the market was willing to pay for such increases.” [Tribune]