|
The state needs to step in now
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * The solution in this particular instance is to either do actual case work at police stations, which isn’t happening now, or move those folks more quickly into shelters, where case work processing is being done. There’s simply no excuse for spending money on people who would rather be elsewhere…
So, the man wants to leave, but since there are no case workers at the station he can’t tell anyone who is authorized to hook him up with a bus ticket. Complicating matters further is that some folks who do wind up in shelters really don’t like the way the shelters are run (not enough food, cold food, etc.), so they go back to the police stations where volunteers help see to their needs. But the volunteers are rapidly burning out and going back to the stations means they receive no case worker assistance and that means they’re stuck. Ugh! The city’s process is just so messed up. The state really needs to step in a lot more forcefully there. * Meanwhile, I agree with Shia Kapos…
More from the Sun-Times…
That purposely lowball appropriation isn’t going to help the mayor with the state at all, and he can probably forget about convincing this Congress to step up. * A few more from Isabel… * ADDING…Sun Times | Brandon Johnson’s first budget sails through City Council: The $16.77 billion plan, approved 41-8, holds the line on taxes and increases spending for an array of popular programs. But it also relies on one-time revenues and budgets far too little for the ongoing migrant crisis, on the hope that more state and federal help is on the way. * WBEZ | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $16 billion budget poised for passage, despite questions about migrant spending: Several alderpersons have warned the city is being reckless by budgeting just $150 million for next year to help shelter and support migrants. According to figures shared with reporters last month, Johnson’s administration estimated that the city could spend upwards of $361 million from August 2022 through December 2023, with a funding shortfall in the hundreds of millions. * Block Club | Fewer Migrants Are Sleeping In Police Stations As City Increases Shelter Capacity, Bus Arrivals Slow: About 1,400 people were waiting in police stations across Chicago for a shelter space as of Tuesday morning, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. That’s down from about 2,800 Oct. 30 and 3,300 Oct. 16, according to data from the office. At the same time, the number of migrants in city-run shelters has increased from about 11,200 Oct. 16 to about 12,200 as of Tuesday, according to city data. * WBEZ | The stars of the high school concert? A rock band of migrant teens.: One of the first people Ahiled met when at Sullivan was social worker Josh Zepeda. The two bonded over music. (Zepeda moonlights as a DJ and musician under the stage name Sunkissed Kid). Zepeda urged Ahiled to join the school rock band, and encouraged other Venezuelan students, like her friends Luis and Antony, to get involved too. * CBS Boston | Massachusetts looks to make $250M available for migrant housing after shelters reach capacity: With a vote of 37-3, the Senate passed a bill Monday night that would provide $250 million to the state’s strained shelter system. “It’s our estimate this will get us well through the winter and into the spring. I think we’ll be having more conversations come next spring on additional resources,” Massachusetts State Sen. Michael Rodrigues said.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
- Telly - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 1:44 pm:
How do you not ask every migrant on a weekly basis if the would like to go somewhere else, particularly with the cold coming and the lack of indoor shelter? This is malpractice by the Johnson administration from both a political and humanitarian perspective.
- DisappointedVoter - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:00 pm:
The mayor had 0 representation in Springfield during veto. While I can see why many feel that JBP stepping in is overdue; the politics don’t make the path easy. We have a hard headed mayor that refuses to ask for help and is doing the minimum. He announced an IGA director that doesn’t start until early next year, a deputy mayor of immigration that keeps moving the date of tents being propped up week after week and a half empty press shop led by a man that ignores emails and has no crisis experience.
The mayor needs to show some leadership and be clear in what he needs help with. I don’t want JBP to go down with him and get swallowed up by all the chaos the mayor has created.
- Frida's boss - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
Mid-summer the cost was $30 million/month we’ve now moved it up to $40 million/month. Where is all this money going? Why isn’t the mayor communicating how $40 million/month is spent?
How does anyone expect anything in Congress next year for migrants, especially in Dem cities? The House is still GOP and let’s not even think they’ll help Dem cities/states while running for reelection.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:01 pm:
===The mayor had 0 representation in Springfield during veto===
He had someone down there.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:13 pm:
I do not see a huge downside for the Governor to step in. I don’t think the faults of the mayor will spill over onto the Governor. The Governor almost certainly has more clout with the President and might be able to free up funds. I think it odd that there appears to be so little cooperation between state and county with local he mayor almost like personalities are in way and if so I would bet it is coming from the city
- NotRich - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:16 pm:
The Mayor’s team was very visible in veto session. The problem is amateur hour on the 5th and 2nd floor at City Hall.
- Franklin - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:21 pm:
The CTU is doing great. Move along, nothing to see here but progress.
- supplied_demand - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:33 pm:
Massachusetts legislature gives money and admits they will need to give more, but our Mayor is silly for assuming our state legislature will help?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:45 pm:
=== but our Mayor is silly for assuming our state legislature will help? ===
Nobody said he was silly. Don’t put words into my mouth or you won’t be here very long. And Boston didn’t purposely short its budget while claiming out loud that doing so would somehow convince the state of the need to spend lots more money.
- LastModDemStanding - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:45 pm:
==The problem is amateur hour on the 5th and 2nd floor at City Hall.==
Not to mention amateur hour with federal advocacy. There is no one advocating for the City in DC, nor has he spent time meeting with all members of the Congressional delegation who touch all/part of Chicago. Rep. Delia Ramirez and Rep. Jonathan Jackson don’t have enough pull or bipartisanship respect in Congress to get budget line items for the City. Sorry, that’s just the reality.
- New Day - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:54 pm:
“Meanwhile, I agree with Shia Kapos…”
Words rarely spoken in these parts…
- New Day - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 2:54 pm:
Or written as the case may be.
- Breaking news - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 5:32 pm:
There was a late PM announcement that migrants will be limited to 60 day shelter stays, pursuant to a city / state plan to be announced in more detail tomorrow. This makes me very nervous. Stay tuned I guess.
- supplied_demand - Wednesday, Nov 15, 23 @ 7:57 pm:
== doing so would somehow convince the state of the need to spend lots more money.==
Looks like the tactic somehow worked. I’ll be watching for the mea culpa tomorrow.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 6:33 am:
===Looks like the tactic somehow worked===
The city, as far as I know, isn’t getting a dime.