The end of another Chicago mall

Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team

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Chicago Tribune Opinion Friday, May 1, 2026   Happy Friday, Chicago. It’s the end of an era for folks who grew up shopping at Lincolnwood Town Center, which is closing today. The editorial board writes on Chicagoland’s once treasured malls-turned-eyesores, considering whether redevelopments such as Lincolnwood’s can deliver a long-promised comeback. The board also tackles a topic of some controversy: bike lanes. We support safer streets for cyclists but argue Archer Avenue — a key Southwest Side trucking route and commuter bypass — was a poor place to squeeze cars. Now that the city is adding back parking and adjusting the design, a more sensible middle ground is starting to take shape.  On the opinion page, Arne Duncan and Bibb Hubbard offer thoughts on how to fix Chicago Public Schools’ chronic absenteeism problem: integrating families into schools’ core approach to teaching and learning, a strategy they say can improve attendance and academic outcomes. Columnist Elizabeth Shackelford ponders the cause of AI’s unpopularity in spite of such technological promise and posits that “the biggest threat of AI is that the bulk of this powerful technology is uniquely within the control of a small cohort of ungovernable men.” Billionaire tech titans, to be specific. Chicago native Jeremy Wolff shares his experiences with homelessness and living in tent encampments in Seattle, sharing his thoughts on a Springfield bill that would affect how cities manage tent cities in public spaces — and offering thoughts on better solutions. Don’t forget to check out reader letters. — Hilary Gowins, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor |  Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter Editorial: Demolition looms for Lincolnwood Town Center, as shopping malls struggle Enclosed malls started to age badly almost 30 years ago, and many that aren’t dead already look like candidates for last rites. Read more → Editorial: A sensible compromise on Archer Avenue takes more than bike activists into account Bike activists need to stop demonizing Chicago drivers. Read more → Elizabeth Shackelford: Ungovernable billionaires may be our biggest global threat The biggest threat of AI is that the bulk of this powerful technology is within the control of a small cohort of ungovernable men. Read more → Arne Duncan and Bibb Hubbard: If Chicago wants to reduce absenteeism, start with families One effective approach to reducing absenteeism is integrating families as part of schools’ core approach to teaching and learning. Read more → Jeremy Wolff: We can’t clear our way out of homelessness. But we can’t ignore the encampments either. HB1429 should outline what a basic right to housing is and what the public right to park space is. Read more → Charleen Richey: Wrigley Field’s magic and heart made this out-of-towner your newest Cubs fan Wrigley Field had a profound impact on a couple of outsiders during their recent vacation. Read more → Letters: How elected officials can make Chicago the city that actually works and serves its residents Too often, the city still operates one complaint at a time — one pothole, one streetlight, one service request, one permit moving slowly. Read more →

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