Rich Miller digs as far as the new federal investigation with regards to property tax breaks for our current Gov. JB Pritzker. It's the funny story about removing toilets from a residence in Chicago's Gold Coast near downtown to make that house not only uninhabitable, but eligible for tax breaks. Our ineffective former Governor Bruce Rauner tried to make this a campaign issue during his unsuccessful bid for re-election last year.
Something see on Pete Kastanes' Vanished Chicago Businesses on instagram. This business was located at 9129 S. Jeffery Blvd. What you see here is a menu from that long gone business.
A couple of bills being reported here that caught my eye. One bill lowering the minimum age for a child to be enrolled in Kindergarten. Also a bill that we should keep an eye on, the state's legislative Black caucus fights a bill with regards to "forced unionization" until there is meaningful inclusion of minorities in trade unions. Go over to Rich Miller's blog for more.
We've occasionally followed the stories revolving around this home which was once where infamous Prohibition-era mobster Al Capone once resided. When it had been in the news often it was for sale and now during this past week it had found a buyer.
The red brick two-flat in the South Side Park Manor neighborhood that legendary mobster Al Capone once lived in sold April 5 for $226,000.
The 2,820-square-foot two-flat, at 7244 S. Prairie Avenue, sold for more than double its $109,900 asking price.
“We had like 80 offers on it,” listing agent Ryan Smith of Re/Max Properties told Elite Street. “We had a lot of press on it, so I think that helped it out.”
Capone moved into the two-flat with his mother and sister in 1923 after moving to Chicago from New York. Although Capone's name was never actually on the purchase deed, his mother's and wife’s names were on it, and the family owned the two-flat until the 1950s, when his mother died. After Capone got out of prison in 1939, he lived in Florida until his death in 1947.
Built about 1909, the two-flat, which sits on an extra-wide lot, has had several owners since the Capones, and in 1989, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council both rejected bids to make the house an official landmark.
Also Curbed Chicago picked up on the sale of Capone's old hime.
Just last night I looked for any YouTube video regarding this house. Some tourists came to Park Manor to check this home out and shot some video outside. It was uploaded to YouTube in June 2018 [VIDEO]
[VIDEO] At this point the Green Line (Lake-Englewood-Jackson Park) had been created in February 1993 once the Red Line (Howard-Dan Ryan) was created. The original north-south and west-south lines were rerouted according to create the two lines we know today. Thus we see this from 1993 as a Green Line train heads east along 63rd Street.
We see Racine in service before it closed. We also see the closed Harvard stop which would be dismantled later during the two year closure of the green line for rehabilitation.
Also as you see the train approach Halsted you get a different perspective on the intersection of 63rd & Halsted. Buildings that later would be demolished and replaced for Kennedy-King College and then for the shopping center that would later contain Whole Foods Market Englewood.
[VIDEO] You might have seen this on WGN yesterday and another story about a DJ booth at the new 95th terminal from ABC Chicago.
Here's the ABC 7 story
Chicago artist Theaster Gates and Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled new works Monday morning at the newly-renovated CTA Red Line station at 95th Street.
A radio station called "An Extended Song of Our People", or "AESOP", will broadcast music by local artists at the terminal.
During the process of developing ideas for the new installations, Gates said at a press conference Monday morning that he wanted to address the needs of people in the community.
"We want to see clear examples of the history of the people on the South Side. We want to see clear examples of the future of our city. We want to see real examples of the present. We want to hear all our stories, all the time," Gates said. "I thought, that's a lot to deliver in a mural."
Here's what appears to be raw video
I want to check out this DJ booth, where in the station is it?
[VIDEO] Congrats to the Lightfoot campaign on their victory last night in the runoff for Chicago Mayor over County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. What will the next four years under a Mayor Lightfoot look like. I'm sure in the coming days we will know more about her plans for the city.
From Chicago Tribune returns from last night's runoff election which includes the city treasurer's race and of course the 15 wards with runoff elections.
Let's start with the namesake of this blog The Sixth Ward Alderman Sawyer beats a challenge from Deborah Foster-Bonner.
And in the 21st ward Ald. Brookins beats a challenge from his 2015 runoff opponent Marvin McNeil
In other nearby wards:
Ald. Hairston appears to thinly defeat a challenge from opponent in the 5th Ward
In the 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez defeats a challenge by Raquel Yanez
In the 16th Ward, Ald Toni Foulkes - who had been elected to that post in 2015 after being an alderman in the neighboring 15th Ward - was defeated by Stephanie Coleman who is the daughter of former 16th Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman.
And in the 20th Ward which was held by Ald. Willie B. Cochran who resigned his seat due to a federal plea deal there will be a new Alderman there Jeanette Taylor defeating Nicole Johnson
[VIDEO] In addition to the mayoral race, we also have the city treasurers race and select wards that are in runoff elections today. I especially want to highlight the runoff in the 6th Ward which we have somewhat covered since February and in the 21st Ward.
Polls have been open since 6 AM and you can vote until 7 PM. Hopefully you take time out to cast your ballot today!
