The Economist posted an interesting article entitled Chicago: A Success Story.  It details the urban renewal that has made the city prosper over the past 20 years or so.  It's an interesting read that discusses many aspects that the city gets "right."

Don't get me wrong...I love Chicago, and its great to see it get the good press it deserves.  What's interesting, though, are the aspects of the city that are not mentioned - and sometimes only seen by a resident of the city.  When you peel back the covers, Chicago is still a major urban center that has many major urban problems.  Vast sections of the city are still completely abandoned...a lingering result of the riots that erupted after MLK was assassinated.  Murder, while on the decline, is still a major problem (almost double the rate of NYC.)  In many neighborhoods, drug markets and gangs operate openly.

To me, one of the most striking issues the city faces is the future of education within Chicago.  My wife worked as a teacher in the Chicago Public School system for several years.  Talk about eye-opening.  The level of corruption, scandal, apathy, and injustice that occurs within that system is alarming.  How will the lives of hundreds of thousands of students ever change within a system so inherently flawed?  This is one area the city needs to target and make things right.  The question is, how?