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Spotlight Politics: A New Casino and Possible Ethics Flub

A rendering of the planned Bally's casino. (Credit: Bally's) 

Crews Start to Demolish Tribune’s Former Printing Plant, as Work Begins on Permanent Casino

More than 600 days ago, the Chicago City Council and former Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave Bally’s the green light to demolish the Chicago Tribune’s newsroom and printing plant to build not just a casino but also a resort along the Chicago River, just west of downtown.

On Tuesday, crews are set to finally start demolishing the former home of the storied newspaper, which is now working out of the West Loop, launching Bally’s efforts to build a permanent casino, after facing a mountain of doubt during the past two years.

With 3,300 slots and 173 table games in addition to an exhibition hall, 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater and 11 restaurants, the casino promises to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the city’s underfunded police and fire pensions.

Will that bet pay off? Maybe – but the permanent casino isn’t scheduled to open until Fall 2026. - Heather Cherone

Did Mayor Johnson Bump Up Against Chicago’s Ethics Ordinance? 

On the first day of school at CPS, Mayor Brandon Johnson visited Chalmers STEAM Elementary. His visit took a political turn when he openly backed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

“You all know, I used to teach social studies, so I know that’s you all’s favorite subject because you’re going to be studying history when we elect a Black woman to become president of the United States of America,” Johnson said. 

That Johnson backs Harris is no surprise: He gave a speech on her behalf on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention a week ago. But that was at a political event. During his school visit, he was operating in his governmental capacity. The city’s ethics ordinance prohibits the use of city property for “prohibited political activity” such as promoting political campaigns. 

Johnson’s office defended his comments while the Chicago Board of Ethics could not weigh in on whether Johnson’s remarks were a violation.
-Amanda Vinicky

Family Mourns Anthony Gay, Man Who Spent 22 Years in Solitary Confinement and Became an Activist for Prisoners’ Rights

Anthony Gay (Credit: submitted by his family) 

Brandis Friedman writes a touching story about Anthony Gay, an incarcerated man turned activist who died days before his 51st birthday on Aug. 17 of lung and liver cancer. 

Originally arrested in the early ‘90s for stealing a hat and $1 when he was a teenager, the Rock Island native spent more than 20 years in solitary confinement.  Gay suffered from borderline personality disorder and has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Attorneys say because of his mental illnesses, he acted out in prison, which led to more years being added to his sentence. 

In the last years of his life, he advocated for federal reform to limit the use of solitary confinement. Though he had been transferred to a Missouri prison at the beginning of the year, he was granted compassionate medical release two days before his death. 

Read the full story of his family remembering the man.

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez Says He Hasn’t Directly Talked With Mayor Since Reports That His Job is Under Threat

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Aug. 26, 2024. (WTTW News)

Earlier this month, WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chalkbeat reported that  Johnson is trying to oust Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez over budget differences. But on Monday's episode of "Chicago Tonight," Martinez said he has not been told by anyone in the Johnson administration that his job is on the line and maintained there’s “never been better alignment between our district, our board … the city, the mayor, and I would argue even the unions” as they all know and want CPS to have more money."

• Board of Education members appointed by Johnson sided with Martinez in approving a $9.9 billion schools budget. Johnson reportedly has encouraged CPS to borrow hundreds of millions to cover costs of teacher pensions and higher pay for teachers.

• The Chicago Teachers Union is negotiating a new contract with asks including raises, more art teachers and supports for unhoused children.

• CTU President Stacy Davis Gates took direct aim at Martinez in an op-ed published in the Chicago Tribune Monday, writing that if CPS students succeed, it’s “in spite” of Martinez rather than because of him, writing that “there isn’t enough funding to meet basic needs is an unacceptable response.”

• In response, Martinez said his “work speaks for itself.”

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Also From WTTW News: 

• 35 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend, including a 15-year-old.
  

• The 1932 jersey Babe Ruth wore when he called his shot at Wrigley Field just sold for over $24 million. 

• Are you searching for something to do this week? Our Summer Festival Guide has you covered.

Back in the Day: August 27, 1979 - The First Chicago Jazz Festival 

The Chicago Jazz Festival is a beloved local institution and the 2024 incarnation, which is its 45th anniversary of the event, starts in two days at Millennium Park. Though it’s called the Jay Pritzker Pavillion home since 2013, the first Chicago Jazz Festival happened in 1979 at Grant Park’s Petrillo Music Bandshell. 

The inaugural event merged three existing jazz events: annual tributes for Duke Ellington and John Coltrane as well as the festival planned by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. With events happening across seven days, the Chicago Jazz Festival quickly became the largest free jazz festival in the world. The first year’s performers included Benny Goodman, McCoy Tyner, E. Parker McDougal, Von Freeman, Art Hodes and dozens more. 125,000 attendees flocked to the 1979 festival. This year, you can find Catherine Russell, Maddie Vogler, Big Shoulders Brass Band and more performing at the four-day event. 

Here's the complete schedule and information on how to attend. 

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What’s a now-closed Chicago neighborhood spot that you miss dearly? 

Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your response. Your answers will be published Friday.

Other News From Around Town:

• The Chicago Sky Have a New Mascot and It’s Much Cuter Than Sky Guy (WNBA)  

• The DNC Put Chicago in the Limelight, but It Also Emptied the Loop of Office Workers, Hurting Some Restaurants. ‘It Was Mostly a Bad Week.’ (Chicago Tribune) 

• GoFundMe Launched For Family Of Ukrainian Immigrant Killed In Northwest Side Crash (Block Club Chicago) 

• Woman Shot at White Sox Game Last Year Files Lawsuit Against Team, Stadium Owners (Chicago Sun-Times)

• Demolition is set for the new Bally's casino in River West. Our Spotlight Politics team on that and more. 

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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry