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Turkey, side dishes and family await tomorrow. Start your Wednesday with these stories from WTTW News. |
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The Chicago Park District’s headquarters building at Park 596. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) |
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A long-awaited new fieldhouse, the transformation of a toxic waste site into a lakefront park and plans to address homelessness are all on the list of priorities for the Chicago Park District.
Those are among several projects included in the Chicago Park District’s budget proposal for next year. It’s set for a final vote from the Park District Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10.
Chicago Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the proposal.
On the Budget
The $637.6 million spending plan closes a $30 million deficit — the largest since the pandemic.
Ramirez-Rosa said the deficit grew due to rising personnel and maintenance costs, as well as declining state revenue.
“I’m very proud to say we were able to close that gap without layoffs, without compromising service to our patrons and without having to cut the core functions of what the Park District does,” he said. “We identified efficiencies, we made reasonable and modest revenue adjustments, and we responsibly used our TIF (Tax Increment Financing) surplus dollars — $46 million TIF surplus for next year — to balance our budget and to keep our programming accessible, affordable and to keep the parks there as a stable resource for our families.”
On Homeless Encampments
Encampments in parks have drawn criticism from some neighbors and officials, especially after fires broke out along the North Shore Channel in North Park in July.
“We know that if an encampment is impinging on park programming — if it’s near a playground, if it’s near homes, those are instances where we need to take action,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “But we want to ensure that we’re also reducing recidivism. So before closing an encampment, we want to make every best effort that we can to connect those individuals with housing and shelter, so they just don’t end up in another park.”
On New Park Development Projects
The Park District is investing $25 million for a new Ogden Park fieldhouse. The long-awaited project will replace the current deteriorated building in Englewood that dates back to the 1900s. There’s also half a million dollars earmarked to turn the 43-acre Calumet Park disposal area long used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers into a lakefront park. |
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(WTTW News) |
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The push for police oversight is also a neighborhood effort, with the help of police district councils.
Council members work in each of the city’s 22 police districts, hearing out residents’ public safety concerns and advocating for accountability in the Chicago Police Department. The first members were elected in 2023, giving everyday people more of a say in how policing is done.
More context:
Dion McGill, a member of the 7th Police District (Englewood) Council, said that while it’s been easier to listen to community concerns, there are still some challenges. In Englewood, the history of disinvestment and overpolicing still lingers and many people don’t trust law enforcement. He said his role as a district council member is to challenge the policing system.
“It’s my job to be critical of the work of CPD, as well as bring the community to the table,” McGill said.
The Chicago Police Department has had a community policing policy since 1993. It focuses on making sure the same officers, reporting to the same supervisors, consistently police the same part of the city. Community policing is also a part of the consent decree, the court order calling for CPD to stop violating Black and Latino residents’ constitutional rights.
McGill said CPD’s reform efforts don’t always align with what he believes residents need.
“To me, community policing means residents are shaping priorities,” McGill said. “... It’s when community members feel comfortable to be invited to say, ‘We see officers do this, we don’t like this, and we need you to explain this and why it’s happening and how we can make this look different.’” |
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Passengers walk through Chicago O’Hare International Airport in a file photo. (tupungato / iStock) |
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Travel during the Thanksgiving holiday period is expected to break records this year — regardless of whether you hit the road or take to the skies.
O’Hare is likely to see its busiest Thanksgiving travel week in the airport’s 70-year history, according to the city’s aviation department. More than 1.63 million travelers are expected to pass through O’Hare, a 9.5% increase from last year. The peak day for travel at O’Hare and Midway is expected to be on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Both O’Hare and Midway are expected to welcome nearly 2 million travelers between Tuesday and Monday, according to the city’s aviation department.
The Thanksgiving travel season comes a week after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted restrictions on commercial flights imposed at select major airports — including at O’Hare and Midway — amid the country’s longest government shutdown.
The FAA expects this year’s Thanksgiving travel season to be the busiest in 15 years, according to a news release. Tuesday is expected to be the peak travel day, with more than 52,000 flights, according to the FAA. Nationwide, nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, with nearly 90% traveling by car, according to AAA.
“Illinoisans are embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans this year,” Debbie Haas, AAA vice president of travel, said in a news release last week. “Even with concerns about flight cancellations, travelers are showing flexibility and resilience and relying most on driving.”
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Back in the Day: Nov. 26, 1897 - First of Marshall Field’s ‘Great Clocks’ Installed |
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One of the Marshall Field’s clocks, pictured in 1908 (DN-0053295, Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum) |
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At the corner of State and Washington streets was Marshall Field's and Company, a popular retail superstore founded by clothing store magnate Marshall. That intersection was also a popular meeting destination for Chicagoans. As WTTW points out, Field “learned that Chicagoans were leaving notes on the window of his store at the corner of State and Washington streets. It had organically become a meeting point, and people left notes in case they missed their rendezvous.” So, Field decided to affix a massive, 500-pound, iron clock to the side of the building. On this day in 1897—128 years ago—the Chicago Tribune reported that the clock was officially installed at Marshall Field's store. “From that day forward, people would say, ‘Meet me under the clock,’” McHenry County College history and business instructor Sarah Sullivan told "Chicago Stories." “It became a very popular symbol in Chicago.” In 1904, a second, 7-ton bronze clock was added to the corner of State and Randolph. The clocks didn’t match until the original one at State and Washington was replaced in 1907 with another 7-ton clock. The two clocks still stand tall at what's now Macy's and in 2009, a GPS was installed to synchronize the pair four times per day. |
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Nov. 26-Dec. 2 |
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, Nov. 26:
Billy Corgan at Lyric Opera House. Tickets.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman teams up with Lyric Opera of Chicago to celebrate 30 years of his band’s classic album “Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness.” The third of six shows.
Algernon Cadwallader, Gladie, Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra at Thalia Hall. Tickets.
The emo band's first album in 14 years, "Trying Not to Have a Thought," sees the group catch a second wind.
Friday, Nov. 28:
Saba, Pivot Gang at Metro. Tickets.
This collaborative rap concert is called “John Walt Day,” which honors the Pivot Gang member who was murdered in February 2017.
Raekwon, Mobb Deep at Riviera. Tickets.
Two hip-hop legends team up for a show in Uptown.
Saturday, Nov. 29:
Neal Francis, the Heavy Heavy, the Dead Bolts at Salt Shed. Tickets.
Like classic rock? Like jams? This Chicago-area piano man might be your new local hero.
Sunday, Nov. 30:
Claire Rousay, Zander Raymond at Constellation. Tickets.
A night of experimental and ambient music at the local venue best suited for experimental and ambient music.
Tuesday, Dec. 2:
Erykah Badu at the Chicago Theatre. Tickets.
The pioneering “Queen of Neo Soul” makes an appearance downtown for two shows at an iconic venue. This is night one. |
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What's your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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