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Community Corner

🌱 Chuy Garcia Considers Mayoral Run + 2 Haunted Houses Make Top List

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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(Patch Media)

Hello, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Chicago Daily. Here are the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

  • 🗳️ Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia considers another run for Chicago mayor
  • 💰 Chicago restaurant group faces lawsuit regarding 'deceptive charges'
  • 👻 2 Illinois haunted houses named among best in country

First, the weather:

Sunny. High: 80 Low: 65.

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Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Chuy Garcia considers another run for Chicago mayor. Illinois Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia acknowledged he's weighing a run for mayor of Chicago, a move that would upend the already crowded race to unseat incumbent Lori Lightfoot, a fellow Democrat. Three Chicago council members, including Ald. Ray Lopez, are already in the race. State Rep. Kam Buckner, former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas are as well. Former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is also mulling a run. Though recent polling numbers suggest Lightfoot, who was saddled with managing a pandemic and a wave of crime that's slowly getting under control, is seen as vulnerable, she continues to outpace her declared opponents in fundraising with more than $2.7 million in the bank. Garcia's entry would challenge that.

POLITICO

2) Chicago-based restaurant group faces lawsuit regarding 'deceptive charges' added to bills. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and its subsidiary, Do-Rite Tinley LLC, are facing a lawsuit after a man who purchased food at the Do-Rite Chicken and Donuts location in Tinley Park noticed a 3% surcharge on his receipt after paying for his food. The suit alleges LEYE is committing fraud by not disclosing additional fees to customers prior to purchase to make prices appear low. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is acknowledged in the complaint, which states that while other restaurants have adjusted prices due to increased costs of supplies and inflation, LEYE deceptively added fees without authorization or notification. The plaintiffs of the case are aiming to expand the lawsuit to class action status, which would allow anybody who has paid surcharges at LEYE restaurants since 2017 to be included.

NBC Chicago

3) Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. will retire after almost two decades leading South Side ward. Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. will retire after almost 20 years serving parts of Auburn Gresham and Washington Heights. The 21st Ward alderman will finish out his term, but he does not plan to run for reelection in February. He was first elected in 2003. Brookins, 58, is one of the longest sitting City Council members and wants to "hand the reins over to a new generation of leadership," according to his office. His father, Howard B. Brookins Sr., was a seasoned legislator who served in the state House and Senate. The announcement comes less than a month after Ayana Clark, a staffer to Rep. Bobby Rush, said she would challenge Brookins for his council seat. At the time, Brookins said he would run for reelection.

Block Club Chicago

4) Divvy had trouble keeping bikes on streets this summer. Here's why. Ridership on Chicago's Divvy bike-share system surged during the pandemic, but riders this spring and summer likely encountered a new trend: Divvy at times had fewer bikes on the street than at any other point in recent years. The shortage started in April of this year, when the percentage of the Divvy fleet deployed on the streets hit 63.9%, at that time the lowest level since Lyft, which operates Divvy, began reporting data in 2019. It stayed low in May, then dropped again in June to 58.8%. Numbers beyond June were not available. The drops in bike deployment come as Lyft changed its prices in a move that alarmed some riders. The company said the price changes are tied to an increasing number of electric bikes, which cost more to operate. Electric bikes are also one reason a lower share of bikes has been on the streets.

The Chicago Tribune

5) Two Illinois haunted houses named among best in country. As the weather begins to cool down and the spooky spirit enters the air, Illinois residents can visit two of the country's top-rated haunted houses this Halloween. The 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago in Schiller Park and Spook Hollow in Marquette Heights were included on a list of this year's Top Haunts, crafted by the Haunted Attraction Association. Marquette Heights is located in central Illinois and is a suburb of Peoria. The HAA's Top Haunts program honored 51 attractions that not only offer a thrilling experience, but also work to prioritize safety, educate industry professionals and promote the haunted attraction industry.

NBC Chicago

Today in Chicago:

  • Garden Nouveau at Garfield Park Conservatory (10:00 AM)
  • Bee Demo at Garfield Park Conservatory (11:00 AM)
  • Chair Yoga at North Austin Branch Library (12:00 PM)
  • Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field (1:20 PM)
  • Campfire Nights at Lincoln Park Zoo (6:30 PM)
  • Stick to Your Guns at House of Blues (7:00 PM)
  • Bath Bomb Workshop at Color Cocktail Factory (7:00 PM)
  • The Notebook - A New Musical at Navy Pier (7:30 PM)
  • William Elliott Whitmore at SPACE (8:00 PM)
  • 80's Night Show Featuring: Fast Times & SIIN at Cubby Bear (8:00 PM)
  • Beyoncé: A Béy-lated Birthday at Roscoe's Tavern (9:00 PM)
  • Tokyo Disco at Sleeping Village (9:30 PM)
  • NABSS at TAO Chicago (10:00 PM)

Chatter:

  • Ticket giveaway: Chicago Symphony Orchestra: "G I V E A W A Y 🎉 We're giving away a pair of tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 2022/23 season opening program, Muti & Bronfman, on 9/22, 9/23 or 9/27 (value of $75 per ticket). The CSO is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world! 🎻" (Chicago Symphony Orchestra via Instagram)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: ""This is a big deal. The updated COVID-19 Vaccine is the first time we've had a change to the kind of COVID vaccine you can get." The vaccines are available to residents 12 years and older who have already completed their primary vaccine series." (CDPH via Instagram)
  • Susie's Drive-Thru: "A classic drive-thru in Irving Park is closed after nearly half a century." (Eater Chicago via Facebook)
  • Chicago Transit Authority: "Kudos to the CTA security guards who intervened and broke up a fight early this morning at the Jackson Red Line station. The guards quickly notified Chicago Police, who are investigating the incident." (Chicago Transit Authority via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update.

— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking, performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can often find me reading to my two-year-old daughter, watching a tv series with my husband or cuddling with our special needs dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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