Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

By LyLena Estabine

10/27/2025

While Aurora sits near the top of the safety rankings, Chicago lands near the bottom undermining claims by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

TAGS: crime

Budget black hole: Pensions and debt devour Chicago budget

By Geoff Feinstein

10/21/2025

Pensions and debt dominate Chicago’s spending increases, crowding out core services. Without reform, rising obligations will drag the city into deeper financial trouble.

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

10/13/2025

Chicago’s $1.15 billion projected budget gap is the latest in a decades-long string of structural deficits. Making Chicago’s high taxes worse is not the solution.

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

10/01/2025

As housing prices continue to soar out of reach for more Americans, an impulse from policy makers across the country has been to attempt to mandate “affordable” prices through legislation. One common idea is rent control, which limits how much landlords can increase rents on residents. A related one is inclusionary zoning, which forces developers...

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

09/22/2025

Not enough revenue? How about too much spending. Chicago outpaces many of America’s biggest cities with a 62% spending spike since 2019. That’s what’s driving deficits.

Chicago could add 8,000 granny flats by following Los Angeles’ lead

By LyLena Estabine

09/15/2025

Legalizing additional dwelling units citywide would bring more housing choices, lower costs and help Chicagoans stay in the neighborhoods they love.

Vallas: Work-study changes futures of Chicago’s at-risk youth

By Paul Vallas

07/25/2025

Summer jobs programs are not enough to keep Chicago’s youth out of trouble. To reach their potential, a year-round answer is needed. Paid apprenticeships or other work-study need to become part of public education.

Chicago mayor pushes for granny flats citywide to boost affordable housing

By LyLena Estabine

07/14/2025

Legalizing additional dwelling units across Chicago would expand housing options, support families and boost affordability without changing the character of single-family neighborhoods. Chicago’s mayor is ready to move on the issue.

TAGS: affordable housing, Chicago

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

By Paul Vallas

07/08/2025

A violent Independence Day weekend has Chicagoans worried about violent crime, but it was a spike and not a trend. Crime is falling, thanks to new law enforcement efforts.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago’s housing policy still promotes exclusion

By LyLena Estabine

04/24/2025

Granny flats and basement dwellings could help with housing affordability, but Chicago’s outdated zoning rules make them nearly impossible to build. Those rules were created to promote economic and racial segregation. They need to be changed

TAGS: affordable housing

Los Angeles

Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities

Budget black hole: Pensions and debt devour Chicago budget

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Mandating unaffordability: How Chicago’s housing affordability requirements decrease supply and increase costs

Chicago budget rises over 2X faster than other big cities

Chicago could add 8,000 granny flats by following Los Angeles’ lead

Vallas: Work-study changes futures of Chicago’s at-risk youth

Chicago mayor pushes for granny flats citywide to boost affordable housing

Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling

Chicago’s housing policy still promotes exclusion

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students