Por ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NUEVA YORK (AP) — Los consumidores aumentaron su gasto, particularmente en artículos como dispositivos y ropa, durante las primeras siete semanas del período de compras festivas. Sin embargo, el ritmo fue más lento que el año pasado debido a preocupaciones sobre los precios más altos y otras inquietudes económicas, según nuevos datos de Visa publicados el martes.

Desde el 1 de noviembre hasta el domingo, las ventas navideñas aumentaron un 4,2%, un ritmo más lento que el incremento del 4,8% durante el mismo período del año pasado, según la división Visa Consulting & Analytics de la compañía, que analizó un subconjunto de datos de la red de pagos de Visa en Estados Unidos.

La cifra incluye todos los métodos de pago, incluyendo efectivo y tarjeta.

Los datos, que excluyen las ventas de concesionarios de automóviles, estaciones de servicio y restaurantes, no están ajustados por inflación, incluyendo el impacto de los aranceles del presidente Donald Trump.

Cuando se ajustan, las ventas minoristas aumentaron un más modesto 2,2% durante ese período, según el principal economista de Visa en Estados Unidos, Michael Brown. Eso se compara con el aumento de ventas ajustado por inflación del 3% del año pasado.

“Desde luego no es una temporada espectacular”, dijo Brown a The Associated Press. “Es una temporada navideña promedio dada la preocupación por el crecimiento macroeconómico, la inflación. Todavía hay mucha incertidumbre entre la población consumidora”.

Los minoristas han descrito a los compradores como selectivos al hacer compras navideñas, que eligen centrarse en regalos para debajo del árbol en lugar de decoraciones navideñas como adornos para el árbol, por ejemplo. Muchos hogares sufren ante los precios más altos en comestibles, alquiler y bienes importados afectados por aranceles. El último informe de empleo, publicado por el Departamento de Trabajo la semana pasada, también muestra un panorama laboral desalentador.

Como resultado, el ánimo de los consumidores ha sido sombrío, aunque mejoró el mes pasado a medida que las preocupaciones sobre la inflación disminuyeron un poco, según la Universidad de Michigan.

Cuando se recopilen todos los números, Visa espera que los datos de ventas navideñas estén más o menos en línea con su predicción de un aumento del 4,6% en las ventas para el período combinado de noviembre y diciembre.

Aún están por venir varios de los 10 días más ocupados de la temporada de compras navideñas, incluyendo el martes, el día después de Navidad y el sábado después de Navidad, según Sensormatic, que monitorea el tráfico peatonal en tiendas minoristas.

Los datos de Visa están en línea con el pronóstico de la Federación Nacional de Minoristas, el grupo comercial más grande de la industria minorista del país. Se espera que las ventas en noviembre y diciembre estén entre 1,01 billones y 1,02 billones de dólares. Eso representaría un aumento del 3,7% al 4,2% respecto al año pasado.

Predecir la temporada de compras ha sido un desafío ya que el cierre del gobierno federal de 43 días retrasó los informes económicos, incluidos aquellos que cubren las cifras mensuales de ventas minoristas. El gobierno federal está poniéndose al día gradualmente.

La semana pasada, el Departamento de Comercio informó que las ventas en minoristas y restaurantes de Estados Unidos no cambiaron en octubre respecto a septiembre en un informe retrasado por más de un mes. Un gran lastre en los datos de octubre fue una caída en las ventas de vehículos de motor y concesionarios de partes de vehículos, afectadas por la expiración de subsidios del gobierno federal que redujeron la demanda de autos eléctricos a batería.

Según Visa, las ventas de comercio electrónico aumentaron un 7,8% durante las primeras siete semanas del período, impulsadas por promociones que comenzaron temprano en la temporada.

Aún así, las compras en tiendas físicas dominan: el 73% del volumen de pagos navideños fue en tiendas físicas, mientras que el 27% del gasto minorista ocurrió en línea, dijo Visa.

Las ventas en grandes almacenes, o cadenas asequibles como Target y Walmart que venden todo tipo de productos, aumentaron un 3,7%, dijo Visa.

La electrónica ha emergido como la categoría más popular, con un aumento en las ventas del 5,8% durante este período, impulsada en parte por dispositivos alimentados por inteligencia artificial, dijo Visa.

Los aranceles jugaron un papel clave en cómo compraron los consumidores, dijo Brown.

Las ventas de ropa y accesorios se aceleraron a un ritmo del 5,3% del 1 de noviembre al 21 de diciembre desde un aumento del 4,1% el año pasado. La categoría no se vio tan afectada por los aranceles como otras áreas, como la decoración navideña para el hogar, que se fabrica predominantemente en China, dijo Brown. Esa categoría vio un escaso aumento del 0,8% en las ventas.

Y un mercado de la vivienda aún débil afectó las ventas de artículos de mejora del hogar como materiales de construcción y accesorios de jardín, que registraron un aumento del 1% en las ventas, dijo Visa.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/visa-las-ventas-suben-un-42-en-las-primeras-semanas-de-compras-navideas-ms-despacio-que-2024/ 

Por JULIA FRANKEL

JERUSALÉN (AP) — Un exasesor cercano del primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, afirma que inmediatamente después del ataque de Hamás en octubre de 2023, que desencadenó la guerra de dos años de Israel en Gaza, el líder israelí le dio instrucciones de averiguar cómo podría el primer ministro evadir la responsabilidad por la brecha de seguridad.

Eli Feldstein, exportavoz de Netanyahu y que enfrenta un juicio por presuntamente filtrar información clasificada a la prensa, hizo la explosiva acusación durante una extensa entrevista con el canal de noticias israelí Kan la noche del lunes.

Los críticos han acusado repetidamente a Netanyahu de negarse a aceptar la culpa por el ataque más mortífero en la historia de Israel. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre el comportamiento de Netanyahu en los días inmediatamente posteriores al ataque, y el primer ministro se ha resistido de forma continuada a que se abra una investigación estatal independiente.

En declaraciones a Kan, Feldstein dijo que “la primera tarea” que recibió de Netanyahu después del 7 de octubre de 2023 fue sofocar los llamados a la rendición de cuentas.

“Me preguntó, ‘¿de qué están hablando en las noticias? ¿Siguen hablando de responsabilidad?’” dijo Feldstein. “Quería que pensara en algo que pudiera decirse para contrarrestar la tormenta mediática en torno a la cuestión de si el primer ministro había asumido la responsabilidad o no”.

