Research Topics
Fighting for the City I Love
Hi, I’m Leo Fiascone. Since January of 2024, I have spent hundreds of hours researching “kitchen table” issues affecting Chicagoans and developing practical, implementable ways to improve them.
Through outreach and communications with over 65 experts, I’ve been writing analysis and proposed solutions from Public Safety, to Education, Economic and Fiscal concerns, Community and Health, and Infrastructure & Housing. Several of my plans have been published, and I’m continuing to advance these ideas with a goal of improving the city I love.
I have made many mistakes along the way, and I have a lot to learn, but I am doing my small part. Through policy analysis, AI tools, and civic action, my hope is this project helps by building systems that help more Chicagoans thrive and to reverse the decades long trend of a massively shrinking middle class population.
Welcome to my work.
High Recidivism Rates
High Recidivism Rates
The Key Issue Two in five people released from Illinois prisons return within three years – a costly cycle that drains public safety and taxpayer resources.
What I Learned Stable housing and employment are the strongest predictors of successful reentry. Education gaps are severe. One promising model is the Denver K9 project, which pairs carefully selected dogs with prisoners for training and care; participants show lower rates of institutional misconduct and improved post-release outcomes.
Who I Learned From Candice Julien, Deanna Logan, Victor Dickson, Brenda Palms (North Lawndale Employment Network), leadership at the Safer Foundation, and Michele Wayland (Colorado Correctional Industries Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program).
My Proposal Expand one-year rental subsidies paired with employment services, increase basic education inside prisons, pilot structured animal-assisted programs modeled on successful efforts such as Denver’s K9 project, and shift a larger share of the corrections budget toward proven community-based reentry centers.
Mental Health Resources and Co Responder Models
Mental Health Resources and Co Responder Models
The Key Issue Police remain the default first responders to behavioral-health crises because 24/7 community alternatives are still too scarce.
What I Learned Co-responder teams that pair clinicians with officers (or deploy civilian crisis teams) reduce unnecessary arrests and emergency-room visits when coverage is reliable and protocols are clear.
Who I Learned From Leadership of the City of Chicago C.A.R.E. (Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement) Program, Cook County Health Behavioral Health Division, Thresholds (Chicago), and the Denver STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) Program.
My Proposal Scale co-responder teams in high-call districts, expand walk-in and mobile crisis capacity in underserved neighborhoods, and track success by reductions in repeat crisis calls and jail diversions.
Unsafe Public Transportation
Unsafe Public Transportation
The Key Issue Violent crime victimizations per CTA passenger trip more than tripled since 2015, driving riders away and making the system feel even less safe.
What I Learned Station environment matters: mixed-use surroundings, better lighting, and higher pedestrian activity correlate with lower incident rates. Consistent visible presence and enforcement of lower-level offenses have worked in peer cities.
Who I Learned From Randy Clarke (General Manager & CEO, WMATA), Jayme Johnson (Chief Safety & Readiness Officer, WMATA), and Amy Rynell (Active Transportation Alliance).
My Proposal Target uniformed presence at high-incident stations, improve lighting and street-level activity around stations, and publish clear safety metrics so riders can see progress.
Youth Crime Prevention and Public Safety Among Child Age Victims
Youth Crime Prevention and Public Safety Among Child Age Victims
The Key Issue With a significantly smaller population than its five collar counties, Chicago recorded seven times more murders (416 vs. 57) and ten times more shooting victims (1,847 vs. 180). Over 250 school-age children (17 and under) were shot in Chicago in 2025, while the collar counties combined recorded only single-digit numbers. Parents weigh these risks every day, and those with options choose to leave.
What I Learned Violence is highly concentrated. Early intervention, consistent adult presence, and credible exit ramps for youth who want to leave street activity produce better results than broad approaches.
Who I Learned From Monique Draper and Bradley Johnson (BUILD Chicago).
My Proposal Expand evidence-based violence-interruption capacity, guarantee accessible after-school and evening programming in high-risk neighborhoods, and pair focused enforcement against repeat gun offenders with real alternatives for youth.
