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Articles

Ben Joravsky

I moved to Chicago in 1981 and have been writing about local politics ever since. I started freelancing for the Reader in the early 1980s and became a full-time staff writer in 1990. Over the years, I've zeroed in on larger citywide matters, with a special interest in exposing municipal financing scams such as... more

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@bennyjshow

bjoravsky@chicagoreader.com

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Blogs, Bleader Oct 23, 2013
Mayor Rahm has successfully pitted charters against public schools

In the fight for school funding in Mayor Rahm's Chicago, it's hard for the charters not to stretch the truth.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Education, News, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, Noble charter schools, Prosser high school, Illinois Network of Charter Schools, ACT scores, President Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky

Blogs, Bleader Oct 2, 2013
Mayor Rahm's grand experiment: Libraries without librarians

Books as a backdrop: Mayor Rahm stages a press conference in the Payton high school library that has no librarian because of his budget cuts.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, News, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Walter Payton College Prep, Timothy Devine, DePaul basketball arena, Marriott hotel, South Loop, Tax Increment Financing, Von Steuben, libraries, librarians, Persepolis

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Jun 25, 2013
How Chicago's five-year school plan was dead on arrival

With the latest round of budget cuts, Mayor Emanuel dooms the education polices he forced into place.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Ben Joravsky on Politics, Jean de Lafayette Elementary School, teachers, protesters, school closings, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, CPS, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, principals, David Vitale, longer school day, Humboldt Park, TIFs, tax increment financing

Blogs, Bleader Jun 19, 2013
Mayor Rahm to Von Steuben: No toilet paper for you!

Mayor Rahm's spending so much cash on his hotel/DePaul basketball arena scheme that he's got no money to buy toilet paper or librarians for the schools.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Education, News, Von Steuben High School, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools, TIFs, DePaul basketball arena, toilet paper, Gary Sinese, Ravinia Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre, Persepolis, Utah

News & Politics, Feature Sep 23, 2010
Image
Filed Away?

"Honorably terminated" teachers—some nationally recognized—say they can't get so much as a callback about jobs in the Chicago Public Schools. One colleague's bureaucratic nightmare has given them reason to fear the worst.
- By Ben Joravsky and Dave Glowacz
- Tags: Feature, Mike Quigley, Chicago Public Schools, CPS, Ron Huberman, Chicago Teachers Union, Megan Ruthaivilavan, Peace and Education Coalition Alternative High School, education, Lourdes Guerrero, Von Steuben high school, Nancy Kirby, Cesar Chavez, teacher ratings, DNH list, DNH, do-not-hire designation, Sara Echevarria, Joseph Moriarty, bureaucracy, principals, Sunny Neater-DuBow, Multicultural Arts High School, redefinition, Brigitte Swenson, Richard M. Daley, Mayor Daley, Arne Duncan, Pedro Alonso, John Kugler, Monique Bond, David Coar, Chicago Tribune

News & Politics, Feature Jan 15, 2009
Give 'Em What They Want

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Feature Jan 15, 2009
Give 'Em What They Want

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Feature

News & Politics, Politics Feb 7, 2008
The New School Shuffle

As facilities meant to solve overcrowding sit half empty, a successful school for the gifted gets its marching orders.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, Matt Farmer, Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan, Edison Regional Gifted Center, Albany Park Multicultural Academy, CPS, Mayor Daley, Margaret Laurino, 39th Ward, Von Steuben high school, Albany Park, Miguel del Valle, Iris Martinez, Aspira, Brian Doherty, 41st Ward, Peter Cunningham, Crane High School, Metro High School

News & Politics, Essay Apr 27, 2006
The $75,000 Parking Spot; Early and Often

A TIF-sponsored plan to solve the parking shortage near Devon and Western has an architect mad enough to run against 50th Ward alderman Berny Stone.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Essay, The Works

News & Politics, Essay Nov 25, 2004
Checkmate!; Duncan to Senn: Stuff It

Alderman Shirley Coleman has been trying for years to get King Richard II to ease up on people who get towed. This time she may finally have forced him into it.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Essay, The Works

Arts & Culture, Calendar Jul 22, 2004
Active Cultures: the hottest basketball ticket in town this summer is free
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Miscellany Oct 30, 2003
Lesson Learned

Teachers' union president Deborah Lynch showed the rank and file what they could accomplish if they stood up for themselves. And then, to her chagrin, they did.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Miscellany, Education

