Affordable housing is one of the toughest issues facing our community and country, and it’s the No. 1 problem our readers want to solve ASAP. Though a new passenger rail will soon connect the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, and Chicago, it chugs south through La Crosse. But seriously: Why not through Eau Claire? How many Twin Citians want to trek east for the thriving arts and culture, and how many Eau Clairians wan to go west in search of big-city adventure? After years of wishing for Costco and Chick-fil-A, readers finally got their wish this year. Maybe after a few more years of Trader Joe’s appearing on our collective wishlist, it’ll happen too. —Rebecca Mennecke