Opinion: The south suburbs are one airport runway away from prosperity

The recent Tribune editorial about the c ity of Harvey declaring itself effectively bankrupt reveals an urgent crisis in need of bold solutions.

Cook County’s south suburban communities have higher unemployment rates, fewer job opportunities and lower average incomes compared with the north suburbs. That imbalance has persisted for decades. It’s the root of an economic struggle that has developed into vast disparities in health care access, education resources and transportation infrastructure.

In America, participation in the global economy is a key to prosperity. For much of the 20th century, Harvey and its neighbors were industrial powerhouses, connected to the world through manufacturing, logistics and trade.

The old Ingalls-Shepard Forging steel plant in Harvey, opened in 191