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Two Black state legislators publicly vow to oppose migrant funding bill
Thursday, Oct 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sen. Preston and Rep. Nichols are both relative newbies (Preston much more so than Nichols), and are both standing before voters next year, and we’re only a month or so into the three-month petition-gathering season. Just an FYI as you read this BlockClub Chicago story…
The veto session is scheduled during petition season as well. As we saw earlier this week, Gov. JB Pritzker is lukewarm (at best) to a supplemental appropriation for the city. And the mayor has not even yet named a director of intergovernmental affairs. Lovely. Mayor Brandon Johnson is not responsible for the crush of asylum-seekers coming to Chicago. His city doesn’t have adequate resources, either. But he is responsible for his repeated failures to address the problem. He has, for instance, been repeatedly rebuffed when he’s attempted to open new shelters without first consulting with local stakeholders, including alderpersons. Instead of realizing his mistake, he has repeated it over and over and over again. * Ald. Villegas said the other day that the city had kept him in the dark about a proposed shelter site. Here’s the Tribune…
Most politicians learn pretty fast how to judge the playing field. Mayor Johnson clearly does little to no advance work on the ground, then abruptly backtracks when locals object. And then the push-back grows as people see that the best way to stop a shelter is to yell loudly enough. So, the ugly and mean-spirited situation snowballs further. And this particular snowball is the size of McCormick Place. Again, this is a horrible national and international problem and the mayor is not at fault for the deluge and nobody expects him to solve everything. But his repeated failures have to stop because he is making things so much worse than they need to be. The Pritzker administration absolutely must start taking more control there.
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- Gravitas - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:27 am:
From the date of his mayoral inauguration, Brandon Johnson behaved as if the entire city was on board with his ambitious plans to resettle the migrants in Chicago. This was an incorrect assumption.
Had Johnson made his migrant policies central to his candidacy and publicized his ideas in advance of the run-off election, I am not sure that the results would have been the same. Residents of many wards that supported Johnson in April are upset about the migrant shelters today.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:27 am:
“The Pritzker administration absolutely must start taking more control there.”
The public has been riled up so much about this (our conservative local TV stations aren’t helping, as is tradition) that all politicians are avoiding the issue as much as possible.
Biden - Avoiding leadership until after November 2024
Durbin/Duckworth - Refusing to pressure the administration to take the lead.
Pritzker - Not willing to risk popularity by stepping in to make hard choices.
- H-W - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:29 am:
I acknowledge that funding is non-existent at this point, and may be severely inadequate after the veto session. I get that.
But the “not in my backyard” mentality expressed by Senator Preston and Representative Nichols (and others) is immoral. It is a moral equivalence of turning away a boatload of asylum seeking immigrants during World War II.
For the senator and representative however, such statements can backfire. By not justifying the humanity of those who come here without anything, they implicitly justify the stance of “others” who deny the humanity of the people Senator Preston “steps over” in tents in his community.
We either respect and serve the needs of all, or we deny respect and deny compassion for some. The latter choice justifies inequality at the societal level.
- NotRich - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:29 am:
When you have been a rock thrower your whole career, it is not easy when you have to learn to catch the rocks. The former occupant of the 5th fl was mean, rude, and arrogant. Current occupant is a pleasant individual, likable, but sorely incompetent to deal with the G A, and the City Council.
- Mayo Sandwich - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:30 am:
“We can’t spend millions and millions on people who just got here while I step over my people lying in tents,” Preston said. “We can’t keep taking on new tasks when we haven’t handled the first ones yet.”
Here’s a thought, get funding for both.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:32 am:
36th Ward? The snake? They probably thought no one would care if they put it in the deformity ward. Guess not.
- 17% Solution - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:35 am:
Since refugees eventually increase the gdp of the host country, in fact many of them go on to make good incomes and pay a lot in taxes, why doesn’t the US government issue refugee bonds?
People could buy bonds, the money could go to help refugees get started, and the government could pay them back in twenty years or so when the government reaps their enormous profit and the bonds mature . The bonds could be put in a Roth IRA, be bought and sold by individual investors, etc.
