Chicago Newsroom

On this second part of our two-part conversation, Ken Davis is joined by Chicago Police Board Chair Lori Lightfoot to discuss the Police Department’s Strategic Subject List; The City’s effort to dismiss Campbell v City Of Chicago, a multi-faceted lawsuit seeking comprehensive police reform; and Lightfoot’s views on illegal gun seizures, arrest rates, and the interconnections between violent crime and unemployment and poor educational opportunity. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

For part one of this discussion, Ken Davis is joined by Chicago Police Board Chair Lori Lightfoot. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about police training and the renewed mission of the Police Board under her stewardship. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Chicago Tribune education reporter Juan Perez, Jr for an extended conversation about the current status of the Chicago Public Schools. Despite crushing budget difficulties, CPS has several high schools that are rated among the best in the nation, and its math and reading scores continue to rise, if only incrementally.

Pending legislation in Springfield could bring significant relief to CPS and other challenged Illinois school systems, but Governor Rauner has vetoed it and there may not be enough votes to override. Perez, Jr talks about what the options may be if the override fails, and about the possibility that the City of Chicago may have to contribute almost a quarter-billion dollars of its own money to keep CPS afloat.

This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by The Tribune’s John Byrne and Politico’s Natasha Korecki. They discuss the situation with state funding for schools and the impending effort to repeal Governor Rauner’s amendatory veto. They also tackle Cook County slate-making, which begins today, and the potential challenge to Toni Preckwinkle, whose popularity is falling as a result of the much-despised “pop tax.” Also on the agenda: Mayor Emanuel’s highly public defense of Chicago’s “welcoming cities” status, despite his record of being lukewarm to the rights of undocumented immigrants. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher, who discusses in detail the status of current education funding legislation in Springfield. They also talk about the possible reappointment of Lori Lightfoot as Police Board President and the proposal for massive redevelopment of the South Works property on Lake Michigan. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by the Better Government Association’s John Chase and Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business. They discuss “Pier Pressure: How City Power Players Diverted $55 million in Blight-Fighting TIF Cash to Navy Pier.” Their recent story has revealed heretofore unknown details about how the Mayor’s staff channeled money from the organization that owns both McCormick Place and Navy Pier to Navy Pier when an equal amount of TIF money was sent to McPier by the City for construction of a new McCormick Place hotel. It’s a complicated, but fascinating story of political and fiscal intrigue. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Tony Arnold, Illinois political reporter for WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times Managing Editor Chris Fusco. They talk about the battle over state funding for education that threatens the timely opening of public schools throughout the state. They also discuss Governor Rauner’s recent personnel changes that appear to steer his administration strongly to the right, and the stalled Cook County sweetened beverages tax that jeopardizes hundreds of County jobs because the anticipated revenue has not materialized. There’s also some conversation about Fusco’s position as managing editor at the Sun-Times and his role with the new ownership structure. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by the BGA’s Madeleine Doubek. They discuss the current dysfunction in Springfield and the stunning backlog of unpaid bills faced by the Rauner administration. They also talk about the upcoming 2018 governor’s race, Mayor Emanuel’s record on police reform and the collapsing Illinois higher education system. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis talks with the Daily Line’s Claudia Morell about two mayoral programs intended to help local businesses. But there’s little public accountability for the programs, and in one case, a loosely associated package of tax incentives intended as a way to attract and retain jobs in Chicago has resulted in more than 90 million in tax savings for developers with only a few thousand jobs as a result. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by the Chicago Tribune’s Bill Ruthhart, who discusses his recent writing about the status of police reform in Chicago. They cover Mayor Emanuel’s apparent change of tactic, since he seems willing to move forward with police reform strategies that may not have the level of authority that community leaders and reform advocates demand. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).