Johnson’s budget director got illegal tax breaks

Good morning, Chicago. ✶

🔎 Below: Mayor Johnson fires his deputy mayor of community safety amid allegations of a toxic work environment.

🗞️ Plus: The Chicago Park District pays another lifeguard settlement, the Hideout gets a new owner and more news you need to know.

📝 Keeping score: Blackhawks finally beat the Wild, 2-0; Illinois defeats Penn, 105-70, in the NCAA Tournament.

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⏱️: An 8-minute read

TODAY’S WEATHER ☀️

Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎

Johnson fires deputy mayor of community safety amid toxic workplace allegations

By Fran Spielman, Sophie Sherry and Tim Novak

Abrupt firing: Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood was abruptly fired Thursday amid allegations of a hostile work environment and of self-promotion. Gatewood was a leader of the community safety plan that Mayor Brandon Johnson credits for historic drops in violent crime. First Deputy Jason Sanford will serve in the interim role.

‘Deteriorating rapidly’: The mayor’s office released a statement confirming the change but saying little else, per its policy of not discussing personnel issues. Sources close to the mayor’s senior staff said the environment around Gatewood’s team was “deteriorating rapidly,” and that multiple team members made reports of “hostile gestures” toward women “not aggressively but in a way that made them uncomfortable.” Gatewood countered that he created a “welcoming and open” work environment.

More on Johnson personnel: For the past five years, budget director Annette Guzman has illegally gotten $3,434 in property tax breaks on a South Loop condo she owns but hasn’t lived in since 2019. Guzman called the condo an investment property on a financial disclosure statement. She and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, her ex-boss who gave her the breaks, said they were unaware she was violating state law by collecting the homeowner exemption on both her investment property and her Bronzeville home.

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LIFEGUARD LAWSUIT ⚖️

Chicago Park District pays more than $2 million to ‘sexually exploited’ lifeguard

By Dan Mihalopoulos

Legal tab rises: The notoriously toxic workplace culture that once festered at Oak Street Beach has led the Chicago Park District to pay more than $2 million to a female former lifeguard — bringing the total legal payout for the sexual misconduct scandal at the city’s public beaches and pools to more than $8.7 million.

Seventh payout: The recent settlement marks the seventh legal payout to a former lifeguard since WBEZ first reported on widespread allegations of sexual abuse, assault and harassment in the district’s Aquatics Department five years ago. Cook County Circuit Court records show the plaintiff worked there every summer from 2012 through 2018 and filed the lawsuit in October 2024 against the Park District and its former CEO Michael Kelly.

Key context: Alleged misconduct in the case included “grooming, exploitation and sexual assault” by Park District supervisors that began when the plaintiff was a minor, according to court records. The suit alleged Kelly and other officials “allowed and concealed a pervasive institutional culture of sexual misconduct directed against” female lifeguards. It alleged district leadership “failed to investigate reported sexual abuse at Oak Street Beach” and did not fire or discipline supervisors who committed sexual misconduct.

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EDUCATION 📚

CPS revokes Aspira’s ability to operate charter schools in Chicago in rare move

By Sarah Karp and Emmanuel Camarillo

Contract ends: The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to end its contract with the financially troubled Aspira charter network — the only time the school district has revoked a charter in the middle of the school year. The charter will officially become inactive April 4 and students will not be able to enroll at an Aspira school for next year.

Key context: Aspira’s two high schools, which started the school year with about 600 students, are being emptied out. The organization’s leaders said it didn’t have enough money to continue operating through the end of the year, and the school district said state law forbade it from continuing to float money to Aspira. Board members didn’t comment before cancelling the contract, but in the past, several said Aspira’s poor financial management necessitated the closure.

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MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️

• Loyola student killed: A Loyola University student, 18, was fatally shot early Thursday while she walked with friends at a Rogers Park beach.
• Missing student: Spanish authorities have found the body of a college student from Elmhurst who was reported missing from Barcelona earlier this week.
• BP lockout: Energy giant BP locked out more than 800 union workers Thursday at its refinery in Whiting, Indiana, after contract negotiations failed.
• Transit board asks: Chicago-area commuters want the incoming Northern Illinois Transit Authority to focus on improving security and bus and rail service, according to a new survey.
• Lincoln Park high-rise: The Chicago Plan Commission gave first approval Thursday to a 304-unit high-rise in Lincoln Park, which is gradually becoming more dense.
• City’s culture head: Mayor Johnson appointed Kenya Merritt permanently as commissioner of the city’s cultural affairs department, a role she’s had on an interim basis since October.

MUSIC 🎶

New owner of the Hideout plans to continue venue’s legacy as a cultural institution and community hub

By Selena Fragassi

Changing of the guard: For the first time in 30 years, the Hideout has a new owner. Teri O’Brien — a performing artist and former employee of the West Town concert venue — is taking the reins from husband-and-wife team Tim and Katie Tuten and brothers Mike and Jim Hinchsliff, the venue announced Thursday on its website.

Cultural institution: The Tutens and the Hinchsliffs first bought the converted century-old house along the North Branch of the Chicago River in 1996. Over the years, they’ve turned it into a cultural institution and community hub that was recognized as a “best” music venue by publications including Rolling Stone and USA Today, and was a pit stop for figures like Anthony Bourdain.

Key quote: “The Hideout will stay the Hideout,” Tim Tuten said in a statement. “It will remain independent, creative and rooted in the community that built it. Teri knows our room, the people and our history, and she has the heart to carry it forward.” O’Brien said she was looking into building partnerships and alliances with the city and nonprofit organizations, and would work with staff to gather ideas for the venue’s sustainability.

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FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈 ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏀

• Trademarking nickname: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams submitted a trademark application Monday for his “Iceman” moniker.
• Shortened schedule: Major League Soccer will play a shortened 14-game regular season in early 2027 before switching to a schedule that aligns better with its international counterparts.
• MLB watch guide: Here’s a guide for where to find MLB games and how many will include the Cubs and the White Sox.
• Freshman basketball star: David Mirkovic had 29 points and 17 rebounds for the Fighting Illini win against Penn.

CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭

PLAY NOW

BRIGHT ONE 🔆

Home for Good event promotes second chances for formerly incarcerated

By Araceli Gómez-Aldana

When Andre Ruddock was born, doctors told his family they didn’t think he would live. He had health problems because his mother was addicted to heroin when she was pregnant.

Ruddock doesn’t see his upbringing as a sad story, but he does think he became a product of the negative parts of his environment. Ruddock was incarcerated at age 16 and spent 28 years in prison. As his release date approached after spending decades in prison, he faced the difficult reality of having no place to live.

When he was released, Ruddock was told he had been approved for help through the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s reentry rental assistance program, upon which the Home for Good Coalition aims to build. “I grew up in prison, so I’m 44 years old now. That’s my first time in the world as an adult … To have my own set of keys was a big deal.”

That’s why Ruddock is advocating for legislation proposed by Home for Good to increase housing and support services for people like him returning from prison. The group is made up of Illinois advocacy organizations.

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Earlier, we asked you: Who is your dream festival headliner, either an act you’ve seen or one you think would rule?

Here’s some of what you said…

“Coldplay; let’s do the kiss cam Chi-town style.” — Rich Barber

“Terrapin Flyer and Dark Star Orchestra!” — Chris Tauber

“Jack White at Lolla circa 2013 was by far the best festival show I’ve ever seen.” — Angela Brooks

“Daft Punk would be legendary.” — Edward Scott Rosson

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Written and curated by: Phyllis Cha
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia

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