Chicago flourishing? Yeah, right.
Did you know I've lived in places where bribing a cop is actually illegal? I've actually met cops who won't take a franklin clipped to my license. And what's even weirder, to try and explain how Chicago "works" actually engenders looks of disbelief. Did you know there are towns where the Outfit doesn't run the city council and the public service unions? (Not many, but a few.)
It certainly is flourishing today. It’s a great city.