The Fran Spielman Show

Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara is lifting the curtain on the backstage maneuvering that culminated in Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker behind told to stay away from the funeral of slain Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca's funeral.The back-and-forth that only intensified the grieving family's anguish did not start and end with State Comptroller Susana Mendoza delivering the stay-away message directly to the mayor.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marc Ganis, co-founder and CEO of Chicago-based Sportscorp Ltd., joins Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman to discuss the Chicago Bears' ambitious plans to build a new dome stadium on Chicago's lakefront. They explore the potential economic and community impacts, the hurdles of financing a multi-billion-dollar project, and the political landscape that could shape the future of this significant development. Dive into the debate on public versus private stadium ownership, the challenges ahead for the Bears and the White Sox, and what it all means for Chicago’s sports landscape.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Chicago Teachers Union is demanding an annual pay raise of 9% or the consumer price index-whichever is less—and won't rule out a strike, even with one of their own in the mayor's office, union president Stacy Davis Gates said Thursday."We're a labor union. We're not a political party Leven though] people...want to redefine the Chicago Teachers Union in all types of ways," Davis Gates told the Sun-Times.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gin Kilgore, acting executive director of Friends of the Parks, is not about to go along with, what she called Bears President Kevin Warren’s “Buy now. This deal won’t last” sales pitch.“We need to slow down...Involve a lot of stakeholders…We need a lot of scrutiny because this isn’t just about the lakefront…It’s about public financing. It’s about community development...When I think about how long it takes to build a park or a school, it just boggles the mind. That just because you’re a billionaire or a power broker that, all of a sudden, you can snap your fingers and say, `This is the timeline….That the norms and the rules don’t quite apply to us as they do with other people.’ That’s the part that has, just really honestly, stunned me…It seems like we have to, `Buy now or you’ll lose this deal forever.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Education Committee chair Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) to discuss her concerns and outlook on the transition of Chicago Public Schools to a hybrid elected school board, emphasizing the potential for chaos and political misuse.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Ravinia Festival president and CEO Jeffrey Haydon to discuss the guests and musical performers expected in Highland Park this summer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman welcomes colleagues Sun-Times political reporter Tina Sfondeles and WBEZ state and government reporter Dave McKinney to discuss the races to watch ahead of Tuesday's election. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A City Council subcommittee overseeing the search for new revenue will report back in 30 days with ideas that include video gaming, helicopter service to and from O’Hare and Midway Airports and turning vacant downtown retail space into a haven for digital advertising.Freshman Ald. William Hall (6th), Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked chair, also warmed to the possibility of leveling the tax playing field between the have’s and have-nots, by seeking legislative approval for a city income tax on salaries over $100,000 earned in Chicago or a “wealth tax” on stock holdings and personal liquid assets of wealthy residents.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we spotlight the Oscars, with Jimmy Kimmel at the helm to host for a fourth time. Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper shares exciting yet candid reflections on the ceremonies, the movie industry's pandemic recovery, and the waning suspense of Oscars night as he joins cinephile and City Hall reporter Fran Spielman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Rob Karr, to discuss the challenges faced by retailers in Chicago, including the decrease in foot traffic downtown and the impact of tax increases on businesses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.