Agregó que Netanyahu parecía “en pánico” cuando hizo la solicitud. Feldstein dijo que más tarde, personas del círculo cercano de Netanyahu le dijeron que omitiera la palabra “responsabilidad” de todas las declaraciones.

El 7 de octubre de 2023, milicianos liderados por Hamás mataron a unas 1.200 personas en el sur de Israel y llevaron a 251 rehenes de regreso a Gaza. Israel luego lanzó una devastadora guerra en Gaza que ha matado a casi 71.000 palestinos en Gaza, según el Ministerio de Salud de Gaza, que no diferencia entre civiles y combatientes, pero dice que alrededor de la mitad de las muertes fueron mujeres y niños.

La oficina de Netanyahu calificó la entrevista como una “larga serie de acusaciones mendaces y recicladas hechas por un hombre con claros intereses personales que intenta desviar la responsabilidad de sí mismo”, informaron los medios hebreos.

Las declaraciones de Feldstein se producen después de su acusación en un caso donde se le acusa de filtrar información militar clasificada a un tabloide alemán para mejorar la imagen pública del primer ministro tras el asesinato de 6 rehenes en Gaza en agosto del año pasado.

Feldstein también es sospechoso en el escándalo “Qatargate”, en el que es uno de los dos asesores cercanos a Netanyahu acusados de aceptar dinero de Qatar mientras trabajaban para el primer ministro.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/exasesor-dice-que-netanyahu-le-encarg-plan-para-eludir-responsabilidad-por-ataque-del-7-de-octubre/ 

A decade ago, the Islamic State terrorist group was a household name. Tens of thousands of fighters, many from countries as far afield as Australia and France, traveled to Iraq and Syria to join an organization that sought to establish the world’s first modern-day caliphate. It was a time when civil war raged in Syria, the Iraqi government was teetering from the weight of incompetence and the Barack Obama administration was deciding whether the United States needed to get militarily involved in the region yet again, less than three years after U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq.

We know how events progressed from there. A U.S.-led coalition was assembled to snuff out the Islamic State group before it captured more land. A constellation of militias on the ground, including the Syrian Kurds and Iraqi Shia militias, were mobilized to clear the Islamic State group from the cities it controlled. In 2019, after five years of airstrikes and ground combat, the Islamic State group lost Baghouz, the last Syrian town under its thumb.

But terrorism is one of those perennial problems that doesn’t go away, no matter how many ingenious solutions its opponents throw at it. It’s also a problem that must be taken in perspective; the simple fact of the matter is that terrorist groups don’t need control of territory to inspire attacks halfway around the world.

Last week’s gruesome slaughter during a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia, which killed 15 people, is a case in point. The father-and-son gunmen were purportedly motivated by the Islamic State group’s extremist ideology. Australian authorities are examining the pair’s trip to the southern Philippines, an area where Islamist groups once held sway, to determine whether they perhaps received instructions to carry out the strike. Yet the truth is that anybody who is deranged enough to kill innocent people doesn’t need detailed instructions from a terrorist organization — all they need is access to firearms, a soft target and a willingness to act on their bankrupt ideology. That appears to be what transpired in Sydney, and it’s one of the reasons why preventing every terrorist attack is an impossible endeavor for even the most elite intelligence services.

Australia isn’t the only place where alleged followers of the Islamic State group made headlines this month. In Syria, a member of Syria’s newly constituted security services assaulted a meeting of U.S. and Syrian military officials, killing three Americans. The shooter allegedly was about to be dismissed for his extremist views. The United States responded with a vengeance, as you expect it would; 70 Islamic State group targets were bombed by our Air Force in retaliation.

Nicky Stypel and Ari Stypel hold a rainbow menorah at Bondi Pavilion on December 21, 2025, in Sydney while gathering for a candlelight vigil, after the Australian government announced a National Day of Reflection one week after 15 people were killed in an attack on a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach. (Audrey Richardson/Getty)

For President Donald Trump, the incident in Syria is likely more concerning than the terrorist attack in Australia due to the American casualties involved and the potential for the strike to undermine the strategic relationship he’s attempting to build with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a man who was once imprisoned by U.S. troops in Iraq but is now committed to fighting the very jihadists he used to lead.

Trump, who has taken a liking to Sharaa, has met with him three times — including at the White House in November — and believes he’s the man who can turn Syria around after nearly a decade and a half of civil war. Trump has backed up those sentiments with action — terrorism designations have been suspended on Sharaa and his top advisers, Trump loosened U.S. sanctions on Syria in the spring and Congress recently passed a bill that would lift those comprehensive sanctions in full. Sharaa, in turn, has formally joined the U.S.-led counter-Islamic State coalition and has conducted counterterrorism operations against Islamic State remnants in Syria, which U.S. officials are clearly pleased with.

In the grand scheme, the Islamic State group remains a shell of its former self. In 2014 and 2015, the group could legitimately claim authority over a swath of land in Syria and Iraq that was about as large as the United Kingdom. It was making millions of dollars a day on the sale of black market oil, not to mention the antiquities the group stole as it rampaged both countries. Eight million people were unfortunate enough to live in the so-called caliphate, giving the Islamic State group a huge resource base to extort. If it wasn’t for the Shia militias that popped up in response, the entire Iraqi state could have collapsed.

Today, the Islamic State group is nowhere near this kind of strength. It holds no territory and has many enemies, from Iran and Russia to the new Syrian government and the Kurdish militias that continue to be propped up by U.S. military support. It is no longer the world’s richest terrorist organization either. The group has claimed 1,100 attacks so far in 2025, but the vast majority of them are unsophisticated, low-scale strikes on Syrian, Iraqi and Kurdish military outposts. It doesn’t take a genius to plant an improvised explosive device on a road, ambush a convoy coming down the highway or fire indiscriminately into a crowd celebrating the holidays. Unfortunately, as we saw in Sydney, those seemingly random acts of violence can still cause fatalities.

Terrorism is no longer occupying the entire U.S. national security establishment as it did immediately after 9/11. The Trump administration’s national security strategy, released earlier this month, discussed the terrorist threat only sporadically. This is just as well; there are a number of perceived national security dangers that need to be accounted for, and on this list, terrorism is no longer at the top of the list.

