Even though the Chicago Police Department budget is set to increase in 2025, police reform resources could be cut.

The big picture: Each city department, including police and fire, is being asked to reduce costs to help fill a nearly billion-dollar budget hole in 2025.

Zoom in: The city's early recommendation is to gut the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform, which oversees a court-mandated consent decree.

Context: The office is made up of civilians tasked with improving community policing, use-of-force policies, and officer accountability and transparency.

• It was created in 2019 after a U.S. Justice Department investigation the year prior found repeated civil rights abuses, including the murder of Laquan McDonald by officer Jason Van Dyke.

The intrigue: Since the consent decree began, CPD has met only about 7% of the court order's requirements, according to the independent group assigned to monitor the office.

• Yes, but: CPD says it is closer to 50% with several big policy changes, including revising the use-of-force policy in 2023.

Between the lines: The police department is proposing to eliminate 456 vacant positions (both officer and civilian positions) and is proposing to cut civilian positions in the constitutional policing office.

• The cuts would eliminate 37 staffers in that office and remove almost 30% of the budget for CPD's Training and Support Group.

By the numbers: Mayor Brandon Johnson's $17 billion budget includes more than $2 billion for CPD, a $58 million increase from last year.

The latest: Police superintendent Larry Snelling advocated for keeping these positions at a budget hearing Friday, but he also said that he wanted to put all available resources into helping officers on the street.

• Snelling said he persuaded Johnson to reverse cuts for a few positions dedicated to officer wellness.
• Johnson, who before becoming mayor questioned the police department's resources, has defended the suggested cuts by arguing he's been hiring officers and implementing police reforms without the consent decree.

Friction point: The proposed cuts have riled up Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a new coalition of former officers and violence prevention groups.

Go deeper

Northwestern unveiled renderings yesterday of what the new $850 million stadium will look like in Evanston.

Why it matters: The university is moving forward with the state-of-the-art Ryan Field to compete with other Big Ten football programs.

The big picture: With the contentious battle with nearby residents in the rearview mirror, Northwestern looks to have the venue ready in time for the 2026 season.

What they're saying: "With the new Ryan Field, we are introducing a bold new vision for the future of college sports," said Pat Ryan Jr. in a statement. The Ryan family is providing a majority of the stadium funding.

By the numbers: Once built, Northwestern says the new Ryan Field is expected to have over $1 billion economic impact on the Chicago area, with most of it in Evanston near the campus.

Here's what to expect:

• It will hold 35,000 fans. The university promises "better-than-TV" sightlines."
• Parks and plazas will surround the stadium, which will include spaces for pregame activities, pop-up restaurants, live music and tailgating.

What's next: The Wildcats will continue to play at the makeshift stadium in the center of campus until the new stadium is ready.

More renderings

Bulls legend Bob Love passed away yesterday at the age of 81. The three-time all-star was named to the team's inaugural Ring of Honor class last January. (Tribune)

💸 Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council have brokered a new tax hike deal after all 50 alders voted down the mayor's proposed $300 million hike. The new plan would include raising ​​the personal property lease tax on cloud computing. (Sun-Times)

🥕 The CDC is urging people to check the brands and dates of baby carrots in their fridge as several varieties have been linked to a multi-state E. coli outbreak. (NBC)

For the 30th anniversary of the holiday classic, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," a new Mariah Carey-themed pop-up bar submerges visitors in over-the-top Christmas cheer.

Zoom in: Mariah Carey's Black Irish Holiday Bar features tastefully decorated Christmas trees, wood-paneled walls, album covers on shelves and cozy corners stuffed with pillows for snuggling with cocktails made with Black Irish, Carey's own Irish cream brand.

The vibe: The bar offers many Instagrammable opportunities like a swing (throne) with "Queen of Christmas" in neon lights and a cut-out of Carey, as well as a place to send the legendary diva letters of what you want for Christmas.

If you go: The pop-up bar is at Virgin Hotel off the Mag Mile until Dec. 29.

• Tickets start at $20 and include a complimentary cocktail.

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It's not just Mariah.

It's mid-November and the holiday hits are already hitting new highs.

Driving the news: The Christmas Hits became the No. 1 playlist on Spotify in the U.S. last week, with almost double the streams than this time last year.

By the numbers: From Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, "Christmas Dreaming" by Laufey saw a 1,450% increase in streams, "The Christmas Waltz" by Laufey saw a 1,090% increase, and "Christmas Tree Farm — Old Timey Version" by Taylor Swift hit a 1,020% increase.

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Where's Justin this week? Here's a hint:

• The traffic tightens near this spot
• Where our former First Lady shines.
• It no longer smells since the factory left
• But burgers, beers and parks are great finds.

Guess where Justin is!