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Nearly two decades after a $1.15 billion deal privatized Chicago's parking meters, a window has opened to seize the valuable asset back from private investors.Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is at least exploring the idea. But the mere discussion of the multibillion-dollar acquisition raises more questions than it answers.Chief among them is whether a city already saddled with more debt per capita than any big city in the nation should borrow billions more to buy out the 57 years that remain on the parking meter deal that Chicagoans love to hate.“The original deal was a disaster for taxpayers, and we have to make sure that we don’t compound that disaster,” said Ald. Bill Conway (34th), vice-chair of the City Council’s Finance Committee.Conway, a former investment banker who still teaches finance at DePaul University, said the leveraged buyout would use meter revenue as collateral on the loan.Whether or not the “math works” would depend on the interest rate on the borrowing and the annual growth in parking meter revenue. That would come amid a fast-changing landscape for parking demand that factors in self-driving vehicles and robot deliveries and congestion fees that discourage people from driving Downtown.The meters generated roughly $160.9 million in 2024, audits show.“Do we think we could grow that over the next 57 years? If we were to think that we could grow that at, say, 3% a year, what kind of value does that have?" Conway asked. He also wondered whether the city could save money by no longer having to pay "true-up" costs which are due to the investors to keep them whole whenever meters are taken out of service.Based on “previous missteps,” Conway said he has “little trust” that the mayor’s office can “put together a good deal,” let alone “provide the collaboration necessary” to get an acquisition agreement through the City Council on the heels of the budget stalemate.“Look at how hard they tried to get together a city-run grocery store, and they couldn’t seem to pull it off," Conway said. "And now you’re talking about a multibillion-dollar deal." Related Parking meter deal keeps on giving — for private investors, not Chicago taxpayers $15.5M parking meter settlement called ‘first win in a series of losses’ for Chicago Chicago Parking Meters LLC accused of violating city’s minority participation requirements Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) cast one of only five “no” votes against the parking meter deal in 2008.Waguespack said he has known since last summer that Morgan Stanley, Allianz Capital Partners and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Abu Dhabi were looking to unload Chicago parking meters and inviting potential bids.Waguespack said he has serious questions about the city's ability to enter the competition.“Do we have $2.5 billion or $3 billion that we could put together to purchase the meters? Yeah, we probably could, but think about the interest on that,” Waguespack said. "It would be astronomical.“And I’d be very concerned about the administration doing this, because you’re not gonna have [departing Chief Financial Officer] Jill Jaworski at the table. A lot of the people who have worked on this before are out the door. And there’s a lack of transparency in the way they’ve done everything from the budget to procurement.”Citing non-disclosure agreements, senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee was tight-lipped about the possibility of taking back the parking meters.Lee would only say that the mayor would speak with the City Council “at the right time.”“I don’t know if you have a choice as a mayor but to look at stuff that comes across the desk. It doesn’t mean you do anything. But, you’ve got to look at everything. You can’t just say, `I’m not gonna look,’ because you never know,” Lee told the Sun-Times.Chicago Parking Meters LLC refused to comment.Steve Koch served as deputy mayor under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who managed to tweak the fine print in the parking meter deal by reducing the city’s liability and by…

Homewood-Flossmoor’s Darrius Hawkins Jr. was thrown into the fire last season, facing challenge after challenge as a freshman point guard running the show for a talented, ranked team.Hawkins passed the test. And Mount Carmel’s Ron Johnson is doing the same this year, but some games are learning experiences. That was the case on Monday as Hawkins and the Vikings attacked Johnson and Mount Carmel’s inexperienced backcourt with pace and pressure on the way to an 80-63 win in the final game of MLK “The Dream Continues” Classic in Flossmoor.“We just had to take advantage of the matchup,” Hawkins said. “We have a lot of small scrappy guards and we wanted to get on them and cause a lot of ruckus, a lot of havoc. Pressure and pace is our identity.”Hawkins scored 20 points. Junior Danny Ruffin led the defensive charge and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior Ethan Jackson led the No. 12 Vikings (17-2) with 23 points.“Any time you play a team that is well-coached and disciplined, you have to attack where they are uncomfortable,” H-F coach Brandin Brown said. “We really tried to do that early on. We didn’t know what to expect. They are so well-coached [that] even if we pressured them, we expected them to do well. But it worked out for us tonight.”No. 14 Mount Carmel (15-6) had 14 turnovers. Johnson, however, is one of the area’s elite freshmen and didn’t wilt under the pressure. He found his footing in the second quarter and finished with 18 points.“You should see Johnson in the huddle,” Caravan coach Phil Segroves said. “He has great insight. To see that from a 15-year-old freshman is incredible. I’m proud of the way he played. But [H-F’s] speed is something we haven’t seen before, and it showed.” Homewood-Flossmoor’s Ethan Jackson (3) shoots a three in the first half against Mount Carmel.Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times The Vikings jumped out to a 25-8 lead in the second quarter and led by 32 late in the third. The Caravan kept coming, however, and Johnson’s three-point play with 3:20 left cut the deficit to 65-51.“We are never going to quit,” Segroves said. “Kudos to them. You can see it on film, but you can’t simulate that [speed] in practice.”Junior guard Logan Wessel had 16 points and six rebounds for the Caravan. Freshman guard Da’Kylen Heard added nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.Homewood-Flossmoor is still im-proving after a strong start. Marvin Douglas, a 6-4 senior wing who’s becoming a factor in the post, had 12 points and eight rebounds. Guard Samuel Carter (four points, four rebounds) and guard Jayden McDonald (three points, four rebounds) made significant contributions off the bench after playing key roles when Ruffin and Hawkins missed a couple of games with injuries.“It was terrible sitting out and watching us lose to Thornton [earlier this month],” Ruffin said. “But it was good to see some guys step in and play well, and that will help us.”

