Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

The Policy Shop: Chicago’s poverty paradox

The Policy Shop: Chicago’s poverty paradox

This edition of The Policy Shop is by Head of Policy Joshua Bandoch. When President Lyndon B. Johnson told the U.S. Congress in 1964 he was declaring the War on Poverty, he did not set out a vision for an America in which over $12 trillion in taxes would be spent over more than 60 years to...

Vallas: Ousting Chicago police from schools could boost violence

Vallas: Ousting Chicago police from schools could boost violence

The Chicago Board of Education is limiting students’ education options and now is putting their safety at greater risk. Bowing to the Chicago Teachers Union’s ‘defund the police’ ideology can expose students to more violence.

By Paul Vallas

The Policy Shop: How Chicago became the Stolen Motor City

The Policy Shop: How Chicago became the Stolen Motor City

This edition of The Policy Shop is by writer Patrick Andriesen Detroit is the Motor City. Chicago is the Stolen Motor City. Car thieves and carjackers have gotten so bold, that a carjacking recently took place near Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Gold Coast mansion. The only reason the two suspects didn’t finish the crime was because they...

Ron Kooyman

Ron Kooyman

“I’ve been in Chicago 30 years. I came to Chicago to do inner-city youth and children’s ministry. I was 36 years old then, and violence has gotten much worse since then. That’s horrendous for somebody to be killed by a couple of criminals in his own yard while putting [Christmas] lights on his house.” “Jose [Tellez]...

Union membership in Illinois hits record low

Union membership in Illinois hits record low

Public and private sector unions in Illinois saw another 27,000 workers reject union membership in 2023. Just 12.8% of public and private-sector workers chose union membership, the lowest it’s been in 34 years on record.

By Mailee Smith