Best of: Chicago Heat Wave Author Sees Parallels To COVID-19 Response
In this July 15, 2012 file photo, the sun rises over corn stalks in Pleasant Plains, Ill., during a drought. Seth Perlman/AP
In July 1995, Illinois and the Midwest were in the stifling grip of a heatwave. Ultimately Chicago would record 739 heat-related deaths over five days. Hot weather is not all that unusual in this part of the world at this time of year, but this particular heat wave was different.
The 21st speaks to an author and professor about how the city responded to the heatwave and the parallels to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic response.
Guest:
Eric Klinenberg,
Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science at New York University, Director of NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge
Author of "Heat Wave"
Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi