The Five Holdouts Who Actually Vote Against the Mayor
Just five aldermen—pictured in their council seats in February—have accounted for more than half of the 112 dissenting votes against Mayor Emanuel so far.
Contributors: Steve Rhodes
Why Chicago’s Spineless City Council Just Can’t Say No
Nearly two years after Rahm barreled into office, aldermen are still rubber-stamping everything he wants. Here’s why the trend is so troubling for Chicago’s citizens.
Why Chicago’s Spineless City Council Just Can't Say No
Nearly two years after Rahm barreled into office, aldermen are still rubber-stamping everything he wants. Here’s why the trend is so troubling for Chicago’s citizens.
The Five Holdouts Who Actually Vote Against the Mayor
Just five aldermen—pictured in their council seats in February—have accounted for more than half of the 112 dissenting votes against Mayor Emanuel so far.
Steve Rhodes on Reporting the Jesse Jackson Jr. Story
CHICAGOMAG.COM EXCLUSIVE: Our reporter, who wrote a profile of Jesse Jr. in 2005, discusses the challenges of writing about the evasive politician
Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Dark Days
Once one of the most promising politicians in the nation, Jesse Jackson Jr. has seen his career go horribly wrong—marked most recently by his mysterious disappearance and the revelation that he’s suffering from bipolar depression. What happened to Junior?
The Fawell Affair
He was George Ryan’s chief aide——a gifted, arrogant operator who spent his life in politics. And, prosecutors say, Scott Fawell stood at the center of a vast network of corruption. His story mixes tragedy, farce, and soap opera (a scorned husband helped bring him down)——and adds up to a dismaying case study of the political culture of Illinois
Agent Zero
A streetwise kid who later became a Baptist prison minister, Mark Rizzo made a name for himself as a former FBI agent who could lecture authoritatively on crime. That is, until his recent arrest uncovered a web of deception.
What Does Junior Want?
From our May 2005 issue: After Jesse Jackson Jr. spoke out against corruption in the Daley administration, speculation erupted that he was running for mayor. But while city hall may be in his sights, the son of the famous Reverend seems to have other things on his mind
Devils’ Advocate
From our March 2005 issue: To people accused of doing bad things—embezzling millions, bribing judges, putting a bullet in someone’s head—Ed Genson may be the go-to lawyer in town. For years the Mob had him on speed dial. And pols in trouble (including Larry Warner, Governor Ryan’s friend and codefendant) regularly sign up with him. He’s cunning, funny, sometimes outrageous—a master of the cross examination. But what matters most to his clients: He’ll do (almost) anything to win.