Inside the Decline of Schools, Safety, and Finances in Chicago
Chicago is facing record outmigration, failing schools, and rising taxes.
In this debut episode, Paul Vallas—former Chicago Public Schools CEO and 2023 mayoral candidate—joins us to break down why families are leaving Chicago, how the Chicago Teachers Union controls city policymaking, the real state of crime and safety, and how things could have been different.
Listen now and subscribe to the Illinois Policy Podcast for honest conversations about Illinois’ future.
00:00 – Chicago’s Crisis: Crime, Taxes, Schools
00:41 – Welcome to the Illinois Policy Podcast
01:07 – Introducing Guest: Paul Vallas
01:25 – What Could Have Been Different?
02:03 – Chicago’s Public Safety Problem
03:17 – Housing & Development Failures
04:03 – Springfield: Missed Opportunities
06:00 – Teachers Union’s Grip on Chicago
07:19 – CPS Staffing & Spending Issues
09:22 – Why Families Are Leaving Chicago
12:03 – How Schools Were Reformed in the Past
14:01 – Local Control and Magnet Schools
15:52 – Lowering Education Standards
18:22 – Attacks on Testing & Accountability
20:03 – Charter and School Choice Options
22:16 – Failing “Sustainable Community Schools”
24:19 – How Unions Block Real Options for Families
25:13 – Public Safety: The Reality vs. Rhetoric
27:18 – Schools, COVID, and the Crime Spike
28:39 – How Prosecutors Changed Crime Trends
29:39 – Domestic Violence on the Rise
30:39 – Why Crime is Underreported
33:30 – Chicago as a “Sanctuary City for Criminals”
35:09 – Police Staffing and Crime Correlation
37:14 – CTA Safety and Ridership Decline
39:11 – Chicago’s Future Forecast
41:07 – The Three Financial Crises Facing the City
42:51 – Who Will Lead Chicago Next?
44:23 – Cook County Politics & Preckwinkle’s Influence
45:46 – Closing Thoughts with Paul Vallas
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45:47
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45:47
These three things could fix Illinois in 2023
The new, 103rd Illinois General Assembly session starts today. What are the key issues incoming lawmakers should address? Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research at the Illinois Policy Institute, recommends three solutions Illinois legislators could pursue to solve long-term problems and grow opportunity in Illinois.
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14:19
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14:19
The Chicago Teachers Union's war on school choice
The Chicago Teachers Union and other teachers' unions oppose Invest in Kids, a tax-credit scholarship program that allows underprivileged children to attend private schools of their choice. Why would teachers advocate against a program that helps low-income students? Mailee Smith, staff attorney and director of labor policy at Illinois Policy Institute, refutes opponents' false claims about the program and explains why the Illinois General Assembly should reinstitute Invest in Kids during its next session.
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8:09
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8:09
These new laws take effect in Illinois in 2023
The new year will bring new state laws, many of which passed before lawmakers and the public had time to review them. How will these complex laws change life in Illinois? Joe Tabor, director of policy research at Illinois Policy Institute, gives an overview of Illinois' new laws for 2023 from the controversial SAFE-T Act to a new constitutional amendment.
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12:14
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12:14
Why it's the perfect time for Illinois to embrace school choice
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many Illinois parents to the concept and practice of school choice. What is school choice and why has it become such a politicized issue? Nathan Hoffman, director of state policy and legislative strategy for the American Federation for Children, joins us to discuss the benefits of school choice and why Illinois should extend Invest in Kids, a state tax-credit and school-choice scholarship program.
Chicago and Illinois are at a crossroads.
Taxes are rising, families are leaving, schools are failing, and public safety is on the line.
The Illinois Policy Podcast goes beyond the headlines to bring you candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and reformers who know what’s really happening in our state — and what it will take to change course.
Each episode delivers:
-Honest discussions about Chicago and Illinois politics
-Deep dives into education, crime, taxes, and budgets
-Stories from people directly impacted by policy decisions
-Solutions that can restore opportunity and prosperity
Hosted by the Illinois Policy Institute, this podcast is for anyone who loves Chicago and Illinois but knows our state deserves better.
🔔 Subscribe now for real talk about Illinois’ future.
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