* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget that he passed last November deliberately underfunded programs for asylum-seekers. The meager appropriation could be exhausted by April, but nobody knows yet what the city plans to do when it reaches that point.
Also last November, Gov. J.B. Pritzker made it clear to reporters “the state doesn’t run shelters” and said he was waiting for the city to recommend shelter sites. “The state doesn’t control property in the city of Chicago that could provide a location. The city really has to do that.”
Pritzker also criticized the city for not asking the General Assembly for additional money and noted, “We have spent much more money to support the system of asylum-seekers arriving here than the city has.”
In December, the state declined to fund a huge, 2,000-bed tent shelter in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood after an evaluation of a city contractor’s report by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency found the remediation completed by the city “did not meet IEPA standards to receive [a formal letter stating no more mediation was needed] and was therefore not approved,” an IEPA spokesperson reiterated last week.
The city was furious at the denial, and Johnson complained to reporters again last week that the state still has not fulfilled its promise to open those 2,000 new beds. The state claimed then and has ever since then that, despite repeated requests, the city has not yet offered up any more sites. Johnson told reporters this was not true. I’m still checking on this.
Also in December, Johnson announced a program to ticket and even impound buses carrying migrants to the city from Texas unless drivers followed rules for when and where their passengers could be dropped off.
That quickly had the effect of forcing the bus companies to dump people in the suburbs and exurbs, where they are then directed to public transportation to Chicago. During the week ending Jan. 19, not a single bus from Texas arrived directly in Chicago, according to a document released to city officials.
Mayor’s no longer very welcoming
The city has opened no new migrant shelters since November, although Chicago officials made it appear as if they were still working on plans to do so in December, specifically a shelter on the city’s Northwest Side at a site owned by the Catholic Archdiocese. Will Chicago still open and operate that shelter? No. But the city has been hoping the state and/or the Archdiocese could open it, and now I’m hearing the shelter might possibly go forward.
On Jan. 12, city officials went even further and told state legislators the city had “begun planning for rightsizing” its shelter system. That’s corporate-speak for “downsizing,” although a city official now says they probably shouldn’t have used that word.
And then last week, Johnson told reporters the state government “can build a shelter anywhere in the state of Illinois,” adding the state “does not have to build a shelter in Chicago.”
This, of course, ignores the fact the migrants’ stated preference is a Chicago destination. More importantly, it’s also the politically targeted destination set by the Texas governor. In other words, the mayor can say what he wants, but they’re coming regardless.
His comment also ignores the fact the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure and caring for asylum-seekers in Chicago. Expanding that out would be prohibitively expensive and disperse scarce human resources.
There are only so many people who are willing to do the work and qualified to do it. Dispersing those workers throughout a large geographic area would make their task a lot tougher. It may be unfair to the city, but that’s where the infrastructure is.
Not to mention that suburban mayors aren’t exactly falling all over themselves to take any of these folks in. When a reporter asked Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle last week if any suburban mayors had taken up her offer to open shelters, Preckwinkle said, “Those conversations didn’t result in offers of assistance.”
It’s becoming more clear almost every day that, despite his initial promises to welcome the new arrivals with open arms and share with them the city’s “abundance,” Johnson’s aim for weeks if not months has been to pull back from the task of accepting and caring for the continuing influx of asylum-seekers and return to his progressive agenda, like banning natural gas connections in most new construction.
Meanwhile, April gets closer every day.
* A few hours after I wrote that column, this story was published by Nadig Newspapers…
Plans are moving forward for a migrant shelter at the former Saint Bartholomew school and convent in Portage Park, while another former parochial school in the 30th Ward would be converted into 24 apartments, said Alderwoman Ruth Cruz. […]
Officials have said that 300 to 350 people would be housed on the site.
It’s unclear from the story what entity will actually be responsible for opening and operating the shelter, but I was told by a top city official late last week that it wouldn’t likely be them.
*** UPDATE *** Gov. Pritzker was asked today to respond to Mayor Johnson’s statement that the state doesn’t have to build more shelters in Chicago…
Well, it’s unfortunate that the governor of Texas is sending thousands of migrants to the city of Chicago. That is where they think they’re going, that is where they expect to be arriving. Not in Elmhurst, not in other suburbs, but in the city of Chicago.
It is also where all the services are that they need when they arrive. It is also where the major landing zone that we’ve paid for, to make sure that we’re welcoming them as appropriate to the city. And frankly, the city has a shelter system like none other.
So all I would say is that we certainly have encouraged other jurisdictions to step forward. We’ve created grant programs. Some of them have taken us up, Oak Park, for example. And we’re providing resources for other jurisdictions. So that is happening, there is shelter and services.
But the major and majority part of what’s necessary needs to be in the city of Chicago. And we have been supporting the city of Chicago with literally tens of millions of dollars directly as well as hundreds of millions of dollars indirectly.
- Steve - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 11:19 am:
Kennilworth isn’t quite ready or something.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 11:24 am:
=Well, it’s unfortunate that the governor of Texas is sending thousands of migrants to the city of Chicago.=
I disagree with the governor. I think these folks are lucky to be coming this way. The way it is being done is despicable. The way we are handling it is mostly dissapointig.
We have one of the great governors currently serving our 50 states and territories. I wish he would get on the phone and push for more action on job permits. The Illinois economy would be supercharged if that happened.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 11:33 am:
Wake me up for the “find out” portion of Mayor Johnson’s term.
- LastModDemStanding - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 11:59 am:
- I wish he would get on the phone and push for more action on job permits.-
JS Mill- are you not aware the Governor has done a tremendous amount on this issue? The State literally has funded legal clinics 5 days a week since November getting work permits completed by attorneys with USCIS on site to process fee waivers getting the time down to less than 30 days. This isn’t something that just happens and it’s not happening anywhere else in the United States. I have seen 1 Alderman, Alderman Bill Conway, helping out this by holding Saturday clinics with volunteers and labor partners.
None of this is or was done by Mayors Office.
The question is why didn’t the Mayors Office have enough forethought to put together legal clinics for new arrivals in the summer? With all the “organizers” in the MOs and surrounding organizations, surely getting volunteer translators, partnering with a law firm or 2, and executing could not have taken that much effort. Instead, the Governor and a freshman Alderman are doing this work. Don’t even get me started on where the progressives are on this.
- TJ - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:05 pm:
Why the heck is no prosecutor in Illinois charging Texas officials and the drivers with human trafficking? I know that Texas would never boot their governor over here to face charges, but if drivers suddenly start finding themselves legally liable for being the mules that they are, I get a hunch that a load of bus companies wouldn’t be willing to take that on anymore.
- JS Mill - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:18 pm:
@LastModDemStanding- show me where I stayed Pritzker hasn’t done anything. I think I am quite complimentary of our governor. Johnson is not a leader and the city council and progressives are busy looking insipid. I would like the governor to press his political capital with the president and get these folks the ability to work asap. Make it a priority. I have not heard him speak to this much.
I have been very vocal on my criticism of Johnson and the “progressives” on this issue.
Legal clinics are not Federal action.
So maybe give what I stated reread.
- Rural Stuff - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:21 pm:
Human trafficking? Really? The article clearly states Chicago is the stated preference for many. Should they be forced to stay in Texas TJ? Also, the governors office has worked to expedite work papers. They’ve also had enough for-thought to increase funding for ESL opportunities.
- Drury's Missing Clock - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
Rich pointed out that the budget line for new welcomes would only last a quarter of the year when the council passed it (after some strong-arming from Jason Lee). At a certain point the bald-faced incompetence the City has shown in managing this crisis should be met with some resignations.
The mismanagement has already led to death at the Pilsen warehouse. For all the hand-waiving that the federal government needs to step in, I don’t see how more work visas would have prevented Brandon from housing migrants in conditions he knew to be unsafe.
- Macon Bakin - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
The transportation costs for Texas-Chicago bussing are through the roof compared to the private sector, they should hitch a ride to Chicago just like any American would if they want to come to the Windy City.
- LastModDemStanding - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
JS Mill-
You have stated a huge oversimplification of the issue. It is not as simple or easy as you make it sound to allow immigrants to work ASAP. The fact the Governor has worked with the White House to get it to 30 days is a miracle for modern day immigration.
I could go on, but I trust you to do research to look at the outstanding timelines on the USCIS bulletins for LEGAL immigration matters. Want to do something extremely unpopular? Push all the legal immigrants (spouses, STEM, special talent visas, business owners, etc.) in line for visas and work authorization aside and give work permits ASAP to those who walked across the border.
