Government Efficiency and Transparency

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Recommendations for a Financially Sustainable City of Chicago

The purpose of this report is to provide the City of Chicago’s Mayor and City Council with detailed recommendations on ways to address the City’s serious financial challenges and create a government that is more efficient, less costly and…

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Gun Club Vote Illustrates FPDCC Board Conflict

UPDATE: The proposal to allow the Blue Park Gun Club the use of Forest Preserve District property for its operations was withdrawn…

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Rahm Emanuel cutting budget by 75 mil.

In this article about the first budget cuts City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made to help restore solvency to the City’s finances, the Civic Federation says that the cuts are a good first step, but deeper reductions must be made to…

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Rahm Emanuel: Can he handle Chicago’s ‘profound’ financial crisis?

This article discusses how City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may confront the City’s major budget issues. The Civic Federation explains that the problems were exacerbated by a long-standing unwillingness to reduce spending. The Federation…

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Daley Legacy Debated

This article discusses the issues City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel must confront as he works to restore fiscal health to the City’s finances. The Civic Federation says that the City must reduce personnel costs and adequately fund its…

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As Recession-Pinched Cities Trim Their Fire Department Staffing, Chicago Stands Pat

This article compares fire department staffing levels in Chicago to other large American cities and finds that the City of Chicago’s staffing level ranks third, behind New York City and Philadelphia. The Civic Federation says that the City…

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Cook County’s Request to Close Oak Forest Hospital Rejected by State Board

A key component of Cook County’s plan to remake its public health system was rejected by a State of Illinois board on May 10, 2011, adding to concerns that the County might have difficulties implementing its FY2011 budget. At a meeting in…

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Civic Federation Supports Cook County Health System’s Plan for Oak Forest Hospital

The Civic Federation sent the following letter to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board in support of a plan by the Cook County Health and Hospitals System to discontinue acute-care hospital services at Oak Forest…

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NewsViews: Chicago’s City Council

In this interview, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall and Chicago 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack discuss Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s proposal to reduce the size of the Chicago City Council. Mr. Msall says that the City…

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Watchdog group praises Preckwinkle, but dings her, too

In this blog post, Greg Hinz discusses the conclusions of the Civic Federation's "Cook County Modernization 100-Day Accountability Report." The Federation found…