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Wednesday, Mar 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Vallas campaign…

Former Illinois Governor and Taxpayer Advocate Pat Quinn will announce his endorsement of Paul Vallas for Mayor of Chicago on Wednesday. Quinn and Vallas will also discuss the effects of increasing taxes in gentrifying Chicago communities, as well as the current Com Ed corruption scheme and its impact on the city’s utility consumers.

* From Toni Preckwinkle…

Cook County Board of Commissioners President and Cook County Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle today called on Paul Vallas to directly address his statements attacking Democratic leaders, including Governor Pritzker, President Biden and President Obama.

  “Paul Vallas’ right-wing attacks on Democratic leaders like President Biden and Gov. Pritzker are shameful,” said Preckwinkle. “Chicagoans deserve to know if their next Mayor will listen to the experts or right-wing talk show hosts. Paul Vallas must make it clear today: Why does Paul Vallas frequently attack Democrats? Does Paul Vallas side with his Trump Republican donors or does he stand with Democrats across Illinois?”

  In recent weeks, news outlets have reported on Vallas’ criticism of top Democrats like Joe Biden and Barack Obama and his far-right social media activity. Now, newly unearthed comments show Vallas on right-wing talk radio, podcasts, and social media calling Gov. JB Pritzker a “dictator” who was “trying to fool voters” by providing tax relief and followed the “political science” when lifting mask mandates.

When questioned on his conservative attack of the governor, Vallas concocted yet another set of bizarre excuses, first gaslighting voters and then blaming someone who was able to “gain access” to his social media accounts because he has “been open with sharing [his] email addresses.” This after he previously said he had nothing to do with his own social media activity and then that he had been “hacked.”

  Enough excuses. It’s time for Republican Paul Vallas to come clean with Chicagoans.

More on that topic is here (including updates). Plus, subscribers know even more.

* Vallas campaign…

At last night’s WGN Mayoral Debate, moderator Tahman Bradley asked the candidates how they would hold repeat gun offenders accountable for their crimes. While Paul Vallas described in detail how he would utilize federal charging statutes to take repeat gun offenders off the streets, Brandon Johnson refused to provide any answer at all, raising questions on whether or not he would prioritize prosecuting dangerous criminals to the full extent of the law.

Below is a transcript of the exchange:

Bradley: Mr. Johnson, same question, 60 seconds, what should be the consequences for people repeatedly arrested and charged with gun crimes?

Johnson: Look, here’s the problem. Someone like Paul Vallas that wants to continue to give someone like me a lecture about what I know vs. what he knows is ridiculous, but I’m familiar with that.

As the Chicago Tribune reported: “At one point, Johnson was asked what consequences individuals who are repeatedly charged with gun crimes should face but he did not answer the question.”

Johnson went on to once again wrongly state that it takes two years to become a Chicago police officer, which has been thoroughly debunked by Vallas and the press. He did not address the serious issue of repeat gun offenders being let off on misdemeanors, which Vallas believes is contributing to the city’s crime problem.

“We already know that Brandon Johnson wants to defund the police, but now he won’t even say whether he would push prosecutors to pursue all possible criminal charges against the repeat gun offenders who are terrorizing many of our communities,” said Vallas. “As Mayor I will work with the city, county, state and federal prosecutors to ensure that we are doing everything possible to put repeat violent offenders in jail and get them off our streets and away from our residents. If Brandon Johnson doesn’t agree with that, then that’s absolutely disqualifying.”

* If you want a comparison of how much better Vallas’ 2023 campaign is than his 2019 mayoral campaign, just check out this Tribune story from September of 2018…

Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas has come under fire for the failure of his administration to launch an investigation into how a pedophile became a trusted mentor at a West Side elementary school after sex abuse crimes committed by the school employee and volunteer came to light 18 years ago while Vallas was the city’s top schools official. […]

The statement from Vallas’ campaign also said, “It seems if these community members’ allegations that the principal of Johnson School was aware of — and covering up for — Lovett’s criminal activities were earnestly believed, they would have endeavored to do more than simply send faxes.”

Yikes.

* From last night’s debate…

[Vallas] argued that CPS test scores have “plummeted” with only 6% of Black students meeting state standards in math and 11% measuring up in reading.

“It’s abysmal. They’ve lost ten years of gain, in large part because the schools were shut down for 15 consecutive months despite the fierce opposition by Janice Jackson, the CEO who ultimately left in frustration.

Vallas continues to use the pointy wires spin. We’ve discussed this topic before, but let’s look at it yet again. From the governor’s office last month…

Illinois evaluates schools based on multiple measures of performance, including growth, student attendance, climate and culture surveys, and graduation rates. Illinois has among the most rigorous proficiency standards in the nation. Evaluating schools based on growth in addition to proficiency gives us a more holistic understanding of school quality because even if a student starts school below grade level due to living in poverty, a good school can still help that student achieve significant growth. […]

• Illinois has some of the most rigorous learning standards in the nation: ranking fourth most rigorous for 4th grade reading and fifth most rigorous for 8th grade reading. In Illinois, a student needs to earn a level of 4 or 5 to be considered proficient. In comparison, the rigor of Florida’s standards ranks 39th and 42nd, respectively, and a student only needs to earn a level 3 on the state assessment to be considered proficient.

* Isabel’s roundup…

Sun-Times | Mayoral debate: Vallas and Johnson ‘lecture’ one another on the CTU, Donald Trump and ‘working class’ roots:

* Tribune | Brandon Johnson, Paul Vallas grilled on past comments on policing and future plans for CPD at Tuesday’s Chicago mayoral debate: During the forum, moderated by WGN-TV’s Lourdes Duarte and Tahman Bradley, Johnson distanced himself from past comments about 2020′s civil unrest, where he said looters were acting “out of desperation,” while Vallas ducked a question about past comments he made criticizing “Democrats” on the blog site Barstool Sports.

* WBEZ | Vallas and Johnson ‘lecture’ one another on the CTU, Donald Trump and ‘working class’ roots: Johnson pressed the attack on Vallas as a closet Republican who “fundamentally opposes abortion” and is “supported financially by people who also financially supported Donald Trump.” He argued that Chicago “deserves someone who comes from the working class” and “understands the value of working class people.”

* WTTW | City’s 2022 Overtime Bill Stands at $441M, With $210M Going to Police — Resulting in Sharp Increase Over Last Year: The Chicago Police Department spent at least $210.5 million on overtime, 56% more than in 2021 and more than double the $100 million earmarked for police overtime set by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2022 budget, according to data obtained by WTTW News through a Freedom of Information Act request and confirmed by the department as accurate on Friday.

* Sun-Times | City should stop fighting wrongful conviction cases tainted by CPD misconduct: Chicago has spent $23 million on outside lawyers to defend lawsuits involving former Det. Reynaldo Guevara— and eight new cases were filed this week.

* Sun-Times | With Chicago’s police leadership in flux, a new report on the nation’s law enforcement ‘crisis’ offers a path forward: Former interim Police Supt. Charlie Beck said all the issues raised in the 37-page report apply to the Chicago Police Department, which he briefly led before David Brown. In a meeting with the Sun-Times editorial board alongside other policing experts, Beck said a restructuring is in order while acknowledging that change won’t happen overnight.

* Block Club | Desmon Yancy, Martina ‘Tina’ Hone To Face Off In 5th Ward Runoff: Desmon Yancy and Martina “Tina” Hone emerged from an 11-person field as the top two vote-getters in the Feb. 28 election. The 5th Ward race featured as many as 12 candidates before Adrienne Irmer was disqualified in January.

* WBEZ | Nicole Lee and Anthony Ciaravino face off in Chicago’s first Asian-majority ward: For decades, Chicago’s Chinatown leaders and residents worked to consolidate their political voice under one ward instead of being split into two or three wards for so long. They finally got their wish last year when the ward maps were redrawn — with support from the Black and Latino caucuses — to create the city’s first Asian-majority ward. The 2020 Census showed that Chicago’s Asian population had grown 31% between 2010 and 2020, especially in the greater Chinatown area that includes neighborhoods like Bridgeport and McKinley Park.

* Crain’s | Investors sue Lightfoot administration over scuttled deal next to Michael Reese site: The complaint spotlights the conflict between city’s role in determining the fate of real estate projects and its long-running effort to inject new life into the vacant 50-acre site just south of McCormick Place. It also comes as the outgoing mayor and the team behind the Michael Reese redevelopment project — now dubbed Bronzeville Lakefront — are set to begin infrastructure work on the Michael Reese site, key steps toward construction of a mixed-use campus meant to help revitalize a dormant swath of land near the lakefront.

* Chalkbeat | New policy would change when Chicago students are held back, eliminates test scores as factor: Under the proposed policy, elementary students receiving academic interventions would be automatically promoted. The new policy would also add science and social studies to math and reading on the list of subjects students must pass.

