City of Hope

The aimless son of Joe Rinaldi who quits his no-show job and slips into crime to cover debts and drug addiction. He seeks connection, especially with Angela, while resisting his father's control. His choices expose the corrosive link between wealth, power, and street crime in City of Hope.

A corrupt property developer and Nick's father who blocks redevelopment to maintain his grip on power. He uses intimidation to protect his interests and please the mayor. His relationship with Nick compounds the city’s moral rot as the truth comes to light.

Idealistic Black alderman drawn into the community's fight against crime and corruption. He navigates the risks of standing up to powerful interests while trying to defend the stories of young victims.

A waitress and single mother who becomes involved with Nick. She is pursued by Rizzo and connected to the city’s tense police presence, highlighting the human stakes of the power struggle.

A young policeman and ex-husband of Angela who stalks her and clashes with Nick. His temperament and ties to the old order illustrate tensions between law and corruption in the city.

An older small-time criminal who engineers the burglary with Nick and later participates in arson to manipulate the redevelopment scheme.

A homeless man known as Asteroid, an observer of the city’s decay who remains outside the power circle while dramatically influencing the narrative with his presence.

A professor of urban relations who becomes entangled in the community’s struggles as the jogger incident unfolds.

The city’s mayor, pushing redevelopment while managing the appearance of progress and fundraising to secure reelection.

One of the youths involved in the jogger incident who later interacts with the professor and Wynn, illustrating the complexity of truth and accusation.