I’m glad the Blue Line got a glow-up during the DNC, but having Clark/Lake smell like fresh lemons this morning might be too far. That’s going to be a rough comedown next week.

Any connection between Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval speaking at the DNC tonight and the food truck coney in the media area getting a $3 price increase?!? I’d pay triple for a Skyline coney right now.

Every morning when I get ready for the day.

Day four of the DNC and the line for coffee near the media tent is longer than the one to get inside the United Center. Worldwide coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ big speech will be written by haggard journalists fueled by Travelin Tom’s Coffee.

Four days of the convention and I finally got a pic with a celebrity.

People will hold out hope Beyonce is coming out until the final balloon hits the floor.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, flanked by a horde of City Hall and CPD officials, begins his post-DNC press conference saying the 2024 convention will go down as an “example of constitutional policing” as opposed to the “police brutality” of 1968.

With the party over in Chicago, Illinois politicos and labor leaders plan to send an army of volunteers to swing states freshly energized by the DNC. chicagobusiness.com/politics/democ… Crain's Chicago Business

Upset that residents of Cabrini Green aren’t being hired on construction projects like the coming Bally’s casino, Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, is vowing to put a brick on development projects in his development-rich ward. From Danny Ecker chicagobusiness.com/commercial-rea…

Chicago is facing a $982 million shortfall in 2025, which may force Mayor Brandon Johnson to reverse his position on property taxes to avoid a fight with labor over hiring freezes and layoffs. chicagobusiness.com/politics/chica… Crain's Chicago Business

Sometimes as a reporter you call 15 people in 5 mins and no one answers.

New: City Hall is projecting Chicago will spend just $157 mil of the $220 mil allocated to shelter and care for newly arrived migrants in 2024. The new figure is baked into a revised budget estimate that still shows a $223 mil hole for 2024 chicagobusiness.com/politics/chica… Crain's Chicago Business

🧐

ICYMI: City Hall expects to spend $63 million less to care for migrants in 2024 than the $220 million approved by City Council. But those savings are already baked into to new budget projections showing a $223 million hole for the year. chicagobusiness.com/politics/chica… Crain's Chicago Business

The DNC has come and gone but the loosely tethered to politics pitches in my inbox remain.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has no easy options to raise significant revenue to close a nearly billion 2025 budget shortfall. Reducing spending through personnel won’t be straightforward either and labor is gearing up for a fight. chicagobusiness.com/politics/brand… Crain's Chicago Business

Last week, the mayor’s office held a meeting informing staff of a re-org of the 5th floor that angered some. By Monday, the deputy mayor for legislative affairs resigned and two on her team soon followed. chicagobusiness.com/politics/sydne… Crain's Chicago Business

With police and fire exempted from city hiring freeze, City Hall still says it will save $100 million with the move. City Council wants to see the math. chicagobusiness.com/politics/brand… Crain's Chicago Business

Mayor Brandon Johnson is sticking by his allies. Meeting scheduled on Monday to, as of now, vote on Ald Byron Sigcho-Lopez for Zoning chair. Resisting calls from City Council to oust a top staff for past comments. chicagobusiness.com/politics/brand… Crain's Chicago Business

Mayor Brandon Johnson is turning to Ald. Walter Burnett to end a messy 10-month drama over who should chair the Zoning Committee. Burnett has said for months he didn’t want the job, but told me an onslaught of calls from developers changed his mind. chicagobusiness.com/politics/brand…