Page 13 - Devon Reid News Today

City Council voted 8-1 to refer a 15-cent plastic bag tax back to the Human Services Committee on Monday.  The council considered an ordinance that would levy the tax on all carry-out plastic bags sold at Evanston businesses, regardless of the business’ size. It does not, however, include bags used to package loose produce in...

Evanston plans to spend more than $397.2 million this year on city projects, funds and personnel, according to the adopted fiscal year 2023 city budget approved by City Council on Dec. 12. The new budget is a $36 million increase from last year and a more than $101 million increase from the 2021 budget. This...

Evanston City Council is in the process of redrawing the city’s nine wards to ensure each contains roughly the same number of residents. The council began redistricting in May when it formed a four-person committee to speak with community members and examine potential boundaries. The committee will finish speaking with residents of each ward by...

The Human Services Committee discussed amending city ordinances Tuesday to allow cannabis consumption establishments in Evanston.  Ald. Devon Reid (8th) proposed the measure, aiming to raise revenue and provide entertainment to Evanston residents through cannabis consumption lounges. He said his goal is to create a permit compliant with state law that would allow establishments to...

In Cook County, Black youth account for more than 70% of the child welfare system. Meanwhile, Black residents make up only 23% of the county’s total population. As of February 2022, there are more than 4,000 Black children in foster care in Cook County.

Continuing its 2023 budget negotiations, City Council voiced support for fully funding the city’s police and fire pension debt and voted to raise Evanston’s motor fuel tax by one cent in the revised budget at Monday’s meeting.  While the council has yet to approve the budget, police and fire pension funding has been one of...

Last Wednesday, signs were posted in front of an apartment building on Callan Avenue, where Ald. Devon Reid (8th) lives, claiming the first-term councilmember is behind on rent and nearing eviction from his residence. Reid told The Daily that as a councilmember he makes less than $16,000 a year and receives biweekly payments of about...

City Council held a Truth and Taxation public hearing Monday night in which residents commented on the 2022 property tax levy. Residents asked for more budget transparency and stressed the city’s need to address rising public safety pension debt.  Evanston’s public safety pension debt has risen by $47 million in the past 7 years to...

The Evanston Human Services Committee approved a motion to modify Evanston’s public nudity ordinance Monday night. The decision will be forwarded to City Council for approval in a month. The committee changed the definition of public nudity in the ordinance to prohibit the showing of human genitals, pubic areas or buttocks. The ordinance previously prohibited...

Voters in north suburban Evanston will decide on a binding referendum on whether the city should shift to ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.