Inside Chicago Government: Audio Reports and Interviews

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In this audio excerpt from the 5/4/17 edition of Chicago Newsroom, Chicago education reporters Lauren FitzPatrick, Sarah Karp, and Becky Vevea talk with host Ken Davis about the workings and possible impact of Chicago Public Schools' new application process for high schools citywide. Length 5.7 minutes.

In this audio excerpt, DePaul University College of Law professor Sumi Cho criticizes predominant exit-poll surveys, saying that they aren't designed to represent certain demographics. Cho spoke in the Nov. 11, 2016 Webinar, "Social Justice SOS: What Happened, What's Coming and Why We Must Join Together Against Hate." Length 4.3 minutes.

In this audio interview, Dave Glowacz explains to a fellow voter how to choose Cook County judges by using bar association recommendations found at voteforjudges.org. Included: how to see your ballot in advance; how bar associations arrive at their recommendations; why it doesn't matter whether you vote for particular judges; and what do if you don't trust lawyers. Length 16.1 minutes.

In this audio excerpt from the 5/11/15 episode of Black Agenda Radio, Georgia Green Party's Bruce Dixon argues that "Democrats in denial" who put time and money into Sanders' campaign will actually benefit the final, corporate-approved Democratic candidate. Length 5.5 minutes.

In this interview from the 5/8/15 edition of CounterSpin, Economic Policy Institute researcher Richard Rothstein describes an origin of U.S. urban segregation: deliberate public policy for most of the 20th century to separate blacks from whites. Length 11.9 minutes.

Interview with the Chicago Justice Project's Tracy Siska about "Convicted in Cook," an analysis of Cook County conviction data. Siska describes how his group overcame stonewalling, hostility, and messy data from the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown. Length 11.4 minutes.

This excerpt from the 2/21/14 edition of Counterspin features Lori Wallach of Public Citizen. Wallach provides a sort of citizen's guide to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, and urges listeners to join in a "public Dracula strategy." Length 8.5 minutes.

In a December 7 2013 interview on WNUR-FM's "This Is Hell" radio program, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker said Detroit's financial crisis has been partially manufactured by financial institutions, and by their governmental and legal cohorts. Length 20 minutes.

Haymarket Books has released Mayor 1%, a book by Kari Lydersen. This is the audio of a panel discussion that took place at the book launch party on November 19, 2013. Length 1 hour, 34 minutes.

The city of Chicago recently announced its Plan Forward for public housing. In this audio report, Leah Levinger of the Chicago Housing Initiative describes Chicago's "manufactured" housing scarcity, how city housing policy results in a net loss of public housing, and the Chicago Housing Authority's "longest-running privatization program." Length 17.9 minutes.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has held public meetings to get input about its proposal to close up to 129 schools. In this audio report, participants of one such meeting (held on February 16, 2013) criticize CPS's closure scheme. Length 7.3 minutes.

In this audio excerpt, Chicago Tribune reporter Eric Zorn and Chicago Newsroom host Ken Davis give a cogent summary of how charter schools should and do work in Chicago. Taken from the 10/25/12 broadcast of Chicago Newsroom. Length 3 minutes.

In this audio recording, a panel of public-school advocates discuss the possibility for an elected school board in Chicago. The panelists: Delia Bonilla, local school council parent member, Ames Middle School; Will Guzzardi, Logan Square community advocate; Ben Joravsky, columnist for the Chicago Reader; Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union; and Pauline Lipman, professor of policy studies, University of Illinois (Chicago).

In this audio recording, a trio of panelists review Mayor Emanuel's first year in office as part of Columbia College's Intersection series. The panelists: Larry Bennett, PhD, professor of political science, DePaul University; Ben Joravsky, columnist for the Chicago Reader; and Dominic Pacyga, PhD, professor of history, Columbia College.

Jaisal Noor of Free Speech Radio News reports on the corporate agenda to establish charter schools and supplant publicly-controlled neighborhood schools.

In this audio interview, Dave Glowacz talks with John Kugler, a member services coordinator with the Chicago Teachers Union. Kugler describes the origin, repurposing, and effects of CPS's Do Not Hire practices. Length 6.3 minutes.

In this audio interview on WBEZ-FM, Dave Glowacz speculates on why, how, and whether the Chicago City Council will establish its own inspector general. Length 7.1 minutes.

Theresa Hill, a senior manager for the City of Chicago who claims she was harassed after calling the city's affirmative action program a "sham," has filed suit against the city. The manager alleges that the city has defrauded the federal government for two decades while it's received millions of federal dollars. Dave Glowacz reports on the Hill allegations for WBEZ-FM. Length 4.8 minutes.

The City of Chicago has been trying for years to break from federal court oversight that started 30 years ago, in a case that challenged political influence on city employment. In this segment for WBEZ-FM, Dave Glowacz reports how the case took a contentious turn--with the city's own Office of Compliance coming under fire. Length 6.8 minutes.

In a court-mandated report on the status of hiring reforms, the city's hiring-compliance department accused the Dept. of Streets and Sanitation of negligence in the way it awards coveted snow-removal assignments to truck drivers. In this report for WBEZ-FM, Dave Glowacz talks with a compliance watchdog and a Streets and San mole. Length 5 minutes.

Chicago's parking meter privatization robbed City Council members of the ability to move and adjust parking to meet local needs. In this audio report for WBEZ-FM, Dave Glowacz talks with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd). Length 4 minutes.