Great Cities Institute participated in the advisory committee for Metropolitan Planning Council’s Reconnecting Communities: Mitigating Community Harms of Transportation Infrastructure Report. The goal of the committee was to identify the historic impact that expressways have had on Chicago, and to begin conversations on how to reconnect fractured communities. See the report at the link […]
GCI News
Keep up to date with the latest news coming out of GCI.
Chicago’s woes are over-hyped
Rob Paral, senior research specialist at the Great Cities Institute, commented in the Economist in its story, “Chicago’s Woes Are Over-Hyped.” Read the full article at the Economist here.
A 10-year fight to raise the minimum wage has slashed the Black-White wealth gap in half in some states. The South still has a long way to go.
Associate Director, Matthew Wilson, assisted with a research report on the fight to raise minimum wage. Authors Juliana Kaplan and Madison Hoff write about the report in their Business Insider article: “The biggest finding is the equity impact of the fight for 15 raises,” Yannet Lathrop, a senior researcher and policy analyst […]
South Chicago Set To Get Raised Bike Lanes, Markers Honoring History To Make Streets ‘Vibrant And Accessible,’ Leaders Say
Great Cities is featured in another Block Club Chicago article! The project has its roots in a community revitalization plan led by Special Service Area No. 5 and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) said. Neighbors identified a need for “a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly […]
Participatory budgeting allows community members who can’t legally vote to still have a voice
Associate Director Thea Crum is interviewed by ABC 7 on Great Cities Institute’s work on participatory budgeting. Through participatory budgeting, community members get a voice. They can propose neighborhood infrastructure projects in their wards, such as road or park improvements, and those projects then go up for a vote in […]
Chicago’s Decades of Segregation Feed South and West Side Hardships
Authors Shruti Singh and Isis Almeida discuss issues caused by historical segregation in their Bloomberg article. Great Cities Institute’s Matt Wilson is interviewed and highlights the economic inequalities in Chicago. Many of these same neighborhoods continue to face the highest levels of joblessness, poverty and inadequate housing, according to a study by […]
During Second Consecutive Year of Significant Gap Reduction, City of Chicago Projects $127.9 Million Shortfall In 2023 Fiscal Year Budget
The City of Chicago Mayor’s Press Office discussed the 2023 Budget Forecast in its recent press release. The article highlights a budget gap and how the city’s Office of Budget and Management is working to find savings and efficiencies to reduce this gap. The budget, along with the 2023 Responsive […]
100th Street Calumet River Project would create new recreational trail on Southeast Side
In a Streetsblog Chicago article, Ruth Rosas interviews Jack Rocha (GCI) and Alex Perez (Active Transportation Alliance) on the history, opportunities, and next steps for this project. To stay up to date on the project, please visit this page or if you have any questions, please contact Jack Rocha at jrocha3@uic.edu. Residents […]
Residents share priorities, needs at city budget forum in Austin
In an AustinTalks article, author Francia Garcia Hernandez discusses topics residents requested be focused on in the 2023 city spending plan. Great Cities Institute will be compiling results and comments from this forum and two others to create a public report that will be released in August. “We want you […]
Chicago Leaders to Kick Off Budget Season Weeks Before Officials Are Set to Detail Deficit
In a WTTW News article, author Heather Cherone discusses the upcoming three “budget engagement forums” on July 21, July 23 and July 30. The city’s budget forecast for 2023 will not be released until August. The feedback at those forums will be compiled into a public report to be […]