The race in the ward that economically drives the entire city of Chicago is totally uncontested, and Ben and Maya look at why. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore. Produced and

Not even trying to pretend: the 46th Ward

Feb 11th, 2019 11m 15s

Ben and Maya look at the fight between low-income housing and neighborhood amenities in rapidly changing Uptown. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore. Produced and edited by Andr

What can we expect from our elected officials: the 22nd Ward

Feb 9th, 2019 11m 9s

Departing progressive alderman Rick Munoz faces personal trouble in advance of the election, placing successor Michael Rodriguez's race in jeopardy, in staunchly independent Little Village. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Ba

Ties to Kanye West and Michelle Obama: the 5th Ward

Feb 8th, 2019 11m 54s

The future site of the Obama Presidential Center and the home of the University of Chicago also encompasses parts of lower-income South Shore, which Ben and Maya think makes for a fascinating aldermanic race. http://www.chicagoreader.com ***

Never heard a kind word about the alderman: the 7th Ward

Feb 7th, 2019 12m 58s

Ben and Maya look at an unpopular alderman who faces a strong challenge from a young activist, in a ward in serious need of economic development. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth M

Writing off the activists: the 37th Ward

Feb 6th, 2019 12m 25s

The leading City Council proponent for putting the unpopular police academy in her far west-side ward faces a tough race, and Ben and Maya are excited. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Eliza

Why does it look so weird: the 1st Ward

Feb 5th, 2019 9m 40s

A classic political operator in the Bucktown/Wicker Park/Logan Square area leads Ben and Maya into a discussion of their relationships with Chicago's aldermen. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by An

The front-man on all those TIF deals: the 40th Ward

Feb 4th, 2019 8m 23s

The public face of some of Chicago's worst deals—the Olympics, ongoing TIF deals, and the parking meter sale—is City Council's new finance committee chair, and Ben and Maya have plenty to look at in the ward bound by Clark Street, Lawrence Aven

You have to pass the bill to know what's in it: the 33rd Ward

Feb 2nd, 2019 11m 46s

Ben and Maya discuss Albany Park's powerful and well-connected alderman Deb Mell and her exciting DSA-backed challenger, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez. http://www.chicagoreader.com *** Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth