David Greising

David Greising is president of the Better Government Association, publisher of the Illinois Answers Project and home to the BGA Policy website. A former Tribune business columnist, Greising broke into professional journalism covering Harold Washington’s run for mayor at the City News Bureau of Chicago. His Tribune column appears every other Friday.

When Chicago police officers face major disciplinary hearings, and both their badges and public trust are on the line, it's vital that secrecy is avoided.

David Greising: Public disciplinary hearings are crucial to regaining trust in Chicago police

February 2, 2024 at 8:46 a.m.

When Chicago police officers face major disciplinary hearings, and both their badges and public trust are on the line, it's vital that secrecy is avoided.

Opinion |
David Greising: Journalism is in a sorry state in Illinois and nationwide. But there is hope for local news.

January 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

The nation since 2005 has lost a third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists, according to a study by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Illinois has...

Opinion |
David Greising: As Mayor Brandon Johnson deals with a defining crisis, he should follow Lori Lightfoot’s lead

January 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

The surge of migrants to Chicago, arriving by busloads from Texas, hardly marks the first time a Chicago mayor new to the job has faced an all-consuming challenge. Four years...

Opinion |
David Greising: Mayor Brandon Johnson appears to be learning as he goes

December 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has reversed course on major policy moves twice in the last few weeks. In a sense, that's a welcome development. For his predecessor, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the...

Opinion |
David Greising: Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker can be at odds — as long as they do their jobs

December 8, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

There has been a lot of hand-wringing lately about the testy relationship between Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Frankly, they can feud all they want — just...

Opinion |
David Greising: Ex-Ald. Edward Burke faces judgment. But ethics reforms in Chicago still fall short.

November 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

As I began counting blessings in the run-up to Thanksgiving this year, a thought occurred to me: I wonder if it's uncharitable to give thanks that former Ald. Edward Burke...

Opinion |
David Greising: As ex-Ald. Edward Burke faces trial, Chicagoans are told yet again that it was ‘just politics’

November 16, 2023 at 2:18 p.m.

It serves as a fitting metaphor that, in an effort to avoid tainting the jury in the trial of disgraced former Ald. Edward Burke, a rogues' gallery of corrupt Illinois...

Opinion |
David Greising: Maintaining Chicago police accountability in new contract will require a tricky legal maneuver

October 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's decision to put the brakes on City Council approval of a key part of a new police contract was politically pragmatic and a win for accountable government...

Opinion |
David Greising: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first budget shows that the realities of the job have sunk in

October 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Think of it as the reality check budget. As a candidate for mayor, Brandon Johnson had a neat and clean plan to raise $800 million from new taxes in order...

Opinion |
David Greising: Civic leaders seek sincere solutions while GOP stunt exploits Chicago violence

September 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

At almost the same time this week, two meetings took place, both promoted as addressing Chicago's violent crime problem. They had two very different purposes: one dispensable, the other admirable....

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