DGAP

It’s been three years since the release of the 2007 DGAP Report Card, and in that time Chicagoans have continued to contend with a government that responds primarily to financial and political clout, rather than the issues and concerns of ordinary citizens. Where residents have expected to be actively engaged in the implementation of equitable policies that benefit all residents in every neighborhood across the entire city, they have instead found themselves in a constant struggle against forces that ultimately exclude their voices from the democratic process.

As a result, we are left with residents that have lost faith in the city’s ability to address issues impacting low-income and working-class families. Chicago has shifted from its working class origins to a city that benefits those with wealth and clout.

Here lies the problem. When elected officials set policy based on ties to those with financial and political influence rather than on constituents' concerns and interests, they deny the power of the people. Inefficiency and patronage plague Chicago’s local government. Many voters are denied a meaningful voice in the democratic conduct of their city. This lack of accountability costs the city in terms of vital input and jeopardizes people’s faith in democracy itself.

How to use the report card

The Report Card for Chicago 2010 is a tool for those seeking justice and a more inclusive, democratic Chicago. The hope is that community groups and residents throughout the city will find it valuable in assessing the performance of their politicians, and that it will provide a standard of measurement for city officials and politicians. The report helps focus and inform discussions on issues that the communities deem important in this condensed previously unavailable, hard-to-find data in an easy-to-use format. The very nature of this information encourages accountability in our elected officials.

2010 Report Card