- Hannibal Lecter - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:36 am:
=== But the “not in my backyard” mentality expressed by Senator Preston and Representative Nichols (and others) is immoral. ===
Tell that to his constituents. They are the ones he is accountable to and they are not happy.
- Hannibal Lecter - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:37 am:
=== Here’s a thought, get funding for both. ===
Easy to say. Where is the money going to come from? Thin air?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 10:50 am:
It’s offensive to compare this to a nation closing its borders to the Holocaust (even if you expelled the migrants from the US, which we’re not, you’re not sending them back to death or religious persecution), but if you accept that as true, 1) then it’s also immoral to locate the refugees in impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago vs. wealthy suburbs with far more resources and 2) the roper response to genocide and other refugee crises is intervention (and we would help far more people if the hundreds of millions being spent on the migrants were being used as increased aid to the impoverished nations they’re coming from).
Can the Democrats not see potential political damage this issue, particularly lecturing voters about how selfish they’re being?
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:00 am:
Brandon Johnson lacks the administrative chops to navigate the duties and responsibilities of the mayor in Chicago. Brandon Johnson’s thin resume with no direct experience as it relates to the function of government results in the crisis in the mayor’s office.
Until Johnson seeks guidance from experienced individuals and not the loudest voices, the city will limp along from crisis to crisis. The citizens deserve more than this experiment in governing.
- SWSider - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:01 am:
The state needs to help the city out. It’s the state’s job.
But, JBP’s political strength has always been his ability to read the tea leaves. It’s too hot for him to touch and stay above the fray, so I fear above the fray is where he will remain.
- Pundent - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:02 am:
=But the “not in my backyard” mentality expressed by Senator Preston and Representative Nichols (and others) is immoral.=
While I agree with your sentiment, the neglect we’ve shown these communities for decades is immoral as well. And the reason that they would be considered for housing the migrants is due to the belief that they’re in no position to object. It’s not as if Winnetka and Lake Forest are rolling out the welcome mat.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:06 am:
It seems odd to me the Sen. Preston and Rep. Nichols do not want communities like Naperville to share in the cost.
- Mr. Green Genes - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:06 am:
=== It’s offensive to compare this to a nation closing its borders to the Holocaust (even if you expelled the migrants from the US, which we’re not, you’re not sending them back to death or religious persecution)===
It’s the events that happened during the Holocaust that motivated Congress to write the asylum laws we have today. How is that offensive to acknowledge the history?
As far as “your not sending them back to death or religious persecution.”
You’re sure about that?
- LastModDemStanding - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:10 am:
=Most politicians learn pretty fast how to judge the playing field. Mayor Johnson clearly does little to no advance work on the ground, then abruptly backtracks when locals object. And then the push-back grows as people see that the best way to stop a shelter is to yell loudly enough.==
Yell loudly enough or make a back door deal.
This is the difference between a leader and people pleaser. Mayor Johnson is trying to be a people pleaser, and in turn, causing more damage instead of holding the line on decisions.
The shelters aren’t being evenly distributed throughout the City and I can’t help but point out that Wards that were unfavorable to the Mayors election seem to be bearing the brunt (in the highest value areas of real estate at that which can’t be great when there are limited financial resources), whereas no shelters have appeared in the Wards of our DSA friends.
I’m not saying there’s something going on behind the scenes, but it is Chicago….
- Pundent - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:11 am:
=The citizens deserve more than this experiment in governing.=
The migrant crisis predates Johnson and the citizens that elected him were well aware of his resume.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:12 am:
“It seems odd to me the Sen. Preston and Rep. Nichols do not want communities like Naperville to share in the cost”
Being a self-proclaimed sanctuary city has consequences.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:16 am:
“Stepping over my people lying in tents “ pulling yourself up behind your bootstraps
- Betty Draper’s cigarette - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:23 am:
“Being a self-proclaimed sanctuary city has consequences.”
