Today In My City

Rafael Mendoza

Senior Editor, Business & Economy

As the Senior Editor for Business & Economy at Today In My City, Rafael Mendoza covers urban economics, municipal finance, and commercial real estate. His work focuses on tracking major development projects and analyzing how economic policy decisions impact the local community. By breaking down complex financial topics into clear, accessible stories, he aims to keep residents informed and connected to the pulse of the city's growth.

Expertise

Urban EconomicsMunicipal FinanceCommercial Real EstateEconomic Policy Analysis

Coverage Areas

Business & Economy
Real Estate & Development
City Hall

Latest Articles

Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky celebrating a successful shot, having achieved a career-high 30 points and a WNBA perfect shooting record.
Business & Economy

Kamilla Cardoso scores 30, Sky's record-setting night

Kamilla Cardoso scored a career-high 30 points for the Chicago Sky on Friday, making all 13 of her field goal attempts — a new WNBA record for perfect shooting.

Jun 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Chicago skyline under a sweltering, hazy sky with heat waves rising from the streets during an extreme heat warning.
Business & Economy

Chicago braces for extreme heat index near 100 degrees

Chicago faces three consecutive days with a heat index peaking between 100-105 degrees, a level the National Weather Service classifies as an Extreme Heat Warning.

Jun 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Producers scouting the interior of the historic White Palace Grill in Chicago, a classic diner known for its authentic, working-class atmosphere.
Real Estate & Development

TV Show Scouts Iconic Chicago Restaurants for Authentic Setting

At the White Palace Grill, a decades-old hub for working-class Chicagoans, producers for a new TV show are scouting locations.

Jun 28, 2026 · 3 min read

Close-up of a car's dashboard displaying speed limit technology, with a driver's hands on the steering wheel on a highway at dusk.
Business & Economy

Illinois Law Requires Speed Limit Tech for Restricted Drivers

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill requiring repeat speeders to use technology to prevent exceeding limits for restricted driving privileges, though the program won't launch until after New Year's Day 2028.

Jun 28, 2026 · 2 min read

The 625 North Michigan Avenue office building on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, symbolizing financial challenges with a moody, cinematic aesthetic.
Real Estate & Development

Court Appoints Receiver for Golub Mag Mile Office Property

A Cook County judge has appointed Scott Shefman as receiver for the 625 North Michigan Avenue office building, jointly owned by Golub & Co.

Jun 28, 2026 · 3 min read

A cinematic depiction of AI's economic impact, showing robots working in a factory while people look on, with a futuristic city in the background.
Business & Economy

AI's economic impact: Job displacement and UBI solutions

Dario Amodei, CEO of AI powerhouse Anthropic, suggested a universal basic income (UBI) may be needed if AI-driven job displacement permanently reduces labor demand, according to Canadian Affairs .

Jun 28, 2026 · 2 min read

A diverse group of immigrants, including Haitians and Syrians, facing an uncertain future after the Supreme Court ends Temporary Protected Status nationwide.
Business & Economy

Supreme Court Ends TPS for Haitians and Syrians Nationwide

More than 350,000 immigrants—6,000 Syrians and hundreds of thousands of Haitians—will lose their legal right to live and work in the U.

Jun 27, 2026 · 3 min read

Chicago skyline at dusk with a large parking meter casting a shadow over money, representing the city's $3.3 billion parking meter bid.
Business & Economy

Mayor's $3B Parking Meter Bid Tops Investor Offer

Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration reportedly offered $3.

Jun 26, 2026 · 3 min read

A diverse group of people waiting in a clinic in Illinois, illustrating the increased demand for abortion services.
Business & Economy

Illinois abortion laws see rising demand strain support systems

In 2025, Illinois became the destination for nearly a quarter of the 142,000 people who traveled out-of-state for abortions, according to a Guttmacher Institute report cited by Capitol News Illinois .

