Fran Spielman
Chicago Sun-Times
Highland Park, IL, United States
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Past articles by Fran:
Back to the kitchen? Mayor’s floor leader rejects latest restaurant industry compromise on subminimum wage
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said the restaurant industry’s latest proposal to raise the minimum wages for tipped workers to $20.54 an hour at Chicago restaurants with more than $3 million in annual revenue is “dead on arrival.” → Read More
Campaign to create funding to reduce homelessness finally launched in City Council
The “Bring Chicago Home” Coalition and its City Council allies introduced a measure to put a referendum on the ballot to allow a revised tax on high-end home sales, → Read More
City Council OKs spending another $34.5 million on burgeoning migrant crisis
Alderpersons OK’d a $33 million Homeland Security grant to care for asylum-seekers and also agreed to spend $1.5 million in tax increment financing dollars to buy a 10.7-acre property formerly used by the Marine Corps and convert it into a shelter for up to 550 migrants. → Read More
Worst-case scenario: Chicago budget gap could reach $1.9 billion by 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s three-year budget forecast is a far cry from the rosy picture painted by Lori Lightfoot, who had projected an $85 million 2024 budget shortfall. → Read More
Proposed rewrite of Chicago’s hate crime ordinance would create new category called ‘hate incidents’
The ordinance Ald. Debra Silverstein plans to introduce would create the noncriminal category, and Chicagoans could report incidents via 311. → Read More
Chicago faces 2024 budget shortfall of $538 million — more than a third of it tied to migrant crisis
Mayor Brandon Johnson didn’t take ex-Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s word for it when she said she’d left the city in great financial shape, with an $85 million shortfall. It’s a good thing he was skeptical, his top aides told some City Council members in a budget briefing. → Read More
Finance Committee OKs $25 million settlement to two men wrongfully convicted of 1993 murder of IIT hoops star
Tyrone Hood would get $17.5 million after spending 22 years in prison. Wayne Washington spent 14 years behind bars and would get $7.5 million. But Ald. Brian Hopkins worried the City Council would be setting an unaffordable precedent. → Read More
Facing ethics questions, city Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin pauses Congress bid
Conyears-Ervin was poised to run in the March Illinois Democratic primary for the seat now held by Rep. Danny Davis. → Read More
Comptroller candidate grilled, then approved, by City Council committee
Ald. Ray Lopez asked Chasse Rehwinkel about social media posts made while campaigning for candidates who want to cut the Chicago Police Department budget. → Read More
Chicago will spend $255.7 million on migrant crisis by year’s end, mayor says
Alderpersons were not told where the tent cities would be located — they were simply asked to identify potential sites in their wards. → Read More
Feds make $2B commitment to CTA Red Line extension
After 50 years of baby steps, the promise Mayor Richard J. Daley made when he opened the 95th Street station in 1969 is nearing the finish line. → Read More
City Council panel OKs labor contracts for thousands of city workers
The deal’s prevailing wage portion covers 7,000 members of 30 trade unions employed by 16 city departments. Those workers would accrue a half-day of sick leave per month and be eligible for 12 weeks of paid parental leave. → Read More
Rocky’s road: Wirtz remembered as fans’ friend in the stands, fierce fighter in the boardroom
As Blackhawks owner, Rocky Wirtz mingled with fans grateful for the three Stanley Cups the team brought home. He also built and ran a real estate and beverage empire. → Read More
Once targeted for demolition, Lincoln Square motel slated to become ‘stabilization housing’
A City Council committee OK’d Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to buy the Diplomat Motel, 5230 N. Lincoln Ave., for $2.9 million and turn its 40 rooms into supportive housing, with a host of other support services provided on site. → Read More
Did NASCAR pay enough to use Grant Park, downtown streets? Chicago Park District boss defends agreement
The three-year agreement, with a two-year renewal option, calls for the Park District to receive a $500,000 permit fee. That pales by comparison to the $8 million to $9 million Lollapalooza pays every year to rent Grant Park. → Read More
Johnson unveils ‘blueprint to transform’ Chicago, revealing ‘how we will govern’ — and how residents can keep score
The mayor called the 223-page document the “foundation for how we will lead our city well into the future.” It has no recommendations on the new taxes Johnson says he needs to reduce violent crime. But it is loaded with ambitious, politically explosive ideas. → Read More
Brandon Johnson replaces most of Chicago Board of Education
The new board will have a different feel than in past years when consultants, lawyers and bankers filled many of the seven seats. Only one of Johnson’s appointees is a lawyer, and she runs a legal aid organization. → Read More
Chicago’s pension crisis worsens with investment losses
Losses from the market downturn were offset somewhat by taxes on sales, transactions, restaurants and amusements, the 2022 financial report from Deloitte & Touche says. → Read More
Migrant crisis reverses decade-long enrollment decline at CPS, top mayoral aide says
To ensure better educational outcomes for the new arrivals, the Johnson administration plans to open an “enrollment center” at Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School in time for the first day of school on Aug. 21. → Read More
Brandon Johnson building consensus behind the scenes before delivering progressive agenda, top aide says
The mayor risks disappointing progressive voters who put him in office, but deputy chief of staff Cristina Pacione-Zayas isn’t concerned. In fact, the former state senator expects her fellow progressives to keep the heat on. → Read More