Afternoon Briefing: Brighton Park residents say city still has no clear plan to protect them

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Good afternoon, Chicago.

When Houston mayoral candidate Sheila Jackson Lee visited Chicago to fundraise last year, she found a faithful ally in Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Standing onstage at an August fundraiser in the West Loop, Johnson applauded their shared progressive values. Then he made a more unique appeal on behalf of the longtime Democratic congresswoman, noting to the crowd her connection to one of his most important City Hall advisers, according to a recording posted on YouTube.

“Now, my senior adviser and the political brain trust that really has affirmed my conscience is the son of the next mayor of Houston, Texas,” Johnson said, referring to his top aide Jason Lee.

Johnson continued: “And so if the son of Houston, Texas, can elect a mayor in the city of Chicago, well, Chicago, we got to make sure that Houston elects Sheila Jackson Lee as the next mayor of the city of Houston.”

Jackson Lee would go on to get a financial boost in her Texas campaign from Chicago City Hall insiders, bringing in more than $51,500 from city contractors, lobbyists and politicians between that August fundraiser and her loss in the December runoff, a Tribune analysis found. In total, her mayoral campaign raised $77,600 from donors with Illinois addresses.

Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy

Brighton Park residents say city still has no clear plan to protect them from lead, other toxins identified in environmental report

City officials say there is no current risk to residents from the contaminated lot. Read more here.

More top news stories:

Peoples Gas pipeline pause results in hundreds of layoffs, but an upcoming rate rehearing could restart the work — and increase bills

The Illinois Commerce Commission is expected to rule by May on whether Peoples can finish the work that was already underway — and pass the additional costs along to customers.

More top business stories:

Ranking 10 major decisions made by Bears GM Ryan Poles on the 2-year anniversary of his hiring

Trading the 2023 No. 1 draft pick and retaining coach Matt Eberflus are among the biggest decisions of Ryan Poles’ first two years as Chicago Bears general manager. Read more here.

More top sports stories:

In appreciation: From director Norman Jewison, 10 to watch from ‘In the Heat of the Night’ to ‘The Hurricane’

There is no quintessential Norman Jewison movie. Revisiting the work of the director, who died Jan. 20, through 10 films. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

Donald Trump testifies in his defense in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit

Donald Trump began testifying today in a New York defamation trial to determine how much he might owe the advice columnist E. Jean Carroll for disparaging her as a liar after she publicly accused him of a decades-old rape in 2019. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world: