Laura and Mayor Bovey unpack last night's City Council meeting, including a tale of two gas stations:

1) the BP on North Ave. and 59, which the the previous city administration took to federal court for staining their bricks;

2) the situation with the Speedway at 38 and Fabyan Parkway, and what the legal term "estoppel" means for them.

They reflect on the Mayor's first 12 weeks in office, Heather Niziolek's bombshell public comment last night (and how the city's approach to FOIAs is changing), the removal of radioactive pipes and waste on Main Street, and Mayor Bovey's dream of a train themed public plaza on West Washington street.

And, a reminder: have compassion for city staff! (And re-submit those FOIAs)

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On July 7, the City Council approved a separation agreement with City Administrator Michael Guttman, appointed interim leadership, and hired a law firm—at least for the next 31 days.

But the city’s legal battles are far from over. We unpack the latest developments in the Bond law firm saga, including withheld payments, legal threats, and competing interpretations of power and process. Plus: What’s next for the third-party city administrator search, and why one council member says delay is the real tactic at play.

Includes commentary from Marcus Brown, Jeff Jacobson, and Ald. Matthew Myers.

Topics:

• Guttman’s soft landing and $60K payout
• Initial confusion over who represents the city legally (and finally, a resolution)
• Interim appointments and hiring updates
• Lawsuit concerns and political maneuvering
• Public trust, transparency, and what comes next

“When people hear updates along the line of a decision making process—you’re allowed to change your mind. That’s okay. The public being able to get a window into the process of what’s going on in an alderman’s thinking is going to build trust. Right now it’s just the black box feeling. This is a really opaque group of people and nobody can really get in their brains.”

—Liuan

CORRECTIONS:

Jeff Jacobsen has not defended the Boveys in their greenhouse lawsuit since January.

(By the way, did you know the Boveys never sued the city? It was the other way around—and the City Council could vote to drop it at any time if they so chose)

Liuan's Excellent Live Notes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18dRsM7ssiTuOYAdPz1sdgxgW4_nwry18zTOCYRR9dhg/edit?usp=sharing

This show is not affiliated with the city or any entity.

Next episode: What does a township do?

Next City Council Meeting: Monday, July 21 at 7pm

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NOTE: Liuan took 9 pages of (live!) notes on last night's city council meeting—find them at the above link.

FURTHER NOTE: Never use AirPods for a podcast interview! Sorry for this audio quality everyone!! —Laura

1. Public Trust and Accountability

Liuan reflects on her public comment to the council, calling out a long-standing culture of condescension and gaslighting from elected officials. She emphasizes: "Trust must be earned—not assumed."

2. The Santiago Appointment Drama

The council discusses Mayor Bovey’s appointment of Mr. Santiago to fill the Ward 2 aldermanic vacancy:

• Some aldermen, including Joe Morano, expressed frustration about not being contacted by Santiago personally.
• Irony alert: Past newly elected aldermen tried to build relationships with sitting members—only to be ghosted.
• No formal resume or application process seems to exist for appointments.
• In the end, Santiago was approved—with Morano abstaining.

3. Grocery Tax Proposal—Put on Pause

An increase to the city’s sales tax (from 8.5% to 8.75%) was pulled from the agenda after community pushback. Expect to see this item return at the July 7 council meeting. Laura and Liuan walk through current tax breakdowns and encourage listeners to reach out with cost-saving alternatives.

4. Liquor License for Uncorked

West Chicago's Uncorked Wine Bar got the green light for a specialty liquor license—though it's tied specifically to that business location.

5. Committee Shuffle Sparks Tension

Longtime Alderman Hallett took issue with being reassigned from Public Affairs to Finance, interpreting it as retaliation.

Mayor Bovey, meanwhile, noted a need for collaboration and adherence to legal procedure—pointing to past attempts to bypass his role in appointments.

6. Guttman’s Pension & Legacy Politics

The lingering question: Why the urgency to preserve Michael Gutman’s pension eligibility? Laura teases a potential FOIA request into city settlements and NDAs, while both hosts express frustration over a perceived pattern of risk-aversion and secrecy.

7. Radium Cleanup & Facility Transparency

Mayor Bovey updated the public about a long-quiet brownfield site off Washington Street:

• Radium-contaminated materials were recently removed.
• He proposes a community tour of the facility to build trust.
• Citizen science field trip with Geiger counters, anyone?

8. The Overpass Debate—Back Again

Calls for a railroad overpass (or underpass) on Washington resurface.

• Past opposition focused on tree loss and property displacement.
• Mayor Bovey: Just because the answer was “no” before doesn’t mean it still is.

9. Backyard Chickens & Staff Engagement

Behind-the-scenes update: City staff are actively seeking public input on a future backyard chicken ordinance. Laura encourages residents to engage early—before votes happen.

10. Closing Notes: Politics as Relationship-Building

Laura and Liuan reflect on the importance of connecting personally—even with officials you disagree with. Liuan plans to break the ice with Alderman Morano next time they cross paths at Camp WeGo.

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