* Press release | Cecile Richards, former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America endorses Brandon Johnson for Mayor : “I’m proud to support Commissioner Johnson because he knows there is no middle ground on access to reproductive rights. Chicago has been an island in the Midwest for upholding choice and I am confident that Commissioner Johnson’s administration will fight to protect this right.”

* Press release | U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley endorses Brandon Johnson for mayor: “On April 4, the people of Chicago have the opportunity to elect a mayor committed to pursuing bold policies that will make real, positive change for everyone in Chicago. Brandon Johnson will be that Mayor, and I am proud to endorse him,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

* Marc Morial | Like Harold Washington, new mayor should build a diverse coalition to move Chicago forward: As a former big-city mayor, I’m endlessly intrigued by local politics and the personalities and events that shape them. Having served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, there are some issues that are common to all 1,400+ cities I represented, and some that are unique to one city alone.

* NYT | In Chicago Mayor’s Race, a Former Teacher Rises With Union Support: Loved and loathed, the teachers’ union has emerged over the last dozen years as a defining voice on Chicago’s political left, putting forth a progressive vision for the city that extends well beyond its classrooms. After highly public fights with the last two mayors that led to work stoppages, union leaders see in Mr. Johnson a chance to elect one of their own, a former teacher who shares a goal of rebuilding Chicago by spending more on schools and social programs.

81 Comments

- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 9:59 am:
If the “lifelong Democrat” keeps citing Wirepoints and IPI as his trusted sources of information while aiming to privatize public resources as kuch as possible, I question his grasp on our political party system, and possibly the English language.

- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:01 am:
Read Russ Stewart’s latest column this morning. It appears that Vallas isn’t the only Democrat who criticizes fellow Democrats. Alderman Sposato also seems upset with the Governor’s local endorsements:

===”Of individuals, governor J.B. Pritzker (D) endorsed and donated to 14 incumbents – and all won. “He didn’t endorse me, and he didn’t endorse any pro-police incumbent,” noted Sposato.”===

So does that also make Sposato a Republican?/s

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:12 am:
So Vallas gets Quinn, Emma Mitts and Bobby Rush in the past 34 hours I guess because he’s a Republican?

Meanwhile, Johnson gets more national figures.

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:14 am:
*24 hours*

- JoeMaddon - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:15 am:
**So does that also make Sposato a Republican?**

Is this a serious question? Because the answer is yes. Sposato supported Trump.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:18 am:
How many Democrats called Pritzker a “dictator”?

How many Democrats guest hosted Dan Proft’s radio show. (That’s guest hosted, not a guest, guest hosted)?

Vallas is a Democrat, by his history, who he has been, but if that’s your take, and you’re ignoring Vallas’ own words to being “more Republican”, Vallas’ support of Awake Illinois, his embracing of an FOP that won’t publicly promote the expelling of Proud Boys from CPD… you have a very large blind spot, like MAGA folks have with the cult leader.

- The Truth - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:20 am:
I don’t know Brandon Johnson, but it sure seems like he’s personally ticked off some people in these political orbits. The endorsements don’t seem to make sense on a policy level.

- supplied_demand - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:22 am:
==I guess because he’s a Republican?==

I’m still undecided on this race. Vallas’ continued parroting of false, right-wing talking points is souring me. It’s not so much “he is a Republican” than it is him repeating incorrect assertions from IPI and Wirepoints and calling them legit sources.

- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:24 am:
Low Level:

Uh, yes - maybe you haven’t been observing those three in the last, oh, twenty years. And I’m a blue dog Dem far closer to him than Johnson ideologically - I know a genuine centrist when I see one.

- regular democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:26 am:
Im not sure why Brandon Johnson just cant answer a simple logical question like repeat gun offender penalties. Its served up by the moderator as a softball question and the wo\rds just cant come out of his mouth to prosecute habitual gun offenders. Its amazing but says volumes about his real approach to public safety. Commercials write themselves.

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:29 am:
==And I’m a blue dog Dem far closer to him ==

I guess we have that in common then. Im just taken aback by the Vallas endorsements from all parts of the city and groups.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:32 am:
===don’t seem to make sense on a policy level.===

This is politics not policy, like you stated before this.

If you look at the “old hands” falling in line with Vallas, these old timers have some sort of connection to the “Daley Era” and after Lightfoot some folks are “looking back” and not forward to find a candidate.

It makes sense if you merely take out “Vallas” and insert “Daley”

Even in real time context, the Daley coalitions were driving by raw politics that were at odds to policy.

- Future - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:35 am:
Too bad PQ didn’t run in primary. Vallas wouldn’t have made the run off. What a sad show

- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:35 am:
So, Squeezy the Pension Python endorses Vallas and Johnson won’t say whether he’ll take repeat gun offenders off the streets?

Great choices here.
Maybe it’s not too late for a write-in campaign?

- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:38 am:
LL - alas, nothing corrupts like power (which is what makes Quinn such a tragic figure - a Quixote like pol who threw his opportunity for once-in-a-lifetime reform away for a better chance at staying in power). I’m sure Johnson has all sorts of unsavory things going on on his side too, but his tolerance of some of the rankest bigotry (e.g., FOP) is a level above (or is that below?)

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:42 am:
Sposato, Napolitano, and Gardiner are all far right aldermen. So far that even though they are incumbents the Republican Trib could not endorse them.

- Homebody - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:44 am:
Every day a new article about a new problem in Paul Vallas’s record. Like is there anything actual positive he has done (assuming you’re not talking from the position of someone who profits off school privatization).

All he seems to have going for him are empty right wing talking points.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:48 am:
==Too bad PQ didn’t run in primary==

I don’t think it was random that there was only one white candidate this time. They learned from Joyce and Daley splitting the vote last time.

- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:49 am:
“Does Vallas side with his Trump Republicans?”

Nothing wrong with being an independent and running as one, many dislike either party. Totally uncool to be “fake Democrat” Paul Vallas. He has to scream out that he’s a lifelong liberal to counter all the evidence to the contrary. He’s using the party to gain power because he’d not win being who he really is.

- Leigh Jon-Ella - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:52 am:
When Quinn is identified as “Taxpayer Advocate Pat Quinn” note that the taxpayer is singular, as in one taxpayer.
That one taxpayer Pat Quinn advocates for is named Pat Quinn.

“Taxpayer advocate” sounds better than self promoter.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:54 am:
Did Pat Quinn reject his own public pension? Bet not.

- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:57 am:
“ Like is there anything actual positive he has done”

No. Vallas is a destroyer. Fortunately, I don’t think he (or Brandon Johnson for that matter) will be a successful mayor. And that is a good thing for the city.

- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:57 am:
The republican party has shot so far to the right, it has given the impression the Democratic Party is a monolith simply because the chasm between the two parties is so large it completely overshadows the differences within the Democratic Party.

Vallas isn’t a Republican. He’s just a part of the Democratic party in Illinois which has members such as Jim Glasgow, Jim Rowe, Dan Lipinski, Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, and now Paul Vallas. They still for some reason see a value in trying to work with those who have demonstrated a desire to overthrow our government. Obviously, I find that to be a foolish choice. The Democrats have corporatists and fools too.

The Democratic Party with members like Cassidy and Ventura, is a huge contrast even within the party to the other parts of itself, but a miniscule difference when considering the chasm between democrats and republicans.

Vallas is a Democrat. We shouldn’t make the mistake of trying to subjectively relabel what he is doing. We should pay attention that it exists within the party.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 10:59 am:
- TheInvisibleMan -

Can you make a Democrat that has guest hosted Dan Proft’s radio show.

Guest. Hosted.

Thanks.

- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:01 am:
Re Sposato, well, the writer is a Republican, who may have some great nuggets every once in a while, but his writing drips with bias for the Fox News hugging crowd.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:04 am:
Russ also had his law license disciplined repeatedly for unethical conduct so he’s not exactly a reliable actor.

- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:06 am:
–Can you make a Democrat that has guest hosted Dan Proft’s radio show.–

Yes. Paul Vallas.

I can point to my democratic county board exec, who cozied up to a county board member who not only attended the Jan 6th rally in DC, but planned some of the events. She was the one who introduced Mary Miller onto the stage to make her pronouncement on certain mid century European leaders.

I can name a lot of Democrats who do dumb things. And like I said, it should be identified as something that exists within the party, not hand waving it away by trying to relabel it. It has to be acknowledged, in order for it to be addressed.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:07 am:
===I can point to my democratic county board exec, who cozied up to a county board member who not only attended the Jan 6th rally in DC, but planned some of the events.===

So… “like Paul Vallas types”

That’s what you’re equating, no?

- Arsenal - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:10 am:
==Vallas is a Democrat. We shouldn’t make the mistake of trying to subjectively relabel what he is doing. We should pay attention that it exists within the party.==

I dunno, man. It’s one thing to say that like Glenn Poshard is a Democrat. He’s well to the right of most Dems, but he’s never claimed to be a Republican.

