@ConDurkin

Made it into 'Things happen' in Money Stuff one time. Emergent Ventures winner. Writing about Chicago public policy in my free time at A City That Works.

 Chicago, IL
citythatworks.substack.com/
Joined July 2009
  • Tweets1.7K
  • Following341
  • Followers824
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Replying to @ConDurkin
Build more housing, not less.
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The details do matter! xitter.cf/ConDurkin/status/21137…
Conor Durkin@ConDurkinOct 23
Replying to @ChicagoMPO
It sounds like you're saying the IDES count is too high a denominator, because it's counting jobs, not workers, and includes part-time as well. But wouldn't that mean that the tax applies to a far *higher* percentage of total full-time workers in Chicago? Which seems bad?
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Derek Thompson
@DKThompOct 20
My take on wealth taxes is they won't work well at the local or state level, because you're targeting the people with the greatest means and motivation to just pick up and move somewhere, and they won't work well at the national level, because they'd almost certainly require a constitutional amendment, just as federal income taxes did (the 16th Amendment), so in both cases you're creating a levy that is basically designed to disappear.
NBER
@nberpubsOct 19
California's Billionaire Tax Act would collect roughly $30 billion. Accounting for lost income taxes from departures, the mean Net Present Value is negative $39 billion, from Benjamin Jaros and Joshua Rauh nber.org/papers/w35899
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Alice Yin@byaliceyinOct 14
Alders FAIL by one vote to override Mayor Brandon Johnson veto of ordinance requiring three-fifths majority to approve future Chicago bond issuances 33-17 vote:
Alice Yin@byaliceyinOct 14
After Ald Matt OShea tells colleagues to “put your big boy pants on” and stop “scurrying,” Ald Daniel La Spata speaks up on prev abstaining in debt threshold vote: “The notion that some of us were running out of the room to avoid our votes, at least for me is a false narrative.”
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A City That Works’ voter guide for 2026 midterm elections is here. Our recommendations prioritize competent governance and sensible ideas that will steer Chicago in a pro-growth direction. 🏙️ 📈 citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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Today at @acitythatworks: In August, the Johnson administration announced their plan to close this year's budget gap by refinancing city bonds. We were skeptical the match checked out. Last week, they completed that refi, but the budget gap remains far from closed.
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Instead of the $65-$71 million in savings Mayor Johnson's team expected the refi to produce, our math pegs the value at around $21 million in savings - leaving a significant hole we'll still have to close some other way. More here: citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Richard Day@richsdayOct 6
Just gonna leave this here: jarquettafor20.com

Jarquetta For 20 | Empower Communities Today

Support community growth in Englewood and Woodlawn with Jarquetta Egeston. Connecting residents to jobs, housing, and local development initiatives on Chicago's South Side.

jarquettafor20.com
Molly@mollyfleckOct 6
Crazy things are happening in the 20th Ward here in Chicago. This alderperson held community meetings AND a community vote about a proposed new development, the vote went in favor of the project, and then the alder...denied the project citing lack of community support.
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Good! citythatworks.substack.com/p…
Alice Yin@byaliceyinSep 29
The infamous parking meter lease that Chicagoans love to hate is officially switching hands. Alders vote 46-3 on sale to NY investment firm:
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Vote regarding whether the City should have a 60% threshold for new debt issuances. The risk we are facing is becoming too tied up in paying the interest on the taxpayer’s credit card that we crowd out our ability to fund basic taxpayer services. How did your alder vote?👇
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Today at @acitythatworks - the new proposed parking meter agreement is great! We're looking forward to this getting across the finish line and improving our city finances in a small but meaningful way. citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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This morning at @acitythatworks, we have our first endorsement for the November elections. We're proud to support @biggs4chicago as School Board President, and hope you'll vote for her. Read more here: citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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This is a weird editorial, and it outlines exactly why it would've been a terrible idea to buy the meters back: immediate pressure to provide 'relief' for parkers which would instantly slash any revenue projections on which a purchase would've been predicated.
Chicago Tribune
@chicagotribuneSep 16
From the Editorial Board: Guess who’s missing from the Chicago parking meters deal? Chicagoans who pay to park. chicagotribune.com/2026/09/1…

Editorial: A Chicago parking deal emerges with nada, zilch, nothing for Chicago parkers

Guess who’s missing from the Chicago parking meters deal? Chicagoans who pay to park.

chicagotribune.com
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To be explicit: no, City Council should not fight to provide 'breaks' or require reduced hours for metered parking. They should take the best possible financial deal they can get from Stonepeak and call it a day.
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Jessica Biggs@biggs4chicagoSep 15
This is what happens when a budget leans on money the state hasn’t actually committed, and a downgrade would mean CPS pays higher interest rates on its debt. Reckless budgets like this send more of your dollars to big banks and less into classrooms.
Reema Amin@reemadaminSep 14
S&P has affirmed the BB+ rating on the Chicago Board of Education's bonds after the board's controversial budget vote in July. But the credit rating agency revised its outlook for the future to negative, citing "a lack of structural budgetary discipline." spglobal.com/ratings/en/regu…
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This seems really, really good! And leaves us in a better position than trying to buy the meters back in their entirety.
Richard Day@richsdaySep 15
This strikes me as a legitimately great outcome.
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Worth noting: the 330-340mm they assume in TIF surplus would only send ~180-190mm to CPS. That's a lot lower than the 285mm the district budgeted for!
Alice Yin@byaliceyinSep 3
Mayor Brandon Johnson reveals $882M budget gap for 2027. How will he get to 26 votes in his proposal? Not by budging on his desires to tax the rich, he assures: “Collaboration is not just simply about acquiescing to someone’s demands.” with @ad_quig: chicagotribune.com/2026/09/0…

Mayor Brandon Johnson reveals $882 million budget gap for 2027

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration on Thursday unveiled a projected $882.4 million hole in the 2027 budget.

chicagotribune.com
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Municipal procurement is not only a multi-billion-dollar domain - it’s also an area with substantial untapped savings potential for the City of Chicago. Read the full article below: citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Richard Day@richsdaySep 1
One of my favorite lines Katrina Wheelan's @acitythatworks piece today: "Mandating a different outcome without actually changing the process is a bit like banging on a gumball machine and hoping a steak dinner comes out."
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Better transit requires better leadership, and this is the Chicago region’s last and best chance to fully realize a world-class transit system. Read the full article: citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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Conor Durkin retweeted
Richard Day@richsdayAug 25
Over at @acitythatworks: @ConDurkin explains why the the parking meter deal is bad but buying back would also be bad. Life is pain. Eat at Arby's. citythatworks.substack.com/p…
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