Re-Imagine Chicago: How City Government Works In The Windy City

In our new series “Re-Imagine Chicago,” Reset teams up with the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government to explore new ways the city’s major systems could work for its residents.

By Meha Ahmad
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appears at a press conference on Feb. 4, 2021. On Thursday, she spoke at a news conference ahead of the public release of videos connected to the fatal police shooting of Adam Toledo. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appears at a press conference on Feb. 4, 2021. On Thursday, she spoke at a news conference ahead of the public release of videos connected to the fatal police shooting of Adam Toledo. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

Re-Imagine Chicago: How City Government Works In The Windy City

In our new series “Re-Imagine Chicago,” Reset teams up with the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government to explore new ways the city’s major systems could work for its residents.

By Meha Ahmad
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Is Chicago’s City Council set up to best serve its residents? The “strong mayor” form of government has its pros and cons, but what could a better system look like? We kick off our “Re-imagine Chicago” series diving into the powers of two engines that make Chicago run: the mayor and the aldermen.

GUESTS: Dick Simpson, professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, former aldermen of the 44th ward (1971-1979)

Helen Shiller, former alderman of the 46th ward (1987-2011)

Will Howell, director of University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy.