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The Latest Breaking News from Sam Toia

Chicago Restaurant Association Prepares Members For Immigration Crackdown

Sam Toia assists Chicago restaurant owners in preparing for potential ICE visits amid immigration crackdown, emphasizing compliance and collaboration with ...

Top News

Chicago Restaurant Week 2024 lineup boasts nearly 400 local eateries

The 17-day event gives diners a chance to sample some of the area’s top dining destinations at a special fixed price.

Chicago Sun-Times

Credit card swipe fees raise costs for businesses, consumers. Congress should lower those fees.

Proposed legislation would inject competition into the system of networks that process credit card transactions.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Phase-in of higher minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers clears City Council panel

Restaurants would get five years to pay waitstaff the minimum wage, absorb higher labor cost, if measure clears full council.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mayor Johnson OKs compromise giving restaurants 5 years to phase in higher pay for tipped workers

Tipped workers — now paid 60% of Chicago’s minimum wage — would receive annual pay increases of 8% starting next July and continuing through July 2028.

Chicago Sun-Times

Back to the kitchen? Mayor’s floor leader rejects latest restaurant industry compromise on subminimum wage

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) said the restaurant industry’s latest proposal to raise the minimum wages for tipped workers to $20.54 an hour at Chicago restaurants with more than $3 million in annual revenue is “dead on arrival.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park: ‘The city’s biggest party for everyone’

Highlights of the annual summer tradition include a hip-hop showcase featuring some of the biggest names in the genre, a tribute to DJ Casper and, of course, food from 35 vendors and food trucks.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Restaurant association offers alternative to ending subminimum wage for tipped workers

Impose stiff fines on restaurants that don’t pay the difference when their subminimum wage workers don’t make enough in tips to reach the $15.80 minimum wage, restaurant association chief suggests.

Chicago Sun-Times

For sake of small restaurants, go slow on getting rid of subminimum wage

Not every restaurant, especially Chicago’s small neighborhood gems, can afford the higher pay for workers, perhaps even two years from now.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago aims to boost pay for thousands of restaurant workers

Advocates hail potential for ‘historic moment’ as city council bill bids to increase pay from $9.48 an hour for tipped employees

The Guardian - US

City Council members to propose 2-year timeline for eliminating ‘sub-minimum’ wage

Despite the proposal, however, Ald. Ramirez-Rosa acknowledged negotiations with the restaurant industry continue and may result in an even longer phase-in period.

Chicago Sun-Times

Residents, organizations weigh in on preliminary Cook County 2024 budget

The preliminary budget shows a projected gap of $85.6 million for next year. At a public hearing, speakers representing various organizations advocated for continued funding of their programs.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago’s minimum wage is increasing July 1. Here’s what to know

Chicago’s minimum wage will increase July 1, hitting $15.80 per hour for many workers across the city.

Chicago Tribune

Effort revs up to phase out ‘sub-minimum wage’ for tipped workers

The “One Fair Wage” campaign wants tipped workers to make the same minimum wage as anyone else in Chicago. Tipped workers instead are paid $9. On July 1, that rises to $9.48 and the $15-an-hour minimum wage goes to $15.80.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago politics take center stage as feds wind down their corruption case against businessman James Weiss

Weiss is accused of bribing two state lawmakers to push legislation in Springfield, but the focus Tuesday turned from the state capitol to City Hall.

Chicago Sun-Times

Johnson forges compromise to expand outdoor dining in Chicago

The mayor is making permanent an expanded outdoor dining program that helped restaurants and bars get through the pandemic, while he preserves input from the local alderperson.

Chicago Sun-Times

To business leaders, Dem convention’s real payoff is in civic promotion

They hope that by bringing a global spotlight to Chicago, the political event will show off the city’s best features and accelerate its post-pandemic resurgence.

Chicago Tribune

Office buildings that offer internal amenities, like restaurants, could be key to luring workers back downtown

CHICAGO — Nearly three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many office workers still work from home, especially on Mondays and Fridays, depriving restaurants of the healthy lunch crowds they need to stay afloat and damaging prospects for recovery downtown.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Uber Eats, Postmates agree to $10 million settlement with city

The delivery services will refund $8.5 million to struggling Chicago restaurants — and pay $1.5 million more to the city — to settle claims that the companies ignored a 15% cap on delivery fees and listed restaurants without their consent.

Chicago Sun-Times

River North restaurants cut hours more than any area in U.S. during COVID: survey

River North restaurants have cut 20.2 hours per week, on average, since COVID hit. Restaurant owners cite reasons including inflation, lack of workers and changing consumer habits. But the biggest issue may be the sluggish return to workers downtown.

Chicago Sun-Times

At Manny’s, corned beef on rye’s price is up, but, like many restaurants, deli’s still struggling amid high inflation

Higher costs are pummeling restaurants. Many have cut hours and portions and raised prices. Lou Malnati’s Pizza raised prices 8% across the board — more in a year “than ever in our history.”

Chicago Sun-Times

With coaxing from former City Council colleague Mell, Tunney warms to joining crowded race for mayor

Former Ald. Richard Mell “thinks I would be a good mayor. That’s all I can say,” retiring Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) told the Sun-Times Monday. “He’s worked with me for years.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot proposes new, improved — and permanent — outdoor dining program

If the council approves the new program, the Chicago Department of Transportation will establish an “outdoor dining street permit” valid from May through October. It would allow restaurants to set up extra tables in curb lanes.

Chicago Sun-Times

Robot food delivery pilot program gets green light from City Council committee

If the full council endorses the plan, a year-old, pandemic-inspired test would expand to an area bounded by Halsted Street, Ogden Avenue, Roosevelt Road and the Eisenhower Expressway.

Chicago Tribune

Chicago’s pandemic-ravaged industries eager to pitch city for 2024 Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO — Touting the city’s bona fides, Chicago politicians and business leaders last week said the city was prepared to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024 and that the major national event would provide a much-needed spark to Chicago’s pandemic-ravaged hospitality industries.

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