10 Comments
User's avatar
Tex Pasley's avatar

Should the city be more proactive about encouraging commercial business growth (whether through better zoning, reducing regulations, etc.)? While certain commercial corridors do very well, the average neighborhood has a depressing amount of vacant commercial storefronts.

This is clearly driven by secular trends that are not unique to Chicago (growth in e-commerce, declines in socializing/going out), but it's a bummer and not good for the overall health of the city.

John Crowley's avatar

You’ve written about the importance of economic growth for Chicago & flagged various policies as anti-growth, but how would you assess Chicago’s overall climate for economic growth? Where are our biggest opportunities & biggest road blocks?

ben's avatar

If you were in charge of cps, how would you go about starting to solve their structural deficit issues?

John's avatar

What do you think of the all-pedestrian crossing coming to the Six Corner intersection in Wicker Park? https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/16/wicker-parks-six-corner-intersection-getting-all-pedestrian-crossing-but-not-this-year/

As someone who has waited 5-10+ minutes many times for the 50 bus to crawl up from Schiller Street to North Ave, I find myself thinking this is a bad idea. I think it's going to make an already bad traffic choke point worse and solve a problem that doesn't exist. I don't think it's a bad intersection as a pedestrian. I can already cross 2/3 of the time!

On the other hand all the anti-car folks love it and I understand the benefits of walkability. Still I am skeptical about the actual implementation here.

Justin Erb's avatar

It's already partially elected right?

John's avatar

What are the biggest successes of the Johnson administration?

Justin Erb's avatar

What did you think of the elected school board when it was proposed? What do you think of it now?

Paul Botts's avatar

Wouldn't this question make more sense once the elected school board exists?

Justin Erb's avatar

Its already partially elected, right?

Paul Botts's avatar

Right, but majority not.