Looking toward 2026 & 2027

 Next year we have another election. There is an open seat for Dick Durbin's US Senate spot in this state and what's is Gov. Pritzker going to do as far as a third term.

Rahm Emanuel has been making his rounds lately question is will he run for that open Senate seat next year, does he want to run for Governor next year, does he want to be back in Chicago's mayoral office in 2027, or does he want to run for President in 2028?

And this recent column from CapFax's Rich Miller discussing some possibilities for 2026 and the mayoral race in 2027.

Will Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias choose to run for re-election as Sec. of State next year and/or is he going for the mayor's office in 2027.

Susana Mendosa - our current state comptroller. She already ran for mayor in 2019 and lost and this column makes sure to note she was elected state comptroller in 2018, ran for may in 2019 and that didn't quite work out for her. And just think she was campaigning for office and then had to turn around and do it again so soon.

If Pritzker runs for Governor again he needs a new Lt. Gov and he fell in behind her. Juliana Stratton wants to succeed incumbet Dick Durbin in the US Senate. Who might Gov. Pritzker choose as his running if he runs again in 2026.

And of course with possible other retirements such as Congressman Danny Davis or Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky retired and closer still 2nd District Congresswoman Robin Kelly seeking Durbin's senate seat. For those running for office next year there are opportunities abound.

However, with  Mayor Brandon Johnson unpopularity right now the main question is who else may want to take City Hall's 5th floor in 2027? Anyone know any other names other than what's on Wikipedia?

 Forgot to note, that I just recently published a page for the 2011 elections.

2011 Election

This was the election where President Obama's former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was elected Mayor of Chicago. He had a tumultuous two terms as mayor and fun fact 2011 was the last time a candidate outright won the mayoral election without having to go to a run-off.

In 2015, Mayor Emanuel was in a runoff with then Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia. In 2019, Lori Lightfoot won the mayor's race against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. And then in 2023 then Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson defeats former Chicago Public School CEO Paul Vallas.

Question is what would 2027 hold. We're at more than the halfway point for the next municipal elections here in Chicago.

Also, it causes me to want to tweak the 2015 and 2019 pages to include the mayoral race. I've included in all these election pages the Ward 9 Alderman election as that's the race that should be very important, not just the mayoral race.

Feel free to let me know if there's anything I should add to these pages.

Also for the record this is now Ward 9 looked up until 2015.

110th/Michigan back in 1912 #tbt

 I found this through the Roseland Chicago FB group with this caption:

Black and white HR Koopman postcard showing Michigan Avenue in Roseland looking south from 110th Street, 1912. Chicago's other "Magnificent Mile".

I wish we could bring back the hustle & bustle to this street. In my own research I've learned longtime residents at least before "white flight" would refer to Michigan Avenue as The Avenue. You see from one of the signs here to the right.

This is about how this same area looks now via Google Streetview in 2011. You head south on Michigan Avenue from 110th Street you see a bend, especially near that storefront that used to be Major Motors on the east side of the street. 

Click for better resolution

Lime scooters on the sidewalk

I wanted to share an update, at least not from Chicago Like a Local but just to share some of the pics I took recently. These were taken this month perhaps not long after seeing that video you saw on this blog most recently.

Who knew that there is a bike rack in front of Harlan High School at 96th/Michigan. And anyone who is done with the scooter actually locked it to the rack. There aren't too many bicyclists up and down Michigan Avenue unlike some of the more pedestrian heavy corridors of the north side or even the Loop. So I'm thinking locking scooters on these racks in front of Harlan would be no big deal.

In front of Harlan High School

Now these other shots are basically no-nos as far as what to do when you're done with these Lime Scooters. As discussed in the Chicago Like a Local video.

Bus stop SW corner 95th/Michigan

According the Chicago Like a Local, the scooters shouldn't be left at a bus stop. I'd prefer this than for them to be left on a sidewalk somewhere. However, I can get that this might be a problem if we're talking about a heavily used bus stop and as a number of CTA bus routes stop here every day this could be a problem here.

On Michigan outside of Abbott Park

One thing Chicago Like a Local specifically states, scooters shouldn't be laid down like this. It needs to be standing up. In this case though it's not necessarily in the way of a pedestrian on a sidewalk. The next photo shows a scooter left laying on a sidewalk.

NW corner 95th/Wabash

In this case though only the handles are on the sidewalk. Regardless I find this a bit careless, though I will allow an able-bodied person could simply go around it. And still these scooters shouldn't just be left somewhere once a user is done with them.

In fact across the street in front of Abbott Park is a Divvy Bike dock. I recognize these Lime scooters aren't compatible with those docks, but that's another good place to leave a scooter once you arrive or are near your intended destination.

