Chicago City Wire

Chicago City Wire

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Business News

Business

Chicago's 39th Ward candidate raises questions about mayor's plan for set-asides for gay contractors

Candidate for Chicago's 39th Ward committeemen Barry Bebart is warning Mayor Lori Lightfoot that the 'set-asides' she wants to implement for gay city contractors may have the opposite effect of what she claims to be seeking.

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 7, 2019

Business

Cook County GOP commissioner speaks out against set-aside contracts

Cook County Republican Board Commissioner Sean Morrison has a simple but stern philosophy when it comes to the way Chicago business is conducted.

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 7, 2019

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Business

Political strategist sees flaws in Chicago mayor's plan for set-aside contracts

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 7, 2019

Republican political strategist Chris Robling points to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan of creating 'set-asides' for city contractors who identify as gay as an example of good intentions gone awry.

Business

Chicago hotel/home sharing taxes “relatively high” versus peers

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 7, 2019

The Civic Federation recently reported that Chicago’s projected revenue from the city’s hotel accommodations tax for fiscal year 2019 is expected to be in the neighborhood of $126.3 million, with another $25.9 million to be generated from a hotel operators’ tax.

Business

Chicago Mayor Lightfoot planning set-aside deals for gay contractors

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 7, 2019

Chicago Republican Party Chairman Chris Cleveland adamantly opposes Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s stated plan to create a "set-aside" for gay city contractors.

Business

CHICAGO AREA GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: October B2B Mixer: Taco Tuesday!

By Press release submission | Oct 3, 2019

Join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois and our members for a Taco Tuesday Mixer B2B.

Business

AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: New Coffeehouse Headed to East Garfield Park

By Press release submission | Oct 3, 2019

Passion House Coffee Roasters, a Near West Side-based coffee roaster with coffee shops in Logan Square, Goose Island and the Loop, is moving its roastery to a refurbished warehouse in East Garfield Park, at 328 N. Albany Ave., and it plans to open a coffee shop in the same building.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois’ pension debt remains worst in the nation

By Glenn Minnis | 22 days ago

Illinois’ record-setting 2017 income tax hike has done little to slow the state’s rising pension costs, leaving state taxpayers on the hook for nearly $250 billion in unfunded public pension liability.

Business

CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Building Your Benefits to Drive Employee Engagement

By Press release submission | Sep 14, 2019

Are your employees engaged with their benefits?

Business

Alderman Lopez: Minimum wage should be tied to consumer price index, not 'whims of politicians'

By Hollie Ferguson | Aug 16, 2019

CHICAGO – Last month, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) proposed a $18 to $20 an hour minimum wage increase instead of $15 per hour. The Congressional Budget Office warns that a $15 increase alone could put nearly 1.3 million jobs at risk.

Business

CHICAGO AREA GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Entrepreneur Bootcamp

By Press release submission | Aug 2, 2019

Is your business still in its infancy? Do you need a refresher on best business practices and strategy? Are you looking to network and learn from other entrepreneurs?

Business

CHICAGO AREA GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 2019 Annual Chamber Boat Cruise

By Press release submission | Jul 18, 2019

Join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois for our Annual Summer Boat Cruise! 2018 featured a record-breaking 175 guests, and we hope you will be there in the number as we reach for 200 guests!

Business

CITY OF CHICAGO: Mayor Lightfoot Announces Next Steps Forward in the Creation of a New Chicago Casino

By Press release submission | Jul 18, 2019

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced the first steps toward the development of a new casino for the City of Chicago with consent on the selection of an independent consultant to perform an economic feasibility study.

Business

AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: North Ave. Apartment Building Breaks Ground

By Press release submission | Jul 18, 2019

New residential development is coming to North Avenue, with a company breaking ground on a seven-unit rental building in late June along the oft-overlooked commercial corridor.

Business

CATA director says Pritzker's auto trade-in tax cap could blindside consumers if not stopped

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 17, 2019

Mark Bilek, senior director of communications for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), fears that the trickle-down effect from a new Illinois law that caps trade-in tax credits on most motor vehicles at $10,000 could have devastating consequences for the industry.

Business

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.

Business

Office of Executive Inspector finds mismanagement by Department of Employment Security management

By Mario Marroquin | Jul 12, 2019

The Governor’s Office of Executive Inspector General recently concluded an investigation of a complaint alleging preferential treatment by the former Manager of Support Services at the Department of Employment Security Marlene Meriwether and General Services Manager John Rogers.

Business

CITY OF CHICAGO: Mayor Lightfoot Joins Skender to Open New Advanced Manufacturing Facility on Southwest Side

By Press release submission | Jun 1, 2019

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today joined Skender CEO Mark Skender and community and business leaders for the ribbon cutting of a new advanced manufacturing facility on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Business

21 Chicago nursing homes designated subpar in federal ranking

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 22, 2019

Twenty-one nursing homes in Chicago received below-average scores from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after the federal agency updated its nursing home rating system for consumers in April.