Elementary Middle and High School Performance Issues and Options For Improvement
Elementary Middle and High School Performance Issues and Options For Improvement
The Key Issue 41 CPS schools have zero students testing at grade level in math. 20 have zero in reading. One-third of schools are less than half full. Families aren’t just leaving Chicago; they are leaving Chicago Public Schools. Nearly 55 percent of Chicago’s residential and commercial property taxes fund a $10.25 billion system that spends roughly $30,000 per pupil — premium prices equivalent to top-end private schools — while only 40.6 percent of students are proficient in English/Language Arts and 26.2 percent in math. Enrollment has plummeted by 110,000 students since 2000, a 25 percent decline.
What I Learned Per-pupil spending approaches $30,000 while proficiency rates remain among the lowest of large urban districts. Chronic under-enrollment and concentration of need compound the problem.
Who I Learned From Janice K. Jackson (former CPS CEO) and Paul Vallas (former CPS CEO).
My Proposal Expand high-quality options for families in the lowest-performing schools, target resources to schools with the largest absolute numbers of students far below grade level, and measure progress by actual proficiency gains.
Lack of Universal Pre K
Lack of Universal Pre K
The Key Issue Chicago achieved citywide full-day pre-K for four-year-olds, yet many families still find the enrollment system confusing and community providers face funding strain.
What I Learned High-quality full-day pre-K improves kindergarten readiness and long-term outcomes. Denver’s independent nonprofit model with intensive family outreach and sliding-scale support offers a clearer path.
Who I Learned From Chris Miller (Denver Preschool Program) and April Janney (Illinois Action for Children).
My Proposal Create a single family-friendly enrollment portal, equalize funding for CPS and community sites, and publish annual access and readiness results by neighborhood.
Chicago’s Middle Class Exodus and Specific Ways To Abate and Reverse It
Chicago’s Middle Class Exodus and Specific Ways To Abate and Reverse It
The Key Issue In 1970 half of Chicago was middle-income. Today only 16% remains – and families keep leaving.
What I Learned School quality, public-safety disparities with the collar counties, and the cumulative cost of housing and taxes are the primary drivers. The city’s infrastructure was built for 3.6 million people; it now serves 2.7 million.
Who I Learned From Paul Vallas and research underlying “The Quiet Exodus.”
My Proposal A focused three-year plan centered on safer streets, expanded educational options in the lowest-performing schools, and policies that grow the tax base rather than simply raise rates.
Chicago’s Need For a City Charter
Chicago’s Need For a City Charter
The Key Issue Chicago is the only city among the nation’s 15 largest — and the only one among the top 25 — that operates without a city charter. Basic structural features such as election timing, the number of aldermen, ward mapping authority, and key revenue powers remain controlled by state statutes in Springfield. Oversight bodies exist only by local ordinance and can be weakened or defunded when they conflict with city leadership. Without a charter, there is no enforceable higher law that binds officials, and the separation of powers between the Mayor and City Council remains heavily tilted toward mayoral dominance.
What I Learned A charter can clarify mayor–council roles, require a chief administrative officer, strengthen oversight of major contracts, and potentially allow limited ballot initiatives.
Who I Learned From Matt O’Shea (Alderman), Sharon Greenberger, and Richard Buery Jr.
My Proposal Establish a transparent, broadly representative charter commission that educates the public and produces a draft focused on clarity, accountability, and long-term stability.
Tackling Urgent Fiscal and Debt Issues
Tackling Urgent Fiscal and Debt Issues
The Key Issue Illinois is a federal donor state, receiving only about 80 cents back for every dollar sent to Washington — a gap measured in the tens of billions every year. Meanwhile, large states with very different political profiles — Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia — are net federal recipients that take in tens of billions more each year than they pay out.
What I Learned Chicago’s corporate-fund deficit and more than $50 billion in unfunded pension liabilities would look very different if the state simply achieved a break-even return of the dollars it already pays.
Who I Learned From Research underlying “Campaign to Win, Govern to Cooperate” and contacts connected to the Office of Dick Durbin.
My Proposal Once elections end, treat the federal government as a primary financial partner, pursue a break-even or better return, and use the resulting flexibility to stabilize pensions and reduce pressure on local taxpayers.
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing
The Key Issue Chicago has 185,000 extremely low-income renter households and only 59,000 affordable units available to them – a shortage of more than 126,000 homes.
