Chicago's animal shelter leader faces growing opposition, but she and her allies emphasize there's a fundamental misunderstanding of what Chicago Animal Care and Control does.

Why it matters: CACC took in more than 17,000 animals last year — up sharply from 2019 — and nearly 3,800 were euthanized, almost double the pre-pandemic total. As intake climbs, so does pressure on the city-run shelter.

Driving the news: City Council could vote next week on confirming Susan Cappello as the permanent head of CACC. She has served as acting director since 2023.

State of play: Local shelters, such as One Tail at a Time, and nearly 20 alders oppose Cappello's appointment and are urging the mayor to conduct a national search instead.

• Alders called the shelter's conditions "subpar," and several public commenters at last month's City Council meeting complained of unsanitary conditions.

The other side: PAWS, the Anti-Cruelty Society, and the Tree House Humane Society sent a letter to alders urging them to approve Cappello.

Context: PAWS founder Paula Fasseas said at a press conference last week that the problems at CACC "are structural and resource-driven, rather than a matter of leadership," pointing to the shelter's meager annual budget compared with the budgets of those in other major cities.

• CACC's 2025 budget was just under $8 million.
• Last year, Houston's budget was more than $15 million, New York's was about $34 million, and Los Angeles' was $30 million.

What they're saying: Cappello blames some of the criticism on a basic misunderstanding of what CACC does.

• "You would be surprised how many people out there don't even know that Chicago Animal Care and Control exists ... [or] they still think 'the dog pound,'" Cappello told Axios. "We are a shelter. We are the next place to look for your next pet."

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Gen Z workers are chasing more time in the office.

Why it matters: The generation with a reputation for preferring fully remote work is actually the least likely to want it — reflecting deeper worries about connection and growth, recent Gallup polling shows.

By the numbers: Fewer than a quarter (23%) of remote-capable Gen Z employees say they'd prefer fully remote work, compared with 35% among each older generation, according to Gallup's 2025 survey.

Loneliness is a major driver of the shift back to the office: 27% of Gen Z workers say they felt lonely "a lot", nearly double Gen X and close to triple baby boomers, per Gallup.

• Career advancement is another.

What they're saying: "Older workers already have established relationships, so when they work hybrid or remote, they tend not to lose them," Jim Harter, chief scientist for workplace management and wellbeing at Gallup, tells Axios.

• "Younger workers are still establishing those relationships in the workplace."

Zoom in: Chicago-based Danielle Callas, 26, says she recently switched from a remote gig to one that requires five days a week in the office.

• "At this stage in my life, I'm able to commit to an in-person role, and I saw it as something that could enhance the overall experience rather than detract from it," Callas tells Axios.

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Last week, we asked readers if they wanted to see the Democratic National Convention return to town, and they delivered a strong preference.

Context: Chicago is one of five cities shortlisted by the Democratic National Committee to host the 2028 DNC.

The results: We were surprised by the overwhelming desire to host again, given the traffic and disruptions that can come with it.

Yes, but: It's clear that the huge majority of respondents stayed away from the 2024 festivities and didn't have to face its hassles.

The intrigue: We asked a third question about what improvements you'd like to see if the DNC returned, and over 80% of you said infrastructure work to roads, public transit and bridges.

What's next: The committee will visit all five cities soon. The convention is scheduled for August 7-10, 2028.

Chicago police are investigating a shooting involving officers in the Humboldt Park neighborhood last night. One person was seriously wounded, and no officers were hurt, according to officials. (ABC 7)

🚨 Hundreds of Chicagoans were recently deported after being wrongly detained for months and eventually agreeing to voluntary deportation, according to a new court filing. (Tribune)

🏈 The Bears will reportedly sign Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency. They've also agreed to terms with Browns linebacker Devin Bush, Colts defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and will re-sign tackle Braxton Jones and linebacker D'Marco Jackson. (NBC 5)

👋 Hey, it's Monica.

I recently spent a few days in Puerto Rico visiting family and eating lots of food, including an island version of the Chicago-invented jibarito sandwich.

Backstory: Humboldt Park restaurateur Juan C. Figueroa started serving this steak sandwich using fried green plantain planks as bread in the mid-1990s at his Puerto Rican restaurant Borinquen.

• In the intervening decades, it has spread to cities all over the country and even back to Puerto Rico, where I found it in San Juan's old city at a spot called Restaurante el Jibarito or La Fonda del Jibarito, depending on which sign at this location you follow.

The sandwich: Disappointing. The plantain planks came out broken and filled with — not ribeye, pork or any of the other Chicago faves but — some weird cheesy Salisbury steak for $19.95.

• Yes, but the sandwich did come with a tasty trifongo (breadfruit, plantain and yuca fritter) on the side. Has anyone ever seen this in Chicago?

The bottom line: When trying "Chicago treats" in other cities, I often brace for the worst, but here I expected something better.

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