Jason Ervin

Chicago Police Department leaders faced sharp questioning from City Council members during a budget hearing over Mayor Brandon Johnson's newly announced gunshot detection pilot program. Interim Superintendent Fred Waller and other CPD officials said they had few details, telling alderpersons the city's Department of Procurement and Public Safety is leading the rollout, with CPD's role limited to helping select six pilot districts. Alderpersons including Matt O'Shea and Jason Ervin criticized the lack of transparency and unclear deployment timeline. The program follows the 2022 cancellation of ShotSpotter and a recent bid process for a replacement system. City officials expect to share implementation details in early November, with the six-month pilot planned for districts 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11.

Chicago's City Council Finance Committee advanced a negotiated agreement tied to the proposed $2.5 billion sale of the city's parking meter system from Morgan Stanley-controlled Chicago Parking Meters LLC to New York-based Stonepeak. The 2008 parking meter lease, long criticized as one of the worst municipal finance deals in modern history, requires council approval before any resale can proceed. A final vote, initially expected Friday, was deferred to a special Tuesday meeting at the request of backers Ald. Pat Dowell and Ald. Scott Waguespack to give colleagues more time to review the deal.

Under the negotiated terms, Chicago would receive a $75 million upfront "transfer fee," a 5% annual share of net income for the remainder of the 75-year lease, and 2% of any future resale price, with proceeds directed toward pension obligations. Stonepeak has also agreed to sell Omni Air, a holding criticized for providing deportation flights for the Department of Homeland Security. Budget chair Ald. Jason Ervin is whipping votes against the deal, arguing the city could secure better terms, while Mayor Brandon Johnson has stayed out of direct negotiations. Supporters say they have enough votes to pass it Tuesday.