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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
“I ran for governor in 2018 to change our story,” Gov. JB Pritzker told a Chicago crowd on Thursday as he announced his bid for a third term. “I ran for governor in 2022 to keep telling our story. And I am running for governor in 2026 to protect our story.”
This general theme of protecting what Pritzker maintains is Illinois’ progress from damage by President Donald Trump will be the foundation of the governor’s reelection bid — at least for the foreseeable future.
The governor’s state office provided an example of this potential harm when it warned of a provision in the congressional budget proposal to shift billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program costs from the federal government to the states.
“For Illinois, that shift could mean taking on more than $1.2 billion in additional costs annually, placing a massive strain on Illinois’ budget and threatening funding for other essential services like education and healthcare,” the statement read.
The U.S. Senate’s parliamentarian had originally ruled against the SNAP provision in the chamber’s budget reconciliation bill, but the majority Republicans revised the language and it was approved Thursday.
That $1.2 billion will likely pale in comparison to expected Medicaid cuts. Illinois simply doesn’t have the recurring revenue needed to make up the difference.
“Earthquakes are coming,” Pritzker warned in his address about the coming months and years.
So, for now, it’s “Pritzker the Protector.”
But, eventually, it would be nice to see some fresh and new ideas.
The governor’s 2021 reelection announcement was all about looking back at his leadership during the pandemic. Four years later, his latest announcement was heavy on his accomplishments and had little about the future, except that it looks really bleak under Trump and he will do his best to shield the state from it.
The Trump references were so thick that you could conceivably call this the first kickoff speech of the 2028 presidential campaign.
“The workers of today and tomorrow choose Illinois because we built an iron wall around their freedoms — and because we told the fascist freak show fanatics to run their experiments on ending democracy somewhere else,” the governor said.
Except Pritzker is currently only running for reelection. Maybe try one election at a time. And while 2019 — his first year in office — was a whirlwind of activity, much more still needs to be done.
For example, the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign released a study this week showing the state has an existing housing shortage of 142,000 units and needs to build 227,000 new homes over the next five years “to keep pace with demand.”
The governor said housing costs too much during his speech but didn’t say what he’d do about it.
You may recall that Pritzker demanded action on the housing shortage during his State of the State address in February, saying his special task force on housing affordability had come up with some solutions and those should be enacted. But, after some progress, the bill stalled out.
One of the panel’s short-term ideas was to require the state’s pension funds to invest in housing development. But the provisions to require or incentivize local governments to remove barriers to new housing was a big sticking point.
Pritzker’s implementation record leaves much to be desired. Six years after legalizing cannabis, for instance, the original equity promises are nowhere near fulfilled. If they were, it would be a whole lot easier to convince the Illinois House to regulate the intoxicating hemp “gray market.”
And the governor was right when he said, “the answer starts with growing Illinois’ economy.” But economic growth as a whole has most definitely lagged here.
“Let me be clear,” Pritzker said. “There is no Mission Accomplished banner to stand under today. Yes, we have addressed so many of our old problems — but new ones always arise. History is an endless relay race. Our job is not to look for the finish line but to protect the baton as we run our assigned leg.”
Are we better off as a state than we were in 2018? Governmentally, yes. Of course. I would never want to revert to the state governments we had during the first 18 years of this century.
Could we as a state be much better? Absolutely. And it’s time to try. But that requires some concrete plans.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 8:57 am
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The biggest problem Illinois state government faces is the public pension situation. Why doesn’t JB talk about reforms? No reforms , where’s the money going to come from to meet the promises already made? This is the number one issue because it affects other areas of government.
Comment by Steve Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:07 am
“Pension Reform” has happened It’s called Tier 2
Comment by Illdoc Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:18 am
== Pritzker’s implementation record leaves something to be desired. Six years after legalizing cannabis, for instance, the original equity promises are nowhere near fulfilled. ==
Legit point. There are other examples. A Tribune story just last week about the CEJA workforce training hubs offered some nice anecdotes, but the actual numbers on the program implementation are an embarrassment: Four years on, $30 million spent, only 96 graduates, and five of the hubs haven’t even opened yet. Maybe a bigger failure than the cannabis roll out.
Comment by Richard T. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:20 am
Illinois is still struggling. It is costly to live here as compared our neighboring states. Pritzker’s Illinois record is going to be an albatross around his neck if he seeks the presidency.