Even so, terrorism isn’t going away anytime soon. The question is less about whether terrorism is still a threat and more about how the United States chooses to respond to it — with the overly militarized, highly resourced nation-building enterprises of the past or through coordinated intelligence work with partners who share as much of an incentive to adequately manage it as we do.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. 

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/column-australia-shooting-islamic-state-terrorism-depetris/ 

Despite down-to-the-wire deadlines and sometimes-contentious exchanges on the council floor, what we witnessed this budget season is something we should all applaud: a healthy disagreement between factions of our city, almost evenly armed, coming together to eventually compromise on a city budget.

For the first time in decades, Chicago’s City Council did something extraordinary. Aldermen came together to meaningfully engage in the city’s budget process, crafting a serious alternative proposal and asserting their authority as a co-equal branch of government. This was not symbolic dissent or last-minute posturing. It was substantive, coordinated legislative work.

For years, Chicago’s budget process has been dominated by the mayor’s office, with the City Council reacting rather than shaping the budget. Historically, budgets were presented as finished products, not starting points for debate. To the mayor’s credit, his much-disputed head tax seemed as if it was the catalyst for this so-called independence and alternate budget maneuver. Members of the City Council dug into line items, questioned assumptions, identified trade-offs and proposed solutions. They acted not as a rubber stamp, but as lawmakers.

That shift matters. It signals a healthier democratic process and a more accountable government, something my organization, the Better Government Association, has recommended for many years. When legislators scrutinize budgets, residents benefit from transparency, debate and a fuller airing of priorities.

While this moment should be celebrated, the work is not done. If the City Council expects to repeat or improve upon this effort in future years, it must confront an uncomfortable reality: Chicago’s legislative branch is structurally underresourced and understaffed for the responsibilities it is now claiming.

A real legislative body requires real analytical capacity.

The mayor’s office has an army of budget analysts, lawyers and policy specialists, while aldermanic offices rely often on a handful of staff juggling everything from pothole complaints to zoning questions. Their offices are simply not staffed enough to help put together real policy items or budget proposals.

That imbalance has consequences. It forces aldermen to compress months of analysis into weeks, to rely on outside expertise that may not be consistently available and to repeat work year after year without institutional memory. The fact that aldermen were able to produce a handful of alternative budget solutions under these conditions is evidence of how much more effective they could be with proper support.

Legislative branches in many major cities have nonpartisan budget offices, policy research teams and committee staff members who provide continuity across administrations. In Chicago, each budget cycle risks becoming a reinvention of the wheel, dependent on extraordinary effort rather than sustainable process.

City Council members in other cities also do not have the responsibility of being mini-mayors of their districts. If someone has a sanitation issue in New York City, they call the sanitation department, not their local City Council member. In Chicago, the alderman is the face of all city services, despite having no actual administrative authority over them. That must change.

Chicago cannot afford a government where one branch is structurally dependent on another for information and expertise. Checks and balances only function when each branch has the capacity to check and balance.

This year’s budget fight marked a turning point. The City Council showed what is possible when legislators take ownership of their role. The City Council must decide whether this is the new normal or just a response to what they perceived to be inadequate leadership.

If Chicago truly wants a stronger, more transparent and more accountable government, it must invest in its legislative branch. Aldermen stepped up this year. The city should step up for them next year.

Bryan J. Zarou is vice president of policy at the Better Government Association.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/opinion-chicago-budget-city-council-mayor-democracy/ 

As a genre, Christmas music is more than just the classics. As a true connoisseur of the season and a fanatic who writes my own Christmas-themed newsletter, I find the months of November and December to be a perfect time to relish in the perfections of old Christmas tunes and discover new tracks released by contemporary artists that deserve a first (and second) listen. Here, I’ve compiled my list of my top Christmas albums and compilations. Hopefully, you will find something new, surprising, or delightful to complement the rest of your season.

“A Christmas Record” (ZE Records)

“A Christmas Record”

A timeless Christmas can come from even the most obscure of record labels. As a teen, I fell in love with the long-defunct, New York-based post-punk and mutant disco label ZE Records. Their eclectic mix of artists who combined frenetic, glitchy guitars with funk basslines and rapturous percussion opened up a whole new world of music listening during the late aughts. And so, it was an even more delightful surprise to realize they released a 1982 compilation Christmas record featuring a number of their artists, including James White, who made “Christmas with Satan”; Was (Not Was), who dropped “Christmas Time in Motor City”; and “It’s a Holiday,” a track by Material and Nona Hendryx.

My favorite tracks from the compilation include Cristina’s “Things Fall Apart,” a perfect ode to the seasonal affective disorder that permeates the winter season, and Suicide’s “Hey Lord,” a haunting, rumbling outro for the record. But no song is as popular as The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping,” which has in the last three decades become a contemporary Christmas classic. Those weird little art kids in New York City knew exactly what they were doing.

“A Very Special Christmas 2” (A&M Records)

“A Very Special Christmas 2”

My sister and I grew up and fell in love with this 1992 compilation record featuring some of the biggest artists of that time. Created as a benefit for the Special Olympics, this record features some of my favorite originals and covers of all time. I feel a particular fondness for Debbie Gibson’s “Sleigh Ride,” which is infused with an extra power-poppy pep in its step. Sinéad O’Connor’s “I Believe in You” is as perfect a selection from her catalog as anything else she released. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Christmas All Over Again” is one of their best tracks ever — no exaggeration. But I will always love the comforting, abrasive cheesiness of Extreme’s “Christmas Time Again,” which wallops the listener in its late-’80s glam rock, organ-driven aesthetics. I include this track on every Christmas playlist I make, as it perfectly encapsulates the sounds and mood of midnight mass.

“Best of Motown Christmas” (20th Century Masters)

“Best of Motown Christmas”

For many Black Americans, there is no Christmas without Motown Christmas. And this compilation record by 20th Century Masters, released in 1993, includes some of the label’s best work of the previous decades, particularly the originals. To me, this is the true sound of Christmas. It is what I grew up with, what I remember from unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning with my immediate family.

Highlights of the record include Stevie Wonder’s timeless and iconic “What Christmas Means to Me,” The Temptations’ “Give Love on Christmas Day,” which always sounds and feels like a warm hug, and the emotional, triumphant “Little Drummer Boy” cover by The Temptations. A number of Jackson 5 songs appear, including their cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” one of my all-time favorites because it transitions from its traditional slow tempo into an upbeat, celebratory ditty. But make sure you spend time with Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes,” a quiet masterpiece that captures the beauty and awe of the first heavy snow of the season.

“Christmas Jollies” by Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul Records)

 “Christmas Jollies”

There is so much to love on “Christmas Jollies,” the magical collection of originals and covers by the lovely Salsoul Orchestra. For one, their New Year’s medley, which includes a cover of “Auld Lang Syne,” (among others) is a unique touch. Few Christmas records tie in the possibility and hope of New Year’s too. The only one I can truly think of off the top of my head is *NSYNC’s “Home for Christmas” record, which ended with the delightful “Kiss Me at Midnight.”

But my favorite track is their single “Merry Christmas All,” a V-103 Christmas-time staple that perfectly encapsulates and captures the magic and whimsy of Magnificent Mile-like Christmas shopping time. It is sweet and light and glides through the ear.

“Merry Christmas from José James” (Rainbow Blonde Records)

“Merry Christmas from José James”

This relatively new collection, released in 2021 from José James, a jazz musician and vocalist, is a sharp and delightful collection of many of the classics, including “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “My Favorite Things.” But the true standout is James’ cover of “The Christmas Waltz,” which, in my opinion, is 10 times greater than the original. There is something about the warmth and richness of James’ voice that makes the track sound timeless and not just a recent addition to the canon from only four years ago. Give it a spin.

Robert Glasper’s “In December” (Loma Vista Recordings)

“In December”

This eight-track EP, which at 37 minutes could be classified as an album, is as brilliant as Robert Glasper’s non-Christmas music. Released in 2024, the record includes a handful of covers with collaborators like Alex Isley on “Joy to the World” and Doobie Powell on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” But I am particularly fond of the originals, including “Make It Home,” a collaboration with PJ Morton and Sevyn Streeter, as well as “December,” perhaps my favorite contemporary Christmas song, featuring Andra Day. The track is a moody, introspective jazz-soul feat that understands the complexities of the season — dark and light — and it is nothing short of a sonic miracle.

Britt Julious is a freelance critic.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/holiday-albums/ 

Can you feel it, the ground shaking underfoot, that is, and the sky opening up to let in eternal sunshine, with flocks and flocks of bluebirds?

Did you see Da Bears game Saturday night? If that wasn’t a Christmas miracle, my name isn’t Kris Kringle.

And what’s more, the White Sox of all people signed the “Japanese Babe Ruth” to a two-year contract. What the hell is going on?

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the Chicago sports scene shows real promise — maybe for the first time since 2013 when the Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks all had winning records and Chicagoans braced themselves for the end of the world.

But it’s a new dawn and a new day, and I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling good!

— Bob Ory, Elgin

Elegant, forceful win

What a sweet victory over the Green Bay Packers! Seeing the Bears make such a spectacular comeback at the end of regular time and then much more forcefully and elegantly at the end of overtime was, truly, of historical proportions.

All of Chicagoland deserved such a triumph, especially over the Packers.

Congratulations, big time, to Da Bears!

— Alejandro Lugo, Park Forest

Bad call on trick play

Will some qualified medical professional please take the necessary steps to remove any and all Dan Campbell DNA from the cerebral cortex of Bears head coach Ben Johnson? Bear fans are intelligent enough to know that a trick play on fourth and goal is no place for a trick play — especially with the running game smoking on down the field and having D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monongai and Caleb Williams from whom to choose to run it across.

What an utterly silly play call. It may have been early in the first quarter, but history tells us that anything can happen between the Bears and the Packers. Forgoing such a touchdown opportunity, as well as the lead and field position, even early in the game, makes no trick play needed.

— Alan O. Hracek, Miramar, Florida

Who watches you

Chicago Bears management cracks me up. They can’t seem to get their priorities straight.

Congratulations are certainly due for finally coming through with a winning season. Best of all, they somehow managed to piece it together just fine in their Chicago stadium, filled with die-hard loyal fans.

Fans and a city that have been loyal supporters, giving everything possible when it was possible, since 1922. Fans and a city that the Chicago Bears are determined to leave behind.

I’m trying to think of what comes at the top of the list for making a sports team successful. Obviously, the right players, coaches and staff. But what do you think is second on the list of factors for success?

It isn’t where you play; it’s who wants to watch you play. And building a longtime loyal fan base to fill the seats requires something the Chicago Bears clearly don’t care about: being loyal in return.

So I say to the Chicago Bears: “Keep up your fight-or-flight scheme.” Become the “Hoosier Bears” or whatever floats your boat. Just remember one thing.

When a sport becomes more about the money than the joy it brings to people, it has lost its heart and its integrity. It no longer meets the definition of sportsmanship toward vital contributors to their organization … the fans, a world-class city and a remarkable 100-year tradition.

None of which, like a new stadium, you’re likely to see being rebuilt if you move. Maybe run that through your return-on-investment analysis.

— Linda Finley Belan, Chicago

Lawmakers’ lesson

Why are we surprised the Bears are looking to another state to build a stadium? Our forward-thinking, business-friendly lawmakers have created this competition. The Bears want tax certainty and assistance with infrastructure for this massive project. Any developer owning that site would ask for the same or more.

If the Bears elect to move anywhere but Arlington Heights, what happens to the massive pile of dirt left behind in Arlington Heights? It would sit vacant for many years with no sane business willing to purchase it knowing the precedent has been established for zero participation by Illinois to develop that site. If the state couldn’t make this work for the Bears, why would any business invest time and effort on a development plan? The value of that property will plummet along with the negotiated tax revenue it now generates.

How many more businesses will our government officials push out? Citadel, Boeing, Caterpillar and many more should have educated our lawmakers, but it appears not. The Bears project is a massive job and revenue creator.

Why does this have to be so difficult?

— Rick Sidor, Lake Barrington

Warren a Grinch

Regarding the editorial “Leverage-obsessed Bears do their best to squelch the good seasonal vibes” (Dec. 19): Hooray for calling out Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren. The first thought I had when I read it was: Move over, Grinch!

— Joel Shoolin, Glencoe

Bears negotiations

Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren was a true waste of money, and the Bears make themselves look like an incredibly greedy family. This sort of “negotiating” over the stadium only ticks folks off. It does the opposite of what Warren, et al., is likely attempting to accomplish.

