Podcasts about civic federation

Kraft Heinz is reviewing its options as Berkshire Hathaway exits the board. Crain's reporter Ally Marotti discusses with host Amy Guth.Plus: Illinois' $55.2 billion budget "incomplete," Civic Federation president says; North Aurora warehouse sale shows industrial property strength; Chicago's new highest-paid CEO; and downtown rents jump as supply pipeline dries up.

Crain's political columnist Greg Hinz  and host Amy Guth unpack the saga of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's career, trial and verdict.Plus: Mayor Johnson begins housecleaning with aviation, emergency management, police accountability chiefs; Civic Federation says state should extend sales tax to services; Deere shares fall on farm slump as tariffs threaten demand; and Ravinia Festival to undergo a $75 million renovation.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Civic Federation of Chicago, the local budget watchdog, is warning that finances are so bad in Chicago Public Schools, that the State of Illinois may need to take control of the school system.  The organization says the CPS budget is […]

SIMON WLODARSKI, is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America and is a member of the U.S. State and Local Government Relations Team, overseeing State/Local Government Relations for the company in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. In this regional role with the company, Simon works on public policy issues impacting the financial services industry. In his leadership role with the company, he engages with public officials and banking industry leaders across the country.  Simon serves as the Bank's liaison with the National Council of State Legislators, a national trade association of state legislators.  He also serves as Vice Chair on the Executive Board of the Civic Federation, a non-profit organization advocating for responsible fiscal health of state and local government in Illinois. Prior to joining Bank of America, Simon served in the Administration of Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois.  Simon began his public policy career supporting the Office of Management and Budget before serving as Chief of Staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that capacity, Simon oversaw finance, human resources, operations and legislative affairs. Simon served in the United States Marine Corps, enlisting in 1995 as an infantry Marine. Transferring to the Reserves to attend college, Simon went on to pursue a commission in 2003, serving as an Infantry Officer during combat tours in Iraq.  Simon transferred to the Illinois National Guard in 2011, serving in Afghanistan as an advisor, as well as an embedded officer in the Polish Task Force.  Simon most recently served in Ukraine as an advisor, leading a multi-National NATO team working with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  Amongst his awards, Simon is most proud to have earned the Army's Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Marine Combat Action Ribbon, and retired in December 2022 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard. Simon was born in Chicago, Illinois, and currently lived in Arlington Heights with his wife and two sons.  He completed a BS in Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from Northern Illinois University.

Mitchell Bisschop (Actor, "Royko") Anna Gardner (Executive producer, "Chicago Stories") Tania Lindsay (Producer, "Chicago Stories") Joe Ferguson (Former Chicago inspector general & President, Civic Federation; @JoeFergChicago) David Levine (Law professor and constitutional expert, UC Hastings; @uclaw_sf) Carla Bruni (Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; @saic_news)

JOAN OUT; TURI RYDER HOSTING - Robert Loerzel (Historian; @robertloerzel) - David Levine (Law professor and constitutional expert, UC Hastings; @uclaw_sf) - Nick Svanacini (Technical manager, AmericanEagle.com; @_Americaneagle) - Steven Pincus (British history professor, University of Chicago; @PincusSteven) - Joe Ferguson (Former Chicago inspector general & President, Civic Federation; @JoeFergChicago

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson to discuss Chicago's political culture, ethics reform, and the challenges facing the city from a fiscal and governance perspective. Ferguson shares insights from his transition from inspector general to overseeing city finances, underscores the importance of effective government service delivery, and critiques current city leadership on several fronts, including ethics, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The watchdog group is out with a 62 page analysis of the state's proposed FY20205 budget. It notes that Governor Pritzker's $800 million in tax changes will help close the state's budget deficit, but that any more could overwhelm taxpayers. If left unchecked, the report says the CTA, PACE and Metra face an over $700 million deficit as soon as 2026. Reset learns more about the impact this could have on Chicago area transit riders from Joe Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

