Partner:

IDEO

Partners:

Jones Day

The Chicago Ethics Reform Task Force outlined 34 recommendations for improving the City of Chicago's ethics ordinance in Part I of its report, released in April. 

The Task Force, established in December by Mayor Emanuel, considered improvements to the existing ethics ordinances in three areas: regulation, prevention and education, and investigations and enforcement. In developing its recommendations, the Task Force interviewed more than 60 experts, academics, and local stakeholders.

The Task Force recommended reforms such as: 

• Strengthening the gift ban
• Eliminating honoraria
• Prohibiting elected officials and City employees from receiving or giving loans to lobbyists
• Adding whistleblower protection for reporting misconduct 
• Increasing and enforcing penalties for ethics violations 
• Improving training and education.

Jones Day and Civic Consulting Alliance staffed the work of the Task Force.

"With amazing support from Civic Consulting Alliance and Jones Day, the Task Force embarked on an ambitious agenda," said Cynthia Canary, Chair of the Task Force. "We were clear from the beginning that rewriting the ethics ordinance wasn't enough--we also wanted to make recommendations that would build a positive ethical culture and impact public perceptions about Chicago."

Part II of the report, which will be released later this summer, will focus on lobbying, the responsibilities and roles of the ethics institutions, and specific recommendations for the investigations and enforcement processes.

Read Part I of the report here.

For more information, contact Gillian Darlow.

Chicago Tribune: Emanuel ethics task force work not done

Chicago Sun-Times: Task Force: Whistleblowers should get more protection

Crain's Chicago Business Emanuel task force lays out proposed new ethics rules 

Partners:

Mayer Brown

An ordinance to merge three separate workforce boards and one non-profit into the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership was passed by both the Chicago City Council and the Cook County Board last month.

The Partnership, a non-profit agency, will open on July 2nd, allowing residents to receive training more easily and apply for jobs across the region. Businesses will benefit from consistent practices and access to a larger applicant pool. The merger will also reduce administrative costs, saving $2.2 million that will be redeployed into increased job-assistance and workforce training.

This collaboration, announced in October, was one of the recommendations made last summer by the Joint Committee on City County Collaboration, staffed by Civic Consulting Alliance. Mayer Brown, which helped develop the initial recommendation, has since provided legal support, creating intergovernmental agreements for the merger. Civic Consulting Alliance coordinated the program management office and developed the budget, hiring plan, and role descriptions for the new entity.

"This project has given me an exceptional opportunity to work with City and County decision makers to help shape a workforce development system that will better serve residents and businesses across the region, " said Stephanie Wagner, Associate at Mayer Brown.

For more information, contact Rose Fealy.

Partners:

Police, City services, and community leaders will work together block by block, according to the new Strong Blocks / SAFE Communities wrap-around strategy, announced by Mayor Emanuel.

Historically, the same blocks have continued to be dangerous year after year. Taking back the blocks is a 1-2-3 strategy. First, the Chicago Police will target narcotics and gangs. Second, City services, such as graffiti removal and streetlight repair, will clean up the block. Third, community programs, such as after-school programs and family counseling, will rebuild the area.

In each community in the first wave of Strong Blocks, a steering committee of community members is working with the Police and City to target services and provide wraparound support for each Strong Block.

The strategy was developed as a signature feature of the City-County action plan to reduce violence and stabilize communities. Allstate fellows on loan and Civic Consulting staff are managing the plan pro bono and structuring the comm-unity leadership groups.

"This initiative will help loosen the vice grip of terror that has people living under siege in communities like Englewood," said Minister Johnny Banks Sr., Executive Director of A Knock At Midnight. "Immediate response and intervention will relieve residents of the burdens of the moment and allow community and faith based providers to help strengthen families and restore hope."

For more information, contact Alexander Gail Sherman.

Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel outlines 'wraparound' strategy to fight crime

WBEZ 91.5: Emanuel literally cleaning drug deal corners

Examiner.com: Mayor Emanuel announces a wrap-around strategy to fight gangs, guns, and drugs

Partners: 

Architecture 4

Bluestein and Associates LLC

Cannon Design

Citigroup

D2C Ventures

Downtown Partners Chicago

IBM Corporation

KPMG LLP

Studio V Design, Inc.

Towers Watson