What I Learned Nearly half of all renters are cost-burdened; in South Shore, Englewood, and East Garfield Park the figure exceeds 67%. Homelessness rates remain well above the national average.
Who I Learned From Raul Raymundo (The Resurrection Project) and Michael Nichols (City of Houston Housing).
My Proposal Expand rental subsidies targeted to the lowest-income households, accelerate production and preservation in high-need areas, and pair new units with supportive services where needed.
AI Tools To Enhance Quality Of Life and Public Safety
AI Tools To Enhance Quality Of Life and Public Safety
The Key Issue We are told AI will define the future of work, yet most institutions still treat it primarily as a risk to be managed rather than a tool to be mastered. McKinsey reports that 51 percent of organizations are already reducing entry-level hiring because of AI, and Goldman Sachs estimates 300 million jobs globally are exposed to disruption. Cities that fail to deploy AI thoughtfully for public safety, service delivery, and operational efficiency will leave both residents and public employees further behind.
What I Learned From research in “The Classroom Is Behind. AI Isn’t.”: Structured AI use improves outcomes; unstructured use does not. The same principle applies to city operations.
Who I Learned From Research and writing for “The Classroom Is Behind. AI Isn’t.”
My Proposal Establish a dedicated AI Integration Office with a clear mission to improve outcomes and generate measurable savings. Build systemwide standards that require “proof of work” (showing prompts, errors identified, and reasoning). Invest in practical, staff-first training so AI frees people for higher-value work rather than replacing judgment. Expand only where transparent metrics show real gains in safety, service speed, or cost efficiency.
Lead In Drinking Water
Lead In Drinking Water
The Key Issue Nearly 70% of children under age six in Chicago may be exposed to lead-contaminated tap water, with the highest risk in older, disinvested housing.
What I Learned Aging service lines are the primary source. Targeted deployment of high-quality filtration devices – an approach highlighted by Paul Vallas – can provide immediate protection while permanent line replacement proceeds.
Who I Learned From Paul Vallas (conversations and published commentary on filtration deployment).
My Proposal Accelerate replacement of lead service lines in the highest-risk areas while rapidly deploying filtration devices to households with young children, paired with clear resident communication and blood-lead surveillance.
The Erosion of Neighborhood Commons and Social Trust
The Erosion of Neighborhood Commons and Social Trust
The Key Issue Many Chicago neighborhoods lack sufficient safe, programmed public spaces – and social isolation rises when people have nowhere reliable to gather.
What I Learned Consistent programming and maintenance matter as much as physical space. Minneapolis shows what higher access and youth participation rates can look like.
Who I Learned From Monique Draper (BUILD Chicago) and Christine Moir (Minneapolis Parks Foundation).
My Proposal Target reinvestment in community centers in the most underserved areas, expand evening and weekend programming, and use partnerships to keep spaces activated and safe.
The Life Expectancy Gap by Zip Code
The Life Expectancy Gap by Zip Code
The Key Issue Life expectancy in Chicago varies by as much as 30 years between ZIP codes – the largest gap of any major U.S. city.
What I Learned The difference tracks closely with income, safety, housing quality, and access to care. Streeterville averages near 90 years; Englewood near 60.
Who I Learned From Leadership of West Side United (hospital coalition working to reduce the neighborhood life-expectancy gap).
My Proposal Treat the gap as a composite outcome measure. Progress on violence reduction, housing stability, early childhood supports, and primary-care access should be judged in part by whether the absolute difference in life expectancy narrows over a defined multi-year period.
AI as a Set of Tools for Cities and Their Various Components
AI as a Set of Tools for Cities and Their Various Components
The Key Issue Chicago Public Schools spends roughly $30,000 per pupil in a $10 billion system while three-quarters of students are not proficient in math and nearly 60 percent fall short in reading. At the same time, Made-in-Illinois AI tools already exist that can cut administrative costs, deliver 24/7 personalized support, and free teachers for higher-value work. The risk is not that AI moves too fast. The risk is that we respond too slowly.
What I Learned From “The Classroom Is Behind. AI Isn’t.” and related research: Structured AI use with clear “proof of work,” staff training, and measurable goals produces gains; vague or punitive approaches do not.
Who I Learned From Research and writing for “The Classroom Is Behind. AI Isn’t.”
