Brett Chase is a senior investigator at the Better Government Association.
Email Strings Show City Officials Warned of Health Risks Before Little Village Demolition Fiasco
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has blown deadlines to disclose internal communications, violating state public records laws. City Hall’s decision-making process prior to the implosion remains shrouded.
Attorney General Sues Hilco After Botched Little Village Smokestack Explosion
The state's top prosecutor says the company did not take steps "to protect the community from air pollution and compromised air quality" after the implosion covered the neighborhood in dust.
Developer In Little Village Demolition Gone Wrong Cited By State EPA With Violating Pollution Laws
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office is reviewing the incident that covered the Chicago neighborhood in dust.
Contractor In Little Village Smokestack Fiasco Was Cited In March For Blowing Dust — But City OK’d Demolition Anyway
A Hilco affiliate, contractor MCM Management Corp. and partners were hit with $3.75 million in environmental violations in Maryland.
Lightfoot Facing Off Against ComEd Over the Future
LENS ON LIGHTFOOT: With an agreement between City Hall and the power company expiring this year, the mayor is focusing on an internal study and federal investigation as leverage.
Student Protesters Demand Lightfoot Live Up To Campaign Promises On Environmental Protection
Members of several youth groups protested outside the mayor’s City Hall offices to call for Lightfoot to reinstate a city department of environment to fight pollution and address climate change.
Lightfoot’s Actions On Environmental Campaign Promises Are Off To A Slow Start
LENS ON LIGHTFOOT: The mayor insists she's not backpedaling on her campaign promise to rebuild an Environment Dept., but her overall plans will just take longer to implement.
Polluters, Beware: When Rahm Departs, City’s Environment Department Could Be Making A Comeback
The mayor eliminated environmental enforcement office to cut costs, which resulted in declines in inspections and citations.