Jun 24, 2026 · 3 min read

A detailed puppet of an alien character celebrating a successful crowdfunding campaign, with a thermometer showing over $22,000 raised.
Business & Economy

Popular Puppet Web Series for Adults Raises Over $22K

The web series 'For Alien Eyes Only' has already raised over $22,000 in less than a month for its first official season, demonstrating a powerful shift in how adult-oriented content gets funded.

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

Surveyors conduct soil testing at the future site of the Bronzeville Trail, an elevated park and bike path project in Chicago.
Business & Economy

Bronzeville Trail project launches with soil testing

Environmental soil testing has begun at the abandoned rail site, officially launching the $100 million Bronzeville Trail project.

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

Kamilla Cardoso in action, driving to the basket during a WNBA game, showcasing her intense focus and athletic prowess.
Business & Economy

Kamilla Cardoso posts 26 points, nine boards vs Wings

In a heartbreaking 93-92 loss to the Wings, Kamilla Cardoso exploded for a career-high 26 points, adding nine rebounds and three assists, far surpassing her typical output.

Jun 21, 2026 · 2 min read

The Obama Presidential Center overlooking a developing East Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, symbolizing real estate growth and community change.
Real Estate & Development

Obama Center boosts Chicago South Side real estate, council acts

In East Woodlawn, single-family and multifamily home prices doubled between 2019 and 2025, reaching a median of $440,000, according to The Real Deal .

Jun 20, 2026 · 2 min read

A street vendor's cart is left unattended on a sidewalk as police lights flash, with a distant ICE agent observing the scene.
Business & Economy

ICE Detains Street Vendor After Police Ticketed Her

After Chicago police ticketed street vendor Norma Salazar Perdomo for operating without a license on May 5, she was subsequently detained by ICE.

Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago during its grand opening celebration, with dignitaries and former presidents in attendance.
Business & Economy

Obama Center Opening Celebration Events Kick Off June 18 2026

Barack Obama appeared to wipe away a tear during the grand opening of his Presidential Center in Chicago, an emotional moment witnessed by a global array of dignitaries and former presidents.

Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read

Aftermath of an explosion outside Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez's Pilsen home, with a shattered window and police lights visible.
Business & Economy

Explosion rocks Pilsen alderman's home amid political tensions

At 12:45 a.m. Saturday, a suspected firework detonated outside Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez's Pilsen home, shattering a window and marking a brazen act of political intimidation. This incident,

Jun 15, 2026 · 3 min read

Aftermath of multiple tornadoes in suburban Chicago, showing damaged homes, debris, and emergency lights under a stormy sky.
Business & Economy

Chicago braces for severe weather after confirmed Illinois tornadoes

Over 150,000 ComEd customers woke up Friday morning without power across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, a direct consequence of at least 17 confirmed tornadoes that ripped through the region

Jun 15, 2026 · 3 min read

Gavin McKenna, the top-ranked defenseman and potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, skates with intensity on the ice.
Business & Economy

2026 NHL Mock Draft Defensemen Rankings: Top Prospects Emerge

Gavin McKenna, projected as the No.

Jun 14, 2026 · 3 min read

Lenders and creditors in a tense legal dispute over the financially collapsed Great Central Brewing Company, with the brewery structure in the background.
Real Estate & Development

Great Central Brewing lenders clash over property dispute

Grace O'Leary and her fiancé Samuel lost a $5,400 deposit for their November wedding at Great Central Brewing Company, a casualty of the brewery's sudden financial collapse, according to Abc7chicago .

Jun 14, 2026 · 2 min read

Stylized mosquito silhouette against a darkening Chicago skyline with ominous red warning lights, symbolizing the West Nile Virus threat.
Business & Economy

Chicago Area Sees 17 Severe West Nile Virus Cases

Illinois has reported its first human West Nile virus-related death in 2023: an individual in their 90s from suburban Cook County, confirmed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (dph) .

Jun 13, 2026 · 3 min read