— Jim Dorey, Chicago

Stop the distraction

I was among the Bears season ticket holders who recently received a form letter from Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren providing an update on stadium plans. Of course, the mention of moving the Bears to northwest Indiana contained in that letter has now become a media storyline. We all know that such a suggestion is nothing more than a leverage ploy while at the same time punking our Indiana neighbors. The timing of raising the possibility that the Bears might relocate out of Chicago demonstrates that Warren is tone-deaf to the distraction this creates at a time when we all need to be reveling in team success.

The trickle-down effect of this pronouncement leaves the coach and players responding to media inquiries that distract from preparing for the next opponent. To Warren: Time to change the game plan. Stow the negotiation strategy until after the Bears’ first playoff game in their current home field location: Soldier Field.

Stop being the Grinch!

— Ron Bearwald, Northbrook

No jumping for joy

The Tribune Editorial Board talks like it’s only the Bears wanting leverage. The Bears know that all leverage ends when they put a good-faith shovel in the dirt. While I do not support taxpayer funding for this project, I do support the Bears asking for a reasonable deal. Neither Mayor Brandon Johnson nor Gov. JB Pritzker has negotiated anything that would make the Bears jump for joy either.

Indianapolis did a great job with the Colts in revitalizing Indianapolis. While northwest Indiana needs a lot, I would not dismiss that region in the editorial board’s hubris either.

— Randall Ray, Gurnee

Math for lawmakers

I found it amusing that state Sen. Bill Cunningham said the Bears had a legislative math problem. If our legislators knew math, then they would also know what everyday citizens already know. You cannot spend more money than you can take in!

There is no more simpler mathematical fact than that.

— Ken Stead, Aurora

Just make it bistate

Why not build the proposed Bears stadium on the Illinois-Indiana state line? Fifty yards plus end zone in each state, each half representing the unique characteristics of each, whatever that might be. The possibilities are almost endless.

— Paul Helman, Wilmette

It is no pot of gold

Regarding the Bears’ latest letter on expanding the stadium location search: I don’t feel they are taking the core fans into consideration. If the goal is to provide a world-class stadium to the affluent, then no taxpayer funds should be provided.

Most longtime fans will be forced to let go of their tickets — and then travel to Indiana? With salaries approaching $1 billion for a single player, surely the Bears can provide a couple billion for a stadium. Go to the NFL for money; surely, they need those lakefront TV shots.

Finally, don’t be so sure Indiana will be a pot of gold. The current governor is not popular, and the legislature has parted with him, as evidenced by the redistricting vote.

— Rick Cosenza, Lombard

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/letters-122325/ 

Samantha Steele’s opponent in the race for the Cook County Board of Review has alleged Steele tried to get her to drop out in exchange for a six-figure job in Steele’s office.

Liz Nicholson, who’s running against Steele in the March Democratic primary for the seat on the board that considers property tax appeals, has filed a complaint with the county’s Inspector General and sent a letter to Democratic party officials about the allegation late last week. Steele’s offers, the complaint claims, were made through intermediaries.

Liz Nicholson, a candidate for Cook County Board of Review, speaks at the Cook County Democratic Party pre-slating event at the I.B.E.W. union hall on April 16, 2025, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

In a statement, Steele categorically denied the claims as “false and baseless,” and said she would only hire “qualified, capable individuals who meet the high standards required for work in property assessments and related fields. Ms. Nicholson has never been, nor would she ever be, considered for any position—entry-level or otherwise—in my organization or any associated entity.”

“I stand by my commitment to ethical standards and hiring practices, and I will not tolerate false accusations designed to distract from the real issues in this race,” Steele’s statement continued. “I will be sending a cease-and-desist letter requesting that she retract this false statement. If necessary, I will take the appropriate legal action.”

Nicholson provided the text of the complaint to the Tribune. It does not name the intermediaries, but claims a union leader reached out to Nicholson by phone on September 10 and “shared a message from (Steele), that if I dropped my candidacy for this position,” she would win a position in the office.

Nicholson said she told that person “this was inappropriate and that I would not entertain such a shameful offer,” and that she “was rendered speechless for a few moments,” but otherwise ignored it.

The complaint goes on to say Steele approached another person close to Nicholson late the next month, again offering to hire her. A spokesperson said that Steele’s second offer mentioned “how good the health insurance would be.”

Nicholson’s husband, Gerry Sullivan, played in the NFL and has suffered from frontal lobe dementia. She has become a national advocate for concussion safety and successfully sued the NFL on behalf of all families of injured players.

Nicholson said she informed the IG “as soon as she heard” about the second attempt over the phone, and submitted a formal filing last week “to ensure she had a case number and that she had shared pertinent information via the complaint form. The case, however, has been proceeding since October.”

Steele has faced ethics fines and reprimands related to hiring and the release of “confidential” information. She is separately fighting a DUI charge from November 2024.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/board-of-review-incumbent-a-job-withdraw/ 

Mirra, Lilac Tiger and Sarima Cafe in Chicago draw on historic and mythic cultural threads to create a stunning Indian Mexican restaurant, a convivial South Asian cocktail bar and an ambitious Filipino Indian coffeeshop.

Chef Zubair Mohajir connects all three culinary enterprises. He may be best known now as a contestant on “Top Chef” this past year. You might know him from the Coach House, his pioneering South Indian-inspired tasting menu restaurant in the city.

Sarima Cafe

Mohajir opened his newest business with Coach House chef Jacob Dela Cruz as co-owner. Sarima Cafe debuted in Wicker Park in July. The crowds came for the breakfast sandwich, but discovered an ube crinkle cookie too.

Opening pastry chef Reema Patel, one of our cookie contest judges this year, left in November. Also gone are the early creative pastries, which I missed, including a calamansi shrikhand doughnut with its tart Filipino citrus and spiced Indian yogurt flavors.

The house-made ube crinkle cookie, which I had, has remained. Photogenically purple, the jumbo bake offers a secret cheesecake filling reveal. It’s become a softly sweet, albeit basic, bestseller.

The Thicc Sando, indeed a thick, fantastic breakfast sandwich, rivals the famous one at Kasama. It’s a dupe with an important difference. Instead of longganisa, at Sarima, they make a halal sausage.

“I don’t eat pork,” said Mohajir. “So that’s why we made a halal tocino, using halal chicken and halal beef bacon, and with spicing like Jacob would in the Philippines.”

They layer the beautiful fatty patty with a slice of egg soufflé, a crispy hash brown and distinctive hot and sour achar aioli on a Martin’s potato roll.

The cafe shares a utilitarian space, previously Beard Papa’s, with SALT burgers + fries.

But the name Sarima comes from colorful folklore.

“Sarimanok is a mythical bird from the southern Filipino villages where chef Jacob’s dad is from,” said Mohajir. Southern Filipino cuisine, he added, was also influenced by the Indian spice trade.

The breakfast dosa holds Indian and Filipino-inspired fillings that change seasonally, most recently sweet potato and mushrooms.

“I’m South Indian, and dosa is a very sensitive subject for me,” said Mohajir. “Because my mom makes it every Sunday.”

Unfortunately, when I went to Sarima, the griddle behind the front counter was alarmingly hot and the ghee was smoking. My dosa edge was delicate, but the center was underdone.

While service was sincere, they were struggling and understaffed with a very limited menu, with no idea if and when any ice cream would return. The chef said they have just bolstered the staff.

A dirty chai, which I had hot, uses another family recipe with far better results.

“My grandmother’s chai recipe,” said Mohajir. “That is served in every single spot that I am part of every single day.”

The kaaju latte, a fan favorite that my barista rightfully recommended iced, was delicious with cashew milk and date syrup that recalled the richness of South Asian mithai. It’s priced relatively high, however, at $7.75 for a somewhat surprisingly plain cup.

An important reminder that our rating system ranges from zero stars for unsatisfactory to four stars for outstanding. We also make multiple visits, in this case, by me and my editor Kayla Samoy, who’s Filipino, plus my colleague Zareen Syed, who’s Indian. So when we rate a restaurant at one star that means we still think it’s good.

1924 W. North Ave.

sarimacafe.com

Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday)

Prices: $5 (ube crinkle cookie), $7.75 (kaaju latte), $11.50 (Thicc Sando breakfast sandwich), $12.95 (breakfast dosa)

Sound: OK (70 to 73 dB)

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Good, 1 of 4 stars

Lilac Tiger

Mohajir transformed what was the home of Wazwan, his original halal supper club, into a full-on tropical bar with a street food-inspired menu. Lilac Tiger roared to life in Wicker Park in September 2023.

Executive chef Mohajir and chef de cuisine Dela Cruz not only kept the signature tandoori hot chicken, but evolved and expanded the THC alongside drinks by beverage director and business partner David Mor. Kimski chef Won Kim and hospitality veteran Ty Fujimura have remained partners behind the scenes.

The new identity was somewhat random, but rooted in shared history.

“The tiger was representative of India for me,” said Mohajir. “In the Philippines for Jacob, for Won in Korea, and Ty in Japan.”

And the Coach House in back is represented by the saffron flower, which is part of the lilac family.

Ultimately, it was important to change the name.

“Wazwan was a very old-school historical culinary tradition from Northern Kashmir,” said Mohajir. “But there’s no alcohol involved, and I’m a big believer in not self-appropriating ourselves.”

The THC sando, their popular spicy fried chicken sandwich, has changed dramatically since I first had it in its OG incarnation. Craggy and outrageously crunchy, the secret spice mix now features Sichuan pepper. The electrifying mala numbing heat sensation can be overwhelming. Get a side of the terrific Tiger fries, their variation on disco fries with beef gravy laced with jalapeno pepper jack cheese, to tame the numbing fire.

“It starts with a chicken thigh that we marinate for a minimum of 48 hours in a tandoori chicken marinade,” Mohajir said.

Their tandoori spices include chile powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and Sichuan pepper, plus the marinade with yogurt and lemon juice. They dredge in corn starch and flour before frying. A finishing Indian-style Nashville dip adds more spices (coriander, cumin, cardamom and clove) with a house-made chile crisp.

The tandoori honey chicken with scallion corn hoecake, as seen on “Top Chef,” was actually the original dish.

“It was the Daniel Boulud brunch episode that we won,” said Mohajir. “Once we did that, the OG came back to the Lilac Tiger menu.”

The hoecake, a cornmeal pancake, was inspired by a scallion pancake one of his cooks had ordered for family meal back in the Wazwan days.

The vibe they were going for was chicken and waffles, said the chef. My flavor memory was of a wonderfully fluffy cousin to the Chinese cong you bing meets Korean pajeon.

The Ferrani Special is the nugget variation of the tandoori hot chicken named after Mohajir’s son, Ferran, who’s now 8, but has been fed the bite-sized chicken since he was 2 years old.

That’s a lot of chicken on the menu. But the kid is right with the nuggets, because for me, fried chicken is all about the crust. My ideal tandoori hot chicken order would be the nugs and hoecake.

A spectacular Singaporean-style black pepper crab noodle was loaded with the saucy crustacean throughout satisfyingly thick rice noodles. The golden vada pav offers a perfect pair of potato fritter orbs on soft slider buns.

The Chettinad masala with mushroom was also nicely saucy, but served lukewarm. A happy hour paneer dip with eggplant, on the other hand, had flatbread that was scorched. The Thai tea tiramisu was a generous slab, but needed far more of the defining tannic flavor.

The elegant Coconut Lady Colada cocktail, with two kinds of Planteray rum (Cut & Dry coconut and Stiggins’ Fancy pineapple) mixed with an intoxicating pandan coconut milk, has become the signature drink. A delightful nonalcoholic pink lassi drink with beetroot and a cashew orgeat was a pretty pairing to all the spicy food.

The great Lilac Tiger team makes the dark and moody space cozy in any weather, with Mor and his genuinely friendly team of bartenders who work from a comically tiny corner bar, until the return of the Division Street patio season.

1742 W. Division St.

773-697-8794

lilactigerchi.com

Open: From 5 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday until 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday)

Prices: $22 (tandoori honey chicken with scallion corn hoecake), $13 (Thai tea tiramisu), $16 (The Coconut Lady Colada cocktail), $10 (pink lassi nonalcoholic drink)

Sound: OK (70 to 73 dB)

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Very good, 2 of 4 stars

Mirra

The Indian Mexican restaurant in Bucktown by Mohajir and Mor, with executive chef and co-owner Rishi Kumar, defies definition and belief.

