Property Tax Hike, Transit Board Vote, and Thompson Center Transformation
Earlier this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his $17.3 billion budget proposal for 2025. Staring down a $1 billion budget gap, the mayor announced a $300 million property tax increase to avoid what he said would otherwise be mass layoffs and cuts to critical city services. We are joined by Illinois Answers Project’s Alex Nitkin and City Bureau’s Ariel Chung to discuss other cost-cutting measures, key investments, and the remaining budget season timeline. Plus, we discuss the regional transit authority’s new board, Google’s Thompson Center transformation, and Chicago-area Palestinians returning to their home country for olive harvesting season.
Good News: Huge improvement in city tree trims
Nominate City Cast Chicago for best podcast and Hey Chicago for best email newsletter.
Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.
Follow us @citycastchicago
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246
Learn more about the sponsors of this Nov. 1 episode:
- Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
- Mubi
- BetterHelp – Get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST
Become a member of City Cast Chicago.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
The DNC in Chicago ... Again?! Plus, Best Late-Night Bites
DNC officials are wrapping up a three-day visit as the city is a finalist to host the 2028 and 2032 conventions. We talked with contribut...
Are Chicago’s Scooters Safe? Plus, How Bad Will Mosquito Season Be?
Are more regulations coming to the city’s scooters and ebikes? Following several fatal accidents involving minors, lawmakers have propose...
A Rare, All Good News Episode
What sets Chicago brick apart? Why are bald eagles returning to Chicago? What would you wait in line for? City Cast Chicago contributors...
Why Is Mayor Johnson In Springfield? Plus, Chicago's First Baby Eagles in a Century
Why did Mayor Brandon Johnson go to Springfield? Will state police actually investigate the killing of Silverio Villegas González by ICE...
What Chicago Kids Want Us to Know
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Earlier this year, we visited the Carole Robertson Center for Learning at their Albany Park site to talk...
Will Chicago Hospitals Resume Trans Youth Healthcare? Plus, What is the RIFL Act?
In April, a federal judge ruled the Trump administration could not cut Medicare and Medicaid funding to hospitals providing gender-affirm...
Immigrant Families Facing Evictions. Plus, CPS Manages May Day
A new report shines light on how immigrant families in Chicago continue to suffer months after the height of Operation Midway Blitz. Many...
Your Guide to May 2026 in Chicago
May flowers are blooming all around us as summertime Chicago is on the horizon. We’ve got your guide to what’s happening in Chicago this...
Why Are Thousands of Property Tax Bills Late ... Again? Are Illinois Farmers Having Buyer’s Remorse?
Property tax bills remain a headache for thousands of Chicagoans, as tech issues continue to delay bill arrivals. We ask the Tribune’s A....
Warlord Restaurant Plummeting, the DMV's AI Battle, and Dream Chicago Biopics
Earlier this year, the co-owner of the restaurant Warlord, Trevor Fleming, was arrested and charged with sharing explicit images of a wom...