In a recent meeting, Acting Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Nora Leerhsen highlighted the critical need for a financial strategy following the Illinois General Assembly’s failure to address a staggering $770 million budget shortfall impacting Chicago-area transit.
Leerhsen emphasized the importance of recognizing both past achievements in workforce development and the potential future benefits of securing necessary funding.
“It’s incredibly important that members of the legislature and the public are also reminded of what we can do with the money when we do receive it,” she stated, underscoring the CTA’s efforts to navigate through unprecedented challenges in the transit sector.
Among the options being discussed to tackle the budget crisis is the establishment of a new Northern Illinois Transit Authority, meant to replace the existing Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).
This proposed agency would allow current transit operators to focus on service operation while managing regional policy issues, including fare adjustments and major projects.
However, Leerhsen stressed that the priority remains securing funding to maintain and improve services, particularly as Chicago embarks on ambitious transit investments like the Frequent Network aimed at enhancing bus services across the city.
“It’s obviously a historic, unprecedented time for our industry and our region,” Leerhsen concluded, expressing her commitment to viewing the situation as an opportunity for growth.
In another development, the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way expressed its support for a new pilot program designed to ensure safe pick-up and drop-off services for Chicago teenagers attending public events in the 29th Ward on the West Side.
Alderman Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward advocated for the initiative, noting ongoing challenges in ensuring youth accessibility to worthwhile activities.
“I hope this pilot program will be approved,” Taliaferro stated, highlighting the necessity of negotiating an agreement between the Department of Transportation (IDOT) and either the CTA or RTA to implement the program.
Several council members echoed their interest in establishing similar initiatives in their wards, illustrating a city-wide acknowledgment of the transport barriers youth face.
The program remains in committee as officials meet with CTA representatives to assess potential costs and secure funding.
Subsequently, at a City Council Committee on Workforce Development meeting, a vote on the Chicago Rideshare Living Wage and Safety ordinance was delayed by Committee Chair Michael Rodriguez.
The ordinance, which Rodriguez had originally introduced, remains in limbo as he canceled a proposed vote.
According to recent developments, approximately 100,000 ride-share drivers across Illinois have gained the right to organize, following an agreement between ride-share giant Uber and the Illinois Drivers Alliance.
This deal, facilitated by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 and the International Association of Machinists Mechanics Union Local 701, ensures that Uber will not oppose efforts to grant drivers collective bargaining rights, although they will still retain their classification as independent contractors.
Despite their progress with Uber, union representatives have yet to achieve a similar agreement with Lyft but discussions are ongoing.
The proposed legislation, termed the “Fair Share Ordinance,” is intended to enhance conditions for ride-share drivers, guaranteeing a living wage, ensuring safety measures, and increasing transparency in fare structures and deactivation processes.
Meanwhile, the City Council Committee on Finance also took significant steps as it voted to authorize settlements in four police misconduct lawsuits totaling nearly $25 million, a historic acknowledgment of corruption and abuse incidents since the 1980s.
The funding sources for these settlements have yet to be determined.
In its efforts to address police misconduct, the City has already spent over $143.3 million covering various police-related lawsuits in 2025 alone, which has far surpassed budgeted amounts.
One of the most notable cases set for settlement is James Gibson v. City of Chicago, where the City faces a potential payout of $14.7 million.
Gibson was convicted in the late 1980s for a double homicide but spent nearly three decades in prison before his conviction was vacated in 2019 amidst claims that his confession was coerced through torture by police.
City Deputy Corporation Counsel Jessica Felker warned that proceeding to trial could result in financial liabilities ranging from $30 million to $100 million for the City.
In a move that garnered significant attention, Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed a controversial ordinance known as the “snap curfew,” which was designed to empower the Chicago Police Superintendent to impose a curfew on minors and disperse mass gatherings.
The ordinance had previously passed the City Council with a narrow margin of 27–22 votes, and Johnson’s veto marks the first for a Chicago mayor since 2006.
Critics of the measure included Alderperson Angela Clay, who emphasized the need for community engagement in the decision-making process and expressed concern over the lack of input from young residents on such an impactful issue.
Getting enough votes to override the veto requires support from at least 34 alderpersons, spotlighting the controversial nature of the ordinance.
In parallel, the Illinois African Descent–Citizens Reparations Commission continues its critical work towards addressing historical injustices.
At a recent meeting, the commission received an update on the Harms Report, a draft intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of historical and contemporary inequities faced by Black Americans in the state.
Set to be unveiled in December 2023 or January 2026, the report is part of a larger initiative established by the Illinois General Assembly in 2022 and aims to document varying dimensions of harm, including mental and physical health impacts, familial pathologies, and economic disparities.
Collaborating with the University of Illinois Chicago Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, the report will serve as a foundation for future policy recommendations.
The commission has a broad mandate, encompassing initiatives aimed at preserving African American neighborhoods, promoting vocational development, ensuring equitable economic representation, and enforcing transparency in state contracts.
With significant legislative proposals pending in multiple areas, the future of transit, workforce rights, and reparations remains in focus as Chicago navigates through its current challenges.
image source from：southsideweekly