Their story begins with the legend of a girl born in 1607 or so to Indian nobility as Mirra. Harrowing tales tell of her kidnapping, enslavement and eventual sainthood in Mexico as Catarina de San Juan. She’s also known as the China Poblana.

Somehow, the chefs found beauty in her history. They focused on bringing together their two favorite cuisines with storytelling that’s authentic to them.

“India meets Mexico in a crossroads cuisine,” said Kumar. “Both cultures cook from a cultural standpoint, be it religion, or where they were growing things before creating a cuisine.”

Mirra, the restaurant, opened in August 2024 and began creating its own culture and cuisine.

The impeccable crispy taco with pristine bay scallops in a feathery roti shell may be the restaurant’s most emblematic dish.

“We take fenugreek roti and punch it out and make mini crispy taco shells,” said Kumar. “And raw scallops, chopped, marinated with nopales pico de gallo and a touch of dehydrated lemongrass powder.”

They’re finished with a piped coconut fluid gel and Mexican green curry emulsion.

“No visit to Mirra is complete without eating a crispy taco,” said the chef. He eats one every day for quality control.

It’s about playfulness, added Mohajir, and their culture is intertwined into every single dish.

Executive chef and co-owner Rishi Kumar, left, talks to diners at Mirra in Chicago on Dec. 18, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

“Zubair and I trained in different chefs’ kitchens,” said Kumar who’s ethnically Indian, but born and raised in Singapore, where he worked for Michelin chefs there and also in France. He came to Chicago in 2014 to work for chef Rick Bayless, first at Frontera Grill, then Topolobampo, where he first experimented with fluid gels, and eventually helped conceptualize and open Bar Sótano.

Meanwhile, Mohajir was born in Chennai, India, but raised in Doha, Qatar, before moving to Palos Hills with his family at age 11 in 1997. He worked in finance before the Great Recession in 2008 led to a layoff and a career change at The Pump Room by Jean-Georges and Bouchon in Napa Valley under Thomas Keller. Mohajir also staged for five months at the Michelin two-starred modernist Indian restaurant Gaggan in Bangkok, Thailand.

The compelling chaas aguachile with hamachi, a garlic serrano achar, fried curry leaves and a breathtaking buttermilk lime pour is the dish that started them on this journey.

A small linguistic difference was revealing.

“Chaas is something I say,” said Kumar. “Zubair uses a different word.”

“Chhachh,” says Mohajir. “From South India.”

“But it’s the same buttermilk that we drink,” added Kumar. “It’s spiked sometimes with black salt or mint.”

The chaas aguachile with hamachi, a garlic serrano achar, fried curry leaves and a breathtaking buttermilk lime pour at Mirra on Dec. 18, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
It’s light and tangy and makes sense to eat with fish. Mohajir brought out all his achars at that point. They played with layering flavors and the dish has not changed since.

The Mirra mezze is another absolute order with more house-made achar, fire roasted salsa tatemada, pumpkin-seeded sikil pak and guacamole plus crackling shards of papadam and tlayuda.

I could have been blissfully happy with just the mezze and Mor’s guava margarita cocktail infused with curry leaf, or his nonalcoholic Marg drink mixed with aromatic Seedlip Notas de Agave.

The Ōra King salmon mango ceviche is another item I highly recommend with silky slices, tiradito or lightly cured sashimi style, and a house-made Nichols Farm strawberry achar plus passion fruit mango leche de tigre sauce.

The dramatic lamb barbacoa biryani, baked with a buttery roti seal, serves two to three people with saffron and mint-laced basmati rice and millennia of history.

Before Mirra the restaurant, Mohajir visited the home village of celebrated chef Norma Listman of Masala y Maíz in Mexico.

The lamb barbacoa biryani at Mirra, photographed on Dec. 18, 2025, is baked with a buttery roti seal and serves two to three people with saffron and mint-laced basmati rice. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

“The whole soul of the mountain is in these 700-year-old barbacoa pits,” said Mohajir. “What’s going to stand up to something that is rich in history, that rich in flavor? And being Indian, biryani was the obvious answer.”

They braise halal leg of lamb on the bone, pull the meat, then reduce the braising liquid with house-made tomato masala, spice and yogurt to a yahkni.

“Then we layer the rice with the lamb and yahkni,” said Kumar. “And poblanos, caramelized onions, saffron water, fresh mint, shallots, wrap it up and then we bake it.”

It is a showcase dish, with meat that’s lean, which you may prefer, but I wanted a touch more fat.

The ras malai tres leches, another showstopper with what seems like a whole loaf of olive oil citrus cake soaked in saffron cardamom milk, is generously pleasant, but I wish dessert was as inventive as the rest of the menu. An avocado chocolate mousse cup did not dispel my desire. A brunch pastry trio by consulting pastry chef Karen Trejo begins to explore the missed opportunities with a nicely spiced chai concha, a subtly spicy mango habanero roll and a flaky kheer danish filled with arroz con leche.

The lion’s mane norteño was one of my favorite dishes, or platter really with grilled lion’s mane mushrooms, blue corn tortillas, frijoles charros, tinga masala, nopal poriyal or stir fry and salsa macha. It’s a great example of unexpected intentional creativity.

“We made sure there was a physical vegetarian menu,” said Kumar. “That makes you feel like this is a thought-out process and not a substitute menu.”

The lion’s mane norteño at Mirra in Chicago on Dec. 18, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

When they changed the steak preparation, they decided on inspiration from northern Indian and northern Mexican culture for the marinated and slow-grilled mushrooms, too.

The outstanding service staff will carefully explain the many elements of every dish, and you should surprisingly be able to hear them well in the airy and busy dining room.

“We’re trying to be sustainable and pay people a good wage,” said Kumar. “Since we’ve opened until now, I think all our prices went up just by a dollar or two at most, because of insane tariffs.”

They’re very conscious about pricing comparably to similar restaurants in the neighborhood.

“It’s also breaking this whole stigma that anything Southeast Asian or South Asian, or something that is not French or European, is not supposed to cost that much,” said Mohajir.

Many other restaurants before them have slowly broken that wall down, he added. Mirra also offers a chefs’ counter seven-course tasting menu.

“We owe it to our guests to give them more than something $12 in a gold bowl and call it an experience,” he said. “For us, that’s why the dishes are so innovative.”

“That’s why we’re experimenting.”