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Jan 2, 2003
A Born Fighter

Danielle Green overcame huge obstacles to become one of the top basketball players in the city and then at Notre Dame. Her next challenge might take her to Iraq.
- By Ben Joravsky

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Apr 4, 2002
The Man in the Mirror

It's not much of a stretch for Mike Nussbaum to get into character for his latest role.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: The Arts, The Business

News & Politics, Feature Feb 14, 2002
Give 'Em What They Want

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Feature, Rahm Emanuel, Fifth Congressional District

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Dec 21, 2000
Passing the Ball

Manny Weincord's out, Tarrie Blakely's in, but Roosevelt High's basketball team still has a long way to go.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Feb 10, 2000
Off the Street Club

Skeet Horton's amateur youth basketball teams stay tru to an unbeatable game plan.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Oct 7, 1999
Under Siege

Albany Park residents forced out by progress find it's hard to argue with a school.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Jan 14, 1999
Day of the Condo

Sparks fly as a developer reveals his plans and Uptown gets a glimpse of the future.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Nov 12, 1998
Tree Muggers

The city chooses Astroturf in Albany Park
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Miscellany Nov 5, 1998
Go Figure

Roosevelt High pulls off a startling upset at the city algebra contest
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Miscellany, The Schools

News & Politics, Feature Oct 23, 1997
Les Grobstein knows the score

It ain't easy being the world's biggest sports fan.
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Jun 27, 1996
Off The Beat/Coach Weincord Walks the Hall

Trading Community Policing for Public Relations
- By Ben Joravsky

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Nov 2, 1995
Against the Wall/Roosevelt Alums Party On

An Artist Versus Amoco in Oak Park. Plus: if the party's like the planning sessions, it will be one rocking affair at Roosevelt High School come November 17.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Neighborhood News, Tia Jones, murals, Amoco, Oak Park, Illinois, Johnnie Mason, Helen Hardimon, Roosevelt High School, Arnie Kamen, Manny Weincord, Roberta Goldin, Wilson Ellis

News & Politics, Neighborhood News Mar 24, 1994
The Paper: student journalism lives at Von Steuben High
- By Ben Joravsky

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Ben Joravsky

In the fight for school funding in Mayor Rahm's Chicago, it's hard for the charters not to stretch the truth.

Books as a backdrop: Mayor Rahm stages a press conference in the Payton high school library that has no librarian because of his budget cuts.

With the latest round of budget cuts, Mayor Emanuel dooms the education polices he forced into place.

Mayor Rahm's spending so much cash on his hotel/DePaul basketball arena scheme that he's got no money to buy toilet paper or librarians for the schools.

"Honorably terminated" teachers—some nationally recognized—say they can't get so much as a callback about jobs in the Chicago Public Schools. One colleague's bureaucratic nightmare has given them reason to fear the worst.

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.

As facilities meant to solve overcrowding sit half empty, a successful school for the gifted gets its marching orders.

A TIF-sponsored plan to solve the parking shortage near Devon and Western has an architect mad enough to run against 50th Ward alderman Berny Stone.

Alderman Shirley Coleman has been trying for years to get King Richard II to ease up on people who get towed. This time she may finally have forced him into it.

Teachers' union president Deborah Lynch showed the rank and file what they could accomplish if they stood up for themselves. And then, to her chagrin, they did.

Danielle Green overcame huge obstacles to become one of the top basketball players in the city and then at Notre Dame. Her next challenge might take her to Iraq.

It's not much of a stretch for Mike Nussbaum to get into character for his latest role.

Congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel is a fast-talking deal maker with experience at the highest level of national politics. Of course, that's not what it takes to get elected.

Manny Weincord's out, Tarrie Blakely's in, but Roosevelt High's basketball team still has a long way to go.

Skeet Horton's amateur youth basketball teams stay tru to an unbeatable game plan.

Albany Park residents forced out by progress find it's hard to argue with a school.

Sparks fly as a developer reveals his plans and Uptown gets a glimpse of the future.

The city chooses Astroturf in Albany Park

Roosevelt High pulls off a startling upset at the city algebra contest

It ain't easy being the world's biggest sports fan.

Trading Community Policing for Public Relations

An Artist Versus Amoco in Oak Park. Plus: if the party's like the planning sessions, it will be one rocking affair at Roosevelt High School come November 17.

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