Vallas has.

- Annonin' - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:13 am:
Here is another fun story from the ‘burbs…https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230322/arlington-heights-mayor-calls-accusations-of-coziness-with-bears-offensive?utm_source=morning%20alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article%20column&utm_campaign=Morning%20Alert%203%2F22%2F2023…Maybe the AH mayor could have mounted a campaign to stabilize horse racing…we hear Neil Blumm like racinos in PA and IL could have maintained a classic track. Not sure why anyone really wants the Bears

- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:21 am:
–Vallas has.–

That’s the point. Claiming all those things, and then running under a Democratic ticket.

I use me county exec as an example often. She ran under a Democratic ticket label. As a State Senator however, she voted against cannabis decrim and legalization. She didn’t bother to vote at all for HB40 to protect womens reproductive rights in IL. But she will *say* she supports those things all day long. On the county board, she cozied up to the insurrectionist supporter, and enabled the antivaxxers on the county board. Even splitting the county board appointments despite the democratic party having the majority with her winning when running under the Democratic ticket. When in actual office, she is giving county power to republicans they didn’t win in an election. Other than wining an election as a D, the behavior in office has been against almost every platform plank the party has.

There are problems within the Democratic Party. It’s would be foolish to ignore them and hand wave them away.

- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:21 am:
Paul Vallas has always and will always think he is the smartest person in the room. therefore he thinks that no matter what he says or does that he can spin it. he’s a shape shifting arrogant person who has conned his way across the USA. The Poshard reference is apt because he never said he was a Republican unlike Paul. Paul was out of the pubic eye so he got on pro Trump radio and said what they wanted to hear. Not trustworthy.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:25 am:
===That’s the point. Claiming all those things, and then running under a Democratic ticket.===

So when Vallas, openly, freely, says “he’s more Republican”, Dems should “wave that off”…

Wave off the racist likes on social media before there was even a campaign… wave off the Prez of the FOP and his fundamental ways that include some questionable words, antics… wave off calling the governor a “dictator”

Do folks have enough arms for all that waving off?

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:29 am:
The guy who will become the next Alderman in the 44th Ward a Bennett Lawson, current cosstaff for Tom Tunney and SenDem staffer. No one has ever doubted his Democratic commitment.

He has endorsed Vallas.

- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:38 am:
==The guy who will become the next Alderman in the 44th Ward a Bennett Lawson, current cosstaff for Tom Tunney and SenDem staffer. No one has ever doubted his Democratic commitment.

He has endorsed Vallas.==

Daleyite’s hand-picked successor endorses Daleyite.

- someonehastosayit - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:46 am:
Is an endorsement from PQ considered to be helpful?

- Hump Day Harry - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:53 am:
Let’s be clear, most of these recent endorsements from Vallas are people jumping on the bandwagon as they can see Vallas winning and being the most powerful man in the state. It’s all about getting in the good graces. Personally, I find Vallas dishonest with voters as to his true intentions and find Johnson to be seemingly unprepared for the job. Dare I say, two bad options.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:54 am:
==Paul Vallas has always and will always think he is the smartest person in the room.==

You would think he went to top schools the way he bloviates, but he went to Moraine Valley Community College and WIU.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 11:59 am:
===Daleyite’s hand-picked successor endorses Daleyite.===

It’s a thing when you pay attention and do a little math…

- regular democrat - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
Im not sure how much Quinn moves the needle for Vallas but he does bring up some valid points about Com ed and their profits and how they were obtained. Public safety has taken all the oxygen out of the room and nobody has talked about the deal on the table with com ed. Lets rip it up and start over.
.

- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
Brandon Johnson went to Aurora University ranked 331-340 best colleges in America according to US News

It sure looks like he never cracked a book on economics

No Mensa candidates on the ballot

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:05 pm:
==Daleyite’s hand-picked successor endorses Daleyite.==

Thats why no one bothered to file against him?

As for the Daleyite label, like it or not, he is still very well regarded in many parts of the city.

- Anon 12:05 - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:05 pm:
A good deal of people who identified as a Democrat now feel a bit left behind because the Democratic Party no longer talks about “kitchen table” issues. It seems that these discussions have moved to more progressive, non-mainstream issues.

I understand and respect that progressive, non-mainstream issues are important to a lot of people, these issues are not driving what is discussed at most peoples dinner tables.

