Alex Nitkin
@alexnitkin.bsky.social
Government Finance & Accountability reporter,
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: [email protected]
@IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Tips: [email protected]
Pinned
How Journalism Connects Systems, Power and People
Join us for a conversation with Illinois Answers reporters as they share what they’ve uncovered investigating economic opportunity, government finance, public safety, childcare and the needs of the mo...
illinoisanswers.org
Dec. 2.
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
Northwestern and Columbia being famous for journalism and bending over for Trump seems a little too on the nose these days
This is the second largest payout from a private university to the Trump admin yet, second only to Columbia’s $200m
November 29, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Northwestern and Columbia being famous for journalism and bending over for Trump seems a little too on the nose these days
Must-read @skpineda.bsky.social on how a U-turn in federal housing policy is about to make it much harder for Chicago and other cities to fight homelessness:
The Trump administration is dramatically cutting the money available to help pay for housing for people in need, including those with mental illness or disabilities.
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/18/new-federal-rules-could-put-formerly-unhoused-people-back-out-on-the-streets-across-illinois/
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/18/new-federal-rules-could-put-formerly-unhoused-people-back-out-on-the-streets-across-illinois/
New Federal Rules Could Put Formerly Unhoused People Back Out on The Streets Across Illinois
The Trump administration is slashing funds to help pay for housing for people in need, including those with mental illness or disabilities.
illinoisanswers.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Must-read @skpineda.bsky.social on how a U-turn in federal housing policy is about to make it much harder for Chicago and other cities to fight homelessness:
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
Homeowners in poor neighborhoods face steep property tax hikes while downtown office building owners pay less. From @adquig.bsky.social and @alexnitkin.bsky.social
Record property tax increases slam Chicago homeowners as downtown owners see cuts
Sinking Loop office values fuel spike in Chicago residential bills, especially on South, West sides, report shows.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Homeowners in poor neighborhoods face steep property tax hikes while downtown office building owners pay less. From @adquig.bsky.social and @alexnitkin.bsky.social
Dec. 2.
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
How Journalism Connects Systems, Power and People
Join us for a conversation with Illinois Answers reporters as they share what they’ve uncovered investigating economic opportunity, government finance, public safety, childcare and the needs of the mo...
illinoisanswers.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Dec. 2.
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
Come by to learn more about our work, and how you can support it!
illinoisanswers.org/event/how-jo...
Important story from @meredithnewman.bsky.social on a symptom of the state's eroding public health infrastructure: mentally ill defendants spiraling in jail for months while they wait for psychiatric beds — sometimes with fatal consequences
illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...
illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...
Too mentally ill for trial, she spent months in an Illinois jail as the state looked for a hospital bed. She died waiting.
Many defendants declared unfit for trial have often waited three months or longer to be transferred to a hospital – regularly exceeding the state’s deadline, an Illinois Answers Project investigation ...
illinoisanswers.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Important story from @meredithnewman.bsky.social on a symptom of the state's eroding public health infrastructure: mentally ill defendants spiraling in jail for months while they wait for psychiatric beds — sometimes with fatal consequences
illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...
illinoisanswers.org/2025/11/11/t...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Crain’s is good about revenue sources and splits
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/tra...
I believe the parts not discussed above (parking reform, land development authority, etc.) are largely retained from May
Last-minute, $1.5B transit compromise being debated in Springfield
The transit revenue package relies on increasing the transit sales tax in the six-county region and transportation related sources. It also includes a steep tollway hike.
www.chicagobusiness.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
So not only does the massive transit package passed last night fill the funding gap, it *boosts* ops funding by roughly the size of the gap, eliminates parking minimums within a half mile of rail stations, and gives the new regional transit board sweeping powers to do public development
Tune into @wbez.org at 9 a.m. to hear me do my best to recap the whirlwind veto session that landed a $1.5 billion transit package on the governor's desk:
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago
www.wbez.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Tune into @wbez.org at 9 a.m. to hear me do my best to recap the whirlwind veto session that landed a $1.5 billion transit package on the governor's desk:
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
www.wbez.org
I'm not in Springfield, but I did get a full night of sleep last night!
Watch the live House committee debate, with Rep. Delgado answering questions about the bill:
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
October 31, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Watch the live House committee debate, with Rep. Delgado answering questions about the bill:
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
ilga.gov/House/AudioV...
Read our story on the history and limitations of the RTA sales tax, which is being proposed for an increase:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
A loophole lets counties spend millions in transit taxes not on transit...but on jails & courts
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
A Little-Known Legal Loophole Has Scrambled State Efforts to Save Transit Agencies From Financial Disaster
Suburban counties last year spent $83M in RTA sales taxes on jails and courts; they'll fight to keep the money as the state scrapes for cash.
illinoisanswers.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
A loophole lets counties spend millions in transit taxes not on transit...but on jails & courts
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
Now, to save Chicago transit from cuts, lawmakers want to use those funds.
The idea met a fierce backlash.
📝 @gracehauck.bsky.social & @alexnitkin.bsky.social
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/l...
As transit funding hangs in the balance in veto session this week, @gracehauck.bsky.social and I have a pair of stories looking at the stakes for a part of the state that's gotten relatively little attention: the collar counties.
