With Chicago facing a projected $85.1 million budget shortfall this year, harder decisions will likely be necessary to balance the budget by December, even with the city’s risky decision to refinance bonds last week. citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-bond-s...

November’s upcoming election for Chicago’s first fully-elected school board can be divided into two camps: those backed by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and those backed by a mix of moderate and business groups. 🧵 citythatworks.substack.com/p/why-are-al...

A string of upzonings on the South Side are a breath of fresh air for housing development in Chicago with immense credit going to Aldermen Desmond Yancy (5th) and Ronnie Mosley (21st) for their work in this process. citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-better-p...

🚨 Chicago ranked dead last among big cities for new housing construction. 🚨 Join us next week as we discuss solutions with Aldermen Red Burnett, @gilbertv36.bsky.social, and Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council that will get our housing development back on track.

There’s now a light at the end of the tunnel for Chicago’s infamously wretched parking meter deal, and it’s a wonderful, if rare, example of good governance in action. citythatworks.substack.com/p/yes-we-sho...

A City That Works is proud to endorse @jessicabiggs.bsky.social for CPS Board President. Read full endorsement: citythatworks.substack.com/p/endorsemen...

Chicago desperately needs more housing development to prevent skyrocketing rents and a stagnant population. Here’s how lowering construction costs can provide a much needed boost to build more homes.

In order to build more homes, Chicago needs to reform its building code to bring down construction costs. One of the best areas to target? Our plumbing code. Read the full article by Daniel Koslovsky: citythatworks.substack.com/p/lets-fix-t...?

My next article in the @acitythatworks.bsky.social building code series is up, doing a deep dive on the plumbing code. Come to learn about the one weird trick the city could use to shave 5% off construction costs, stay to learn about the 19th century joint coupling method the city still mandates!

Let’s fix the plumbing code

Lead and oakum joints belong in museums

citythatworks.substack.com

Chicago has seen a dramatic decline in violent crime over the last few years, but the progress is nowhere near good enough. Thankfully, there are a handful of reforms Chicago's next mayor can implement that can bring about transformative results. 🧵 citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicagos-n...

Join us for our Pilsen Happy Hour this Wednesday, September 9th, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Monochrome Brewing to discuss housing, public safety, schools, and more. www.eventbrite.com/e/a-city-tha...

A City That Works Pilsen Happy Hour

Come on out and join the A City That Works crew to talk housing, schools and anything else.

eventbrite.com

The People Over Parking Act (POPA) went into effect on June 1, 2026, prohibiting Illinois municipalities from imposing or enforcing minimum parking requirements within 1/2 mile of rail stations and transit centers and within 1/8 mile of most fixed transit routes. 🧵

Municipal procurement is not only a multi-billion-dollar domain - it’s also an area with substantial untapped savings potential for the City of Chicago. Read the full article: citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicago-is...

The City That Works is a newsletter about politics and public policy in Chicago. We think Chicago is a great city, and love the ideas encapsulated in the name that Richard Daley gave it - ‘The City That Works.’

Better transit requires better leadership, and this is the Chicago region’s last and best chance to fully realize a world-class transit system. Read the full article and subscribe to A City That Works: citythatworks.substack.com/p/lets-grade...