Legislation proposed in Springfield aims to stop the criminalization of homelessness, but opponents say it won't actually help people without housing.

Why it matters: Advocates for homeless people warn that the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision allowing cities to criminalize sleeping outdoors has made it easier for Illinois cities to punish homelessness.

Context: More than 30 cities across the state have enacted these penalties, according to the Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness, ranking Illinois second to California.

• CCH and other advocates are pushing to amend the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act, which would ban municipalities from imposing criminal penalties and fines for people sleeping, eating or storing property in a public space.
• CCH says penalties can make finding housing more difficult because those looking for it would have arrests on their records.

The other side: The Illinois State Association of Counties is opposed because, it contends, the bill preempts local governments' authority.

• The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board this week argued the legislation would lead to more encampments, calling the tents populating city parks "unsafe, untenable and unchanging," with "reports of unsanitary and dangerous conditions."

Reality check: Even with ongoing efforts at rehousing people from encampments, the general lack of affordable housing continues to drive issues of homelessness.

• There are 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Illinois. That number goes to 28 for metro Chicago, according to a new report from Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

What we're watching: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office just released its five-year plan to address homelessness, including simplifying review timelines for development on city-owned land and assessing best practices in tiny-home housing models.

Go deeper

May 1 is quickly approaching, and Chicago Public Schools families are still getting conflicting messages from the city and school officials about potential May Day closures.

State of play: We want to know how you feel about the CPS May Day issue.

Note: When we ask if May Day should be an instruction day, we mean as opposed to a teacher-led professional development day that would be swapped for one originally scheduled in June.

📧 As always, feel free to email us with more thoughts: [email protected].

Take the survey

🚨 Police in south suburban New Lenox are investigating a bomb threat at the home of Pope Leo XIV's brother, John Prevost. Officers determined Wednesday night that the threat was unsubstantiated. (Southtown)

🛬 The FAA has ordered O'Hare to cut flights this summer, capping daily takeoffs and landings to about 2,700 from May to October. (Tribune)

🚙 A new state report suggests that inequities in car insurance premiums can disproportionately affect older adults and low-income families. (Sun-Times)

🛝 The Park District may rename a park in the Humboldt Park neighborhood after a nun who ministered in the community for more than 40 years. (Block Club)

The Chicago Architecture Center celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Its leaders say their mission is not just to share the city's history, but to help shape how Chicago looks in the future.

Why it matters: While most locals and visitors know the center's work through its walking and boat tours, CAC also serves as a connector for the many entities vying to determine the city's built environment.

Flashback: In the mid-1960s, a group of civic-minded locals fought to preserve the Glessner House on the city's near South Side as its neighboring buildings were lost to neglect.

• The group purchased the home on April 16, 1966, and laid the groundwork for the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation, the precursor to CAC.

Context: A lasting legacy from the architecture center's early days is the strong docent program, which now includes hundreds of volunteers who donate thousands of hours to lead tours of downtown and the neighborhoods.

And yes, they take a test, and CAC sends "secret shoppers" to the tours to evaluate how the docents are doing.

State of play: The city's landscape is constantly evolving, shaped by the economy, development interests and politics. CAC president and CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski feels invested in helping Chicago achieve great plans for the future and she sees the center's role as convener.

• "We don't represent one group," she tells Axios. "We're here for the city. We're a membership organization. So our thought is, 'let's bring all these great ideas together.'"

What's next: "Currents: 60 Years of the Chicago Architecture Center" is an exhibit currently on display through May 1 at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E. Wacker Drive.

More of CAC's history

What's Dilla say? "Everything dope about America comes from Chicago."

Let's put that to the test. How well do you know our homegrown companies?

• Last week's streets quiz was a huge hit. Congrats to Matt A., Steve K., Timothy A., Christian R., Susan M., Joel D., Jeremy H., Chris N., Mary W., Steve N., Conan K., Mitch O. and Jackie W.

As always, screenshot your perfect score, and I'll give you a shout-out!

Take today's quiz!