Why now and why in Chicago are political institutions saying these things? Most people have known about theses problems all over the country and for decades. I watched a the history of the issue and the same issues were being examined one commission after another going back, IIRC, to the 1920s. The report says the problems have gone on for decades.
My guess is that it is due to political pressure. IMHO most corruption and injustice happens because there is no pressure on political leaders to fix it, while they face a lot of pressure from vested interests (the police, prosecutors, etc.). On most issues, the public pays no attention and if they do, it's only for a short time. As they say, 'all that is needed for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing'.
But still, why now and why in Chicago would this kind of political pressure finally arise?
(And it remains to be seen if anything changes, which I would guess depends on whether the pressure can be sustained.)
Externally, there have been several federal investigations of.local agencies (notably, Ferguson, which also came with an enforcement effort resulting in a consent decree); that's actually probably a big part of the reason for Chicago to do, and be seen doing, it's own internal effort.
My guess is that it is due to political pressure. IMHO most corruption and injustice happens because there is no pressure on political leaders to fix it, while they face a lot of pressure from vested interests (the police, prosecutors, etc.). On most issues, the public pays no attention and if they do, it's only for a short time. As they say, 'all that is needed for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing'.
But still, why now and why in Chicago would this kind of political pressure finally arise?
(And it remains to be seen if anything changes, which I would guess depends on whether the pressure can be sustained.)