Mirra

1954 W. Armitage Ave.

mirrachicago.com

Open: Dinner, Tuesday to Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Brunch, Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Monday)

Prices: $16 (crispy taco), $19 (chaas aguachile), $46 (lamb barbacoa biryani, serves two to three people), $35 (lion’s mane norteños), $14 (ras malai tres leches cake), $16 (guava Margarita cocktail), $14 (Marg nonalcoholic drink)

Sound: OK (68 to 70 dB)

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Excellent to outstanding, 3.5 of 4 stars

Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; zero stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/restaurant-reviews-sarima-lilac-tiger-mirra-chicago/ 

Having watched Chicago’s City Council rebel against his budget — to some extent, anyway — Mayor Brandon Johnson is now focused on the matter of how (and if) the city collects its past-due debts. It’s one of the last weapons against the alternative budget he has in his quiver.

Noting the eye-popping $8 billion currently owed to the city, the City Council-driven budget that passed this weekend included revenue projections from the sale of this debt to private entities, which likely would pursue scofflaws far more aggressively than has been the case in the past.

Johnson has said the sale of debt owed to the city is “immoral,” on the grounds that “working people and poor people are going to be harassed and berated by debt collectors.” No matter that the mayor already has some debt collection costs in his budget; what’s moral for Peter apparently can be immoral for Paul.

First, some background. The sale of debt is common practice as anyone who has heard from a collection agency is well aware; the original creditor does not get the full amount, of course, as the new owner extracts their price. But especially in the case of very old debt that is unlikely otherwise to be paid back, the debt-collection business rests on the assumption that a creditor getting some of that money is better than none.

Chicago certainly has some enforcement mechanisms: Accumulate too many parking tickets and you will find your car booted. But, in general, it has not aggressively gone after much of the money it is rightfully owed from utility bills, fees and fines, among other things. For example, you might be surprised to know that you can be a city of Chicago employee (or contractor) who has not paid a water bill for months and it’s likely that no one garnishes your salary to motivate you to pay up. The state of Illinois, on the other hand, is far more aggressive when it comes to getting its due, especially when it comes to taxes. If you receive a regular payment from the state, that payment often is reduced by the amount you owe the Department of Revenue. And, of course, the IRS also garnishes salaries as a routine matter when it comes to those with long-standing tax debt.

Moreover, if you don’t pay your property tax debt, as billed by the Cook County treasurer, you will eventually find that your property is sold at an auction to collect that debt (and more besides, to our chagrin).

All these mechanisms create what economists call “moral hazard.” That is when those who can pay what they owe decide not to because others are being forced to pay what they owe.

Johnson’s comments make the assumption that the city is filled with “working people” who cannot pay their red-light tickets or water bills, but we know many working people, many of them far from wealthy, who make it a point of personal pride to pay what they owe. Many Chicagoans were brought up that way.

Most reasonable people would see not enforcing indebtedness as a slap in the face to those who work hard to pay their bills and adjust their expenses accordingly. Indeed, non-collection of debt hurts “working people” who do pay far more than the very wealthy, the one group of people who Johnson thinks should be subject to actual enforcement. In reality, there are many more “working people” than billionaires and if a city signals that debts are optional, more and more of those “working people” will follow this logic and pay them last, or not at all, sending the city spiraling into a yet worse financial condition.

We’ll also point out here that Johnson has greatly expanded speed cameras in the city, thus amping up the number of tickets that rapidly become debts, with heavy penalties attached. Many people have amassed those debts and if they don’t pay at all, then the penalties only have to be increased on those who do pay.

This is Johnson’s defining conundrum as mayor in so many areas; he continuously wants to represent people against the city but he also was elected to be the city. In this paradoxical case, he expands debt and then rails against its collection.

But most reasonable people understand that people have to pay their debts to the government, be it city, state or federal.

That said, there are legitimate worries about aggressive private debt collectors who might be going after debt that is not legitimate. That’s why there are laws restricting such things as the hours debt collectors can call debtors, the notice that has to be offered, and the verbiage that has to accompany written demands to collect a debt and the requirement to offer a right of appeal. There are existing laws prohibiting threats and misrepresentation and the contacting of third parties, such as employers, and you can even demand of debt collectors that they stop calling you and, by law, they have to comply. There are laws specifying what percentage of a salary can be held back. As anyone in this business will tell you, these restrictions in Illinois are extensive. As they should be.

The existence of these protections leads to the inexorable conclusion that Johnson is utterly wrong here. Debts to Chicago should not be any different from other debts. And if the city cannot collect them, it is perfectly reasonable to send them to collection.

The other aspect here is that many of these debtors are not “poor people” but companies, such as developers, who don’t care or who know about lax enforcement and just try to run out the clock. Thankfully, the city can decide which subset of debt it sells, whether that is the age of the debt or the nature of the debtor. So, by all means, focus collection activity first on debt that does not come from individuals but from businesses, say, with ongoing contractual relationships with the city.

But, really, the only fair way to collect debt is to treat all debtors the same.

Otherwise, everyone gets hurt.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/editorial-debt-collection-chicago-brandon-johnson-moral-hazard-city-council/ 

Address: 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook

Listed: Nov. 8, 2025

Price: $3,495,000

Listing agent: Lina Shah, Coldwell Banker, 312-593-4818

This seven-bedroom, 6½-bath waterfront home in Oak Brook has views of Mayslake from an outdoor patio, terrace and balcony. A two-story foyer with a skylight opens to the living room, and a window-filled winding staircase leads to the second floor. The family room, with a fireplace, opens to the breakfast room and kitchen. The kitchen has an island with onyx countertops, custom white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and a walk-in pantry. The second floor has a primary bedroom suite with a walk-in closet, a sitting room, an office and an en suite bathroom. The other three bedrooms on that floor have en suite bathrooms. There is a loft with views of the water and yard. The walk-out lower level has a bar, a media room, a bedroom, a bathroom and a second kitchen.The basement opens to a patio, an outdoor kitchen, bar, fire pit and entertainment area. The house also has a rooftop terrace and two attached garages with space for four cars.

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

This house at 920 Saint Stephen’s Green, Oak Brook, has two attached garages with space for four cars. (Red Door Media)

Some listing photos are “virtually staged,” meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.

To feature your luxury listing of $1,000,000 or more in Chicago Tribune’s Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/dream-home-oak-brook/