by Steve Sewall Chicago’s violence is of control, as everyone knows. It’s citywide. No neighborhood is safe. Racial tensions are high. And the city is polarized, pro and con police. Residents and businesses are fleeing the city in droves. Here’s something people don’t know: Chicago can solve its violence. …

By the Interim Editor So here’s what needs explaining. So we can see the challenge ahead. Bottom line, Chicago can’t possibly make itself SAFE, let alone permanently reduce its violence, until it enters the digital age in the field of public safety. ​And we sure aren’t there yet. Mayor Johnson…

Tuesday, May 31. By the Associate Editor On Friday May 26, on the eve of a potentially violent Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his community-based Things to Do plan for the long holiday weekend ahead. At an outdoor press conference held at the 63rd Street Beach…

March 24, 2020, revised 3/27 In a Politico cover story appearing a few days ago, Peter Coleman of Columbia University had this to say about how the possible impact of the Coronavirus on American politics and government: The extraordinary shock(s) to our system that the Coronavirus pandemic is bringing has…

by Steve Sewall 2/23/2020 — revised 2/27 I’m bushed from four hours of furious networking and note-taking at today’s great event. It was greater by far — more optimistic and forward-looking — than its gloomy 2009 predecessor. …

On your left is the face Chicago presented nationwide — on page 1 of the Chicago Sun-Times — for the 69th annual NBA All Star game played in Sunday evening in Chicago. 18 hours, 8 kids shot. …

From Steve Sewall, Chicago Civic Media To: Channel 2 WBBM-TV — Derek Dalton, President and General Manager Channel 5 WMAQ-TV — David Doebler, President and General Manager Channel 7 WLS-TV — John Idler, President and General Manager Channel 9 WGN-TV — Paul Rennie, President and General Manager Channel 11 WTTW — Sandra Cordova Micek…

by Steve Sewall 12/21/2019 “I want Chicago to be the safest big city in the United States.” That’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s goal for Chicago. Chicagoans yearn for safety. But after decades of attempts to merely reduce violence, how can Chicago make itself safe? At times like these — pivotal ones…

By Steve Sewall, Chicago Civic Media July, 2019 “After all has been said, good citizenship is the prime object of good city planning.” — Daniel Burnham, Plan of Chicago, 1909 It’s odd but true: Chicago’s claim to a World Class City would ring hollow but for the gift of a…