An analysis of Senator Mark Kirk’s “analysis” of how charter high schools rank in Chicago
Category: On Politics
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Chicago property tax 101
What to tell an alderman who fibs to you about TIFs
Posted inNews & Politics
The $78 million bag
That’s what Cook County spent last year on weed (or to arrest and prosecute those possessing it)
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Wake up, Chicago Teachers Union
Mayor Emanuel has changed the rules—and you need to get in the game
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Mayor union-buster
Rahm Emanuel fights the Chicago Teachers Union over a longer school day–and it’s not about the kids
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Mayor Emanuel’s budget show
It’s a familiar script: you pay more, the little guys get fired, and the mayor hoards the money
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Unlovable losers
The latest scheme to spend public money on Wrigley Field is as bad as the team that plays there
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Laid off from teaching—forever
Why Chicago Public Schools slapped its “do-not-hire” designation on another highly-rated teacher.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Mayor Emanuel does the TIF reform dance
But he’s not looking like the belle of the ball
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Blogger Fred Klonsky’s crusade against public education reform
Klonsky’s is a voice from the classroom that’s oft overlooked
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Rahm Emanuel’s report card so far: there’s room for improvement
Ben Joravsky grades Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s progress
Posted inColumns & Opinion
How a CPS teacher went from ‘excellent’ to ‘do-not-hire’ in one year
On June 25, Mayor Rahm Emanuel invited a group of recent education-school graduates to help change the world by signing up with the Chicago Public Schools. “I hope you stay in the Chicago area because I will continue to do what I think is best in telling the city of Chicago that we have the […]
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Uptown turns down a TIF deal—for the moment
Let’s start with the good news: several hundred north-siders packed a sweltering hot field house in Uptown last week to jeer and sneer at the city’s latest proposal to funnel $50 million in property tax dollars to a developer, in this case one who wants to build a grocery store, a health club, and a […]
Posted inColumns & Opinion
As Mayor Daley cashes in, ousted teacher gets cut off
Mayor Daley’s had a great run over the last few weeks. Since leaving office May 16, he has, let’s see, landed a gig at the University of Chicago, where he’ll have to “coordinate” a handful of lectures in exchange for a reported $100,000 a year. That would be the same University of Chicago that last […]
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Twilight zoning in the 43rd Ward
The mayor wasn’t the only Daley who bid farewell to the City Council at its May 4 meeting. Forty-third Ward alderman Vi Daley (no relation) was also there for her last meeting, since she too decided not to run for reelection. As a parting gift, the council gave Mayor Daley a crystal bowl and one […]