Thread: How will Chicago handle the DNC? There are big questions about:

- Protests
- Migrants sent from Texas
- Infrastructure prep
- Transit
- Policing

And more. I've tried to answer a lot of these with my @chicagotribune colleagues. Here are some of our big findings (1/9): First, I made what I think is the most complete list of planned protests.

I've reported on these plans for months & checked with the city + permitted/unsanctioned organizers. Most of the protests have pro-Palestinian messages, but there's a big mix (2/9):
chicagotribune.com/2024/08/16/chi…

NEW: Chicago's notorious parking meter deal might've just gotten even more costly.

The parking meters' owner won an arbitrator's decision it said costs $321 million. City put price at $121 million & said it can pay w more spots. With @byaliceyin 🧵(1/6):
chicagotribune.com/2024/08/12/par… This is one of those stories that's sorta confusing in tweets, so please just read it lol.

Why is Chicago paying up? Basically, the company alleges former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's government used an arbitrage scheme that violated their contract. Here's more detail (2/6):

A Magnificent Mile & Oak Street Beach makeover?

Here are ideas to revive Michigan Avenue by connecting it to Lake Michigan and make it "a place to linger, with space that favors pedestrians over cars.' Designs by Gensler reported on by @DannyEcker. (1/4):

Gensler's ideas for the Mag Mile would cut two lanes of car traffic, @DannyEcker reports.

The firm wants to bring crowds back to this area that has been "vacancy-plagued" in recent years. Renderings on how the area around the Water Tower could be reimagined (2/4):

Tonight, the Freedom Center prints the Chicago Tribune for the last time.

The plant prints almost every paper in Chicago — Sun Times, NYT & more. It’s closing to make way for a casino. Most workers opted to not move to the Trib’s new Schaumburg plant & will lose their jobs.🧵: There are lots of feelings & many complicated reasons that a printing plant closes, but a clear thing to remember today:

The people who work here made millions — likely, billions — of newspapers to Chicagoans. They played an essential role in helping people care for our city…

Stunning City Council moment: Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed RTA appointment, Rev. Ira Acree, was asked about the agency's very public upcoming $735 million budget shortfall.

"Well, number one, this is my first time hearing about a $735 million shortfall,” he said. Number of moments that jut out in this hearing. Acree said:

- He has not talked with the mayor about appointment or transit problems
- Didn't seem to know about RTA fare integration
- Named riding CTA as a kid as his transit experience

And...

THREAD: A mass shooter shot up a Chicago vigil last Halloween. 14 people were shot, 1 fatally.

What's happened since?

Victims told me they've gotten little support. Their wounds still hurt, bills are stacked & they face trauma every day. Here's what that looks like (1/12): This is Cherice Patterson. A beautician, she used to service 15 people's hair a day. Now, a year since she was shot in her right leg, she can only do 1 or 2 people's hair.

“I never expected to be in debt like this,” she said. “It’s embarrassing."

City leaders initally.. (2/12)

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago & Illinois’ transportation departments just announced the permanent closure of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Except, of course, they didn’t really do that.

Fake accounts posing as (previously verified) government accounts did & 100k+ people saw. This is very likely the work of some social media-adept urbanist (DSLD redevelopment is a big issue for them).

It might even be a joke for them or a clever way to draw attention to issues they see cars causing (the replies they posted make me think that’s the case).

You saw the viral video of a young couple getting beaten up in downtown Chicago. Here's what you didn't see (thread).

Lenora Dennis witnessed the attack unfold. Police wouldn't help, she told me, so she had to take matters into her own hands... (1/11)
chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-… Dennis had been walking out of Macy's when the couple was attacked. It erupted seemingly out of nowhere, she said.

She heard the woman, 20, scream. She saw the man, 22, get stomped on, kicked and punched.

“It just turned into a total chaotic melee." So, of course... (2/11)

Here's a map of violent crime in Chicago over the last five years (left) and a map of mayoral election results by precint (right).

The areas hit hardest by violence voted for Brandon Johnson, who campaigned hard on alternatives to policing, instead of tough-on-crime Paul Vallas. More info on maps:

On left, data per CPD, "victimizations" for "all violent crime" since 1/1/2018, more red = more victimizations.

On right, orange is Johnson-led precincts, teal is Vallas-led precincts, graphic by @rumormill & @ClaireMalon, more here: chicagotribune.com/politics/elect…

CHICAGO VOTER TURNOUT THREAD:

We're up to 304,090 ballots cast in Chicago. 36,960 on Election Day through 9 am. Day of turnout was a smidge higher (37,184) at this point in February.

6:00am: 7,236 votes
7:00am: 12,822 votes
8:00am: 16,902 votes

Will post updates all day. Turnout by age (we hadn't seen these numbers yet for early voting):

https://twitter.com/JakeSheridan_/status/1643260311141507072

Vice President Kamala Harris just spoke at the scene of the Highland Park mass shooting.

“We have to take this stuff seriously, as seriously as you are because you have been forced to take this seriously,” she said. Read the @chicagotribune updated story here. chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/…

Here are the names of six of the seven people senselessly murdered by a mass shooter with an assault weapon in Highland Park. They were celebrating America on the Fourth of July.

I’m attaching all of the fundraisers I see in thread below:

https://twitter.com/marparnews/status/1544418629642584070