Chicago City Wire

Kessem said new House Speaker 'handpicked by Madigan himself'

By Carrie Bradon | Jan 18, 2021

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan handpicked someone who owed him for his support as his replacement after 18 terms in the leadership positions, a 41st Ward Republican party official said.

With Dems picking new Illinois House speaker, GOP pounces, calls for 'real leadership'

By Carrie Bradon | Jan 14, 2021

Illinois Republicans reacted swiftly to Democratic lawmakers' choice to replace Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) as House speaker on Jan. 13, ending his decades-long tenure.

Political group threatens lawsuit over Theater Wit's cancellation of event for LGBT chapter

By Carrie Bradon | Jul 16, 2019

A right-wing political group’s event was cancelled the day before it was scheduled to take place, resulting in the group’s founder threatening to sue a Chicago theater and its artistic director.

How Chicago lost its middle class

By Carrie Bradon | Feb 24, 2019

According to a WBEZ article, the middle class in Chicago has been steadily shrinking since the 1970s and today is nearly nonexistent, an unsettling trend predicted by many.

Wirepoints pinpoints myriad obstacles for Chicago's remaining middle class

By Carrie Bradon | Feb 22, 2019

According to an article in WBEZ News, the middle class is now nearly nonexistent in Chicago, which is causing concern among those who fear the changes this shift will bring with it.

Chicago mayor hopeful Paul Vallas advocates multi-year budget plan

By Carrie Bradon | Oct 21, 2018

Paul G. Vallas, candidate for Chicago mayor, believes that Chicago can come back from financial disaster with a structured multi-year budget plan.

Kessem believes waste, red tape, potential mileage tax are a 'death sentence' for Illinois' competitiveness

By Carrie Bradon | Sep 20, 2018

Ammie Kessem, the Republican candidate for the 19th House District, said she plans to work on cutting government waste if she is elected, not implement new taxes like the mileage tax that is currently being discussed.

Kessem opposes recent property tax proposals, welcomes voters' voice in sales tax referendum

By Carrie Bradon | Sep 7, 2018

Ammie Kessem, the Republican candidate for Illinois’ 19th House District, is frustrated by recent discussions of property and sales tax increases.

Chicago Classical Academy founder says CPS' charter refusal was 'politically driven'

By Carrie Bradon | Aug 24, 2018

After Chicago Public Schools (CPS) rejected a charter request by Chicago Classical Academy, founder Alice Epstein and her team of administrators decided not to continue an appeal with the state and instead are waiting out the storm.

Rafael Mangual calls for tougher sentencing to combat Chicago's crime rate

By Carrie Bradon | Aug 10, 2018

Rafael Mangual believes Chicago’s criminal justice system is exacerbating Chicago’s crime rate by letting repeat offenders out too soon.

Ammie Kessem says enough with pension spiking

By Carrie Bradon | Aug 1, 2018

Ammie Kessem is upset that even as the state's residents struggle to stay afloat many school districts are spiking teachers' salaries at the end of their careers so they get a bigger pension payout -- pensions paid for by the taxpayer.

Cook County using new residential assessment model with promising results

By Carrie Bradon | Jul 10, 2018

Hyde Park Township properties were recently reassessed using a new residential assessment model that the Cook County Assessor's Office says will benefit residents and homeowners through more accurate price representations.

Kessem thinks Illinois' recently passed budget does nothing to fix state's financial woes

By Carrie Bradon | Jun 5, 2018

Illinois' recently passed fiscal year 2019 budget was touted by Gov. Bruce Rauner as a "great team effort, a great bipartisan effort," but Ammie Kessem, who is running for state representative in the 19th House District, believes taxpayers are getting the short end of the stick with the $38.5 billion spending plan.

Roskam understands needs of small businesses, company executive says

By Carrie Bradon | May 25, 2018

Illinois' fiscal situation is out of control and the state has increased taxes drastically over the past few years, but some politicians are saying enough is enough, including U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who is seeking re-election.

Kessem: High taxes, regulations driving away small business in Illinois

By Carrie Bradon | May 11, 2018

With Illinois state government increasing taxes and placing more restrictions on local businesses, small businesses often suffer from increased government regulations, according to the candidate for House District 19.

From West Cook News

Tax on retirement income won't solve state's problems, Cameron says

By Carrie Bradon | 7 years ago

The state of Illinois has been short on money in the past few years, and recently, a Chicago-based think tank suggested that taxing retirement income could bring the state an extra $2.7 billion in revenue if taxed at the same 4.95 percent rate that wage income is taxed.

Crime is the problem, empowerment is the answer, Chicago police officer says

By Carrie Bradon | Feb 28, 2018

Chicago Police Officer Dean Angelo Sr. discussed the rise in violent crime with Chicago City Wire and why there are as many murders in the city now as there were in some cities in the 1990s when drug wars were taking place.

Ford favors legalization of hemp for commercial use

By Carrie Bradon | Jan 11, 2018

Among the hotly debated issues in the past few years is the question of whether to relax laws on the use of marijuana, which has led to states such as California legalizing the recreational use of marijuana recently. The related topic of hemp has been debated as well, as this plant, though related to marijuana, is being considered for uses that are entirely different.

Arena accused of shoving Girl Scouts out of spotlight over park cleanup

By Carrie Bradon | Oct 25, 2017

Ammie Kessem says Chicago Ward 45 Alderman John Arena can't stand being out of the spotlight, even if it means pushing away some little girls to grab the attention.

DePaul professor takes stand against fellow black American's attempts to 'stymie hopes'

By Carrie Bradon | Oct 2, 2017

Professor Jason Hill uses his words to fight his battles, so when he read the words of another black American denigrating the United States, he knew he had to take a stand.