This week's episode of Fearless, Inspired and Free shares a conversation with a strong woman leader in the non-profit/public service space. A story of resilience, persistence and insistence upon her voice being heard from as early as six years old growing up in the foster care system, to becoming the lawyer she always wanted to be; serving communities in an equitable manner. You don't want to miss this conversation!  "Advocate, empowering, dedicated, kind, effective"...all words used by her peers to describe their experiences of engagement with her. But don't take our word for it…tune in and listen for yourself today. Lanetta Haynes Turner is renowned as the longest-serving Chief of Staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (in Chicago, IL) where she plays a pivotal role in steering the administration's agenda through policy development, program implementation, budget management, and executive functions. Before her tenure as Chief of Staff, Lanetta served as Deputy Chief of Staff, focusing on shaping the President's policy initiatives and pioneering the creation of the office's inaugural comprehensive strategic plan, with a particular emphasis on advancing racial equity. Additionally, she served as the Executive Director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, dedicated to driving criminal and juvenile justice reform in alignment with the President's vision. Lanetta's dedication to advocating for youth stems from her personal experiences within the Illinois foster care system during her childhood. With over two decades of legal, nonprofit, and public sector experience, she exemplifies a steadfast commitment to public service and improving the lives of society's most vulnerable. Educated at Northwestern University, Lanetta holds a degree in Education and Social Policy, complemented by a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University School of Law. She commenced her career as an attorney with the City of Chicago before transitioning to the nonprofit sector as an attorney with Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy. Notably, she served as the Executive Director of CASA of Cook County for five years and as the inaugural Executive Director for Cook County Justice for Children. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to public service, Lanetta was honored in 2023 with the prestigious Excellence in Public Service Award, by The Civic Federation, underscoring her impact and leadership within the public sector. She has also participated as a Civic Leadership Academy Fellow at the University of Chicago and was a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. In past years, Lanetta has been recipient of the Athena International Young Nonprofit Professional and was named one of the "100 Women to Watch" by Today's Chicago Women Magazine. Beyond her professional endeavors, Lanetta remains actively engaged in professional associations, including memberships with the Black Women's Lawyer's Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, reflecting her commitment to fostering community and advancing the interests of underrepresented groups, women and children. You can find Lanetta on LinkedIn. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/danafif20/message

The Civic Federation weighs in on Bring Chicago Home. Ben riffs. Alderman Matt Martin returns to talk the issues. Everything from Bring Chicago Home to TIFs to Mayor Johnson's affordable housing proposal to Sox and Bears stadiums to dealing with crime. Matt is alderman of the 47th ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joe Ferguson, the president of the Civic Federation, joins Lisa Dent to talk about former 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke who was allowed to keep his law license despite his corruption conviction after a majority of the Illinois Supreme Court recused themselves from taking up the issue, and whether there’s a way to keep something […]

The late Laurence Msall, who previously led the Civic Federation, was a wizard of public finance, someone who knew the ins and outs of city and state budgeting and had a keen eye for cost-effective approaches to government. Joe Ferguson brings a different background and perspective as a former federal prosecutor and good government advocate who spent 12 years as a tenacious city watchdog for Chicago. Reset talks to Ferguson about his plans for the group.

Some Chicago City Council members are asking what will happen of the City does NOT get enough funds from Federal and State officials to help ease the migrant crisis here. The Civic Federation has some thoughts on the matter, but no answers. WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore talks with Civic Federation President Sarah Wetmore about if officials here are disappointed by Washington and Springfield, ways to evaluate various alternative taxes & more.  

Welcome back to the more we know. The More we know, the more we grow! Today your mentor is Robert Blackwell Jr.  the founder of Killerspin, the world's leading table tennis engagement brand, and the founder of EKI-Digital, a digital investment consulting firm.  Blackwell is also a former employer of then-state Senator Barack Obama, as well as a political supporter and personal friend of Obama. Killerspin creates table tennis experiences that connect family/friends/customers and employees and is the world's leading producer of designer table tennis equipment and media. EKI-Digital helps organizations turn IT into money. EKI has helped organizations design, implement and manage business applications that have generated $Billions in revenue and savings.Robert has also served on many civic boards. He currently serves  the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council. He is also an  executive committee to Choose Chicago. In addition to EKI-Digital and Killerspin, Blackwell founded a number of other companies. Those include Urban Fishing Development, Bytewise International and Blackwell Consulting Services. In May 2016, Blackwell presented Pope Francis with a customized ping-pong table for the Vatican. As Crain's Chicago Business put it, "Here's one way to get more people playing pingpong religiously: Get the pope on your side." Blackwell planned a table tennis showcase hosted by his company Killerspin called the "World Unplug and Play Day" in Vatican City in August 2016. The governing body of Italian table tennis came up with the idea to encourage ping-pong playing as a way to get people away from "technology-induced isolation.Learn more here: https://www.killerspin.com/https://www.eki-digital.com/Listen To The More We Know ⇨ https://www.buzzsprout.com/1134704Subscribe ⇨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvfd5ddf72Btbck8SdeyBwFollow my Instagram ⇨ https://www.instagram.com/sameer.sawaqed/?hl=enFollow my Twitter ⇨ https://twitter.com/commitwithmeerSent from my iPhoneListen To The More We Know ⇨ https://www.buzzsprout.com/1134704​Subscribe ⇨https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvfd5ddf72Btbck8SdeyBwFollow my Instagram ⇨ https://www.instagram.com/sameer.sawaqed/?hl=enFollow my Twitter ⇨ https://twitter.com/commitwithmeer

