Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
Chicago Oversight Gaps: CTA No-Show, Loretto Deals, Vendor Crackdown
Friday, July 3, 2026 · 8 min
Chicago City Council’s CTA oversight hearing collapsed for lack of quorum as the agency reports service gains before the NITA shift, while Loretto executives near deferred-prosecution deals and City Hall drops street-vendor citations after a downtown crackdown.
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Show notes
Chicago City Council’s CTA oversight hearing collapsed for lack of quorum as the agency reports service gains before the NITA shift, while Loretto executives near deferred-prosecution deals and City Hall drops street-vendor citations after a downtown crackdown.
In this episode
- As NITA transition approaches, many alders "ghosted" the CTA oversight hearing. Colleagues and advocates called that "insulting and utterly unacceptable." - Streetsblog Chicago — Streetsblog Chicago
As NITA transition approaches, many alders "ghosted" the CTA oversight hearing. Colleagues and advocates called that "insulting and utterly unacceptable." - Streetsblog Chicago Sponsored Today's stories are presented by # As NITA transition approaches, many alders “ghosted” the CTA oversight hearing. Colleagues and advocates called that “insulting and utterly unacceptable.” CTA Acting…
- Ex-Loretto Execs Could Soon Reach Deal With Feds To Drop Charges — Block Club Chicago
CHICAGO — Two former executives at Loretto Hospital are close to making a deal with federal prosecutors that could lead to the charges against them being dropped, prosecutors said Thursday. Prosecutors have said former Loretto Chief Executive Officer George Miller and former Chief Transformation Officer Heather Bergdahl were part of a plan, with former CFO Anosh Ahmed, that led to tens of…
- City Dismisses Citations Against Nearly 20 Street Vendors After Crackdown On Downtown Peddling — Block Club Chicago
City Dismisses Citations Against Nearly 20 Street Vendors After Crackdown On Downtown Peddling Alexander and Leydy, vendors, pose for a portrait after street vendors, with the assistance of Street Vendors Association of Chicago, attended a virtual hearing for peddling-related charges on July 2, 2026. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago LITTLE VILLAGE — Downtown street vendor Leydy Murillo…
- Step Back — How can Chicago be talking about a 2025 budget surplus and still be staring down deficits — is this just accounting timing, or is there a deeper structural problem City Hall keeps dodging?
Background sources
- Chicago ends 2025 with an extra $52 million on the books - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes
- Chicago Faces $1.15B Budget Shortfall in 2026, $146M Gap in 2025: Johnson | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- Mayoral aides explain Chicago's cash flow crunch that triggered partial pension payment - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes
- Mayor Johnson’s crossroads — budget decisions that will define his financial stewardship of Chicago - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes
- Civic Federation issues warning about Mayor Brandon Johnson's $1B TIF surplus - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes
- With No Easy Fixes in Sight, Debate Over Chicago’s 2026 Spending Plan Reaches Tipping Point | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- Mayor Johnson's team reviews 26 ideas to raise revenue, plug Chicago’s budget deficit - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes