The Chicago Fire Department has paid out nearly $92 million in discrimination charges since 2008.

Jared Rutecki of the Better Government Association, a Chicago based investigative journalism firm, explained that the Chicago Fire Department has come under fire in recent years from lawsuits brought on by African American females who claim that the CFD puts physical tests in place to deter females from joining the force. The CFD has less females working for its force than the national average, but when you factor in paramedics and ambulance personnel they are right on par with the national average. He further explains that under Rahm Emmanuel, the city has settled and paid out the majority of these lawsuits.

I believe the Better Government Association is a great resource for all Chicagoans to take stay educated on the government and operations of our city. We need investigative journalists like these to shed light on the corruption and unfairness that runs deep through the different agencies of Chicago.

Data from public records requests | Jared Rutecki, BGA