Results tagged “themayor”

Several days ago, we reported that the Aldermen were going to be considering a ban on sparklers in the city. Unfortunately, the Daily Southtown reports that City Council approved Jim Balcer's (11th) revised proposal to get rid of sparklers in the city, and the sparklers are now banned. They didn't even debate. The Mayor gave his pearls of wisdom on the topic as well. "Sparklers are completely different now," Daley said. "They've gotten more dangerous,...

The Mayor's Office and the Office of Inspector General have differing opinions on who should monitor city hiring practices. A newly signed deal ensures Illinois is Pepsi country for the next ten years. Albertson's, the parent company that owns Jewel Food stores, is one of the supermarket companies involved in the recall of botulism-tainted French-cut green beans. When the statewide indoor smoking ban goes into effect in January, the "cigar-at-a-steakhouse" dudes might have to...

Yes, that’s Mayor Daley in this blurry photo. Some microphone guy from WGN bumped into us as we were trying to snap a photograph. The Mayor was speaking in circles before the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community at the annual reception he hosts for said community at the Chicago Cultural Center. It’s official now, through a proclamation signed by the Mayor himself, June is now Pride Month. Proclamations are sort of trendy nowadays, with...

Mayor Daley is attempting to giddyup the vote on his affordable-housing plan prior to the new council members take office on May 21. Wednesday was supposed to be the last meeting of the current council, but using a parliamentary maneuver Ald. Preckwinkle (4th) and seven others blocked the vote, hoping to have the vote once the 9 new members come on board. The Mayor's affordable housing plan calls for 10% of new developments that are...

With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing through their heads, the -Ists began to get into that holiday mood. Well, some did. Austinist wasn't as the NY Times dissed them and a local Tex-Mex institution sold out. Making them feel better was music, sweet music and the local theater getting name checked on "Heroes." Chicagoist tried to wrap their heads around a religious movie being banned from a Christmas themed park. To wash that...

We knew today was special, and not because it's Friday the 13th. It's Diddy Day in Chicago! In a ceremony today that had absolutely nothing to do with the release of Diddy's new album, Press Play, last Tuesday, Mayor Daley proclaimed today "Diddy Day" in Chicago. The honor recognizes Sean "Puff Daddy/Puffy/P. Diddy/Diddy" Combs for his work with various charitable causes, including AIDS research, breast cancer awareness, youth mentoring programs, and Mase's rap career. The Mayor also gave Diddy a pair of cufflinks with the Chicago seal, then the two donned silver jumpsuits and performed "Mo Money Mo Problems," with the Mayor filling in the Notorious B.I.G.'s verses.

If Chicago does score the 2016 Olympics, you can bet we'll have better TV coverage than any of the previous games held elsewhere. That's because Mayor Daley promised yesterday that by that time, "We'll have [cameras on] almost every block." Want fan reaction on Marion Jones' failed steroids test from the corner of Madison and State? Got it. How about a man-on-the-street opinion from the bum in the alley behind the Chipotle on Jackson? Bob Costas, stay in your studio, we already have a close-up shot from there. The Mayor says the video system would be the most sophisticated in the world, so that if something bad happens, at least we can find the tape of it happening three hours later.

LAist is flashing a sad peace out to their editor Carolyn Kellogg with one hand and bumping knuckles with their new head typist L.A. blogger king Tony Pierce with the other. Where do ist editors go when they hang up the 'editorial we'? They take on MySpace, apparently. At least Ben Brown does. Austinist reminds of the just rewards of less savory careers this week and then they witness the Arctic Monkeys and We Are...

The budget is a drag.

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.

Bloomin' Terrific, the City's celebration of springtime, starts off it's season today at Daley Plaza. Every Thursday around lunchtime there are activities and a market from now until May 12. It's probably too late for you to attend today's event on creating herb containers but you can still stop by the market, which is open from 8 am - 2pm every Thursday to sell flowers and plants. So get offya butt, outta your cube for a while and attend one of the other weekly events:

Yesterday, The Mayor’s Office of Special Events announced the musical lineup for this summer’s Taste of Chicago. It’s the usual mix of artists that fall into two categories: it-would-be-cool-to-see-them-live and all-you-have-to-do-is-ask.

Oof. We’re getting off to a late start this morning here in the Chicagoist offices; we blame the humidity and last night’s late showing of Ah, sweat and confusion, thy name is laziness.