No it doesn’t. These are asylees we’re discussing, so ICE doesn’t want to deport them. Sanctuary status of the city isn’t relevant.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:24 am:
=== Sanctuary status of the city isn’t relevant===
It’s quite relevant to the trolls and bad actors who want to score cheap political points at the expense of human beings.
- Jerry - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:27 am:
Brandon’s opponent had no organizational or administrative experience either other than writing lesson plans and collating copies for distribution.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:28 am:
===Thin air?===
It has long been my opinion that the tax cuts and huge federal deficit spending in the 1980s ingrained in the American public’s collective psyche that they can have anything from all levels of government without paying more for it.
Not saying the deficit spending back then was necessarily bad, but it has had consequences. “Just spend more,” is not possible outside the federal realm without more revenue.
- H-W - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 11:52 am:
@ Lake County Democrat
=== It’s offensive to compare this to a nation closing its borders to the Holocaust ===
I did not compare not accepting people to the Holocaust. I compared closing our borders to refugees and asylees in the present to closing our borders to refugees and asylees in the past.
- Michael Schaik - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
Chicago made McCormick a field hospital for Covid; think about using it to temporarily housing refugees?
- Michael Schaik - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
Chicago made McCormick a field hospital for Covid; think about using it to temporarily housing refugees?
- Sue - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 12:30 pm:
Rich- today’s US Treasury auction proves even the feds can’t spend forever. Today was the softest auction in recent memory resulting in yields jumping higher and equities sinking. Biden’s spending is resulting in record deficits and forcing Yellen to dramatically increase the sale of treasuries. Today has proven deficits matter
- Pundent - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 12:36 pm:
=Chicago made McCormick a field hospital for Covid; think about using it to temporarily housing refugees?=
That occurred when the convention industry was shut down and the facility was idled. McCormick place is now booked well into the future.
- DisappointedVoter - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 1:49 pm:
Well said, Rich. I hope the Johnson team is paying attention.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 2:29 pm:
If the migrants can figure out how to cross the Darien Gap and Mexico, I’m sure they will figure out how to survice the winter - Shelter isn’t free for US Citizens.
- Who else - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 3:03 pm:
=If the migrants can figure out how to cross the Darien Gap and Mexico, I’m sure they will figure out how to survice the winter - Shelter isn’t free for US Citizens.=
We have our winner for the day.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 3:25 pm:
=Biden’s spending is resulting in record deficits and forcing Yellen to dramatically increase the sale of treasuries. Today has proven deficits matter=
Trump spent and increased the deficit at a rate never seen before or since. It only matters to you now because the president is a D not an R.
The deficit does not just suddenly matter.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 3:44 pm:
LOL. @Sue never fails to disappoint.
- levivotedforjudy - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 3:45 pm:
Seems like Johnson missed an opportunity to meet one-on-one with each alderman with a person dubbed as his Proxy next to him (and actually use his short tenure as an advantage) and tie this stuff into short- and long-term much needed fixes on addressing affordable housing and homelessness and also a great way to connect directly with the arch diocese and other religious organizations and social service agencies. I think this is what Emanuel would have done (he always kept good City Council relations) plus he would have gotten corporate chicago and the philanthropic orgs. involved. Something akin to “this is what this part of your ward looks like now and these are enhancements everyone can use after 2 years or sooner.” He didn’t cause the long-term problems but he can not fix them with creative use of current and non-migrant/refugee related federal funding (if he is up to the job). The big snag will probably getting temp work permits approved. The asylum seekers want to work. Blaming D.C. and holding his empty hat in front of the Gov. are not action to me.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 12, 23 @ 3:49 pm:
==It’s not as if Winnetka and Lake Forest are rolling out the welcome mat.==
Or Lincoln Park and Streeterville within the city limits.
==deficit spending in the 1980s ingrained in the American public’s collective psyche that they can have anything from all levels of government without paying more for it.==
Absolutely 100% spot on, Rich. I have often thought right along the same lines.