City Cast Chicago
📝 All the new taxes in city budget
December 20, 2024 · —Sidney Madden
In the spirit of closing the loop, here are a couple end-of-the-year updates:
- 🐀 Hey Chicago readers and City Cast Chicago listeners declared Rat Hole the most viral local moment after tuning into our episode.
- 📝 We have a special version of our news quiz for you today!
- 🏖️ The team is going on a holiday break, but we’ll drop a few emails and podcast episodes before the new year.
What's CITY Talking About?
Will Amazon Workers Strike Affect You?
At the height of the holiday season, thousands of Amazon workers are going on strike — including at a Skokie warehouse — to pressure the company to reach a labor agreement. [NBC Chicago]
Which Taxes Did City Budget Raise?
The newly approved $17.1 billion city budget does not include a property tax hike, but Chicagoans will still be affected by increased taxes on plastic bags, rideshare surcharges, streaming, and more. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Local Flu, COVID Vaccine Rates Down
Less than 11% of Chicagoans have gotten an updated COVID booster and less than 23% have gotten a flu shot, according to city public health data from last week. Officials attribute low rates to vaccine misinformation and fatigue. [Tribune 🔒]
This Week’s Must-Read
If you are planning to spend the holidays getting caught up on the year’s best books, check out this list! A Law Roach memoir? A reimagining of “Huckleberry Finn?” A Chicago-set graphic novel? Say less. [WBEZ]
Your Chicago News Quiz
This edition of our news quiz asks you to think about the whole year in Chicago! Think you can get a perfect score? Here’s our first Q!
I have been turned into a caricature. I have been turned into something that is less than a human being.
Which local official said this quote?
- Mayor Brandon Johnson
- CTA President Dorval Carter
- Gov. JB Pritzker
- CPS CEO Pedro Martinez
What To Do
Friday, Dec. 20
- Santa Larry 🎅🏾Museum of Science & Industry | 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Included in museum entry
- DIY Ugly Sweater & Candle-Making Workshop 🕯️ North Park | 10 a.m. to Noon | $55
- Kwanzaa Groove: Zumba to Afrobeats 💃 Austin | 3 p.m. | Free
- Cocoa, Cookies, & Crafts ☕ Near South Side | 3:30–5:30 p.m. | $5
- Holiday Market 🎁 Bridgeport | 6–10 p.m. | Free
- “Elf” Drive-In 🧝 Pilsen | 7 p.m. | $35
- Samara Joy “A Joyful Holiday” | The Loop | 8 p.m. | $45+
- Ugly Sweater Christmas Games ❌ Back of the Yards | 8–11 p.m. | $20
- A Very Dead Inside Holiday Market 🛍️ Ukrainian Village | 9 p.m. | Free entry
Saturday, Dec. 21
- Winter Solstice Sunrise Forest Bathing 🌅 LaBagh Woods | 7–9 a.m. | $25
- Winter Solstice Bunny Yoga 🐰 Lakeview | 9–10 a.m. | $25
- Holiday Market 🛍️ Ravenswood | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Free entry
- This is Life Christmas Extravaganza 🎄 Englewood | Noon to 3 p.m. | Donation suggested
- Winter Wonderfest ❄️ Bronzeville | 1–3 p.m. | $20
- Holiday Soiree 🪩 West Pullman | 1–4 p.m. | Free
- Chicago Cultural Center Open House 👋 The Loop | 1–6 p.m. | Free
- SantaCon Bar Crawl (21+) 🎅 Fulton Market | 4 p.m. | $10+
- Winter Solstice Celebration ☀️ Willow Springs | 5–7 p.m. | Free
- Chappell Roan Dance Party 🌈 Wicker Park | 9 p.m. | $25
- Nocturna Winter Solstice Ball 🖤 Wrigleyville | 11 p.m. | $15
Sunday, Dec. 22
- Fitness Hike 👟 Eggers Grove | 10 a.m. | Free
- Brunch With Santa 🎅 South Shore | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Varies
- Christmas Brunching With the Queen of Drag 💚 Washington Park | Noon to 4 p.m. | $15
- Winter Solstice Ecstatic Dance Celebration 💃 Portage Park | 2–5:30 p.m. | $30
- Puro Puerro: Buenos Noche Edition 🪩 Fulton Market | 3–8 p.m. | $15+
- Stand Up en Español Chicago 🎙️ Wicker Park | 6:30 p.m. | $21+
- All Music Trivia ❓ Logan Square | 7–9 p.m. | Varies
If you’re logging off for the holidays, thanks so much for reading Hey Chicago 💗 You all are my favorites!
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