The city's License Committee added Alderman Brandon Reilly's 42nd Ward, which includes the Loop, River North and the Gold Coast to the list of wards where private businesses will have the legal authority to boot cars parked on private property. "It seemed like an interesting concept. I figured we’d give it a try,” Reilly told the Sun-Times, pointing out that illegal parkers wouldn't have to travel to remote lots to spring their towed vehicles, and that a private attendant would be on duty to remove the boot once the fine had been paid. more ›

One thing that we could never abide was vicious dogs. The problem, you see, usually isn't the dog at all, but the crap-for-brains people who've abused them, neglected them, or trained them to be man eaters. more ›

A couple of years ago, Alderman Gene Schulter of the 47th ward (and Chairman of the License Committee) was made aware of some scummy kennel operators in his area and was disgusted by what he found going on at their operations (e.g., dogs without food and water). He headed up a task force of sorts to ensure that kennels, grooming and other dog day care facilities would be held to some sort of standard in... more ›

"MCA Entryway" via eqx1979. more ›

Let's say you come from a family that enjoys good conversation while sharing a bottle of wine on the holidays. Or maybe you come from a family where you need a stiff shot of Glenrothes in order to get through the unwrapping of presents. But you live in Chicago, both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a Sunday this year, and you can't buy liquor until 11 a.m. Let's take solace in... more ›

It's a big week for Chicagoans who like to get wasted. Some restaurant owners are asking the City Council's License Committee to change liquor sale laws. Right now, it's illegal to sell liquor Sundays before 11 a.m. Restaurant owners are asking to change that time to 10 a.m. in the hopes of attracting Bears fans to downtown brunches before the game. Gene Schulter, 47th ward alderman and chairman of License Committee, seems amenable to the change. "'People who come here as tourists and conventioneers -- we want to make it as easy as possible for them to be served.'" Look, we like boozing as much as the next person and probably more, but�sheesh, 10 a.m. is early even for us. more ›

Getting your car booted sucks. It sucks really hard. Now, City Council might help you protect your rights by requiring private boot companies to put a bill of rights notice on the windshield of booted cars. more ›