Comment by Hard Times Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:22 am
The year Jim Thompson announced he would seek a 4th term (it was really kind of a third and half term because his first one only lasted two years) he launched Build Illinois, an ambitious and much-hyped infrastructure program. It definitively answered the question “why are you running for governor again?”
If JB and his team were primarily focused on a third term, I gotta think they would have come up with their own big initiative. But they’re not focused on his third term, they’re focused on running for president. Hence, when JB laid out his reason for running for governor again, it was almost all about fighting Trump.
JB has been a good governor and I think he will be a good presidential candidate. The problem is, it’s really hard to do both at the same time. We know which one he’ll prioritize. He told us last week.
Comment by Old Dude Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:30 am
Agree with Richard T. on the CEJA implementation. I liken the people who crafted those requirements and percentages to Poli-Sci professors who can talk about elective politics but don’t know how to run a campaign. Good theory … very bad if not impossible implementation.
Comment by Jr. Neef Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:30 am
I actually like that Pritzker is not promising much given the pain Republicans are about to inflict on Illinois with their budget bill. That’s just the reality.
But if there are things that don’t cost money that the state can do to at a statewide level to promote affordable housing construction in Illinois (Is cutting back on parking spot requirements a state or local govt. thing?) I agree that should be the focus.
I also think Pritzker making Trump his foil in early ads is not just about presidential stuff but also about having a placeholder foe while no clear GOP governor candidate has emerged.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:31 am
Just think how much less would have been accomplished under a second term for Rauner and now deep into a term for Bailey. I don’t disagree that there’s more work to do, but I shudder to think about what state we would be in had Pritzker never been elected.
Comment by historic66 Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:35 am
There is a lot that can be done on housing shortage that does not cost the state money: you can unlock supply by reducing barriers for developers. There are many regulations on building housing, but a significant cost are municipal requirements for minimum number of parking spots. Many cities and entire states like North Carolina are moving to remove parking minimums. That is one simple and budget neutral way to bring housing costs.
Comment by Incandenza Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:37 am
How about working with Republicans instead of constantly demonizing them?
There is a golden opportunity to attract the big financial players, hedge funds and venture capitalists concerned about the political headwinds in NYC.
How about going back to the good old days and try being sensibly moderate and pro business?
Perhaps our skyline can get back to having large cranes building skyscrapers in Chicago someday. There were back to back years of 60 cranes operating in Chicago in 2017 and 2018.
There are 7 in 2025
Stop with the victory laps and pay attention to the flashing warning signs
Comment by Paul Powell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:45 am
**Why doesn’t JB talk about reforms?**
What reforms would you like? There’s very little that the state can do after Tier 2 and Tier 3.
You can talk about the need for pension reform all you want, but the reality is that the state just needs to put more money towards pension obligations (which they’ve been doing!).
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:45 am
–
It is costly to live here as compared our neighboring states.
–
It’s more costly to live in Chicago than Brown Co. Indiana. But then again, it’s equally more expensive to live in Chicago than Galesburg Illinois.
As if average income is the same in both places. I’ll take living in a place with a 15% higher average salary, but a 5% higher cost of living anyday. I know that when my neighbors are doing well, I’ll do well too.
It’s interesting how some people only focus on the average expenses of a place as a negative, while at the same time ignoring the average income as a positive.
–
Pritzker’s Illinois record is going to be an albatross around his neck if he seeks the presidency.
–
I never saw JB as much of a golfer, but if he has an albatross on his record then good for him.
Oh, you were trying to be negative again weren’t you?
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:50 am
- where’s the money going to come from to meet the promises already made? -
JB has made the full pension payment as part of a balanced budget every single year. The idea that the pension obligation is strangling state government is a worn out old talking point that doesn’t reflect reality.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:03 am
==Just think how much less would have been accomplished under a second term for Rauner==
Bruce’s not here.
JB falling back into “protector” mode is just him finally embracing all the economic indicators calling out the state’s economic stagnantion during his tenure.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:07 am
== Pritzker’s implementation record leaves much to be desired ==
The inability to get road fund projects going is a good example. From CMAP last month:
“As FY2025 draws to a close, a significant portion of the transportation bond authority authorized under Rebuild Illinois remains available…65 percent of the June 2019 transportation bond balance remained unspent and unobligated.”
This is exactly what the Ezra Klein book “Abundance” is about. Government’s inability to get stuff done. It’s one thing to “Think Big.” It’s another thing to “Do Big.”
