Last week, Chicagoist caught up with the Master of the First Ward - and the only alderman regularly on Twitter - Chicago Ald. Manny Flores outside the Green Exchange. We've seen Flores in the news a lot lately for his insistence on shining light on government transparency as well as his battle to cap the city's Olympic liability (which he allegedly later backed down on). We talked to Flores about the economy, green initiatives, and he gives us a definitive answer on speculation he's running for mayor in 2011 (but a less definitive answer on if he's got plans for something else). more ›

A new ordinance will give Chicago aldermen at least 60 days to review major city lease agreements and sales in the city. The law, which was approved by the city council June 3, permits aldermen to call in independent auditors before the city contracts are put out to bid. It also allows the council to call on the office of the inspector general for review agreements, though the council retains its usual responsibility for review. more ›

The Chicago Journal has an update on the Green Exchange, the eco-themed shopping mall that's slated to open in the old Cooper lamp factory on Diversey. There are two bits of news in the article: first, the Green Exchange is expected to open by the end of 2008, and second, "city planners are exploring the possibility of creating an eco-industrial park or green-themed planned manufacturing district nearby." more ›

Nearly two weeks after Congressman Luis Gutierrez announced that he will, indeed, seek a ninth term in Congress (after announcing that he wouldn't run again), First Ward Alderman Manny Flores has announced that he won't seek the congressional seat. "I did this of my own accord. He's my friend," Flores told the Sun-Times, adding that Gutierrez didn't try to persuade him. Of course, Gutierrez's decision shouldn't be too shocking. The conventional wisdom is that if... more ›

After a veritable outpouring of support expressed through an open letter, Fourth District Congressman Luis Gutiérrez announced that he would seek a 9th term in congress. “The situation is going to get worse for the immigrant community, there’ll be more deportations and more separation of families and more damage to our community,” Gutierrez said yesterday. “I want to come back to see if a Democrat-controlled Congress with a president called Barack Obama can bring an... more ›

This time it was without a warrant and with the full cooperation of the Mayor's staff, but for about twenty minutes after work hours on Monday, federal investigators visited the Department of Streets and Sanitation, their third city office in as many days. The U.S. Attorney won't comment on what they were looking for, and city Corporation Counsel Mara Georges is repeatedly telling reporters how cooperative Mayor Daley is being. The Mayor, nor his senior officials, have been accused of any wrongdoing. more ›