Mick Dumke
Bio:
I’ve been writing for the Reader since 2005, mostly reporting in-depth stories on political issues such as the notorious parking meter deal, gun control, budgeting tricks, government transparency, race and poverty, and drug policies. I collaborate frequently with my friend and colleague Ben Joravsky, which usually works well because he’s funnier and I’m wonkier. Previously I did stints as a staffer for the Chicago News Cooperative, the Chicago Reporter, and newspapers in Michigan and Virginia, and along the way my work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune Magazine, and other publications you’ve never heard of. I’ve been known to teach journalism at Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago.
I’ve been writing for the Reader since 2005, mostly reporting in-depth stories on political issues such as the notorious parking meter deal, gun control, budgeting tricks, government transparency, race and poverty, and drug policies. I collaborate frequently with my friend and colleague Ben Joravsky, which usually works well because he’s funnier and I’m wonkier. Previously I did stints as a staffer for the Chicago News Cooperative, the Chicago Reporter, and newspapers in Michigan and Virginia, and along the way my work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune Magazine, and other publications you’ve never heard of. I’ve been known to teach journalism at Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago.
- News & Features, Feature, Jun 16, 2011
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City's gun law has little firepower
- News & Features, Feature, Jun 16, 2011
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The misfire
Chicago's tough gun law was supposed to help officials track who's acquiring guns and who's misusing them. So far it's doing neither.
- News & Features, Feature, Apr 9, 2009
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FAIL, Part One: Chicago's Parking Meter Lease Deal
How Daley and his crew hid their process from the public, ignored their own rules, railroaded the City Council, and screwed the taxpayers on the parking meter lease deal
- News & Features, Feature, Dec 12, 2012
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City for sale
The city has put a price tag on everything from parking meters to CTA stops, billboards to city departments. But what's the real cost of plastering our public space with ads?
- News & Features, Politics, Dec 26, 2012
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The Reader's second annual awards for political "achievement"
Honoring some of the more notable deeds from our elected leaders in 2012
- Blogs, Bleader, Dec 4, 2012
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Aldermen raise serious questions about billboard deal, then advance it anyway
As expected, the Chicago City Council advances the city's latest privatization plan
- News & Features, Feature, Jul 21, 2011
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Charter schools report card
How Chicago's charters responded to our FOIA, from "didn't even bother with a lame excuse" to "gold star!"
- News & Features, Feature, Sep 22, 2011
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Basketball controversies
In the name of protecting kids, there's a movement to take their sports equipment away
- News & Features, Politics, Jul 22, 2010
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Why Can't Chicago Recycle?
A world-class city, a "green" mayor—what's the problem? Insiders say the city's budget woes are only part of the story.
- News & Features, Feature, Feb 16, 2012
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Your NATO/G8 primer
Everything you wanted to know about hosting international summits but were afraid to ask
- News & Features, Feature, May 22, 2008
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Can Jack Nicklaus Save Benton Harbor?
Controversy surrounds a plan to trade prime public parkland for the benefits a luxe golf course might bring a town on the skids.
- News & Features, Politics, Apr 11, 2012
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The trust fund mayor
Rahm Emanuel has big plans for rebuilding Chicago's infrastructure. Wish we knew what they were.
- News & Features, Feature, Dec 10, 2009
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Shedding Light on the Shadow Budget
The TIF budget we recently pried from the city's grip reveals drastic inequities in how the money's spent.
- News & Features, Feature, Oct 22, 2009
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The Shadow Budget
The Daley administration commands an off-the-books kitty of taxpayer money equivalent to a sixth of the official city budget. Now we’ve got documents that show what they want to do with it.
- Blogs, Bleader, Jun 14, 2012
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Rahm backs changes to pot policy
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is preparing to announce his support for a plan to soften penalties for marijuana possession
- Best of Chicago, City Life, Jun 20, 2012
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Best Politician We'd Like to Resurrect
1990s Helen Shiller (46th)
- News & Features, Feature, Aug 8, 2012
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The grow house next door
Two teachers. Two hundred marijuana plants. Two years in court.
- News & Features, Politics, Feb 23, 2012
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The Reader goes to charter school
A visit with UNO's Juan Rangel
- News & Features, Politics, Jul 8, 2010
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Under the Gun
Aldermen rush through a gun-control law they've barely read to replace a gun-control law nobody seems to have enforced. Who really benefits? Mayor Daley.
- News & Features, Feature, Nov 10, 2011
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Water + sewers = slush fund
As your water bill doubles, Mayor Emanuel siphons off millions to cover murky city expenses
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