Acting Civic Federation President Sarah Wetmore believes the election of Brandon Johnson, the most progressive mayor in Chicago history, along with a younger, more liberal City Council has created a host of reform opportunities that were once politically impossible.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In other news: Civic Federation recommends Chicago City Council be cut in half; LGBTQ+ ministry of  Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates 35th anniversary; Activists question city's policies on migrants; and much more.

In other news: Civic Federation recommends Chicago City Council be cut in half; LGBTQ+ ministry of  Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates 35th anniversary; Activists question city's policies on migrants; and much more.

In other news: Civic Federation recommends Chicago City Council be cut in half; LGBTQ+ ministry of  Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates 35th anniversary; Activists question city's policies on migrants; and much more.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Fitch Ratings says Illinois’ budget outlook remains good and within earlier forecasts despite a drop in revenue last month. The Civic Federation watchdog group has also given the thumbs up to the state’s 2024 spending plan. That budget projects a $165 […]

Crime in Chicago is up and the business community is hoping for public safety improvements from the city's leadership. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins the John Howell show to talk about how to improve public safety in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime in Chicago is up and the business community is hoping for public safety improvements from the city's leadership. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins the John Howell show to talk about how to improve public safety in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*ABC 7 Sports Anchor Dionne Miller joins the show with her thoughts on this weekend's Bears game against the Cowboys.  *Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss shares his thoughts, as a private citizen, about the possibility of bringing ranked-choice voting to town.  *WLS City Hall Reporter Emeritus & Host of Take 1, Bill Cameron, previews this week's interview with mayoral candidate Kam Buckner. *Plus, Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, explains why they are demanding more transparency in CPD spending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*ABC 7 Sports Anchor Dionne Miller joins the show with her thoughts on this weekend's Bears game against the Cowboys.  *Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss shares his thoughts, as a private citizen, about the possibility of bringing ranked-choice voting to town.  *WLS City Hall Reporter Emeritus & Host of Take 1, Bill Cameron, previews this week's interview with mayoral candidate Kam Buckner. *Plus, Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, explains why they are demanding more transparency in CPD spending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's $242 million pension pre-payment plan will prevent Chicago's four cash-strapped pension funds from having to “sell assets in a down market,” but it cannot let Springfield off the hook, the Civic Federation president said Tuesday.Laurence Msall said state law was used to create the police, fire, laborers and municipal employees pension funds and the Il. General Assembly dictates “who the members are, what their contribution levels must be and what benefits” those retired city employees receive.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Civic Federation is urging the Chicago Board of Education to reject a new budget for Chicago Public Schools, a spending plan that includes a nearly 9% increase in the school district’s property tax levy. Chicago’s housing boom may be over. […]

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal likely will be a key plank of his re-election platform. Not only does it contain goodies for everyday Illinoisans – a property tax rebate for roughly 2 million people, plus a one-year break on grocery and gas taxes – the governor says it demonstrates he's made good on a pledge to dig the state out of the financial morass of the budget impasse during Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration. Here to analyze that budget is Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a government watchdog group founded by the Commercial Club of Chicago. Msall worked for Governors Jim Thompson and George Ryan on economic development issues, and has deepened his knowledge during his time at the Civic Federation. Republicans in the general assembly and the gubernatorial primary say the governor's proposal is an election year gimmick that doesn't fix the state's structural issues. Msall agrees, but only in part. There are goodies, yes, but he gives the proposal good grades on addressing the state's bill backlog, pensions, rainy day fund, and likely, its unemployment insurance fund. But there are warnings: the state needs more transparency around its infrastructure plans; the budget doesn't restart a stalled conversation on larger property tax reform; and there might be challenges in getting this budget through a general assembly who might be eager to spend, rather than stowing money away.