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/28/legal-loophole-scrambled-state-efforts-to-plug-transit-agencies-funding/
t.co
October 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
As transit funding hangs in the balance in veto session this week, @gracehauck.bsky.social and I have a pair of stories looking at the stakes for a part of the state that's gotten relatively little attention: the collar counties.
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
t.co/oswatwJcdQ
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
October 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
IL State Rep. Hoan Huynh says CBP agents surrounded his car and drew a gun on him on the Northwest Side of Chicago this morning
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
October 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Johnson's budget address touts the city's effort to seize and resell properties from derelict landlord Suzie B. Wilson.
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
ICYMI, @ctoner and @mina_bloom_ found the city has fallen far behind its goals here:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/h...
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
October 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Johnson Admin is proposing an unprecedented $1B surplus from TIF districts. About 52% of that will go to
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
CPS and 24% will go to the City, per property tax allocations.
City TIFs generated $1.36B in 2023.
[email protected] is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
October 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
[email protected] is proposing to use the revived business head tax (coined the Community Safety Surcharge) to bankroll a new Community Safety Fund.
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
Lot of these programs were started, expanded and/or sustained through ARPA— looks like this is how the admin is looking to keep them going
New from me:
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/10/15/tightening-chicago-budget-faces-hurdles-amid-few-options-for-pain-free-cuts/
t.co
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
New from me:
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Chicago's budget has approximately doubled in the past decade. So why can't the city just cut runaway spending instead of raising taxes?
Turns out, lots of reasons:
t.co/BS4bP7FzIG
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
105/N. Feds rammed a car that crashed into another, then a foot chase. #chicago
Here's video of the crash. Top of frame the white SUV makes contact with back of the red SUV which spins into a parked car and a foot chase follows. Crowd gathers after. 105/N. #chicago (via kwisstin on IG.)
October 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
105/N. Feds rammed a car that crashed into another, then a foot chase. #chicago
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The Johnson Administration had fought off ward-based restrictions on ADUs because of a 2023 federal ruling that aldermanic prerogative leads to segregation. Trump’s HUD freed the mayor to wheel & deal with alders.
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
@danielkayhertz.bsky.social on this:
illinoisanswers.org/2025/09/25/c...
Compromise ADU ordinance PASSES City Council in a 46-0 vote, ending a 7-year legislative battle over a modest affordable housing tool already common elsewhere in the country. Story TK
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
September 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Compromise ADU ordinance PASSES City Council in a 46-0 vote, ending a 7-year legislative battle over a modest affordable housing tool already common elsewhere in the country. Story TK
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
September 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Inbox: City Council's most vocal supporter and most vocal critic of citywide legalization of ADUs ("granny flats") announce they've reached a compromise.
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
Still waiting on a copy of the new ordinance language to understand what the "limitations and local review" are.
cc @stevevance.net
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
August 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
New: for the first time in memory, the City Council is going to hold an entire round of PRELIMINARY public budget hearings in September, before the mayor releases a proposal.
Check the schedule:
Check the schedule:
The newly beefed-up City Council Office of Financial Analysis quietly dropped its mid-year budget report last week, including a 1st-ever report on city employee vacancies by department.
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov
August 6, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The newly beefed-up City Council Office of Financial Analysis quietly dropped its mid-year budget report last week, including a 1st-ever report on city employee vacancies by department.
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Should be of interest to anyone advocating cuts over new taxes!
The infamous Evanston Brothel Law!
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
July 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The infamous Evanston Brothel Law!
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/18/c...
Reposted by Alex Nitkin
In 2016, as Chicago mayor, Emanuel banned city employees from making most trips at the city’s expense to North Carolina, which banned trans people from using the bathroom that aligned with their gender.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
Rahm Emanuel criticized Dems for talking about "pronouns," but Megyn Kelly is the first interviewer I've seen drill down for his views.
Boys + girls are "fundamentally, physically different." No "men claiming they're women" in women's prisons.
"Can a man become a woman? No."
Boys + girls are "fundamentally, physically different." No "men claiming they're women" in women's prisons.
"Can a man become a woman? No."
July 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
In 2016, as Chicago mayor, Emanuel banned city employees from making most trips at the city’s expense to North Carolina, which banned trans people from using the bathroom that aligned with their gender.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
He also backed an ordinance blocking any Chicago business from imposing similar bans.
I’ll be talking about the ordinance to allow citywide construction of ADUs, which just advanced out of the City Council Zoning Committee in a 13-7 vote
Reporter @alexnitkin.bsky.social will be on @wbez.org’s Reset today at 12:20 p.m. to discuss ADUs in Chicago.
Tune in live here: www.wbez.org
And read his story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...
Tune in live here: www.wbez.org
And read his story here: illinoisanswers.org/2025/05/27/g...
WBEZ Chicago - WBEZ Chicago
www.wbez.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I’ll be talking about the ordinance to allow citywide construction of ADUs, which just advanced out of the City Council Zoning Committee in a 13-7 vote
Mayor to force a vote next week on legalizing ADUs citywide, Fran Spielman reports.
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Mayor to force a vote next week on legalizing ADUs citywide, Fran Spielman reports.
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...
Letting people build backyard coach houses would represent an "attack by the mayor’s office on the bungalow belt," says Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).