In 2008, as a recession swept across the country, cities and states were desperate for cash. Chicago looked to privatize anything it could to close its deficits.

Enter, the parking meter deal. A 75-year lease that has some have called the "worst deal a city has ever made in American history."

On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, investigative reporter and editor Mick Dumke gives us the back story, and ponders if there’s ever a way out of the deal.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Mick Dumke

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.

Ground-level coverage

Our neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.

Stories that matter to you — every day

Since our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans.

We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them.

Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

When Tarik Shahzad spotted two patches of white among the sea of gray sandhill cranes, he knew he’d done it again.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the 28-year-old avid birder saw two whooping cranes — one of the rarest birds in North America and his 295th bird species of 2025. Seen flying over Wood Oaks Green Park in suburban Northbrook, the cranes helped Shahzad secure the top spot in the Cook County Birding Big Year competition, breaking his own record of 294 species last year. The Norwood Park resident spotted one more bird, a western grebe, before the end of the year, officially setting the Cook County record at 296 bird species.

But for Shahzad, participating in the Cook County Birding Big Year is about far more than breaking records. The competition highlights the importance of conservation and habitat restoration, said Shahzad, an environmental policy advocate and associate with the Nature Conservancy.

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Tarik Shahzad

Read More Here

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE

Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.

Ground-level coverage

Our neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.

Stories that matter to you — every day

Since our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans.

We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them.

Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

What a ride.

On today's episode CHGO's Mark Carman on the miraculous win over the Packers. And the 'Cheese Grater Guy' joins the show!

Host - Jon Hansen

Guests - Mark Carman, Brandon Martinez

Read More About Cheese Grater Guy Here

CHGO Chicago Bears Podcast on Apple

CHGO Chicago Bears Podcast on YouTube

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE

Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.

Ground-level coverage

Our neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.

Stories that matter to you — every day

Since our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans.

We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them.

Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.