Chicago Reporter (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/category/perspectives/page/2/)
By moving to finance the Lincoln Yards project and expand TIF, the lame-duck mayor cements his legacy of diverting tax dollars away from the pressing needs facing the city.
Aldermanic hopefuls like Colin Bird-Martinez aim to turn out new, young voters in their wards for Chicago’s upcoming municipal elections.
J.B. Pritzker won a resounding victory by outspending Gov. Bruce Rauner at every turn, downplaying ethical questions and racial tensions in his campaign, and presenting a clear alternative to Rauner’s failed incumbency. In a number of areas he took positions that were more progressive than the Democratic mainstream. But getting results on those promises will take lots of work on his part and even more organizing by activists. One key issue separated the two candidates: Pritzker was elected on a clear platform of implementing a progressive income tax, with higher rates for wealthier taxpayers. That’s an absolute necessity if Illinois is to get it’s fiscal house in order, meet its constitutional duty to fund schools adequately, and rebuild a safety net that Rauner decimated.
Black-led households are charged more for identical housing in the same neighborhood than their white counterparts and this rent premium increases as neighborhoods get whiter, according to a recent study.
In her newest book, historian and political activist Barbara Ransby examines the emergent Black Lives Matter Movement, discussing its roots and motivations, its politics and its future.
Unlike so many times before, in the case of Laquan McDonald, justice worked. But not without the help of journalists, street activists, and extraordinary public scrutiny.
Most new grocery stores were built in areas with plentiful access in recent years, and those added to high-need areas were not enough to mitigate the effects of longstanding disinvestment and segregation, according to a new study.
Pushed out of both Palestine and her adopted home in Chicago, the longtime activist starts over in Jordan after a lifetime of experiencing displacement.
The failures of Rahm Emanuel’s education policies show the need for an elected school board and more accountability.
The mayoral race has turned into a rare opportunity for Chicago to resist autocratic politics and have a robust debate on the critical issues facing the city.