Senior Analyst

Peter B. Matuszak is a Senior Analyst for the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation, focused on state infrastructure and debt. As a journalist Peter reported on government, land use and real estate in California, most recently at the Los Angeles Daily Journal. The California Newspaper Publishers Association recognized him as a finalist in 2008 for the best business or financial story for his reporting on new public finance structures in the state.

In his professional career Peter has worked in print and broadcast media, academic administration, online marketing and business development.

He spent the late 1990s as an executive at an Internet start-up funded by a consortium of the largest media companies in the country. In 2002 he returned to his studies at Northwestern University, while also working full time at NU School of Law. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2005 as a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society with a degree in Political Science and Journalism.

He began his career in media at ESPN producing highlights for its suite of cable sports shows. Since then he has also worked at a financial newswire and as a community affairs reporter in the Beach Cities region of Los Angeles County. Peter joined the Los Angeles Daily Journal as a legal affairs reporter covering corporate counsel in 2006. Several months later he was promoted to the lead staff writer assigned to Los Angeles City Hall. Peter’s skill and passion for government reporting led to him to break stories about the bullying of a historic Venice poetry center by city administrators, overspending on outside law firms by the City Attorney’s office and the hidden costs to taxpayers of public subsidies promised to a downtown luxury hotel developers.

While living on the West Coast he and his wife Ellie enjoyed playing in beach volleyball tournaments and learning to surf. Now back in Chicago they look forward to rejoining their 16” softball team, the Isotopes, in the Pulaski Park recreation league and cheering for the Chicago White Sox in person at U.S. Cellular Field.