# The Last Ward The Last Ward is where power is brokered, deals are cut, and Chicago’s future is decided. Published by the Chicago Policy Center. Page: Feed: --- ## [Chicago city government needs more budget brains](https://www.thelastward.org/p/chicago-city-government-needs-more) _2026-08-16 · Austin Berg_ The city is unique in how little public finance expertise lives outside the mayor’s office. ## [Why Brandon Johnson’s school board is going broke on purpose](https://www.thelastward.org/p/why-brandon-johnsons-school-board) _2026-08-02 · Austin Berg_ An unbalanced budget backed by Chicago Teachers Union leadership is causing chaos for Chicago Public Schools students and families. That's by design. ## [How Chicago stops voters from deciding what matters](https://www.thelastward.org/p/how-chicago-stops-voters-from-deciding) _2026-07-26 · Austin Berg_ No other big city does more to discourage democratic participation in local government. ## [Chicago is home to the emptiest big-city school in the nation](https://www.thelastward.org/p/chicago-is-home-to-the-emptiest-big) _2026-07-19 · Austin Berg_ Just 27 students are enrolled at Frederick Douglass Academy, which was built to serve more than 1,000 kids. ## [The CPS Excellence Agenda: A platform for Chicago school board candidates](https://www.thelastward.org/p/the-cps-excellence-agenda-a-platform) _2026-07-12 · Austin Berg_ Voters will soon pick the first fully elected school board in Chicago history. Those leaders should be ready to govern on Day 1. ## [More bureaucracy is not the answer to Chicago violence](https://www.thelastward.org/p/more-bureaucracy-is-not-the-answer) _2026-06-28 · Austin Berg_ Mayor Brandon Johnson created three new government entities related to public safety last week: the 9th, 10th, and 11th city government bodies dedicated to the topic. ## [Illinois' new digital asset tax threatens Chicago's legacy, and its future](https://www.thelastward.org/p/illinois-new-digital-asset-tax-threatens) _2026-06-21 · Austin Berg_ A first-of-its-kind transaction tax will drive investment out of Chicago. But there's still time to stop it. ## [Chicago was right to reject the 2026 World Cup](https://www.thelastward.org/p/chicago-was-right-to-reject-the-2026) _2026-06-14 · Austin Berg_ But the city's governance structure means Chicagoans are always one bad mayor away from a disastrous deal. ## [Chicago’s ballot access rules hurt democracy and help fraudsters. Here’s how to fix them.](https://www.thelastward.org/p/chicagos-ballot-access-rules-hurt) _2026-06-07 · Austin Berg_ Since 1983, there have been more than 2,100 legal challenges to kick candidates off the ballot in Chicago’s municipal elections. ## [Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/v669zq7bq7ym) _2026-06-07 · **Sponsored**_ Buy, sell and margin trade BTC & ETH with fiat currencies ## [Chicago can look to D.C. for ‘teen takeover’ reforms](https://www.thelastward.org/p/chicago-can-look-to-dc-for-teen-takeover) _2026-05-31 · Austin Berg_ In Washington D.C., the mayor and city council found a way to manage teen takeovers. Chicago should pay attention.