Chicago Way w/John Kass: The gunshot detection quagmire and the battle for city council
Chicago Way w/John Kass (11/02/26): In this episode of The Chicago Way, John Kass and Jeff Carlin are joined by Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward to dissect the shifting dynamics, high-stakes budgets, and political maneuvers inside Chicago’s City Council. Fresh off securing an unopposed run for his seat in the 2027 election, Alderman Lopez pulls no punches on what it takes to bring common-sense governance back to the city.
Key Topics Covered:
- The 2027 City Council Landscape: Alderman Lopez discusses his unopposed re-election and what it means for residents who want reliable, community-first leadership free from outside special interest interference.
- The ShotSpotter & Pension Fund Quagmire: A deep dive into the $75 million parking meter lease transfer—and the rare show of unity among 43 aldermen pushing back against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s attempt to divert those strictly mandated public sector pension funds to cover his baseline budget gaps.
- Public Safety & Parental Accountability: Lopez breaks down the uphill battle to pass common-sense ordinances that hold parents accountable for the violent behavior of repeat-offender teenagers taking over city streets.
- The Race for the Next Mayor: An unfiltered breakdown of the expanding field of mayoral hopefuls, the political fault lines dividing the CTU and SEIU, and what Chicago truly needs out of a “Winston Churchill-style” leader to fight the ongoing war on violent crime.
Don’t miss this sharp, candid conversation on the real-world consequences of Chicago policy, safety, and the fight to keep politicians’ hands out of the city’s critical funds.
Comments 4
Good morning at 5:05 am to hear your voice once again John, it sounds strong.
Judge them by their works. Since Alexi took over the SOS office from Jesse White it is a pain in the ass to get the correct services. You used to be able to walk in and get services and now everything has to be preordered and reserved at the right location or you are out of luck. We used to have a great SOS in Orland Park with competent and friendly staff that handled the majority of SOS services, but no more….now you have to hunt down the particular location for you particular service from user-unfriendly online services…..just a taste of what he has to offer.
I find SOS BETTER. One now needs to make an appointment for service like renewing a license. Minimal waiting in line. Anything one needs other than that can be gotten online.
The office is better. Just like your physician, DDS, lawyer, etc, you need to schedule your appt.
On the other hand Alexi is a crook who bankrupted multiple banks making gobs of money.
Typical Illinois pol.
As we wind down our Kass fix,I am encouraged for DA BEARS FANS AND DITKA TRIBUTES IN SWEATERS WITH CIGARS. I welcome a few Republican victories in Illinois tonight but the Chicago problems will continue and greed is the operative factor in most political campaigns and operations. I look forward to a NFC Championship game at end of January with healthy players named Simmons and Williams. Ya never know. Oh and boo hoo to all you Trumpers after tonight,two more years of this selfish idiot in mental meltdown mode at 80.
Off Topic.
Nick Sorter just went to Decoy Dan Sullivan’s home in Alaska and was told by the Decoy’s neighbors that fake Dan is a true blue Democrat. Nick could of saved himself some time and effort if he just interviewed Decoy Dan’s brother in Chicago, Paul Sullivan, the woke sport’s columnist for the Chicago Tribune Tribune. The whole Decoy Sullivan clan are originally Southsiders and huge Sox fans, no Republican blood runs in their blue veins……just say’in.