Forrest Claypool: The deadly cost of siloed governance when no one is in charge
In Chicago, responsibility is so thoroughly diffused that when the system fails, every agency can point a finger elsewhere.
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Forrest Claypool: Chicago leaders show no signs of changing their fiscal behavior
Chicago civic leaders mean well, but their recommendations reflect a bygone era when elected officials exercised responsibility.
Forrest Claypool: CPS must engage the community before consolidating empty schools
Consolidating nearly empty schools in Chicago must be part of a larger plan that marshals investments with input from the community.
Forrest Claypool: Can bond vigilantes save Chicago?
If bond vigilantes can alter the policies of the federal government, can they force Chicago to face up to its unsustainable debt practices?
Forrest Claypool: The strength of Chicago mayor’s office is shrinking
At a time when Chicago is desperate for new leadership to turn the tide, critical levers of mayoral power are being lost.
Forrest Claypool: Chicago is holding itself back from a bright future
One Chicago boasts natural assets and the other has produced little but public insolvency.
Forrest Claypool: Six-figure pensions are throttling Chicago’s ability to provide critical services
Two generations of state and city leaders have raised salaries and pensions beyond the capacity of Chicago citizens to pay.
Forrest Claypool: Chicago Public Schools is losing the hard-won progress it’s made over 25 years
Departures from a quarter century of changes that drove an unprecedented turnaround in Chicago Public Schools are harbingers of more radical reversals.
Forrest Claypool: Chicago’s renaissance under Richard M. Daley is at risk
In the years since Richard M. Daley left office, his mayoral legacy has been eroded by weak leadership and a leftward lurch in local politics.
Without action in Springfield, CPS students can’t succeed
A student who entered Chicago Public Schools this fall joined a district with tremendous promise — where test scores and graduation rates are on the rise. I'm excited for this...