In spite of subfreezing temperatures, hundreds rallied Downtown on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to protest the policies of President Donald Trump on the first anniversary of his second inauguration. Community leaders and representatives from nearly 60 grassroots organizations gathered at the Chicago Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue and marched to Trump Tower while chanting slogans, beating drums and carrying signs.They demanded an end to enhanced federal immigration enforcement and called on agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to leave Chicago. Others sought a halt to hostilities in Gaza and a pause to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela and other countries. Protesters carry signs denouncing military action in Gaza as well as ICE enforcement in U.S. cities at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally Monday outside Trump Tower. Sun-Times staff Protesters carried signs that read: “Stop ICE Terror Now;” “No U.S. War on Venezuela;” “Honor MLK Jr., End War;" “Immigrants Are Our Families;” “Justice For Renee Nicole Good;” and “Justice for Silverio Villegas González.” Good was shot to death this month by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Villegas González was a restaurant worker and father killed by ICE in Franklin Park in September. At the foot of Trump Tower they unfurled banners that read Abolish ICE and F- - - Trump.“Politicians and courts have demonstrably failed us. ICE continues to run rampant. The wars continue unchecked. The genocide in Palestine continues unchecked,” said Andy Thayer, of the Chicago Committee Against War and Racism and one of the protest organizers.“The whole history of civil rights progress is that people force change and courts and politicians follow. That’s why we were out today on the bitterest cold day of the season,” Thayer said.More than 200 people turned out for the protest and march, which was energized and upbeat despite temperature in the single digits with 40 mph winds. The frigid weather couldn't keep Caitlin Kearney away. “What’s happening is not OK. Being out here is easy compared to what’s happening in Chicago and around the world,” said Kearney, who lives in Logan Square. “We have a moral obligation to stand up for what’s right.”Chris Petruccelli of Ravenswood held a sign depicting a hoagie sandwich that read: “This Machine Kills Fascists.” What’s happening now in the U.S. “is too important to not show up,” he said. His sign referred to a viral video of a protester in Washington, D.C., who threw a sandwich at federal agents last year. The man was arrested and found not guilty on assault charges. Chris Petruccelli, left, and Laurel McKenzie hold signs at a protest on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. What’s happening now in the U.S. “is too important to not show up,” Petruccelli said. Amy Yee/Sun-Times Speakers at Monday's rally Downtown included Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and Ariel Basora of About Face: Veterans Against the War.“I am thankful for the bravery of working people fighting against fascists, imperialism, poverty, racism and militarism dividing working people so the billionaire class continues to exploit people,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “In Chicago we fight back. Remember MLK Jr, because we have to look at the past so we can fight for the future.”Basora reminded the crowd that “Every time they make a missile to kill someone else, they steal from us.”About Face is “against all wars that aren’t for pure defense, and we haven’t fought one of those in any of our lifetimes," he continued. "It’s hard to admit that. It’s hard to go through those years of service and think your time is wasted, your soul is spent. But it can be rejuvenated by healing those around you. You can prevent further wars,” Basora said.Other speakers included Danelle Wylder of Stop Trans Genocide; Nino Brown of the Party for Socialism and Liberation; Christina Perez of Dominican University; representatives of the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation and Students for Justice in Palestine; Abla Gharib…

Mere minutes after the Bears’ season ended Sunday night, someone asked Cole Kmet about the team being well-positioned for the future.The tight end wasn’t ready to go there. To do so would be to disrespect the opportunity the Bears had just tried — and failed — to grasp in their 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams at Soldier Field.“The work we put in is for this year,” Kmet said. “Not for next year.”The Bears came within inches of reaching the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 15 years — 72 inches, in fact, had they decided to go for the two-point conversion to win the game rather than kick a tying extra point at the end of regulation. Quarterback Caleb Williams’ miracle touchdown pass to Kmet forced overtime, but his interception in the extra period led to the Rams’ game-winning field goal. Kmet wasn’t ready to overlook any of what happened — good or bad — in the name of feeling optimistic for the future.“You can’t take for granted the opportunities you get in this league, to get to this chance to have an opportunity to go to the NFC championship, and then who knows from there?” he said. “To just think it’s just gonna happen again, it’s very wishful thinking. Very wishful.”Guard Jonah Jackson said he once had a coach who reminded his players “this might be your only shot.” Sitting at his locker Monday at Halas Hall, Jackson admitted that Sunday might have been that one chance. There’s never a way to know for sure.