Bill Quinlan in the Chicago Tribune: Chicago Needs Honesty, Not Short-Term Budget Fixes
Leading a Better Chicago founder Bill Quinlan was once again featured in the Chicago Tribune with a powerful op-ed calling for a new era of honesty, accountability, and fiscal leadership in city government.
In his piece, “Chicago Needs Honesty, Not Short-Term Budget Fixes,” Quinlan lays out a clear, data-driven case for why Chicago’s financial future depends on facing the truth — not continuing the cycle of temporary political fixes.
“When politics become more about managing optics than solving problems, trust evaporates, and cynicism grows,” Quinlan writes.
The article draws from exclusive polling commissioned by Leading a Better Chicago and conducted by Hart Research, revealing how strongly residents want real solutions — not rhetoric.
- 71% of Chicago voters believe bankruptcy is a real possibility if budget problems aren’t solved.
- 83% say city leaders haven’t been honest about the scope of the crisis.
- 75% blame years of asset sales and one-time revenue patches for the city’s instability.
Quinlan’s message resonates across neighborhoods, industries, and political lines: Chicagoans know the challenges are serious. What they want is leadership grounded in truth.
“Tell the truth, face the hard trade-offs, and start putting Chicago on a long-term path to stability,” Quinlan urges. “Don’t worry about the next campaign slogan or who gets the blame. Worry about whether we’ll still have a livable, functioning city for the next generation.”
From his perspective as a lifelong Chicagoan, attorney, and civic leader, Quinlan calls for ending the era of short-term budget tricks and focusing instead on sustainable, transparent solutions — from pension reform to smarter public safety investments.
His approach mirrors the mission of Leading a Better Chicago: to connect data, expertise, and civic leadership to create a city that’s financially stable, safer for families, stronger for businesses, and honest with taxpayers.
“Good policy is good politics,” Quinlan writes. “The people of Chicago are demanding it. It’s time for their leaders to finally answer the call.”
About Leading a Better Chicago
Leading a Better Chicago is an independent civic organization working to bring honesty, accountability, and expertise back to city leadership. Through data, dialogue, and practical solutions, we aim to make Chicago safer, fairer, and financially stable for everyone.
Read the full Tribune piece here: Chicago Needs Honesty, Not Short-Term Budget Fixes