Ben Joravsky Interviews: Inside Chicago Government

When an entity on public land must pay property taxes; why the city of Chicago is suing its own park district; and how future depositions of Richard M. Daley might go. Length 5.3 minutes.

An excerpt from Dave and Ben's interview from Nov. 10, 2011, which illuminates the city's budget process--including both visible and invisible aspects. Length 5.4 minutes.

When Chicago's "strong city council" model of government has actually performed as such; Richard M. Daley's populist attitude toward neighborhoods; and the one thing that can mean Emanuel's defeat in 2015. Length 5.1 minutes.

Charter schools' responses to FOIA requests; the potential scandal behind charter-school admissions; and whether charter schools have wait lists--or vacancies. Length 5 minutes.

Why continue to beat the drum on the McCormick-arena development; raising a TIF district's "freeze" level after projects complete; and front-end vs. back-end TIF district reforms. Length 5.2 minutes.

The essence of TIF gerrymandering: accentuate the "blight;" city council okays the taking of private property but with no funding; and what it would take to move the landmark Rees House. Length 5.5 minutes.

The relative graciousness of Mayor Richard M. Daley; the successful promotion of brand Rahm; and Mayor Emanuel's payback to the Whittier protestors. Length 5.5 minutes.

The three problems with Chicago public-school funding; how the new per-pupil funding scheme results in less-experienced teachers; and the mayor using school principals as propaganda show ponies. Length 4.5 minutes.

Where, exactly, the city might expand existing Englewood TIF districts; why Tea Party members should rush to Englewood; and whether and how the administration drives poor blacks from Chicago. Length 4.9 minutes.

The collective amnesia of civic Chicago about past fiscal policy; how to uncover the actual amount of the city's TIF surplus; and county clerk Orr's TIF activism. Length 5.7 minutes.

The intended investment payoff of tax-increment financing; why CPS would misrepresent property-tax increase caps; and why it makes sense for the Vienna Beef plant to move. Length 4.8 minutes.

What motivated the administration to issue its plan; the PR plan claims investment, belied by the capital plan; and why CPS's tax levy has increased while it cuts its budget. Length 5.5 minutes.

Who really pulls the mayor's strings; why the CTU gave up its former practice of cutting a deal with the administration; and where some of the best reporting in Chicago currently comes from. Length 5.5 minutes.

Why other journalists don't report on the city's contradictory stance; the mayor's clear message that investors can still buy city assets; and the fallacy that Chicago will save on future meter true-up costs. Length 5.4 minutes.

How the General Assembly's "ladies of the lake" resisted pork; the mayor's interference in the free market of property development; and who owns the property on the land where the city wants to build an arena. Length 5.2 minutes.

How an almost-dead TIF district can rob from its younger neighbor; what makes the arena/hotel plan a tax-losing proposition; and Mayor Daley's last-minute raid on the area's TIF funds. Length 5.2 minutes.

CPS's statutory obligation to retain policy-related records; whether the Emanuel or the Daley administration responded better to records requests; and the chances of aldermanic efforts to strengthen the inspector general. Length 5.7 minutes.

How one might get one's kids into the Lab School; why Lab teachers didn't join the Chicago Teachers Union; and whether Mayor Emanuel and others involved in school policy should explain why their kids don't attend public school. Length 5 minutes.

How Lincoln Park H.S.'s diverse set of programs created an integrated student body; parents' perception of the International Baccalaureate "brand"; and when the mayor chooses to supercede a contract. Length 11.9 minutes.

The multiple freebies and discounts the Sox organization gets while using the ballpark; the nobility of rainmaker Gov. Thompson; and whether the White Sox could survive financially without taxpayer subsidies. Length 14 minutes.