What are the impact of property taxes on Chicago neighborhoods? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen explores the impact of property taxes on certain Chicago neighborhoods with Geoff Smith of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, discusses the environmental legislative agenda of Illinois with Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, and gets an update on the environmental justice story of the Damen Silos. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Funkytown Brewery gets funky in Chicago. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about a new local Black-owned brewery called Funkytown from co-owners Richard Bloomfield, Zachary Day, and Gregory Williams, discusses the loss of affordable housing in Chicago with executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University Geoff Smith, and discovers the Secret History of the local country rock band Ouray. And Mike recounts his standoff with a Chicago rat, since the city has once again been named the “rattiest” in America. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Coach houses are going to be all the rage!

Mike Stephen learns about a new city ordinance legalizing coach houses with Chicago Cityscape founder & CEO Steven Vance, discusses the impact of COVID-19 in state prisons with Illinois Prison Project executive director Jennifer Soble, and explores the pandemic’s impact on housing with Geoff Smith of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and offer some takeaways. The local pandemic tunez come from Phillip Otto. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.