Choose Your Own Budget

Chicagoans cut out the elected middle man to improve their neighborhood with $1.3 million in taxes.

By Robin Peterson

CHICAGO—If you had $1.3 million to improve your neighborhood, how would you spend it? Chicago's aldermen face a similar question each year when deciding how to spend their "menu money," the funding allocated by the city to each of its wards for capital infrastructure projects. [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

    Alinsky did broadly the same thing—and got the same eager reaction—when he organised Chicago’s “Back Of The Yards” area.  The first Community Congress, in 1939, was an eye-opener for the community leadership.  It’s well worth reading about.

    Posted by Mairead on May 17, 2010 at 9:45 AM