Maya Dukmasova
@mdoukmas.bsky.social
Senior reporter at Injustice Watch. Citizen of Flavortown. Chicago Reader alum. Send your courts tips.
Headshot: Varvara Mikushkina
Cover photo: Brian Cassella
Headshot: Varvara Mikushkina
Cover photo: Brian Cassella
Happy Indigenous People's Day from an Italian heritage street festival in Chicago's Viagra triangle where, yes, Bob Fioretti, dressed in a "Dignitary" sash, is collecting signatures for yet another run for elected office
October 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Happy Indigenous People's Day from an Italian heritage street festival in Chicago's Viagra triangle where, yes, Bob Fioretti, dressed in a "Dignitary" sash, is collecting signatures for yet another run for elected office
We have been authorized to photograph only this part of the hallway. The judges don't want themselves, the area where they vote, and any part of the process seen!
The chief judge isn't just the judges' boss, he's also in charge of the county's third largest workforce - nearly 3,000 people.
The chief judge isn't just the judges' boss, he's also in charge of the county's third largest workforce - nearly 3,000 people.
September 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
We have been authorized to photograph only this part of the hallway. The judges don't want themselves, the area where they vote, and any part of the process seen!
The chief judge isn't just the judges' boss, he's also in charge of the county's third largest workforce - nearly 3,000 people.
The chief judge isn't just the judges' boss, he's also in charge of the county's third largest workforce - nearly 3,000 people.
I'm on the 17th floor of the Daley Center where Cook County's circuit judges are gathering for the secret conclave style election of their Chief Judge. As one irate litigant just commented, coming out hot from a nearby hearing: "It's a goofy ass fucking place!"
Follow along for updates!
Follow along for updates!
September 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I'm on the 17th floor of the Daley Center where Cook County's circuit judges are gathering for the secret conclave style election of their Chief Judge. As one irate litigant just commented, coming out hot from a nearby hearing: "It's a goofy ass fucking place!"
Follow along for updates!
Follow along for updates!
Gotta say @johncusack.bsky.social is a real one! Supporting press freedom and local journalism through @freedom.press!
May 16, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Gotta say @johncusack.bsky.social is a real one! Supporting press freedom and local journalism through @freedom.press!
So impressed by the new National Public Housing Museum, which opened today in Chicago! Thoughtfully curated, resident-centered, and provocative! I wrote about the history of getting this place off the ground 8 years ago, amazing to finally step inside today. chicagoreader.com/news/the-nat...
April 5, 2025 at 12:40 AM
So impressed by the new National Public Housing Museum, which opened today in Chicago! Thoughtfully curated, resident-centered, and provocative! I wrote about the history of getting this place off the ground 8 years ago, amazing to finally step inside today. chicagoreader.com/news/the-nat...
Don't miss our powerhouse all-women housing panel at @ire-nicar.bsky.social's #NICAR25 on Saturday afternoon!
@cvallejo.bsky.social and @evictionlab.bsky.social on deck!
@cvallejo.bsky.social and @evictionlab.bsky.social on deck!
March 6, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Don't miss our powerhouse all-women housing panel at @ire-nicar.bsky.social's #NICAR25 on Saturday afternoon!
@cvallejo.bsky.social and @evictionlab.bsky.social on deck!
@cvallejo.bsky.social and @evictionlab.bsky.social on deck!
Here's a front page image and caption the NYT would never publish about Palestinians
February 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Here's a front page image and caption the NYT would never publish about Palestinians
If you're looking for a good reason to give some money to @chicagoreader.com consider this thought from arts editor (and my bestie) Kerry Cardoza:
Give here: donorbox.org/save-the-chi...
Give here: donorbox.org/save-the-chi...
January 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
If you're looking for a good reason to give some money to @chicagoreader.com consider this thought from arts editor (and my bestie) Kerry Cardoza:
Give here: donorbox.org/save-the-chi...
Give here: donorbox.org/save-the-chi...
Great turnout at Sulzer library today for @writeralejandra.bsky.social and my workshop on how to research Chicago building conditions and building ownership using free public databases!
If you missed this one we'll be doing 2 more in February. Register here: www.injusticewatch.org/project/tena...
If you missed this one we'll be doing 2 more in February. Register here: www.injusticewatch.org/project/tena...
January 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Great turnout at Sulzer library today for @writeralejandra.bsky.social and my workshop on how to research Chicago building conditions and building ownership using free public databases!
If you missed this one we'll be doing 2 more in February. Register here: www.injusticewatch.org/project/tena...
If you missed this one we'll be doing 2 more in February. Register here: www.injusticewatch.org/project/tena...
Why must we always be looking at the Pantheon, why
January 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Why must we always be looking at the Pantheon, why
📣Coming up later this month and next @writeralejandra.bsky.social and I are psyched to offer a series of FREE workshops at libraries on the south, west, and north sides about how to use public records to research Chicago building conditions and property ownership!
airtable.com/appxuo0SNj05...
airtable.com/appxuo0SNj05...
January 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
📣Coming up later this month and next @writeralejandra.bsky.social and I are psyched to offer a series of FREE workshops at libraries on the south, west, and north sides about how to use public records to research Chicago building conditions and property ownership!
airtable.com/appxuo0SNj05...
airtable.com/appxuo0SNj05...
Did mine this year with Japanese sweet potatoes and a Dufour pie crust which shrank surprisingly intensely despite blind bake with weights 🤷
November 28, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Did mine this year with Japanese sweet potatoes and a Dufour pie crust which shrank surprisingly intensely despite blind bake with weights 🤷
We found 2,654 buildings in Chicago with a chronic history of serious code violations. Most of them are some form of housing. In most of them, tenants were taken to eviction court in the same year landlords were cited for serious code violations.
November 14, 2024 at 3:40 PM
We found 2,654 buildings in Chicago with a chronic history of serious code violations. Most of them are some form of housing. In most of them, tenants were taken to eviction court in the same year landlords were cited for serious code violations.
New to The Tenant Trap? Allow me to reintroduce Alejandra Cancino's and my year+ long investigation into the intersection of eviction and building code enforcement. We found thousands of troubled Chicago apartment buildings where people pay high rents and face eviction despite poor conditions.
November 14, 2024 at 3:40 PM
New to The Tenant Trap? Allow me to reintroduce Alejandra Cancino's and my year+ long investigation into the intersection of eviction and building code enforcement. We found thousands of troubled Chicago apartment buildings where people pay high rents and face eviction despite poor conditions.
By the way if you're looking for the best Italian beef within Chicago city limits - Ciccio's at (yes, i know it sounds insane) Navy Pier. Truly will make the whole thing worth it next time you have to take some out of towner over there.
November 8, 2024 at 2:33 PM
By the way if you're looking for the best Italian beef within Chicago city limits - Ciccio's at (yes, i know it sounds insane) Navy Pier. Truly will make the whole thing worth it next time you have to take some out of towner over there.
I spy with my little eye @injusticewatch.org judicial election guides!
November 2, 2024 at 1:37 AM
I spy with my little eye @injusticewatch.org judicial election guides!
Why are University of Chicago police cars outfitted with these violently blinding green led lights that are just steady on??? This is a traffic safety hazard!
October 29, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Why are University of Chicago police cars outfitted with these violently blinding green led lights that are just steady on??? This is a traffic safety hazard!
First day of early voting Chicago's 50 wards! Don't forget to #CheckYourJudges with @injusticewatch.org's guide and come out to our party on Thursday!
October 21, 2024 at 12:47 PM
First day of early voting Chicago's 50 wards! Don't forget to #CheckYourJudges with @injusticewatch.org's guide and come out to our party on Thursday!
55 years ago today journalists and other employees of Time, Life, and Fortune magazines in New York staged a demonstration against the Vietnam War. These photos by Bev Grant are currently part of an exhibition at show at Northwestern University's Block Museum
October 15, 2024 at 3:18 PM
55 years ago today journalists and other employees of Time, Life, and Fortune magazines in New York staged a demonstration against the Vietnam War. These photos by Bev Grant are currently part of an exhibition at show at Northwestern University's Block Museum
Seen in Rogers Park: this nursing home put up a grim reaper and a scarecrow in a wheelchair with a pack of Marlboroughs in his shirt pocket
October 11, 2024 at 3:35 AM
Seen in Rogers Park: this nursing home put up a grim reaper and a scarecrow in a wheelchair with a pack of Marlboroughs in his shirt pocket
This is fucked! Hundreds of people garden there, including immigrants who do subsistence gardening
October 11, 2024 at 2:40 AM
This is fucked! Hundreds of people garden there, including immigrants who do subsistence gardening
We found 2654 buildings with a history of serious code violations. In many of them tenants faced eviction at the same time as landlords were cited, fined, even prosecuted for code violations.
August 27, 2024 at 2:53 PM
We found 2654 buildings with a history of serious code violations. In many of them tenants faced eviction at the same time as landlords were cited, fined, even prosecuted for code violations.
I'll be doing an Instagram live with @evictionlab.bsky.social today at 1pm CT to discuss The Tenant Trap.
If you haven't explored Alejandra Cancino and my five part series here are some main takeaway from our year+ long investigation 🧵
If you haven't explored Alejandra Cancino and my five part series here are some main takeaway from our year+ long investigation 🧵
August 27, 2024 at 2:52 PM
I'll be doing an Instagram live with @evictionlab.bsky.social today at 1pm CT to discuss The Tenant Trap.
If you haven't explored Alejandra Cancino and my five part series here are some main takeaway from our year+ long investigation 🧵
If you haven't explored Alejandra Cancino and my five part series here are some main takeaway from our year+ long investigation 🧵
The entire five story package of The Tenant Trap is a great weekend read (or listen!) if you ask me but I especially want to recommend my favorite story in the series 👇
August 10, 2024 at 12:51 AM
The entire five story package of The Tenant Trap is a great weekend read (or listen!) if you ask me but I especially want to recommend my favorite story in the series 👇