Fran Spielman

The Chicago City Council must soon decide whether to approve a $2.5 billion deal that would transfer of ownership of the city's privatized parking meters to a New York investment firm. What's at stake, and why is the 2008 privatization of the meters so hated?

The comments follow the city's crackdown against one Roscoe Village restaurant's outdoor lights — even as scores of other restaurants hang them over sidewalks and parkways.

For now, 13 candidates are circulating nominating petitions in hopes of gathering the required 12,500 signatures to secure a place on the ballot. Candidates have until Oct. 26 to file their nominating petitions.

John Kelly, 53, is a consummate political insider who has spent 28 years lobbying on behalf of clients that do business with City Hall — the same people and companies he would have to deal with — and say no to — if he’s elected mayor.

The race had been held on the already busy July 4 weekend, and the city and NASCAR were trying to find an alternative when the clock ran out.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias enters the race as a presumed frontrunner, with a political target on his back after raising $22 million from business leaders and building trade unions.

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday is expected to begin circulating petitions for his reelection, though his political director, Christian Perry, says Johnson still hasn't decided whether to run.

With so much spending in such a short time, Inspector General David Glockner set out to determine whether the city followed its own procurement rules and whether the Johnson administration’s migrant spending “dashboard” had been transparent.

Budget Chair Jason Ervin said financial advisers now have time to decide whether it makes sense for the city to try to match the $2.5 billion winning bid from New York investment firm Stonepeak Partners.

The latest fundraising reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections show the first-term mayor raised $109,000 and spent $290,000 in the second quarter of 2026.