Why a major life expectancy gap has existed on Chicago's West Side for decades

TL;DR

Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood has a life expectancy 20 years shorter than the downtown Loop.
In 2023, Loop life expectancy was 87.3 years, while West Garfield Park's was 66.6 years, the largest gap in a major U.S. city.
Contributing factors include heart disease, cancer, homicide, overdoses, and maternal infant health.
Community leaders and the mayor cite decades of neglect, isolation, and lack of resources in West Garfield Park.
A new wellness center is the first major community investment in West Garfield Park since the era of Martin Luther King Jr.
Addressing the gap requires both investment in education, healthcare, and housing, and lowering crime.

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