NATO summit gives Chicago coveted global spotlight

NATO summit gives Chicago coveted global spotlight

CHICAGO (AP) — The nation’s third-largest city has a famous skyline, a vibrant downtown cultural district, a stunning lakefront and art-filled parks.

Yet in much of the world, Chicago conjures images of long-dead mobsters, demolished steel mills or violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. So it’s difficult to overstate the importance of this weekend’s NATO summit to business and tourism leaders — or how critical it is for the event to unfold smoothly.

The Chicago of the 21st century depends more than ever on its international reputation in the quest for jobs, investment from abroad and markets for its exports.

Richard Longworth of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs says the city should be known for something more than the old stockyards or Al Capone.