This is a long term issue, starting with appropriating funding to agencies to clear years of backlogs and a change of federal law on work authorization, which is highly unlikely to happen. The Governor doesn’t need to waste time screaming at the sky on this issue– that can be left to the Mayors team. Pritzker is working within the realm of possibility - work permit expedition and fee waivers, and that is making a huge difference.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:41 pm:
The State of Chicago is known for three things: incompetence, corruption, and stupidity. Johnson, et al. has nailed down two of the three not even a year into his term. Gov J.B. is right for not rushing in with piles of money to fix Chicago’s train wreck on migrants with the Johnson Admin. adding to the wreckage almost daily.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 12:49 pm:
The actions of sending busses of people from Texas to Chicago do not meet either the Illinois or federal definitions of human trafficking
The Mayor has his priorities and once he gets a cease fire ordinance and some other shiny special things I am sure he and his allies will sole the migrant problem along with any other problems that might pop up /s
- JS Mill - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 1:42 pm:
=You have stated a huge oversimplification of the issue. It is not as simple or easy as you make it sound to allow immigrants to work ASAP.=
Duh. So is everything you have stated. broad, extremely simplistic. You expect me to issue a detailed step by step plan?
I work in government so I am aware of the challenges to getting things done.
Again, go back and read my words. We have one of the best chief executives, if not the best, in the country. He has tremendous influence in his party these days because of what he has accomplished in Illinois and his clear willingness to put his money where his mouth is. I would encourage him to use that credibility and political capital to its’ fullest on this issue. This is a potential legacy issue with the potential to create far reaching success for Illinois.
Illinois’ rural communities are dying and in dire need of people. We need workers too. The economic boom that 100,000 or 200,000 new residents, willing to take up the slack and rapidly build your tax base is the under appreciated diamond in the rough here. Politically it could cement the ILDP power for 50 years or more. It is also a massive national win for democrats that could bolster a flagging constituency and a thumb in the eye to tool bags like abbot.
Pritzker is the only one capable of landing this plane right now.
- Socially DIstant watcher - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 1:51 pm:
Just by being Brandon Johnson he forced the MAGAs to take down their Let’s Go Brandon signs, which wins eternal appreciation. But he still has to govern. The mayor has to address all the problems facing the city and this is definitely a problem facing the city.
- LastModDemStanding - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 2:44 pm:
JS Mill-
I too have worked in the (federal) government and have an idea of challenges of making changes on federal issues. I have also opined that welcoming immigrants is a great opportunity for Chicago and greater Illinois. The point is that I’m trying to drive home, is that providing work authorizations to all new immigrants who bypassed the process isn’t a reality in an election year, no matter who is lobbying this. Governor Pritzker is 1 of 50 Governors, 1 of maybe 8 to which this is the highest priority of their State. Comprehensive immigration reform is absolutely needed, which is what will need to happen for there is “immediate work authorization is granted.” Some of us are old enough to remember when President Obama presented this to a fractured Congress and it was not able to pass.
I am begging you to look at the realm of possibility of what is occurring now, and we have a Governor who is working with the federal government and making things happen. /end
- Phineas - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 3:16 pm:
Re: “state doesn’t control property in the city of Chicago“
Actually, there’s a huge parcel about to hit the market at 35th and Shields. Space for THOUSANDS. /s
- JS Mill - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 3:26 pm:
=I am begging you=
Don’t. You aren’t the only one familiar with government and don’t need to defend whatever it is you are defending.
You keep adding a new mole to whack with each statement, who said anything about people bypassing the system? The people I am referring to are here legally. I would suggest getting educated on the issue.
Have a great rest of your day.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 4:12 pm:
Most of those dying rural towns are dying because there aren’t a lot of jobs, though. I’m not sure a lot of immigrants are going to want to go to them. Especially when you consider the desire to have a community around you. I mean a family might start a restaurant or a small business, but that’s unlikely to turn 50 years of economic bad news around.
- New Day - Monday, Jan 29, 24 @ 6:08 pm:
JS Mill,
My only objection to your first statement was this, “I wish he would get on the phone and push for more action on job permits.”
What makes you think he’s not? On the contrary, it’s my understanding he’s done precisely that again and again with the White House and has been on this campaign for months on the work permit issue.