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What to know about the city’s new parking meter deal and more from WTTW News this Wednesday. |
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Uptown’s Weiss Hospital is pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News) |
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Residents in two Chicago-area communities are hoping to see their safety-net hospitals reopened under new leadership.
Insight Health Systems reached a deal this month to purchase both Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park after both shuttered following years of reported mismanagement and poor structural conditions.
Marc Kaplan, a leadership team member of Northside Action for Justice, said community members have been fighting to preserve Weiss for years, including efforts beginning in 2020 and 2021 after the hospital’s former owner moved to sell its parking lot for luxury development.
Community advocates pushing for the hospitals to be operational again, like Kaplan, see the acquisition as a step in the right direction but estimate the road ahead will be long.
“There’s really a bigger battle in terms of the funding of safety-net hospitals and about how the state pays for it,” Kaplan said. “We know that with the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid — which 80 to 90% of the patients in these hospitals, that’s how they pay — we’ll have some serious issues, but we’re looking forward to this partnership (with Insight).”
More context:
Illinois hospitals stand to lose $4 billion in revenue over the next several years due to changes in Medicaid and Medicare funding outlined in the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to KFF, an independent health policy research and polling organization. Those changes will also limit the state’s ability to direct higher reimbursement payments to healthcare facilities that primarily serve low-income patients.
One of the greatest obstacles to restoring operations at Weiss Memorial and West Suburban is having their Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) licenses renewed and restored, according to the Rev. Henry Barlow, an Insight Health board member.
Weiss had its license stripped earlier this month, while West Suburban anticipates the same action next week.
The physical condition of the hospitals is another major hurdle.
“Both (hospitals) are in terrible shape,” Barlow said. “There is a lot of equipment that is not working, simple things like the nurses’ call system. That whole system is out and needs to be replaced.”
The hospitals’ boilers, HVAC systems and elevators are also in need of repair. |
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Sponsor Message |
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Full Spectrum Education, Northeastern Illinois University’s Goodwin College of Education, and NEIU Libraries presents a distinguished lecture on the Japanese American Redress movement, Thursday, October 15th at 5:00 pm.
Hear Doctor Michael Jin examine and demonstrate how educators can develop curriculum on this significant historical topic in American history in a way that can be relevant and meaningful for today’s students.
This free event is part of the “Reckoning with Redress” exhibition, ongoing through October 31st at the Ronald Williams Library Gallery on the main campus.
To RSVP for this event, visit NEIU.edu/reckoning-redress-three-part-series |
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) |
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The Chicago City Council voted 32-15 Tuesday to require at least 30 alderpeople to vote to approve any plan to borrow more money in an attempt to make it harder for the city to take on more debt.
Authored by Ald. Marty Quinn (13th Ward), the measure requires new borrowing to be approved by a three-fifths vote of the City Council, rather than a simple majority of 26 votes.
Quinn, who is not seeking reelection in February, has been a frequent critic of the mayor and his handling of the city’s finances, which have long been out of whack, pinched by soaring pension costs, spiraling personnel costs and a massive amount of debt.
Quinn called it a “simple change” designed to protect the city’s long-term financial health.
Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward), who is seeking reelection, called Chicago’s debt a “silent killer.”
After a vote on the measure was blocked Wednesday, Johnson told reporters the measure would make it harder for the city to “move with expediency” to fill potholes, trim trees and repair or rebuild Chicago bridges that are crumbling because of “negligence over decades.”
Johnson could veto the measure. It would take 34 votes on the City Council to override his veto.
Some backstory:
In April 2024, 32 members of the City Council voted to borrow $1.25 billion through 2028 to fund a wide-ranging slate of projects designed to expand the supply of affordable homes and good-paying jobs.
However, in February 2025, just 26 alderpeople voted to borrow $830 million to repair Chicago’s crumbling streets, sidewalks and bridges after weeks of controversy. Had that measure been rejected, the city would have no clear way to pay to repave roads, fix cracked sidewalks, renovate police and fire stations and replace police cruisers and fire trucks for the foreseeable future.
