Safety concerns, environmental justice, taxes and the rising cost of rent and food were among the most important topics for community members who gathered Tuesday for the WTTW News mayoral forum watch party at the Bridgeport Art Center. Also top of mind for attendees were the prospect of a high school on the Near South Side and language and other barriers faced by immigrants who need access to social services.
Lau said he wants city leaders to advocate for Chinatown and to help support businesses that still haven’t recovered. Chicago Public Schools is expected this summer to finalize plans for a $150 million facility at the former site of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Harold L. Ickes homes.Near the end of the forum, Wu posed a question to the mayoral candidates about whether they would move forward with a school at that location, whether they would push for another site or whether they would shut down plans to build the new school altogether given underenrollment at other nearby schools.
“We’re committed to a high school, and we just want it to be in the best location,” Wu said. “Chinatown is really interested in a neighborhood high school for our community that’s been growing; we’re probably over 30,000 people in the greater Chinatown area.”