The 72-page Transition Report is not the only way to measure progress on the part of the Emanuel administration, but it’s a checklist of sorts on what the new folks in charge think is critical - and what they say they can accomplish. 

“It will be a scorecard for the public to keep my administration accountable,” Emanuel said when releasing his plan on May 10th. “It will be a scorecard for myself and my administration to keep us accountable.”

Some of its points—indeed, a lot of them—are vague or hard to assess.  An example:

#26: “The City will accelerate the development of the multi-year plan, which will look at water meter installation and overhaul of water mains, in addition to incentives for permeable pavement, green infrastructure, rainwater re-use, among other options.”

It doesn’t say the plan is to be completed, or released, within 100 days. It merely states that the administration will “accelerate the development” of a plan. It’s a take-our-word-for-it goal — and one that’s hard to grade.

What follows is a selection of key initiatives and our editorial team’s assessment of the progress made to date. In assessing the progress, we made every effort to be fair and precise — and made repeated calls to Emanuel’s office to verify specific points. 

In keeping with the mayor’s own statements, we placed a high premium on transparency.  Therefore, if the administration says it’s completed a goal below, but hasn’t provided evidence of it or it hasn’t been made public, we’ve judged the measure incomplete.

You can see the whole report here and make your own scorecard.  Let us know if you agree or what you’d add.  

And you can follow our entire series of reports on Mayor Emanuel’s first 100 days here. 

Structural changes totaling $75 million will be made to the current 2011 budget.

The panel launched, and a public meeting has been held.

An Emanuel spokesperson says the guidelines the administration pledged to develop have been completed. They have not been released publicly. 

A searchable version of the city budget will be posted online, after a full review to ensure that its presentation is clear and easy to understand.

A searchable version of the city budget has been posted online, along with additional documents and previous fiscal budgets. According to a press release, “the administration has released more than 200 data sets on various city services and functions at the City’s Data Portal including city contract data from as far back as 1993, city employee salaries, and crime data for 2011. In addition, for increased accountability, the public can monitor the progress and performance of various city departments online at www.cityofchicago.org/performance.” 

However, the information available is fragmented and not presented in a way that’s clear and easy for budget amateurs to process or digest.

A website, www.chicagoprocurement.org, is under construction and the administration has announced the implementation of reverse auctions and transparency in non-competitive contracting (press release 7/21/11). 

On Thursday, August 18, the administration announced that it has hired Accenture to review the procurement process and identify $25 million in savings for the upcoming budget year. However, results of the evaluation have not been announced.  

Many benchmarks have been posted on the city’s website, http://cityofchicago.org/performance, including response times for tree removal, rodent baiting and retail food license approvals. 

However, garbage collection information is missing, despite the fact that it’s the only item specifically outlined above.

#13 Take action to address gun violence

On day 99, the Emanuel administration announced the completion of a gun report that “includes aggregate data on gun make, state of origin, and involvement in crime for guns recovered by CPD.”

The report also outlines a plan for the gathering, release and utilization of future data. However, the administration hasn’t provided a copy of the report. A day earlier, Emanuel announced he joined the organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns. 

#17 Eliminate food deserts in Chicago

The summit has been convened, and the Healthy Chicago strategy document has been completed and released, which targets key public health benchmarks. In addition, the administration says millions of dollars in funding have been secured for a Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project and the obesity-focused “Healthy Places” public nutrition awareness program.

#25 Create a world-class bike network and increase cycling

The first half-mile of protected bike lanes has been established along Kinzie Avenue between Milwaukee Avenue and Wells Street. Although additional mileage is targeted (including along Jackson Avenue), it’s not yet complete. The administration says the Kinzie route “will be examined for safety, efficiency, and economic development outcomes.”

#28 Increase access to public space

On Thursday, August 18, the administration announced the creation of the Web-based map of existing public spaces. Thus far, we’ve yet to locate the map – and the administration has yet to respond directly to our specific requests for the information.  EDITOR’S NOTE: On Wednesday, Emanuel’s office provided a link to the map and we raised our grade from a half star to a full star.

#29 Increase instructional time for all students

#30 Recruit, support and retain high performing school leaders and principals

#33 Increase the number of non-selective, world-class schools in every neighborhood

On Monday, August 22, Emanuel said a person had been hired to begin work on the plan. However, administration officials later said the plan has been completed. Thus far, no such facilities plan has been publicly released.

#38 Ensure that Chicago’s immigrant community can access available support and services and that we deliver to Chicago’s youth the promise of the Dream Act.

City Hall has come up with an “internal infrastructure” that outlines the points above. However, the administration is waiting to finalize the hiring of an ONA director. That person will sign off on those plans before making them public.

Currently, there is no website, no office and no dedicated personnel.  The administration says it’s waiting to hire the ONA director so s/he could have input and prerogative on all those points as well.

#44 Develop job growth strategies for targeted industries

The administration claims the analysis and review was completed on August 9 and focused attention on the “need for a renewed and rejuvenated World Business Chicago,” the organization already charged with boosting Chicago’s economic and business fortunes.

According to the administration, the newly expanded board of the organization has convened to “begin the development of short and long-term job creation strategies.” Targeted industries include technology, advanced materials, manufacturing, financial trading and tourism.

#46 Develop bus rapid transit

The city will initiate an “alternatives analysis” – to be completed during year one – on Western and Ashland avenues to determine which corridor can most benefit from piloting the expanded service of bus rapid transit.

The CTA initiated the “alternatives analysis process”” by placing a notice on its website.

#47 Support transit-oriented development

On Friday, August 19, Emanuel issued a policy directive for transit-oriented development that encourages the use of incentives such as expedited permitting, set asides of city-owned property and expanded use of tax credits and loan guarantees.  

Thus far, the administration hasn’t provided the directive or responded to our requests for it.

#50 Develop a strategy for a new cultural plan for Chicago

On August 15, the administration announced the completion of its audit of city-organized festivals and cultural programs.

Thus far, the administration hasn’t provided a copy of the audit or responded to our requests for it.

#52 Refocus the Chicago Climate Action Plan on economic impact and jobs

#55 Build vibrant communities through development of local assets and institutional anchors

The city conducted two weekend working sessions with the University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago, which resulted in the creation of long-term development plans. 

The administration has provided no evidence that one to three pilot communities have been identified.