The Last Ward is where power is brokered, deals are cut, and Chicago’s future is decided. Published by the Chicago Policy Center.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Only free issues | Publishes | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 73 | Founded | 2 years ago | Last Issue | 6 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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thelastward.orgLatest Issues
Why voters should choose Chicago’s top attorney
Election update: Have you requested your ballot for Chicago’s Nov. 3 school board elections? Join more than 3,000 Chicagoans who have requested their ballot here. And check which candidates are running in your school board district here.
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158 Chicago schools have more empty desks than students
Chicagoans are about to make history.
Mail-in ballots start hitting mailboxes this week for the city’s first-ever fully elected school board. Voters will select local school board members across 20 districts, plus a citywide board presiden...
Brandon Johnson’s failing record on ethics reform
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will officially announce his re-election bid this afternoon following the Chicago Bears’ season opener.
But when it comes to fighting corruption in city government, the mayor has fumbled the ball.
In fact, th...
The Chicago Teachers Union is suing me
On Aug. 17, the Chicago Teachers Union filed a lawsuit naming me and two co-defendants, alleging defamation.1
You can read it here.
Below are three thoughts in response, and two things you can do about it.
- This lawsuit is an obvious...
Guaranteed income isn’t the answer to Chicago poverty
Guaranteed income programs are all the rage in Chicagoland.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot spent more than $30 million sending $500 a month to 5,000 Chicago households. In 2025, Cook County became the first county-level government in the nation to m...
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center | Co-founder and President of Iron Light (2025 Campaigns & Elections Public Affairs Firm of the Year) | Co-author of “The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities"
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