Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Friday, November 10, 2017. Have a great weekend, and Happy Veterans Day!
- Cubs, Blackhawks, large concert venues not fans of Emanuel’s concert ticket tax increase
The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Blackhawks are pushing back against Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to raise the amusement tax on concert tickets at bigger venues, the Tribune reports. Venues with 1,500 seats or more are facing a steep tax hike on tickets, which would go up to 9 percent from 5 percent to raise an estimated $15.8 million in 2018. The industry is concerned that events will move to suburban venues such as Allstate Arena in Rosemont. “Higher concert amusement taxes will mean fewer shows,” reads the Web page of the newly formed Coalition to Save Jobs in the Amusement Industry, an interest group that includes not just team and club owners but labor unions and hospitality workers. “Fewer shows will mean fewer people. Fewer people will mean less business. Less business will mean fewer jobs.” [Tribune]
- Despite plea from Chance the Rapper, City Council approves $95 million police training academy
The City Council voted in favor of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan for a $95 million police and fire training academy in West Garfield Park Wednesday despite a highly publicized plea from Chance the Rapper to consider other ways of spending the money, such as mental health clinics. The aldermen voted 48-1 in favor of building the academy. Emanuel left the City Council chamber during the Chance’s public comment, but the mayor said he respected the rapper’s opinion. “He’s a great artist in Chicago. He has a lot of talent. . . . Chance has put his resources and his success towards investing in arts education. You know how dear that is to me,” Emanuel said.”He has a view. He expressed it. He came to City Council. You can’t advocate for citizenship to be an active sport and then, when somebody is active, not be happy about it. He came here. That’s a good thing.” [Sun-Times]
- Report: Police officers avoided punishment by keeping sloppy records
Some Chicago Police Department officers have avoided punishment for their misconduct thanks to the force’s sometimes sloppy record keeping, according to a special report by the Tribune. One of the goals of the new Civilian Office of Police Accountability is to make sure paperwork is kept in order so disciplinary matters don’t fall through the cracks. “Since the beginning of this year, the Department has started a review into older cases that have a final disciplinary determination to ensure that they have been processed, that officers have properly served their discipline if applicable and that the cases are ultimately closed,” police spokesman Frank Giancamilli said in a statement. “In the expected small number of these cases that may have not been processed, we are working with the appropriate investigatory body to bring them to a timely closure.” [Tribune]
- Aldermen propose $500 fine for “distracted walking”
Aldermen Ed Burke and Anthony Beale have proposed fees of $90 to $500 for “distracted walking.” Their legislation is aimed at the increasing number of pedestrians who cross the street while talking or looking at their phones. “No person shall cross a street or highway while using a mobile electronic device in a manner that averts their visual attention to that device or that device’s activity,” the proposed ordinance says. [NBC Chicago]
- There’s now a dart-focused bar in River North
A dart-focused bar, Point & Feather, opened in River North Thursday night at 113 W. Hubbard. With 12 dart stations, it has a more casual feel than many of the neighborhood’s bars, and will feature music beyond the current pop radio hits. There’s even a cocktail featuring trendy matcha tea: the Matcha Pea Shoot. [Eater Chicago]
- Anthony Rizzo earns the MLB’s Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has won another prestigious award, the MLB’s Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, for his exceptional work as a player and as a humanitarian. Rizzo recently won baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award for his considerable work with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation and Lurie Children’s Hospital. [Tribune]