Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke today was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million for his conviction on 13 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. The […]
Policy
Proposed Public Funding for Chicago Elections Could Give $200,000 Boost to Small-Donor Campaigns
A proposal from City Council ethics chair Ald. Matt Martin (47th) would add a public funding option to Chicago’s campaign finance landscape, bringing the city more in line with its […]
Deferred Ethics Bill Continues Alarming Pattern
An ordinance proposed by the Chicago Board of Ethics and introduced by City Council ethics committee chair Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) got the slowroll treatment today, with Alds. Chris […]
BGA Calls for Action on Stalled Ethics Ordinance
A package of changes to Chicago’s government ethics ordinance has stalled in City Council, despite the backing of the city’s Board of Ethics and the chair of the council’s ethics […]
One Year In, Johnson’s City Council Spends One-Third of its Time on Honorary Resolutions
A year of City Council meetings since the 2023 elections hasn’t seen much change in the body’s time management: Roughly one-third of regular meeting time, from the end of public […]
Testimony by BGA President David Greising before the House Personnel & Pensions Committee
Chair Kifowit, Vice Chair Rohr, Rep. Reick, members of the committee: Thank you for the invitation to speak today about one of the most important issues facing our state: How […]
Make the Judicial Branch Subject to FOIA
Below is a letter BGA Policy sent to the General Assembly of Illinois urging them to support court transparency: In Illinois, the public has the right to documents and information […]
BGA, Civic Federation, League of Women Voters Pen Letter to Mayor Johnson and City Council Regarding Transparency Concerns
The Better Government Association, Civic Federation and League of Women Voters of Chicago sent the following to Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council Committee on Rules: February 27, 2024 […]
SAFE-T Act Data Collection Begins Behind Schedule
Illinois courts are quickly falling behind in key areas of data-collection required by the state’s new Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act – a lag that is making it […]
Burke Trial Verdict Demands a Culture Shift at City Council
Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke was today found guilty by a jury on 13 out of 14 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. Co-defendant Charles Cui was also found […]