In this episode, we hear lessons from the C-Suite with Dorri McWhorter, President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.  Dorri shares how both heart work and head work have been integrated in her leadership approach across various industries and roles throughout her career.  She gives a behind the scenes look of her day-to-day responsibilities as a CEO, and shares her approach and inspiration for creating and communicating the vision and strategy she sets for her organization. We discuss the importance of having an intentional and compassionate people strategy to achieve organizational goals, and Dorri shares her insights on the current “great resignation” and future of work. The theme of tapping into your authenticity as a leader resonates throughout our discussion.  Listen in as Dorri shines bright as a Black Woman Leading role model for our community. Guest Bio  Dorri McWhorter became President and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago in August 2021. Prior to joining the YMCA, Dorri served for 8 years as the CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago transforming the organization from a traditional social service organization to 21st Century social enterprise. Increasing impact and organizational sustainability, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago's operating budget grew from $10.5 million in 2013 to a $38 million operating budget for FY 2022. The organization has been an active contributor to many critical initiatives across the region, and under Dorri's leadership, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago expanded its service footprint to 10 new locations, completed seven mergers and acquisitions, implemented paid family leave and developed a retirement plan to include retirement options for thousands of childcare providers and small business owners. Dorri led the effort to develop an exchange traded fund (ETF) for women's empowerment (NYSE: WOMN) in partnership with Impact Shares, which is the first non-profit investment advisor to develop an ETF product. Dorri was included in the inaugural list of “The Blue Network”, comprised of the top 100 innovators in Chicago, by Chicago Tribune's Blue Sky Innovation and recognized by Good City Chicago receiving its Innovative Leader Award. Dorri is a 2019 Inductee in the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame. Dorri prides herself on being a socially-conscious business leader and is committed to creating an inclusive marketplace by leveraging a cross-sector approach of engaging business, civic and community partners. Dorri has a breadth of professional experience across a variety of businesses and industries. She was a partner at Crowe Horwath, LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S.. She also held senior positions with Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton. Dorri serves on the Board of Directors for Lifeway Foods, William Blair Funds and Skyway Concession Company (Chicago Skyway).  Dorri's civic and philanthropic leadership includes the board of directors for the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1871 (Technology Business Accelerator), Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Civic Consulting Alliance, Civic Federation, and Forefront. She is also a member of the Illinois Charitable Trust Board. Dorri received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of business administration degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lake Forest College. Connect with Dorri: LinkedIN personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorrimcwhorter/ LinkedIn company:  linkedin.com/company/ymca-of-metropolitan-chicago Instagram company: instagram.com/YMCAChicago Instagram personal:instagram.com/chiccpa Twitter company:  twitter.com/YMCAChicago Twitter personal: twitter.com/chicCPA Facebook company: facebook.com/YMCAChicago Web: ymcachicago.org Credits: Learn more about the  Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/ Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Instagram: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Podbay

On this episode of Essential Cuts, John and Kim dig into the details of Lori Lightfoot's budget so that you don't have too: *Professor Justin Marlowe at the University of Chicago details why the city's revenue and spending will never be the same. *Greg Bishop of The Center Square shares how some lawmakers are moving to bar moral exemptions for refusing the COVID vaccine. *Mike Emanuel stops by for his weekly hit to talk about the latest news out of Washington. *Alex Stone of ABC News discusses how In-N-Out Burger has become the center of the vaccine mandate fight. *Plus, Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation claims that Lightfoot should pull out all the stops to keep the Bears in Chicago.

Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, joins Anna to talk about why he believes that Mayor Lightfoot should try to keep the Bears in Chicago for the economic impact an NFL team makes in the city. Laurence also chats with Anna about Chicago City Council passing Mayor Lightfoot’s budget proposal.

As the head of Chicago's foremost taxpayer watchdog group, Laurence Msall might be expected to urge fiscal caution. But Msall said losing the Bears would be a blow the city should try hard to avoid.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;) UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”. If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti In this episode: I interviewed Dorri McWhorter,President and CEO at YMCA of Metro Chicago. Dorri joined the YMCA in August 2021. Before serving at the Y, Dorri joined YWCA Metropolitan Chicago in March 2013 and has led the organization's transformation to a social enterprise, including the YWCA's expansion of digital services with the launch of YShop.org (e-commerce platform), womenshealthexchange.org (health insurance and information) and the MPWR, pronounced “empower”, mobile app (community engagement). Dorri leverages her large-scale change experience from working over 20 years in management consulting to the work that the YWCA does to create social change. Dorri lead the process for the YWCA to develop an exchange traded fund (ETF) for women's empowerment (NYSE: WOMN) in partnership with Impact Shares, which is the first non-profit investment advisor to develop an ETF product. Dorri was included in the inaugural list of “The Blue Network”, comprised of the top 100 innovators in Chicago, by Chicago Tribune's Blue Sky Innovation and is a 2019 Inductee in the Chicago Innovation Hall of Fame. Dorri serves on the Board of Directors for William Blair Funds and Skyway Concession Company (Chicago Skyway), and Lifeway Foods, Inc. Dorri co-chairs the Advisory Board for First Women's Bank (in formation). McWhorter's civic and philanthropic leadership includes the board of directors for the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1871 (Technology Business Accelerator), Civic Consulting Alliance, and the Civic Federation. Dorri is also a member of the Illinois Charitable Trust Board. McWhorter received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of business administration degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lake Forest College. Memorable Quotes: You cannot separate the numbers (or budget) from the narrative (or strategy) Useful Links and Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorrimcwhorter/ https://www.ymcachicago.org/ Follow UNBOSSED Podcast Anchor: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz6_FepG04QTs1BjFLBjw/ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUhfH8E Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7cWtBv Google Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/enjChPt Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cea4c49e-6c7e-4dab-833e-eb57d204c493 Substack: https://thechicagowoman.substack.com/ And all others… --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti/support

Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, joins Steve Bertrand on Chicago’s Afternoon News to explain how property tax exemptions for veterans, disabled people, and senior citizens in Cook County result in higher property tax bills for other homeowners. Follow Your Favorite Chicago’s Afternoon News Personalities on Twitter:Follow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

‘Focus on what you can right now,” on the Daily Grind, your weekly goal-driven podcast. This episode features Kelly Johnson and special guest Robert Blackwell Jr. Robert Blackwell, Jr. is the founder of EKI Digital, as well as a successful entrepreneur, former trader, and Executive Director at Alpha Mission. He also founded Killerspin, the world's leading table tennis engagement brand. The Killerspin experience reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually in over 160 countries around the world. Robert has served on many civic boards over the course of his career, and he currently serves the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council as well as being on the executive committee to Choose Chicago. S3 Episode 16: 09/14/2021 Featuring Kelly Johnson with Special Guest Robert Blackwell Jr. Audio Credit Intro: Draw The Line Mastered by Connor Christian Follow Our Podcast: Instagram: @dailygrindpod Twitter: @dailygrindpod Podcast Website: http://www.kjfwi.org/the-daily-grind Shop Our Merch: https://kelly-johnson-foundation.square.site Follow Our Special Guests: Killerspin Instagram: @killerspin Killerspin Website: www.killerspin.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dailygrindpod/support

A new direction for the Office of the Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk would be most welcomed. The Office is an public body few people know exists and rarely pay attention to unless they somehow end up involved in the court system. For 20 years the office has been run in the most incompetent and corrupt way possible by the former Clerk Dorothy Brown; however, last November voters elected a new person to the office, former State Senator Iris Martinez. However fleeting this moment is, it certainly is an opportunity to change the direction of the office and have it at the very least serving the needs of Cook County residents most of the time. Today we sit down with Alexandra Block, a Partner at Miller Shakman & Beem LLP & Annie McGowan, Senior Research Associate, Civic Federation, to discuss a report they authored for the Chicago Council of Lawyers and the recommendations included for how the Clerk's Office can move in another direction. Their suggests for moving the office in a new direction rely heavily on updating the technology of the Clerk's office. Anyone who has spent any time trying to get information out of the pre-Windows 95 terminals that the Clerk's Office maintains knows this is a vital step for them to take to convince the public they are serious about moving in a new direction. Also on our show today: Social media fails - Supt. Brown StyleNewsmax v. Mayor LightfootLetter for City Council hearing on policing Images from today's show Videos from today's show

Governor Pritzker's plan to balance the state budget by closing $932,000,000 dollars in corporate tax loopholes. The Civic Federation criticized the move saying "Now is not the time to hike taxes on Illinois businesses." Civic Federation President Laurence Msal discusses Pritzker's proposal further with John Howell.

Vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear masks indoors and they won’t count toward capacity limits under the city’s reopening plan. But how will businesses be able to tell who got the shot? Reporters Danny Ecker and Stephanie Goldberg join a reporters roundtable with host Amy Guth to talk about what could be a logistical nightmare. Plus: Lollapalooza will be back this summer, Civic Federation hits Pritzker's plan to close corporate loophole, Mariano's parent, Kroger gave its CEO $22 million after ending hazard pay for workers, Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg will be a spokesman for Chicago weed giant PharmaCann.

A recent report from the Civic Federation found that there are more governments operating in Illinois than there are actually recorded. If Illinois includes all its townships, school districts, and counties it has 8923 local governments operating but only 6918 are actually recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Civic Federation President Laurence Msall takes a deep dive into the report and discusses with John Howell.

Laurence Msall is the President of the Civic Federation, and joins Connected to Chicago. Bill and Laurence talk finances locally, state and at the Federal level. What to expect in January 2021...? We welcome in Greg Hinz of Crain’s, Ray Long of the Chicago tribune, Fran Spielman from the Chicago Sun-Times, and Heather Cherone of WTTW into this week’s Round Table. Issues with the City Budget, and what would be the smart move to make for Speaker Mike Madigan? Christine Poorman, Executive Director of College Possible talks with Lauren Cohn about how her organization is making it easier for Low-Income high school students to attend College.

Reset brings on the head of the nonpartisan budget watchdog Civic Federation to discuss the state’s financial challenges after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax failed to pass on Election Day.

Reset brings on the head the nonpartisan budget watchdog Civic Federation to break down Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan for closing the city’s projected $1.2 billion budget gap.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall. He argues that beleaguered Chicago taxpayers and business owners ravaged by the pandemic can't take any more punishment. Instead, he's urging the mayor to wield the budget axe.

Candidates for the Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court discuss their policies and stances in this debate forum hosted by the Civic Federation. This program was recorded by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

WBEZ's Becky Vevea shares what lies ahead for taxpayers as the city grapples with its finances. Reset also hears from Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation. Producer: Meha Ahmad, Stephanie Kim

Robert Blackwell, Jr is the founder of Quant16 as well as a successful entrepreneur and former trader. He also founded Killerspin, the world’s leading table tennis engagement brand. The Killerspin experience reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually in over 160 countries around the world. Robert has served on many civic boards over the course of his career, and he currently serves the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council as well as being on the executive committee to Choose Chicago. http://robertblackwelljr.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-blackwell-jr-4218023/ 2:00 - How do people go from poverty to prosperity? 15:30 - The advantage of growing up without money 22:15 - Robert’s long-time friendship with former president Barack Obama 25:30 - Why Robert sold his car to use ride share services exclusively 26:30 - Robert’s life-changing visit to West Africa 34:30 - Learnings from the ‘87 market crash 45:30 - Robert’s formula for decision making 49:30 - Killerspin’s company values 52:30 - Investing in ongoing economic opportunities for those with special needs 54:00 - Lagniappe: a little something extra you weren’t expecting 56:30 - What’s next for Robert and Killerspin? 1:02:30 - Why you should have an innovation budget 1:08:30 - Quantitative analysis vs. quantum computing 1:18:35 - You can get mentorship by reading, listening, and watching 1:19:05 - Rob’s takeaways Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/ Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Robert Blackwell, Jr is the founder of Quant16, formerly EKI Digital, as well as a successful entrepreneur and former trader. He also founded Killerspin, the world’s leading table tennis engagement brand. The Killerspin experience reaches hundreds of thousands of people annually in over 160 countries around the world. Robert has served on many civic boards over the course of his career, and he currently serves the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Federation of Chicago, Business Leadership Council as well as being on the executive committee to Choose Chicago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Blackwell_Jr. http://robertblackwelljr.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-blackwell-jr-4218023/ 13:40 Growing up in the first black family in the Western suburbs of Chicago 22:35 Three great pieces of advice from Robert’s father 26:00 How Robert got his Mom to quit smoking. 36:37 Why Robert gets rid of stuff as soon as he starts to get too attached 51:24 Robert’s greatest blessings in life 1:3:02 The decline of black neighborhoods in America, and what Robert’s doing to combat it 1:16:20 Why you should avoid being a “minority business” 1:17:15 Be #1 in the world at something (anything), and you’ll never be broke 1:25:57 Robert’s take on responsible giving and how to revitalize free enterprise Connect with Gary Rabine and DDCEO: Visit the DDCEO BLOG: http://ditchdiggerceo.com/ Like DDCEO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DitchDiggerCEO Follow DDCEO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DitchDiggerCEO Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh03Px5ez_xe_oE_iJMMNIg/featured?view_as=subscriber

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall.

