Eric Patton Smith News Today

Chicago’s building safety enforcement lags behind many peer cities, putting tenants at risk. Renters are demanding change – and there's a promising blueprint for city officials to follow.

CHICAGO — Larry Burns had been planning a wedding reception last May in Mississippi and was looking forward to his mother coming from her home in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. A

A 2021 investigation revealed Chicago’s deeply flawed inspection system for identifying and responding to safety issues in residential buildings. Since the report was published, 53 more people have died in residential fires.

This yearlong investigation, a collaboration between the Tribune and the Better Government Association, revealed that at least 61 people died in residential fires in Chicago where officials were aware of fire hazards in the buildings but failed to ensure they were addressed.