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* You can watch the Chicago City Council right now live on the Intertubes. The debate started at 10 o’clock. Click here for the video.

* Background…

Chicago has come a long way since the days when television cameras were not allowed to broadcast or record City Council meetings.

In those days, it took an order from then-Finance Committee Chairman Tom Keane, introduced at each meeting, to let the cameras roll.

Fast forward more than three decades. After years of talk, City Council meetings will finally be televised live on the Internet, starting today.

Welcome to the 21st Century.

“I’ve got to check with my makeup artist,” joked Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th).

You need more than makeup, Pat.

* More…

Ald. Edward Burke (14th), a leader of the push to the Internet, said he hopes schoolchildren will view Thursday’s meeting, and all the council meetings thereafter, from their classroom computers

Please. Let’s hope not.

Watch and discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 10:05 am

Comments

It’s a little choppy, but not too bad. Very nice.

Comment by Civics 101 Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 10:08 am
Why not it’ll raise a new generation to view Chicago government differently. It might hurt the news business though if people wised up. LOL!

Comment by Levois Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 10:55 am
Hmmm, a lot of things signed by Mayor Daley. Seems repetitive.

Comment by Levois Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 11:02 am
Now all I need to do is find a website that provides a steady play of the instumental version of “Send In the Clowns” as backgound music while I watch this!

Comment by fedup dem Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 11:31 am
This slobbering over Chico is a bit much.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 11:52 am
I can’t wait to replay all those words about Chico when he screws up the district. He has already offered the opinion that the parks may need a tax increase.

Nice to hear that the aldermen think he did a fine job with the schools though.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 12:37 pm
It was a decent experiment. Maybe if the council has a hot debate we’ll follow it again.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 1:46 pm
> Hmmm, a lot of things signed by Mayor Daley. Seems repetitive.

The Mayor’s office is far & away the main source of legislative initiatives in Chicago, not the aldermen. The City Council is repetitive & redundant.

Comment by Hugh Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 4:01 pm
> … more than makeup

Whatever else you say about ‘em the current crop of todies ain’t nothin’ to look at. If nothing else maybe webcasting will over time lead to more attractive aldermen if not more life-like.

I missed the live broadcast and was disappointed to find the historic video was not archived online. Grade school kids are managing to regale the world with their video creations, but on demand video is apparently beyond the ken of Our Fair City’s brain trust.

For most purposes, Jim Dispensa has a more useful service. AlderTrack is same-day service, on demand, you can fast forward through the yadda yadda yadda, and best of all no taxpayer money was used.

http://aldertrack.typepad.com/aldertrack2/

Comment by Hugh Thursday, Sep 27, 07 @ 5:13 pm