Development or Colonization? Chicago power-brokers take control of community redevelopment in Gary, Indiana

Photo of Gary, Indiana with the US Steel’s Gary Works in the background. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

In 2016, the city of Gary, Indiana was faced with an almost apocalyptic set of challenges. More than half of the city’s children were living in poverty, 1 in 4 properties was vacant or abandoned, 2 in 5 buildings were in disrepair, and 1 in 5 properties are on tax sale every single year. City officials…