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CHA Residents Rip CEO At Hearing: ‘We Need Something Much Better Than This’
Resident leaders and even a member of the Chicago Housing Authority board called for CEO Tracey Scott to go, but some alderpeople praised “progress” at the agency.
Chatham Flooding Mitigation Program Flounders, But Oak Park Sees Success
A program called RainReady has proven to help mitigate flooding – so much so that there’s a waitlist in Oak Park. But despite Chicago’s promise to launch in 2019, it’s not yet off the ground.
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The Police Department for Fired Cops
An analysis of state data shows that 17% of all police officers hired by the Robbins Police Department since 2000 came on board directly after they were fired from previous law enforcement jobs, the most of any department in Illinois. Those hires include two cops who lied about what they saw the night Laquan McDonald…
City of Chicago Amps Up Its Legal Battle Against ‘City’s Worst Landowner’
The city is suing Northbrook resident Suzie B. Wilson and her company for more than $10 million, alleging they failed for years to clean up a hazardous West Englewood dump. Wilson was featured in a Illinois Answers Project/Block Club investigation last year.
Responses to flooding
For Many Illinoisans in Flood-Prone Areas, Buyouts Are the Only Way Out
A state government home buyout program has helped hundreds of people move out of harm’s way. But for many, it takes too long.
‘Green Alleys’ Help Prevent Flooding, But Vulnerable Neighborhoods Must Wait in Line
‘It’s a little bit of a shot-in-the-dark implementation strategy,’ a key City Council member said.
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
When it comes to preventing severe flooding, there’s not one fix. Over the next few weeks, the Illinois Answers Project will examine what city…
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BGA Names Ruby L. Bailey Editor of Illinois Answers Project
Ruby L. Bailey, a seasoned newsroom leader with a deep appreciation of the power of journalism to prompt positive change, is joining the Better Government Association’s Illinois Answers Project as…
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The Illinois Answers Project is an investigations and solutions-focused nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization published by the Better Government Association. Launched in November 2022, the Illinois Answers Project identifies problems and solutions to significant Chicago and Illinois problems. Learn more
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Solutions
Evanston’s Streets Have Become Safer for Cyclists. What’s the Suburb Doing Right?
Chicago has seen traffic crashes, injuries and deaths increase in the past decade. As city leaders try to reverse the trend, Evanston has set a powerful example.
How Black Investors are Taking Back a Legal Tool to Restore Affordable Housing on South, West Sides
For decades, big investors profited off neglected buildings at the expense of predominantly Black neighborhoods. Now, the Community Receiver Program is working to ‘right historical wrongs’ by empowering residents to use receivership in a new way.
Investigations
Las Inundaciones Son la Catástrofe Natural Más Amenazadora de Illinois. ¿Estamos Preparados?
Cuando se trata de prevenir inundaciones graves, no hay una solución única. En las próximas semanas, Illinois Answers Project examinará lo que están haciendo los municipios y los departamentos estatales para proteger a sus habitante.
Johnson Administration Faces Credibility Crunch Over a Key Plank of $1.25B Bond Plan
Officials say they’ll let enough special taxing districts expire to generate the money needed to pay back the debt. Some analysts are skeptical.
Opinion
Greising: Illinois Tier 2 Pension Promise Needs To Be Fixed
In the debate over how to fix Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension problem, the people who argue that retirement pay and benefits need to be protected at all costs have always held the high ground. The law is on their side: Pensions are a contract, the benefits of which “shall not be diminished or impaired,” the Illinois…
Greising: ShotSpotter Missteps Could Be Turned to the City’s Advantage
ShotSpotter is the technology that just won’t go away. At least not yet. Mayor Brandon Johnson intended to allow the city’s contract with the gunshot-tracking system to expire last month, but then remembered — whoops — the Democratic National Convention was coming to town. Maybe ShotSpotter wasn’t so bad after all. He renewed the contract through November, paying a…
Greising: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Willingness To Tackle Pension Problem Is a Breakthrough
Perhaps the most lasting and important part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s financial plan for Illinois was not even included in his budget address last week. For far too long, Illinois has held a shameful worst-in-the-nation status for protecting retirement income for thousands upon thousands of state workers and retirees. The $142 billion in pension debt — unfunded liabilities…