My Proposal First, establish a dedicated CPS AI Integration Office with a clear mandate to generate administrative savings and redirect a substantial portion of those savings into classroom support and instruction. Second, build a systemwide AI curriculum that requires “proof of work” — students must show prompts used, errors identified, improvements made, and their own reasoning — while teaching AI ethics so students understand not just what is allowed, but why. Third, invest in practical, teacher-first training and partner with proven external programs to create a competitive AI ecosystem (including citywide challenges and private-sector scholarships). These steps turn AI from a potential shortcut into a genuine skill that accelerates learning rather than replacing it.
- Erin Aleman – Executive Director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
- Gilbert Villegas – Alderman, 36th Ward
- Kam Buckner – State Representative
- Matt O’Shea – Alderman, 19th Ward
- Janice K. Jackson – Former CEO, Chicago Public Schools
- Lisa Morrison Butler – Former Commissioner, DFSS
- Maria Whelan – Former President & CEO, Illinois Action for Children
- April Janney – President, Illinois Action for Children
- Chris Miller – Vice President of Programs, Denver Preschool Program
- Michael Nichols – Director, Housing & Community Development, City of Houston
- Raul Raymundo – Co-Founder, The Resurrection Project
- Monique Draper – Chief Program Officer, BUILD Chicago
- Bradley Johnson – Community Connector, BUILD Chicago
- Christine Moir – Director of Development, Minneapolis Parks Foundation
- Randy Clarke – General Manager & CEO, WMATA
- Jayme Johnson – Chief Safety & Readiness Officer, WMATA
- Juan Rangel– CEO at The Urban Center
- Amy Rynell – Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance
- Joe Ferguson – Former Inspector General / (re)Chicago
- Ed Bachrach – Co-Author, The New Chicago Way
- Austin Berg – Co-Author, The New Chicago Way
- Rod Blagojevich – Former Governor of Illinois
- Daniel Biss – Mayor of Evanston
- Susana Mendoza – Illinois Comptroller
- Anna Valencia – City Clerk of Chicago
- Brandon Johnson – Mayor of Chicago
- Toni Preckwinkle – President, Cook County Board
- Kim Foxx – Former Cook County State’s Attorney
- Eileen O’Neill Burke – Cook County State’s Attorney
- Lori Lightfoot – Former Mayor of Chicago
- John Kelly – Mayoral Candidate
- Jesse Reyes – Justice, Illinois Appellate Court
- Debjani Desai – Circuit Court Judge, Cook County
- Bill Yu – Associate Judge, Cook County
- Rodney Davis – Former U.S. Congressman
- Sean Casten – U.S. Representative
- Mike Quigley – U.S. Representative
- Robin Kelly – U.S. Representative
- Jesús “Chuy” García – U.S. Representative
- Delia Ramirez – U.S. Representative
- Jan Schakowsky – U.S. Representative
- Office of Dick Durbin – U.S. Senator
- Tammy Duckworth – U.S. Senator
- JB Pritzker – Governor of Illinois
- Juliana Stratton – Lieutenant Governor
- Kwame Raoul – Illinois Attorney General
- Alexi Giannoulias – Illinois Secretary of State
- Michael Frerichs – Illinois Treasurer
- Don Harmon – President, Illinois Senate
- Emanuel “Chris” Welch – Speaker, Illinois House
- John Curran – Illinois State Senator
- Sue Rezin – Illinois State Senator
- Robert Peters – Illinois State Senator
- Graciela Guzmán – Illinois State Senator
- Will Guzzardi – Illinois State Representative
- Theresa Mah – Illinois State Representative
- Marcus Evans – Illinois State Representative
- Jehan Gordon-Booth – Illinois State Representative
- Bob Fioretti – Attorney / Former Alderman
- Paul Vallas – Former CPS CEO / Mayoral Candidate
- Ja’Mal Green – Community Organizer / Former Mayoral Candidate
- Stacy St. Clair – Managing Editor, Chicago Tribune
- Gregory Royal Pratt – Reporter, Chicago Tribune
- Heather Cherone – Political Reporter, WTTW
- Dan Petrella – Political Writer, Chicago Tribune
- Blanca Rios – News Writer & Producer, ABC7 Chicago
- Billy Glunz – Managing Director, Government Affairs, American Airlines