Comment by Sam E. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:17 am
Baltimore has been addressing the housing shortage in a productive way, with still a long way to go, but its a start.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/realestate/baltimore-housing-redlining-vacant-buildings.html
We don’t exactly have a housing shortage, we have a desirable place to live shortage. I’m all for building new homes, but there are many ones already empty or decrepit, lets resettle those areas.
Tax credits, $1 lot sales, low interest mortgage rates, reduction in “red tape”. Things that take money. It’s all in how you want to spend it.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:18 am
Focus, CityZen, focus.
Bruce is not here but his ideology reigns supreme in the cruel right-wing budget bill moving through Congress.
This bill, which is not Pritzker’s fault, is about to kill a ton of wind and solar jobs in Illinois, mess up a ton of school and county budgets that rely on wind and solar revenue,
and make electricity costs skyrocket by 25% on top of all the other negative effects on SNAP and healthcare.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:26 am
=a significant cost are municipal requirements for minimum number of parking spots=
That might be fine for heavily urbanized areas with scads of transportation options. I live in a downstate college town. People rely on their cars for transportation. If their home doesn’t have enough parking spaces for the residents’ cars, where will they park? There are only so many on-street parking spaces available. This is the kind of thing that looks swell on a ppt at a planners’ conference but is unworkable in real life (at least in most places).
In my community, even where parking requirements have been reduced, developers still want to include significant parking. It turns out that people don’t want to pay rent to live in a building they can’t drive to.
If you’re looking to reduce costs then, rather than pretending that people don’t need parking at home, look at getting rid of the state mandates such as requiring EV charging capacity for every single parking space in a multi-family development. That requirement can easily add six figures to a development.
Comment by Duck Duck Goose Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:33 am
If you want to reduce housing costs start with real estate taxes then perhaps have a minimum state permitting systems local fees are in the thousands of dollars allow smaller homes to be built spread up the process allow offsite manufacturing. Parking is not going to lower costs.
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:51 am
- There were back to back years of 60 cranes operating in Chicago in 2017 and 2018.
There are 7 in 2025 -
The pandemic dramatically altered the demand for office space.
- This is exactly what the Ezra Klein book “Abundance” is about. Government’s inability to get stuff done. It’s one thing to “Think Big.” It’s another thing to “Do Big.” -
Cutting red tape isn’t a bad idea, but it’s hardly what I would consider a bold idea. The democratic party needs to get back to the party of FDR and do things that change people’s lives in a big way.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:55 am
For as much as the Governor is always claiming economic victory for his tenure- the truth is as evidenced in Crains is that Illinois since 2019 has significantly lagged in terms of GDP growth compared to the US- JB has presided over one of the worst statewide economic performances but why let facts get in the way of his rhetoric?
Comment by Sue Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 10:58 am
==How about working with Republicans instead of constantly demonizing them?==
When Republicans have something to offer other than constant complaints then maybe you could work with them. Until then they should be pushed to the side just like they have been. The “solutions” they supposedly have, have been resoundingly rejected at the ballot box. Yet they continue to double down on them. Until they come up with something constructive then they don’t deserve a second thought.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:08 am
“There were back to back years of 60 cranes operating in Chicago in 2017 and 2018.”
Which American city is winning the crane race? Smart money is definitely building high rise office buildings in 2025.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:09 am
-JB has made the full pension payment as part of a balanced budget every single year-
Are the pension plans in any better shape?
Comment by Steve Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:12 am
When JB secured the nomination to challenge Rauner, I looked past my presumptions about him. This State needed anyone but Rauner at the helm.
In the years since, JB has disproven my presumptions. I am 36 years old, and JB has, by a wide measure, been the best Governor of my civic lifetime.
If he wins and serves a third term, the State will be better for it. I don’t know that he has the juice for higher office, but he inspires confidence in me more than any other pol on the landscape.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:14 am
“There were back to back years of 60 cranes operating in Chicago in 2017 and 2018.” That you Rahm?
Comment by Loyal Virus Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:22 am
=Are the pension plans in any better shape?=
Short answer…yes. Incrementally.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:28 am
Toronto had the most cranes in North America right now- 106
Los Angeles has 42
Seattle 17
Chicago 2 in Q1
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/cranes-us-cities-construction-economy/744726/
Cranes don’t just build office towers
They build mixed use and residential too
Comment by Paul Powell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 11:36 am
The national GOP is about to nuke the economy, and we’re going to have the ILGOP talking about Pritzker not promising enough for the next two years.
