Community Development in Chicago: From Harold Washington to Richard M. Daly

• Published in: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2004-07, Vol.594, p.92-108
• Main Authors: Betancur, John J, Gills, Douglas C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Central Cities; Chicago, Illinois; Coalitions; Community Development; Mayors; Minority Groups; Policy Implementation; Political Movements; Urban Policy
• ISSN: 0002-7162
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716204265181

This article examines the transformation of community development in Chicago in the last three decades from a predominately grassroots movement for social change to a much smaller & fragmented one led by professionalized groups. It focuses on Harold Washington's & Richard M. Daley's mayoral regimes & the ways they helped to shape the context & implementation of community development. The major theme in the article is that this movement lost most of its capacity to be innovative & to contribute to progressivism (most evident under the Washington administration) when it lost its basic connections to grassroots leadership under the subsequent Daley administration. As a consequence, problems like poverty, homelessness, poor schooling, & greater racial & class divisions have resulted. The discussion & analysis is based on interviews of people involved with both regimes & a review of changes in policies & practices between the Washington & current Daley (Daley II) period. The article concludes with a sober overview of how community development has been absconded to serve the interests of progrowth & corporate interests rather than used as a tool to promote fairness, access, & equity in low-income neighborhoods. 10 References. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc., copyright 2004 The American Academy of Political and Social Science.]