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The Block Club Chicago PodcastAuthor: Block Club Chicago
The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans. New episodes Tuesdays, Thursdays, or whenever a BIG story breaks. Language: en Genres: Daily News, News, News Commentary Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Is There Any Way Out Of Chicago's Horrible Parking Meter Deal?
Episode 352
Thursday, 22 January, 2026
In 2008, as a recession swept across the country, cities and states were desperate for cash. Chicago looked to privatize anything it could to close its deficits.Enter, the parking meter deal. A 75-year lease that has some have called the "worst deal a city has ever made in American history."On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, investigative reporter and editor Mick Dumke gives us the back story, and ponders if there’s ever a way out of the deal. Host - Jon HansenReporter - Mick Dumke Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.
