
City Cast Chicago
💰 How progressive is Johnson’s $16.6B budget?
October 12, 2023
We’re talking all things budget today — the city’s and yours. Keep on reading 👇

What's CITY Talking About?
Cook County Jail Population Down
A month after cash bail was eliminated in Illinois, the jail has just under 5,000 detainees, the lowest the jail population has been since the 1980s and briefly during a 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. [WBEZ]
- Illinois was the first state in the country to eliminate cash bail, but it was a long road. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Rallying for Work Permits for All Immigrants
Immigrant rights advocates are organizing in Pilsen today to demand the federal government grant work permits to longtime undocumented residents after the process was made easier last month for newly arrived Venezuelan asylum-seekers. [Block Club]
Chicago School Board Map Meeting
State lawmakers are holding another hearing today on the map for Chicago’s first elected school board, a 21-person body voters will partly decide on next fall. The map must be set by April 1. [WTTW]
- Does Chicago currently have a “lame duck” school board? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Millennium Park Christmas Tree Noms Close
Today is the last day to nominate a tree to be the downtown holiday centerpiece. Trees should be 45 feet or taller and 50 miles or fewer from the Loop. Preference given to a Norway Spruce or Fir tree. [City of Chicago]
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What To Do

‘Diwali: Illumination’ in the Loop 🪔 Thursday | 7:30 p.m.
A month before the Hindu festival of lights, catch the dance performance accompanied by Fareed Haque’s original Indo-jazz score. [$15+]
Fishing Derby Near Palos Park 🎣 Saturday | 8 a.m.
Bring the family out for a day of fishing at Horsetail Lake. [Free]
Vintage Finds in Evanston 🛍️ Sunday | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pick up jewelry, vinyl, and home furnishings at Vintage Garage Evanston. Shop vintage Halloween and Christmas decor! [Free entry]
McKinley Park Trash People Cleanup 🗑️ Sunday | 9:15 a.m.
Participate in the group’s last cleanup of the season, and eat Portuguese baked goods from Cadinho Bakery. [Free]
‘Frankenstein’ Ballet Downtown 🧟♂️ All Month | Varies
See the Joffrey Ballet’s interpretation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 book at the Lyric Opera House. [$39+]

Today on City Cast

Chicago Fun — On a Budget
Speaking of budgets, how do you have fun in Chicago without breaking the bank? With $50 in their pockets, Chicago City Casters set out to take on the challenge.
All this budget talk has me wanting to rewatch “Veep” season 2 episode 6 🤓
—Sidney Madden
Thanks to editor Simone Alicea!
Free · Daily

