Open Illinois.org

The Sears Tower has long stood as a beacon of Chicago – and Illinois at large. Rising above the clouds, the magnificent steel structure enamors residents and tourists alike. Yet recently, the building’s management has taken it a step further and opened multiple glass-encased boxes on the outside of the tower’s 103rd Skydeck floor. Stepping out into the new glass structures gives visitors something never before available: an unobstructed view of Chicago and all of its workings.

This is not a familiar concept in Chicago architecturally or otherwise.

In addition to the Sears Tower, the Windy City is known nationwide for less favorable attributes, namely corruption and an underhanded political culture. We are “the city that works” – although how, nobody is exactly sure.

Getting a clear look at Chicago politics used to be about as difficult as getting a clear look at the city itself, until now. It turns out the new glass boxes reaching 1,353 feet up in the air have attracted considerable interest.  Chicagoans apparently like the idea of transparency and for $14.95 it’s a deal. Let’s see if we can carry this interest to City Hall and statewide because, after all, we’re paying a lot more than that for a government as opaque as they come.