Category: Chicago
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A Tale of Two Cities: How Atlanta and Chicago Are Confronting Urban Decline
As Atlanta bets on neighborhood development and Chicago bets on its schools, two progressive mayors make opposite wagers with the same scarce public dollars. The rest of urban America watches.
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From RTA to NITA: What Illinois’ Transit Overhaul Means for Riders
Chicago’s new funding law aims to address the looming budget crisis that threatened Chicago transit, but what got us here? And how does the new law aim to address these issues?
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Even the British Soldiers Were Given a Fair Trial
Everyone deserves the right to a fair trial, even those widely viewed as “bad” actors. In a society that claims to value freedom and civil liberties, due process cannot be selectively applied. It must extend not only to the privileged, but also to the most vulnerable members of our community.
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Chicago’s $1.2 Billion Question: Can the ‘Community Safety Surcharge’ Help Bridge the Fiscal Gap Without Hurting Jobs?
As Chicago faces a $1.2 billion deficit, a historic City Council Rebellion has struck down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporate head tax in favor of a rival revenue plan relying on gambling expansion and digital tax hikes.
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ICE Raids Take Toll on Little Village’s Latinx-Owned Villages
In Little Village, mornings start with unfolding tamales that were made before sunrise and chocolate caliente steaming behind the panaderia counters. Hundreds of Latinx-owned businesses across Chicago are the backbone of this neighborhood, offering more than delicious tamales — they offer a rich culture and community. These businesses sustain both…
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Moving Past Trump: How Hyde Park Schools Have Continued to Serve Immigrant Students
Even before his inauguration on January 20, President Trump’s “immigration crackdown” in Chicago was already making headlines. By the end of the week, immigration enforcement operations led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies were targeting the city with top Trump administration officials like “border czar” Tom…
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Chicago’s Football Team Confronts a Bear Market for a New Stadium
As the Chicago Bears reflect on another disappointing season, the franchise hopes to make a big play off the field: building a multi-billion dollar new stadium. The catch? They can’t settle on a location. Kevin Warren, the CEO of the 106-year-old team, voiced the need for a new build. Their…
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First Days in Office: Trump, Chicago, and the Next 4 Years of Deportations
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency marks a new era (again) for American politics, setting the stage for a transformative four years. Throughout his campaign, Trump focused on key themes such as immigration reform, economic revitalization and a reassertion of American power on the global stage. With his first months…
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The CTA’s Red Line Extension Project Needs More Than Good Construction to Be Successful
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is at a critical juncture. Ridership has only recovered to two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels. Violent crime on the system continues to be high. And the agency is hurtling toward a fiscal cliff of around $730 million annually when federal pandemic-relief funding runs out in early…
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UChicago Students Rally for Illinois Zoning Reform
Illinois is grappling with a web of crises, from the shortage of affordable housing to escalating threats from climate change to the high cost of living. But one student-led group on UChicago’s campus sees an unexpected lever for change: zoning reform. UChicago group Students Against Exclusionary Zoning (SAEZ) — a…
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