City Cast Chicago

Yesterday, we explored the history of disinvestment and displacement at Cabrini-Green, Chicago’s infamous public housing complex on the Near North Side. The city began demolishing the high-rises in the 1990s, and the last one went down in 2011. But former Cabrini-Green residents are still fighting for what the city promised them: a chance to return to their community. Host Jacoby Cochran led a panel in January with journalists who investigated these broken promises, local historians, and others connected with Cabrini-Green to talk about where the community is now.This episode was originally published Feb. 1, 2022.Guests:Carol Steele — Cabrini-Green resident and public housing advocateCharles Price — Housing activist and former resident liaison at Cabrini-GreenAlejandra Cancino — Reporter, “Cabrini-Green: A History of Broken Promises”This panel was put on in partnership with the Better Government Association. You can find the full conversation on their website. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Last week, City Council approved the plans for a Bally’s Casino at the old Tribune publishing site in River West. The location at Chicago and Halsted is a couple blocks away from Cabrini-Green, a public housing development where thousands of residents were displaced beginning in the late 1990s. Promises were made that Black residents would be able to return with access to new homes, jobs, and opportunities. Most of those promises were broken. Host Jacoby Cochran looks back on the history of Cabrini-Green public housing with reporter Natalie Moore and talks to former resident J.R. Fleming.This episode was originally published on Jan. 27, 2022. Read the Better Government Associations series, "Cabrini-Green, A History of Broken Promises."Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

After 30 years, residents in the 1st Congressional District are preparing to elect a new Representative. Bobby Rush —co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party, a Chicago alderman, Civil Rights activist, and only politician to ever beat Barack Obama in an election — announced earlier this year he’s retiring. The 1st District stretches from the near South Side south to Bourbannais, and it’s long been a center of Black and Democratic political power. That means the next leader is inheriting a powerful history, but also faces challenges around economic development, housing, and public safety. Host Jacoby Cochran and The Triibe’s Tonia Hill meet up in Bronzeville to talk about the race, and the trouble of standing out when 17 Democrats and 4 Republicans are on the ballot. Early voting begins in Chicago Tuesday.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Earlier this week, after 19 children and 2 adults were gunned down at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded, “I hate to say this — there are more people that are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas.” This repugnant, racist, and unempathetic response was met with quick scrutiny. Co-hosts of the movement building podcast AirGo, Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger join host Jacoby Cochran to offer their own criticisms of using Chicago as a political scapegoat for politicians unwilling to offer common sense solutions to gun violence. The trio also break down Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 10 p.m. curfew for minors, the environmental justice fight to end “sacrifice zones,” and we’ve got some more book-themed good news you definitely want to stick around for! Want to know more about AirGo? The hosts recommend these episodes:Damon: Angela DavisDaniel: The Abolition Suite Vol. 2: Mariame KabaSome Good News:South Side Book FairFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

The El Milagro tortilla brand is strong in Chicago. You can find it in almost every grocery store, and you can often see people line up around the block of El Milagro factories, waiting to get hot, fresh tortillas. But in recent months, we all paid a little more attention to the workers in those factories as they became more vocal on calling out unsafe work conditions and low pay. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Pedro Manzanares, a 52 year old who’s been working at El Milagro for 18 years, and City Bureau reporter Sarah Conway about labor organizing in food production companies across Chicago. A little bit of news: Early voting has been moved again, now to Tuesday, May 31. Check out our episode with the Chicago Board of Elections for everything you need to know about primary voting.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

In 1961, Abraham Bolden became the first Black Secret Service agent to serve on a presidential detail. Bolden says when he left Chicago and moved to D.C., it was like going from “heaven to hell,” and he faced constant racism from other agents. He says he also heard other agents say they wouldn’t protect President John F. Kennedy if there was an assassination attempt on his life because of Kennedy’s work on integration. Bolden spoke up, but ended up setting off a 50-year fight for justice. From his Auburn Gresham home, the 87-year-old tells host Jacoby Cochran what happened and how he got clemency from President Joe Biden last month.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

City Cast host Jacoby Cochran recently joined the podcast Album ReBrews to drink beers from Funkytown Brewery and talk about Saba’s latest release Few Good Things. Jacoby and hosts Sarah Beidatsch and Zac Emry dissect songs from the album and discuss how they connect to the artist’s Chicago roots, especially in Austin on the city’s West Side.A little bit of news: The Daily Line talks ward remap at Hideout Wednesday Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Early voting in the June primary begins Thursday in Chicago, and is already underway elsewhere in the state. There are six candidates running on the Republican ballot, and there’s already some big money being pumped into the race. WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky tells host Jacoby Cochran more about the people and issues shaping the race, including the big question of whether candidates are too conservative or not conservative enough. Some Good News:Jacoby on Album ReBrewsFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

This week, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill requiring all firearms, gun kits, and 3D-printed guns to have a visible serial number, effectively banning “ghost guns,” while alderpeople got their questions and complaints in about the future Chicago casino. Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down these stories and more with Crain’s Chicago Business reporter Corli Jay and The Daily Line editor and City Hall reporter Alex Nitkin. Stories This Week:Lightfoot pushing for Friday vote on casinoIllinois becomes first Midwest state to ban 'ghost guns'City Council committee votes down 'Water For All' ordinanceHow Morgan Park High School's 2022 basball season was nearly washed awayThe South Side is getting a facility to turn food waste into natural gasChicago Full Moon JamEquiticity May Ride Series: The Musicality of North LawndaleFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Whether your summer plans include sitting on the beach, taking a road trip, flying, or just staying home — you might be looking for something good to read. “Nerdette” host Greta Johnsen — who’s already read about 50 books so far this year — is here with her summer reading recommendations. She says they all fall into the theme of being transported somewhere, from a residential school for deaf children to 1920s New York to an African safari to a more ghostly Chicago. Greta's List:True Biz by Sara NovicTrust by Hernan DiazThe Lioness by Chris BohjalianWhen We Fell Apart by Soon WileyThis Thing Between us by Gus Moreno:What’s on your summer reading list? Let us know at chicago@citycast.fm or (773) 780-0246Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmCall or Text Us: (773) 780-0246