Laurence Msall, one of the City's most respected budget analysts, talks with Craig Dellimore about the fiscal challenges facing the Lori Lightfoot Administration, and the prospects for closing what could be a Billion dollar Budget Gap. He talks taxes, revenue, structural reform and political realities. 

There’s no question that the city was in deep financial trouble when Rahm Emanuel took over as mayor 8 years ago. And while there’s a lot of work left to do, most experts agree that he made a series of good decisions-some of them not very politically popular-that have stabilized things for the time being. Laurence Msall from the Civic Federation, and Ralph Martire from Center for Tax and Budget Accountability join us to break down Emanuel’s legacy, and what Mayor Lightfoot should emulate, and avoid. Plus one of Emanuel’s most obvious accomplishments is the riverwalk. Michelle Woods has been working on the project for 17 years, so she’s as excited as she’s ever been as the summer season opens on Chicago’s “linear park”.

April 9, 2019 The State of the Illinois Budget – moderated by Tina Sfondeles – Laurence Msall, Ralph Martire & Jason Grotto Laurence Msall Laurence Msall is the President of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government research organization established in 1894 that promotes independent and evidence-based efforts to improve the effectiveness, financial sustainability, and transparency […]

Joining the show this week is Laurence Msall. Msall is the President of the Civic Federation. Bill and Laurence discuss the issues that will be facing the new Mayor of Chicago, and Governor Pritzker. Msall explains how government and City Hall can be modernized. In this week's round table segment, Bill is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Greg Hinz of Crains, Lynn Sweet and Fran of the Chicago Sun-Times. The round table opens up with a great clip from this past Mayoral debate. The election is this upcoming Tuesday. Who will become the next mayor? Will Kim Foxx get re-elected as the Cook County State’s Attorney? This week's community spotlight segment is with John Dempsey. John explains how there is a growing problem of Illinois State Troopers being struck while conducting traffic stops and assisting drivers. Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, 34, was outside inspecting a semitrailer on Route 20 just west of Route 75 at 11:25 a.m. in Stephenson County, Illinois State Police said. About an hour later, a combination semitrailer veered off the roadway and struck Jones-Story’s squad car, the semitrailer she was inspecting and Jones-Story herself, police said. Jones-Story, a 12-year veteran of District 16 in Pecatonica, died from the crash. Two days later, 36 year old state trooper Gerald Ellis was struck and killed while driving home from work by a wrong way driver who was also killed. Ellis was an eleven year Illinois State Police veteran and a veteran of the U.S. Military. State Police Director Brendan Kelly says the death of Ellis dealt an especially cruel blow to the men and women of the Illinois State Police, coming so quickly after the death of Trooper Jones-Story.

Civic Federation president urges new mayor to think big in cutting costs

You've heard Illinois is in the midst of a public pension crisis, but do you know how we got here? Special guest Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government finance think tank, walks us through the history of the problem and what our government can do to dig Illinois out of its pension hole.

Last month, the Chicago Community Bond Fund hosted City Bureau’s 58th Public Newsroom. Director of Advocacy Irene Romulo and volunteer Liz Corrado talked through Cook County’s money bond system and shared findings from a 2017 courtwatching initiative led by the Coalition to End Money Bond. Here they answer questions posed by a curious audience. Notes: As of early May, the Circuit Court of Cook County website has data about bond court from the last quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018. The Civic Federation proposed recommendations for the Sheriff’s Office, not legislation. Read and listen to more of South Side Weekly's coverage of bail at https://southsideweekly.com/?s=bail+reform. South Side Weekly Radio airs live on Tuesdays from 3-4pm at WHPK 88.5 FM - The Pride of the South Side - with your hosts Andrew Koski, Sam Larsen, and Olivia Obineme. The bumper at the beginning featured Chicago scholar, artist, and activist Eve Ewing and was produced by Jed Lickerman. For more news, visit www.southsideweekly.com.

From Chapter 9, "The National Civic Federation: Big Business Organized for Progressivism".This audiobook is made available through the generosity of Mr. Tyler Folger. Narrated by Graham Wright.

We talked to leaders at the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and The Civic Federation to learn about their insights on the state's first spending plan in more than two years.

A look at how many riders it takes to make a bus profitable.