Mayors

Lawsuit Alleges Chicago Mayor’s Administration Withholding Public Records on Migrant Crisis, Impacting Public Trust

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Chicago, Illinois – NBC 5 Investigates has filed a lawsuit against the administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications of withholding public records related to the migrant crisis. The news organization has been reporting on the conditions inside migrant shelters and environmental concerns at proposed migrant base camps, as well as tracking the public funds spent on the crisis. In an effort to obtain more information, NBC 5 Investigates submitted several public records requests regarding the city’s operational response, strategy, and conditions within migrant shelters. These … Read more

Progressive California Mayors Rally to Amend Controversial Crime Laws and Address Soaring Drug Use and Theft

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SAN FRANCISCO, California – Progressive mayors in California are supporting a campaign to amend a decades-old state law that critics argue has emboldened criminals. Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014, downgraded penalties for petty theft and drug possession, reclassifying them as misdemeanors. Under the law, even multiple offenses of petty theft below $950 are considered misdemeanors. Additionally, many narcotics possession offenses that were once felonies were converted to misdemeanors. A new ballot initiative called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act aims to amend Proposition 47. The measure has garnered support from both … Read more

City of Chicago Fights Back: Mayor’s Administration Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Targeting Migrants’ Bus Ordinance

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Chicago, Illinois – The City of Chicago is seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit brought against it by Wynne Transportation, a Texas bus company. Wynne Transportation had previously sued the city, claiming that its bus ordinance was unconstitutional and unfairly targeted buses transporting migrants. In response, the city made changes to its ordinance in December, requiring bus companies to obtain permission before dropping off migrants at designated zones. Wynne Transportation filed its federal lawsuit in January, after the city had already filed multiple lawsuits in state court against bus companies accused of violating the new … Read more

Jonesboro Mayor’s Lawsuit Against City Council Nears Settlement

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Jonesboro, Arkansas – The lawsuit filed by Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor against the City Council in September appears to be nearing a settlement, according to Jonesboro City Attorney Winston Denmark. The lawsuit was filed on the same day that the City Council approved the appointment of attorney Tracy Lawson to conduct an independent administrative investigation into allegations raised against Sartor. The investigative report was later submitted to the City Council, and a special meeting was scheduled to release the report. However, the meeting was canceled after a temporary restraining order was signed, preventing the report … Read more