The Last Ward
Austin BergThe 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 | 62 | Founded | a year ago | Last Issue | 7 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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thelastward.orgLatest Issues
More bureaucracy is not the answer to Chicago violence
A Juneteenth celebration in Roseland ended in a mass drive-by shooting that left at least 14 people wounded.
It was the most horrifying moment in a stretch of violence that has pushed Chicago’s 2026 homicide count 8% above last year’s pace...
Illinois' new digital asset tax threatens Chicago's legacy, and its future
The canyon of LaSalle Street grew dark.
Thunder clapped. The wind howled. Amber-orange street lamps flicked on. And lightning flashed against the facade of the Chicago Federal Reserve, bouncing off its six-story Corinthian colonnades of In...
Chicago was right to reject the 2026 World Cup
The U.S. men’s national soccer team opened the 2026 World Cup Friday night with its greatest performance in modern history: a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay.
But the tournament is a spectacle Chicago won’t be part of.
And the former mayor who m...
Chicago’s ballot access rules hurt democracy and help fraudsters. Here’s how to fix them.
For the first time in 30 years, Chicagoans will vote on a fully elected school board in November.
But who will be on the ballot? Well, that’s a legal matter. Under dispute.
Because in Chicago, securing your name on the ballot can often pr...
Chicago can look to D.C. for ‘teen takeover’ reforms
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser
From dinner table conversation, to City Council debates, to mayoral press conferences, teen takeovers may be the most prominent public safety topic in Chicago.1
Recent high-profile teen takeovers, also...
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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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