📰 What Happened: The federal class action, filed by Disability Rights Advocates, alleges that Chicago lacks a “coordinated, proactive system” to ensure accessibility. Instead, the city relies on a reactive complaint-based process, which has led to deteriorating infrastructure and unsafe pedestrian conditions.

🔍 A Closer Look: Despite a 2000s-era settlement expanding curb ramps, plaintiffs say the absence of a long-term maintenance plan allowed many ramps and sidewalks to fall into disrepair. Plaintiff Kevin Sullivan cited the city’s legacy of inclusive public design and criticized the gap between vision and execution.

🧠 Why It Matters: For a city founded on principles of accessible urbanism, Chicago’s ongoing shortcomings raise concerns about public equity. The ADA complaint highlights the risks of inaccessible infrastructure, which can force many wheelchair and walker users into dangerous routes or even isolate them.