“You don’t ever think that, but that could be the truth,” he said. “We’re going to attack next year with even more edge, hunger, to get back to where we just were and go even forward.”And that’s why the Bears need to be aggressive this offseason — not in spite of their bright future but because of it.They need an edge rusher to pair with — and possibly outshine — Montez Sweat. They need a long-term answer at left tackle, particularly if rookie Ozzy Trapilo’s knee injury lingers into the start of next season. And they need stability at safety, with both Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker on the verge of free agency.A team that has been synonymous with tough defense can’t simply count on leading the NFL in takeaways again in 2026. The offense can’t rely on a healthy Caleb Williams playing every meaningful snap for a third consecutive season.The Bears won the NFC North, but they also went a combined 2-4 against the Lions, Vikings and Packers. One of those wins came when the Packers couldn’t corral an onside kick.Those teams, Kmet said, are going to come back hungry next year.“That’s why it hurts when you have the opportunity now and you just come up a little short,” he said.Williams rallied for seven comebacks in the fourth quarter this season, a number that is as unsustainable as it is unparalleled. Those comebacks helped the Bears go from worst to first in their division, making them the 20th team to do so in the last 23 years.The NFL is structured to encourage that sort of movement in both directions. After playing a last-place schedule in 2025, the Bears will play a first-place slate in 2026. They’ll draft in the 25th spot in April, the latest they have picked in the first round since 2011, not counting years when they didn’t have a first-round pick.For every team that rises, another must fall. The Commanders, who played for the NFC title last year, went 5-12 this season. The 49ers went 6-11 in 2024 after playing for the conference title the year before.And then, of course, there are the 2019 Bears. In 2018, first-year head coach Matt Nagy led the Bears to an NFC North title. The next year, after a convention in which many of the franchise’s former greats predicted a Super Bowl berth, they went 8-8 and finished third in the division.The Bears could be a prime candidate for regression — or they could emerge from the offseason even better than before. The point is, there are no guarantees, as Williams was quick to note.“Every year is its own thing,” he said.Each season is climbing a new mountain, one that only gets…

Cardinal Blase Cupich joined two other U.S. Catholic leaders in denouncing President Donald Trump’s military action in Venezuela and overtures to take over Greenland.The policies raise “basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace,” Cupich and two other cardinals wrote. Trump’s name was not used in the letter.“Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” the cardinals wrote. “And the building of just and sustainable peace, so crucial to humanity’s well-being now and in the future, is being reduced to partisan categories that encourage polarization and destructive policies.”Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, co-authored the statement titled "Charting a Moral Vision of American Foreign Policy."Cupich heads the Archdiocese of Chicago, which includes about 2 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties. Cardinal Robert McElroy, left, of Washington, D.C.; Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J.; and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church. “Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” the cardinals wrote.Gregorio Borgia/Gregory Bull/AP Photos In an interview with the Sun-Times on Monday, Cupich said the three cardinals began talking more than a week ago about making a statement that expanded on an address by Pope Leo XIV earlier this month.“We wanted to make sure that we talked about the important principles,” Cupich said, adding that he hopes Chicago-area Catholics will reflect on the concerns. Related Pope Leo appoints Cupich to Vatican post weeks after Durbin award controversy The pope, a Chicago-area native and the first American to lead the worldwide Catholic Church, came out swinging in his address Jan. 9.“War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,” Leo said. “The principle established after the Second World War, which prohibited nations from using force to violate the borders of others, has been completely undermined.”White House officials didn’t respond to a request for comment on the cardinals’ missive.Last year, the pope, who grew up in Dolton as Robert Prevost, criticized Trump’s immigration policies.The foreign policy statement Monday also calls out Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Pope Leo has called for the two sides in that conflict to negotiate a peace.The cardinals said they “embrace this vision for the establishment of a genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation. We seek to build a truly just and lasting peace, that peace which Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel.”They continue: “We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy. We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.”Cupich said he and his fellow U.S. cardinals are echoing worries from clergy around the world. Related Pope Leo appoints Cupich to Vatican post weeks after Durbin award controversy Raised in South Holland, Joliet’s bishop is appointed by Pope Leo XIV to oversee Archdiocese of New York “Cardinals across the globe are sounding the alarm,” he said.The statement wasn’t meant to be timed for Monday's holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Cupich said, but he called it “a wonderful coincidence” to come out on a day to “honor a man who stood for human dignity.”