Comment by TJ Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:02 pm
== Cutting red tape isn’t a bad idea, but it’s hardly what I would consider a bold idea. The democratic party needs to get back to the party of FDR and do things that change people’s lives ==
The point of “Abundance” is that the Democratic Party is seemingly no longer able to do what FDR did because of all that regulatory red tape they put in place. The party is focused on process rather than results. I mean, this comment thread is replete with examples: cannabis equity, the CEJA workforce hubs, housing shortages, impossibly slow transportation infrastructure development. All failures of the administrative state. It’s not all Pritzker’s fault, but what is he doing about it? Tackling this inertia could be his missing 3rd term agenda.
Comment by Sam E. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:02 pm
===Could we as a state be much better? Absolutely. And it’s time to try. But that requires some concrete plans.===
The decision to not fire all of the folks Rauner elevated into or in State Government has paid negative dividends to the detriment of the administration.
Not everyone who works for the Governor wants him to succeed. Not everyone who works for the governor agrees with his mission.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:02 pm
===we’re going to have the ILGOP talking about Pritzker not promising enough===
Huh?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:05 pm
On Saturday evening I took the EL downtown with my grandson. We sat on the River Walk, had a drink and watched the boats go by. Then walked down to Michigan Ave and the Bean. After a bit more touring took the EL home. It was a beautiful evening. Similar plans for a few free Grant Park concerts in July. Not to knock anyone else but tell me all about your evening in Indiana. I love Chicago.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:09 pm
- The point of “Abundance” is that the Democratic Party is seemingly no longer able to do what FDR did because of all that regulatory red tape they put in place. -
That’s a dramatic oversimplification. FDR paid for his programs by taxing the wealthy, heavily.
The democrats have largely went along with the erosion of that funding. Cutting red tape alone isn’t going to turn things around.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:20 pm
There are two positive things about sitting in traffic heading to western burbs: catching up on audiobooks and not hitting all the mini- fissures and speed bumps along the highway. My tires and suspension are appreciative.
If traffic is too heavy, people freely drive in the fourth lane without any distractions. Also, since there are no pesky construction projects going on this Summer traffic is not at a total standstill. /s
Comment by I Can’t Drive 55 Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:21 pm
=JB has presided over one of the worst statewide economic performances but why let facts get in the way of his rhetoric?=
Well…we are growing, consistently. In real dollars Illinois’ GDP growth is significantly larger for Illinois than for 1% for any of our neighbors.
So while you look for anyway to put Illinois down because we have a democratic majority, the actual news is pretty good. Plus, in Illinois, women count a people not property like in some other states.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:24 pm
Simply owning a motor vehicle in Illinois is much more costly than elsewhere in the Middle West. License plates are $151.00 and up in Illinois. Add a city sticker in Chicago and you have to spend another $110.00. Don’t get started on the high taxes on gasoline in Illinois.
Comment by Happy Motoring Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:41 pm
Democrats should reject all Republican ideas?
Voter registration data in Illinois as of October 2024
Total registered voters 8,005,217
Democrats 34.5%
Republicans 27%
Unaffiliated 32%
Third party 6%
Did you ever consider just less than 2/3 of registered voters in Illinois don’t identify as Democrats?
They might prefer a more balanced government if our state had fair maps like the Governor said he supported
Comment by Paul Powell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:54 pm
===Voter registration data in Illinois as of October 2024===
Um, people don’t register as party members in Illinois. Not sure what numbers you’re looking at, but that’s a false claim and is a bannable offense.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 12:59 pm
=The decision to not fire all of the folks Rauner elevated into or in State Government has paid negative dividends to the detriment of the administration.=
I wonder if some of those “Rauner hires” that are still in state government could even date back farther, back to at least Quinn and Blago? Some of the Blago/Quinn staffers have returned to state government under Pritzker (e.g., Grace Hou, Ryan Croke).
Comment by Leatherneck Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:02 pm
==How about working with Republicans instead of constantly demonizing them?==
With Speaker Welch’s 60 vote rule, bipartisan bills are a lot tougher to put together.
