Sidnee King, Illinois Answers Project

A judge later invalidated the sale, but Sawyer, who is running for mayor, notes he was dismissed from the court case involving the purchase with no finding of wrongdoing.

The city’s premiere development initiative, Invest South/West, has brought hope to areas long ignored by developers. But some residents say they’ve been left out of decision-making on the projects coming to their areas.

From federal lawsuits to scathing reports, the administration of the city’s greenspaces has for decades come under fire on grounds that underserved communities are treated unfairly.

Only 16 of the 600 parks in city neighborhoods have security cameras, but many of them are in white, wealthy neighborhoods without much of a crime problem. Many parks in higher-crime areas, including more neighborhoods of color, have no cameras at all despite requests from residents.

Children as young as 13 have been caught hijacking cars in Chicago. Experts say first-time arrestees can’t get the intervention they need.