And Paul Vallas has been speaking to people who feel left behind with a message about crime, safety, jobs, opportunities. These issues cut across ethnic, social and economic boundaries.

Please don’t make the mistake of assuming that people who feel abandoned by the Democratic Party have somehow become Republicans by default. I am not a Republican, never voted for one, never will. But I will be supporting Paul Vallas as long as he lives up to his commitment to make the city I love safe again.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:07 pm:
===As for the Daleyite label, like it or not, he is still very well regarded===

LOL

Yeah, if you’re “old enough to remember”.,.

… but with such a blind spot to forget…

“The good old days”

- fp8q934y - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:10 pm:
Our system of criminal justice is deeply flawed and in need of serious change. But any political stance other than “More Police, Harsher Punishment” is a political death sentence, so to speak. So while Johnson seems to understand the problem or at least correctly identify it, he can’t really say much about it because the terms and outcome of the debate have already been decided. Meanwhile, Vallas has fully embraced the More Police, Harsher Punishment rubric and will pursue it vigorously, and if the results don’t appear, he will just double down. Since this approach is endorsed by many D and R politicians and their funders in the business community, Vallas will gain their support. When objective evidence shows that an approach or policy is wrong, does anyone believe that Vallas would change his policy or position? That is where arrogance and certitude of ones’ position is a serious impediment to effective leadership.

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:18 pm:
Oh I remember quite well. The city was a much better place when RMD left office in 2011 then when he took over in 1989.

- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
–Dems should “wave that off”…–

Not waving it off is the entire point. At the organizational level.

By the time people end up in the booth, many of them just look for the D. Just like many just look for the R. That allows people like Vallas to get the votes he needs, and still be the antithesis to the party hes running under.

Glasgow has been on Profts radio show a few times. Glasgow was the headline speaker at a Proft event against the SAFE-T act.

There are plenty of people running and winning as democrats, who are openly against most of the values of the party.

That’s the problem. We seem to agree.

- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
==The city was a much better place when RMD left office in 2011 then when he took over in 1989.==

The view is often best right at the edge of the cliff.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:26 pm:
==The city was a much better place when RMD left office in 2011 then when he took over in 1989.==

Crime was worse in the 90s than when he took over. He gave us black wrought iron fences everywhere, flowers, a horrible parking meter deal, and a coverup when his nephew killed a man.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:28 pm:
And for people who like to throw “dictator” around look what he did re Meigs Field.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:28 pm:
===Oh I remember quite well. The city was a much better place when RMD left office in 2011 then when he took over in 1989.===

That’s why Vallas counts on you and others like you to ignore the racism, MAGA, “dictator”, and CPD Prez… rose colored glasses… never mind the Daley scandals of his last two terms… it makes sense.

===Glasgow has been on Profts radio show a few times===

Never. Hosted.

You’re “splitting hairs” in your eyes to justify.

===There are plenty of people running and winning===

We’re talking about Vallas, his specifics.

If Vallas saying he’s a Republican more than a Dem is ok, then Dems have no one to blame for MAGA types running Chicago and the backward racism that Vallas seems to embrace.

- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:31 pm:
The WGN is worth watching. I have watched the other debates and thought Lourdes Duarte and Tahman Bradley have done the best job do far. They both moved the debate along, kept the candidates on time and were fair to both candidates. They also seemed very well prepared and did not let the candidates abuse the process.
As to just this debate, I thought Vallas easily won.
Johnson seemed to just be bombing me with buzz words. Of course, others are free to disagree, but in this debate I thought Johnson came across as a bit of an empty suit fellow who just does not have the experience to run a local government that has a budget of close to 17 Billion.
Still a long way to go and since I vote on Election I have plenty of time for Mr. Johnson to come up with a few reasons to vote for him.

- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:31 pm:
Western Illinois University has some graduates who have accomplished quite a bit in their career

No need to be so elitist

https://edurank.org/uni/western-illinois-university/alumni/

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:31 pm:
===Crime was worse in the 90s than when he took over. He gave us black wrought iron fences everywhere, flowers, a horrible parking meter deal, and a coverup when his nephew killed a man.===

Rose colored glasses to a Chicago that had Burke as Finance Chair, O’Connor as floor leader, Banks running Zoning, Laski as City Clerk… the good old days.

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
==We’re talking about Vallas, his specifics.==

LOL. Thats why you keep mentioning Daley and “Daleyites”, right?

