Illinois’ comeback story starts here.
“I would say at a high level, our policymakers have been too focused on affordable housing, and not housing affordability. We’re not focused on sustainable, long-term economic development. We’re not focused on jobs.” “Folks will point to the West Loop and say it’s evidence the policy works. I look at the West Loop and see...
Shenita Muse leads the Hope Center Foundation, which is leading an effort to fix Chicago’s gridlocked housing market in some of the city’s most needy areas. “Reclaiming Communities” is an initiative to build or rehab 2,000 homes on the city’s South Side and West Side. The homes will then be sold to residents who have...
Before May 3, slating was the only way new candidates could still get on the ballot before the 2024 general election. House Democrats filed and passed the rule change within 72 hours. James Kirchner had already put time and effort into the slating process, so he’s among the candidates planning to sue over the new...
“I’m old enough to remember when they implemented the Tollway system in Illinois. That was supposed to be a temporary measure to pay for the interstate and it was supposed to end in 40 years. We know how that turned out.”
“I told people, ‘You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.’ When you just complain and you’re not going to do anything about it, you’re likely a part of the problem. By running for office, I felt like I was able to be part of the solution.”
On May 2, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an election law change in the middle of a campaign year. It ends “slating,” a process through which candidates could be put on the general election ballot by local parties after the primary election. There are 78 active Statehouse races affected, many with potential candidates who had put...
“What’s really held Englewood back as a community is there’s not a lot of male mentors. A lot of us grew up without fathers and we don’t really have a positive male role model to look up to. When you take that away, we end up on the street or in jail.”
Keith Bass grew up in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, where as a young man he struggled to see a productive path forward for his life. That changed when he was mentored in entrepreneurship by Walter Mendenhall through the Male Mogul Initiative. On April 11, the initiative unveiled its new small business incubator, Co-llab, with Bass as...
Tell us how a state or local policy affects your life. If we decide to feature your story, one of our writers will reach out to you directly.