Some of that culture has seeped into the collar counties, but not to the pervasiveness that the central core is steeped. There are also pockets of Cook County where the criminal atmosphere has lifted...but not many. When I left four decades ago, the South side was sinking fast, but I hear that it never descended so far as to absolutely stink of corruption.
Yes, Chicago can change. But only when the people, en mass, want to.
I’m in Winnebago County. It’s not considered a collar county, but I can tell you that some of that culture is here. Not only that, we have scammers at our intersections with signs that they need money for funerals, need money for a sick kid, you mane it. And they are largely Hispanic. I have seen them myself.
One thing the democrats are doing a marvelous job of is destroying this country.