Moreover, the ones for whom RMD is rememebred fondly are also the ones turning out in greater numbers then any other demographic group. But yes, keep linking Vallas to Daley.

- Chris - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
“ Pat Quinn will announce his endorsement of Paul Vallas”

As if I needed another reason.

Thanks, Pat, for once again confirming you will do anything to get people to pay attention to you.

- James the Intolerant - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:36 pm:
Daley single-handedly devastated the pensions, with the policy wonk along at the beginning, by taking holidays for 17 of the 22 years he was in office. He put Chicago in a deep hole financially.
SO no thanks on fondly thinking of Daley.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:38 pm:
==No need to be so elitist==

I’m sure DeVry has some fine alumni too.

- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
==Moreover, the ones for whom RMD is rememebred fondly are also the ones turning out in greater numbers then any other demographic group.==

This is, as has been discussed here, an essential tenet of the Vallas strategy. It will likely work, especially against a weak opponent like Johnson. It is therefore also important to be clear-eyed about what, exactly, the “glory days” of Richard M. entailed in full.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:42 pm:
===Thats why you keep mentioning Daley and “Daleyites”, right?===

Vallas is running a campaign on nostalgia, looking back, not forward, calling on folks to discuss how they’ve known Vallas for “decades”

I can’t help how a campaign presents itself.

Your “examples” of “others”, are they running as Daley’s “this or that”?

===the ones for whom RMD is rememebred fondly are also the ones turning out in greater numbers then any other demographic group. But yes, keep linking Vallas to Daley.===

The “over 50” voters?

Yeah, those are Vallas voters, lol

I dunno what that proves, given the Chicago of the 90’s that Daley had with that City Council, with the scandals and issues… and you harken back to that…

Like I said, there are THREE groups supporting Vallas, the third being the racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists, and insurrection apologists…

… and worse, Vallas has been opening courting the worst of the GOP.

- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:43 pm:
–then Dems have no one to blame–

Correct. This is the accountability I’m trying to point out, that is lacking in the Democratic party in this regard.

I’m saying this falls squarely on the Democratic party, and it needs to be addressed.

While you want to focus on the specifics, you are glossing over the other events in the party that have been building up and have brought us right to this point. Those events are also the responsibility of the Democratic party.

- supplied_demand - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:52 pm:
==OW==

You keep hammering Vallas as though he can only be viewed in a vacuum. There are 2 options on the ballot, it’s either Johnson or Vallas. Voting for Vallas doesn’t mean you support everything he has ever done or said, it simply means you think he will do a better job than Johnson on whatever is important to them (violence, schools, CTA, taxes, etc.). All your hand-wringing about Daley and Proft doesn’t change that. The same goes for Johnson voters and his past “defund the police” stance, his city income tax policy, or his relationship with CTU.

I know I am still wrestling with whom to choose.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 12:57 pm:
===You keep hammering Vallas as though he can only be viewed in a vacuum.===

“Asked and Answered”

I’ve agreed and also pointed out numerous times, Chicago has awful choices. That includes Johnson, the difference is Johnson apologists(?), aren’t as visible or vocal in comments, and Vallas OR is dropping, almost hourly, with new twists or thoughts to Vallas’ “long career” or “new shapeshifting”

I don’t envy you or any Chicagoan, but where this keeps going to Vallas, the ridiculous “touting” of Vallas as the “good” choice, I don’t see “any” good choice.

Be well, appreciate your thoughts and question to mine.

- Babblebabble - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:22 pm:
I love that Brandon Johnson keeps making guilt by association arguments but won’t say if he still goes to the anti-gay, anti-choice Pentecostal denomination as his pastor father he loves to talk about. Does Johnson speak in tongues?

- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
don’t know about Brandon’s speech, except that he says pro choice and Vallas says anti abortion and he’s backed by Trumper types. that would be enough to decide my vote.

- Baloneymous - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:28 pm:
===I know I am still wrestling with whom to choose.===

I feel for you. I’m glad I do not currently live in Chicago as I would probably sit out this runoff. There were no good choices and I’m also glad LL will no longer be mayor.

But the way Vallas is turning into a MAGA-like candidate is troubling. That dictator comment yesterday was so out of line. And the Proft radio guest hosting confounds me. I feel like he is self-sabotaging his own campaign. And it lost him 2 votes from my family members who voted for him in the first go-around.

- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:35 pm:
==anti-gay, anti-choice Pentecostal denomination==

You do realize that Vallas’s church shares these views?

