Scrutinizing the Heat

Abstract

poor, disproportionately African American, and isolated; government did not react soon enough, and the media missed the boat. All that neglect is indicative of a callous society that does not care about poor, old, isolates. We even blame the victims. Daley and other political leaders denied the heat was killing so many people, because it made the city look bad. The result was that people did not organize soon enough to save those most at risk. In short, American cities are nasty places for poor people to live. The Chicago disaster is a sign of the general social breakdown evident in our cities.