Chicago Ranks as Most Corrupt City for Fourth Year in a Row
According to the latest report from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s political science department, Chicago has once again earned the title of the most corrupt city in the United States, marking the fourth consecutive year. The report, which analyzed public corruption statistics published by the U.S. Department of Justice from 1976 to 2021, revealed that Chicago’s elected officials and public servants have accumulated a staggering 1,824 corruption convictions over the past 45 years.
In 2021 alone, there were 32 public corruption convictions in the Northern District of Illinois, an area that includes Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. This marks an increase from the previous year, with the report’s authors, Marco Rosaire Rossi and Thomas J. Gradel, describing it as a modest — though noteworthy — increase. However, it is worth noting that Illinois ranked as the nation’s third-most corrupt state or district, trailing behind the District of Columbia and Louisiana, when adjusted for population size.
The report highlights the ongoing corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke, the longest-serving member of Chicago’s City Council. Burke is facing charges of racketeering, extortion, and bribery. The allegations against him include pressuring developers to hire his private law firm and using his political influence to secure jobs and favors for his allies.
Burke’s trial comes in the wake of a series of corruption scandals in Illinois, including the Commonwealth Edison bribery scheme involving associates of Michael Madigan, the former speaker of the Illinois House. Other notable cases mentioned in the report include the indictment of former Ald. Carrie Austin for conspiring to accept bribes from construction contractors in her ward and the conviction of former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson for fraud.
While the report acknowledges that corruption remains a prevalent issue in Illinois, it also highlights some positive developments. The decline of Burke’s political career and the ousting of Madigan are seen as signs of a change in the state’s political landscape. The report suggests that the decline in popularity and political impact of Chicago’s Democratic Party, particularly the Cook County branch, indicates a shift toward cleaner politics.
Furthermore, the report reveals a decline in public corruption convictions in the Northern District of Illinois over the past few decades. The peak year for corruption in Chicago was noted as 1988. However, the authors emphasize that despite this decline, corruption still has a detrimental impact on tax dollars and public trust.
As Illinois continues to grapple with corruption issues, the upcoming trial of Michael Madigan in April is expected to further shed light on the state’s political landscape. The report concludes that while progress is being made, there is still work to be done to combat corruption and restore public trust in the state’s elected representatives.
In summary, the University of Illinois at Chicago’s political science department’s report reveals that Chicago retains the dubious honor of being the most corrupt city in the United States for the fourth consecutive year. The report highlights the ongoing corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke and key corruption cases in Illinois, while also noting some positive developments signaling a shift toward cleaner politics.
