Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
Permits, Speeders, Meters: Chicago’s Accountability Tests
Monday, June 29, 2026 · 9 min
Chicago’s Damen Silos site faces city code violations over an unauthorized parking lot, while Illinois moves to rein in repeat speeders and City Hall’s parking-meter buyback questions keep the focus on who controls public space.
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Show notes
Chicago’s Damen Silos site faces city code violations over an unauthorized parking lot, while Illinois moves to rein in repeat speeders and City Hall’s parking-meter buyback questions keep the focus on who controls public space.
In this episode
- Damen Silos Owner Built Unauthorized Parking Lot, Violating City Code, City Says — Block Club Chicago
MCKINLEY PARK — A parking lot on the former Damen Silos site was built without authorization and in violation of city rules, city officials said Friday. Michael Tadin Jr., owner of the property at 2900 S. Damen Ave., received a violation letter Friday after a June 18 city inspection of the site, according to the city. The former home of the Damen Silos was quietly paved over and turned into a…
- Step Back — Chicago’s parking meter deal is already shorthand for a bad bargain — so if City Hall is really talking about a multibillion-dollar buyback, what would taxpayers actually be buying back: revenue, control of the curb, freedom from penalties, or something else?
Background sources
- Chicago Won’t Buy Back Parking Meters, Johnson Says | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- Who owns Chicago's parking meters? City's meters sold to another private company, Mayor Brandon Johnson says - ABC7 Chicago — Abc7chicago
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson considering purchase to bring parking meters back under city control, sources tell ABC7 Chicago - ABC7 Chicago — Abc7chicago
- Chicago parking meters up for sale, but Johnson urged to proceed carefully on potential buyback - WBEZ Chicago — Wbez
- Chicago reportedly bid $3.3B to buy back parking meters, aldermen demand answers | FOX 32 Chicago — Bret Buganski
- A sale of Chicago’s parking meters could occur, but what would it mean? – NBC Chicago — Nbcchicago
- Chicago is not buying back its parking meters, but a change in ownership is likely – NBC Chicago — Nbcchicago
- Pritzker signed “Stop Super Speeders” law, which will allow repeat offenders to drive if they use technology that forces them to obey posted speed limit — Streetsblog Chicago
This post is sponsored by Boulevard Bikes. On May 21, the Active Transportation Alliance heralded the Illinois House and Senate passing the “Stop Super Speeders” bill (HB 4948), which spokesperson Ted Villaire wrote “will make our streets safer by reigning in repeat reckless drivers . ” The legislation set the stage for using Intelligent Speed Assistance tech, which employs onboard sensors and…
- Prediction Market Kalshi Sues Illinois Over Its Push To Regulate Sports Bets — Block Club Chicago
CHICAGO — Prediction market Kalshi — which offers trades on everything from the World Cup top goalscorers to the winners of the reality show Love Island and the 2028 Democratic primary — sued Illinois on Tuesday over its latest push to regulate sports bets on the platform. The most recent move in the ongoing legal battle between the state and prediction market operators came after the state…
- U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley Uses State Of Uptown Theatre As Metaphor In Mayoral Campaign Kickoff — Block Club Chicago
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley launched his bid for Chicago mayor Saturday at the Uptown Theatre, urging supporters to consider the help needed to save the dilapidated movie palace as a metaphor for the action needed to realize the city’s full potential. It was the veteran congressman’s first public campaign event since he announced in January that he intended to run. The Chicago Democrat’s kickoff…