Comment by fs Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:04 pm
===Not sure what numbers you’re looking at===
My guess it is garbage that the right wing uses to mislead people into donating money to their lack luster candidates and ineffective caucuses by some how suggesting that if they only had the resources, oh boy, they could win instead of acknowledging that their ideas are all garbage and that their policies would make lives worse for millions of people.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:12 pm
=== Leatherneck - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:02 pm:===
I mean folks a little lower on the totem pole than an agency director.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:16 pm
It’s a Google search how do Illinois voters identify between liberal and conservative
They are referring to what parties ballot primary voters pulled obviously
Comment by Paul Powell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:22 pm
- It’s a Google search how do Illinois voters identify between liberal and conservative -
Lol, don’t believe everything AI tells you.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:24 pm
=Simply owning a motor vehicle in Illinois is much more costly than elsewhere in the Middle West.=
Are you unaware of the annual excise tax on vehicles in Indiana. Indiana also has the nation’s 5th highest gasoline tax.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:31 pm
=They are referring to what parties ballot primary voters pulled obviously=
I’ve pulled Democratic and Republican ballots in differing primaries depending on who the candidates are. It has absolutely nothing to with my party affiliation as I consider myself an independent. Your inference is laughable.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:31 pm
===They are referring to what parties ballot primary voters pulled obviously ===
You didn’t say “voters that have pulled primary ballots” and there also isn’t any distinction made between voters who have pulled a ballot for both parties in the past.
For example, the notion that there are a significant number of people in this state that have — only — pulled 3rd party ballots is a hard hill to climb.
===Unaffiliated 32%===
This data wouldn’t exist in looking at primary ballot pulling. What would this number even mean?
I hope you’re taking away a valuable lesson from this.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:35 pm
===It’s a Google search===
So, you’re either dumb or gullible or both. We don’t register people by party in Illinois. Final warning.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:43 pm
=They are referring to what parties ballot primary voters pulled obviously=
Last time I checked, there was no “unaffiliated” ballot available during the primary.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:50 pm
JS- read the Crains article-US GDP growth which has not been great overall during The Pritzker years as it includes the pandemic exceeded Illinois by 10 percentage points since 2019- that is huge and translates into a lot of lost Illinois tax revenues-we are talking Billions
Comment by Sue Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:53 pm
==Well…we are growing, consistently==
Every state except ND is growing consistently. The problem is IL has one of the lowest growth rates in the country since JB took office.
It’s a fair question to ask Pritzker why other high GDP states, both blue or red, are growing faster than Illinois. If we can’t ask after nearly 7 years in office, when can we?
Comment by City Zen Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:10 pm
== FDR paid for his programs by taxing the wealthy, heavily. ==
Agreed, and I’m for a return to that. But the failures we’re talking about here aren’t due to a lack of revenue. The road fund has a multi-billion dollar surplus. The CEJA work force hubs have all the money they need thanks to electric ratepayers, DCEO just can’t seem to get any bang for the buck. And housing development is often stymied by zoning rules, not just financing issues. These are problems the state can fix administratively and statutorily without a 75 percent federal tax rate.
Comment by Sam E. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:11 pm
As a precinct committeeperson I often get calls about switching party affiliation. Explaining to folks you do not register by party in Illinois is always an issue. Thanks for trying to clarify this. Again.
Comment by Stix Hix Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:12 pm
“Toronto had the most cranes in North America right now- 106″
And I bet they got all those cranes by ‘working with Republicans!’
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:20 pm
Speaking of housing and zoning. With 102 counties and 1,300 municipalities…that’s a lot of local zoning ordinances to address by a state with limited power to change or influence them, and a potential hostile mob of zoning boards and NIMBY property owners to confront.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:21 pm
@Candy, I was appointed by Rauner. I report to an Agency Director. Pritzker > Rauner in every way and yes I want him to continue to exceed as well as he has been and I worked hard to get Rauner’s no budget ideas to fail. So, bluntly, I think your inane assumptions are inane.
Lastly, thank you for considering me at the bottom of the totem pole … unless you’re ignorance deprives you of basic totem pole knowledge
Comment by Lurker Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:24 pm
Are we really defining our success by the number of cranes? Sheesh. That’s an absurd metric.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:34 pm
===Are we really defining our success by the number of cranes?===
Especially since it sure looks like downtown grossly over-built during Rahm’s tenure.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:41 pm
==There is a golden opportunity to attract the big financial players, hedge funds and venture capitalists concerned about the political headwinds in NYC.==
All the finance bros promised to leave IL if we elected Pritzker in the first place.
(Turns out that amounted to like, 3 Republicans. Such is how it’ll be if Mamdani wins, too.)
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:45 pm