- phony toni - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:36 pm:
Toni Berrios didn’t respond to our calls. But Preckwinkle—another self-proclaimed reformer—says she’s backing Toni Berrios because she’s committed to helping women in politics. It doesn’t hurt that Preckwinkle forged her own alliance with Joe Berrios before the 2010 elections.
“I will acknowledge that some of the people I’m supporting, I’m doing so because my friends have asked me to,” Preckwinkle says.

Anything out of Toni’s mouth should come with questions - like why she supported someone who had a family and friends hiring policy that was pretty obvious. Cost taxpayers money defending this practice as well.

- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:39 pm:
I trust Paul Vallas…as far as I can sling a piano.

- BabbleBabble - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:44 pm:
Amelia, Vallas says he’s pro-choice so I’ll take him at his word. And if Johnson ever says he no longer goes to a conservative Pentecostal church where people convulse and babble like lunatics then I’ll believe him. There’s something very off putting about dishonesty combined with self-righteousness that I see from Johnson and his cult-like campaign.

- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:49 pm:
===I’m saying this falls squarely on the Democratic party, and it needs to be addressed.===

Point of information: this is a nonpartisan race. Vallas can call himself a Democrat, but the Party is not responsible for him or his campaign. There are no party banners in the municipal election. Anyone can run, and anyone can describe themselves however they see fit. Paul Vallas is not the Democratic nominee. Neither is Brandon Johnson.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
===Vallas can call himself a Democrat, but the Party is not responsible for him or his campaign. ===

If Vallas wins, will Dems see Vallas as the top *Chicago* democrat?

We could find that out.

- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:05 pm:
They are called the good old days for a reason.

Daley‘s record wasn’t perfect but no one ever came close to beating him

1989- 55%
1991- 70%
1995-60%
1999-72%
2003-78%
2007-71%

Don’t rewrite history the 90’s were great for Chicago
https://www.newgeography.com/content/002981-state-chicago-explaining-1990s-versus-2000s

- low level - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:12 pm:
==Like I said, there are THREE groups supporting Vallas, the third being the racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists, and insurrection apologists…==

Which category does Jesse White fall under?

- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:18 pm:
===If Vallas wins, will Dems see Vallas as the top *Chicago* democrat?===

If Vallas wins, I think it’s more likely that he’ll become a darling of the right, with Fox News and others pointing to his win as some sort of new urban conservative movement.

If I was advising Vallas, I’d beg him to repudiate any hint of that from his supporters on the right. If he wins, he won’t need their help anymore and it will be an anchor for his entire administration unless he pushes back very hard on that.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
===Which category does Jesse White fall under?===

* There’s the “Daley” folks harkening to the 1990s

Jesse himself (no pun intended or snark with that) says he’s know Vallas for decades.

Anything else?

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:23 pm:
- 47th Ward -

Wise and prudent advice.

Now, mending fences with the governor… when needing Springfield help… and that bid for the Dem Convention…

Lots of work ahead, that’ll need quick turnaround.

- Lady of the Lake - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:39 pm:
@Amalia - I am adamantly pro-choice but personally anti-abortion for myself. I see no conflict in that.

That is what I heard Vallas say here https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/mayor-candidate-paul-vallas-addresses-past-abortion-comments. Sorry if this is behind a paywall.

Basically I don’t think the government has any place in that decision process.

So this topic is not a criteria in my choice for the mayor’s race.

- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 2:46 pm:
===You keep hammering Vallas as though he can only be viewed in a vacuum. There are 2 options on the ballot, it’s either Johnson or Vallas. Voting for Vallas doesn’t mean you support everything he has ever done or said, it simply means you think he will do a better job than Johnson on whatever is important to them (violence, schools, CTA, taxes, etc.)===

My response?

===I’ve agreed and also pointed out numerous times, Chicago has awful choices. That includes Johnson, the difference is Johnson apologists(?), aren’t as visible or vocal in comments, and Vallas OR is dropping, almost hourly, with new twists or thoughts to Vallas’ “long career” or “new shapeshifting”===

“And just like that”… a Bailey endorsement of Vallas.

===Don’t rewrite history the 90’s were great for Chicago===

1) that article is 10 years old

2) the 2020’s are the comparison, not 2000

Keep up, or go back and work on getting 60/30 for the Bears Bailout

- Just a guy - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 3:40 pm:
Lord we have two terrible choices here…

- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Mar 22, 23 @ 4:10 pm:
=The WGN is worth watching.=

Yes. Definitely the best I’ve seen so far.

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