Anyone have any thoughts about these scooters? Do you find these scooters a problem when you're on the sidewalks?

Chicago Like a Local: Chicago’s Lime Scooter Problem

 Before sharing this video, I had been for the past month or so documenting scooters that have been left on my street overtime. And in my opinion these scooters were left on the sidewalk on my street as an afterthought. Many of these scooters are in the way and are obstacles.

My solution is that these scooters need to be left in designated areas. Such as a bus stop, however, I understand that with these Lime scooters that's not allowed. So what do we do?

Also these scooters are supposed to be locked on bike racks, however, this might be inconvenient to bikers. That's not a "perfect" solution either.

Downtown I witnessed scooters being docked, just like these Divvy Bikes. And there are some of them in the community. Why can't these be placed at these docks?

Thankfully if you're tired of these scooters being left around the community and being in the way of pedestrians, one solution is to call 311. 

You can always visit the 311 site here or with your smartphone you can use the 311 app. And using the website and app you can send the city pictures of these scooters that you want removed.

Now with this knowledge this is something I'm taking advantage of to clear the sidewalks of these scooters. Allow me to share the video from Chicago Like a Local on YouTube. [VIDEO]

Allow me to open the floor to you all. If you walk on the sidewalk are you annoyed with these scooters being left on the sidewalks? What would you like to see done about it? Would you prefer that these scooters are left in designated areas.

#tbt South Michigan Avenue 1970s

 Actually I don't know when this photo was taking. I presume 1970s looking at the cars.

Earlier on Thursday "business" took me into Roseland and decided to snap a few shots. I can't stand the ruin porn, a lot of vacant storefronts. 

You see that Hillman's sign? That used to be a grocery store. This is a block or so north of 115th Street. The old Hillman's store faces a Chicago Fire Department firehouse. The only grocery store appears to be home to a medical facility of some sort.

And this isn't that far away from the Red Line Extension to be built near 115th & Michigan.

In fact to give credit where credit is due, this photo was shared on the Red Line Extension FB page.

Also allow me to announce you can now find Ninth Ward Chicago on TruthSocial & BlueSky. You can always follow us via @TheSixthWard on X formerly known as Twitter, although perhaps it's time to change the handle there.

Next level squatting pt. 3 - moving in with them

 

[VIDEO] This is related to the other two entries. According to this ABC 7 report the alleged squatters involved in the other two stories had found another home to occupy. Of course I have to admit it took some guts to bring a few friends and move into this house - which March Velasquez expected to place on the market.

And, I'm wondering if there is any attorney's reading this blog. Are the police correct that this is a civil matter and they just can't kick any trespassers off a property? What does Illinois law say about situations like this?

Update to the story about "next-level squatting"

 

[VIDEO] You saw a story about this last month about a squatter who was able to produce some documents showing that they owned the home although the address shown on documents was actually in the south suburbs.

A good conclusion that squatter was removed from the property and arrested. She's being charged with burglary, fraud, obstructing identification, and trespassing.

The couple who sought media attention for this is doing work on the house and clean-up, and expect to put this house back on the market soon.

Thanks to media attention the couple got a call from a detective who said they were taking a closer look at this. I don't know about you, but this was a bit sketchy anyway.

Chicago Tribune: Downtown alderman considering Cook County Board run against Preckwinkle

 Just remember 2026 is next year. We will be voting for a new US Senator (Dick Durbin who's represented Illinois in the US Senate since 1997 is retiring), for Governor for sure (Gov. Pritzker was in New Hampshire recently an important primary state and he may want to run for President), and now maybe a contest for Cook County Board President.

42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly is considering running against longtime County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Though in her case she's probably the one of a handful of Chicago-area politicians engaged with the reorganization of public transportation.

Tribune:

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly said Wednesday he is exploring a challenge to Toni Preckwinkle in the 2026 Democratic primary for Cook County Board president.

Reilly, 42nd, told the Tribune he would make a final decision in the coming weeks, but claimed he’d been approached to take on Preckwinkle — who is so far unchallenged for her fifth term — in recent weeks. He made similar overtures for a congressional run against Democratic Rep. Danny Davis in 2015 and has also explored mayoral runs in past cycles but has stayed put in City Hall.

One of the City Council’s moderates, Reilly has represented downtown for nearly two decades. An ally to the business community, he has been one of the best fundraisers on the council and has run uncontested for the seat since defeating longtime Ald. Burt Natarus in 2007. He closed the last fundraising quarter with more than $700,000 in the bank.

Preckwinkle ended the same quarter with a little over half of that, $365,000, in her main campaign committee.

But Preckwinkle also chairs the Cook County Democratic Party, which gives her additional political power and fundraising heft.

You think it's time for a change at the county? Perhaps time for a younger person to step up to the plate?