Since 2020, the City Council twice agreed to borrow a total of $3.25 billion to repair Chicago’s infrastructure. |
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(WTTW News) |
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The Chicago City Council voted 46-3 Tuesday to allow Chicago’s parking meters to be sold to an investment firm after months of controversy that dredged up memories of the 2008 deal that continues to roil Chicago politics nearly two decades later.
Here’s a breakdown of what it means that New York-based Stonepeak Partners is set to become the new owner of the city’s more than 36,000 meters.
Why didn’t the city buy the meters back?
Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters, “The final purchase price was far too high.” The city bid $3.2 billion for the meters — by far the highest offer — before reversing course. The city would have had to borrow billions to finance the purchase.
How much will Stonepeak spend to buy the meters?
The “alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets” will pay $2.53 billion to purchase Chicago Parking Meters LLC.
Once the deal closes by the end of the year, the firm will pay the city $75 million, according to the agreement.
In addition, Stonepeak will share 5% of its profits with the city, which is expected to yield $376.2 million for the city over the next 57 years, according to the agreement. Those funds will be earmarked for the city’s pension funds, officials said.
Will Chicago parking meters cost more?
No, but there are proposals to tie the cost of parking at a meter in Chicago to inflation. That could boost the city’s small share of revenue from the meters — and prevent the city from having to compensate the firm for meters taken out of service. |
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More From WTTW News:
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Back in the Day: September 30, 2015 - WGN Airs Last Televised Lottery Draw
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Growing up, a staple of local news broadcasts was watching plastic ping-pong balls rattle around a cage and be drawn one by one to list the winning lottery numbers. In Chicago, that practice started at WGN in 1975 and continued until 2015, when it ended on this date 11 years ago. From 1994 until Sept. 30, 2015, “Lottery Lady” Linda Kollmeyer hosted the proceedings until the Illinois State Lottery shifted its attention from TV to digital drawings. At the end of the final broadcast, Kollmeyer gave a speech to the audience. “Every one of you is a winner,” Kollmeyer said. “You know why? Because you’ve got it in your heart. This is not goodbye.” Results are now posted only on illinoislottery.com. |
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Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Sept. 30-Oct. 6 |
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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, Sept. 30:
Steve Lacy at Aragon Ballroom. Tickets.
This summer, the “Bad Habit” singer put out a new album called “Oh yeah?” The first of two shows in Uptown.
The Linda Lindas, VIAL, flowersatherfeet at House of Blues. Tickets.
These precocious punks are growing up.
Thursday, Oct. 1:
Steve Lacy at Aragon Ballroom. Tickets.
This summer, the “Bad Habit” singer put out a new album called “Oh yeah?” The second of two shows in Uptown.
Militarie Gun, Softcult, Shady Nasty, Dazy at Metro. Tickets.
Rowdy, anthemic punk in Lakeview.
Friday, Oct. 2:
DJ Shadow, Open Mike Eagle at the Vic Theatre. Tickets.
Joshua Paul Davis celebrates 30 years of his groundbreaking album “Endtroducing.....”
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Salt Shed. Tickets.
The Grateful Dead’s catalog lives on with this excellent cover band.
Saturday, Oct. 3:
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers at Cahn Auditorium. Tickets.
Head to Evanston to see a songwriting legend.
Buzzcocks, Mind’s Eye, the Effigies at Park West. Tickets.
This English punk band formed 50 years ago.
The Chicks at Auditorium Theatre. Tickets.
One of the most popular country trios of all time takes the stage in the Loop. Night 1 of 2.
Souled American at Judson & Moore. Tickets.
Quiet folk that takes the songs into unexpected places.
Sunday, Oct. 4:
Bright Eyes at Metro. Tickets.
The band last played this venue in 2007.
Half Gringa, Matt Gold at the Hideout. Tickets.
Izzy Olive’s incredible folk songs meet the local guitarist’s jazzy compositions.
Krill, Patter at Schubas. Tickets.
The East Coast DIY legends are a Chicago band now.
Tuesday, Oct. 6:
Kelela, keiyA at the Vic Theatre. Tickets.
Recommended if you like mononymic songwriters that start with a K. |
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What's the best bar in Chicago to watch the Bears? 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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