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* New TV ad…
Chicago is in a public safety crisis, and the last thing we need is a candidate who wants to defund the police. I’m running for Mayor to put crime reduction and public safety first. pic.twitter.com/cIt0F5tsfu
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 13, 2023
You knew that was gonna happen. Oof.
* The public sector union vs. private sector union split is fully on display in the Chicago mayoral race…
AFSCME, union that represents more than 11,000 active and retired public service workers who live in the city of Chicago, endorses Brandon Johnson, first time they’ve weighed in since Harold Washington.
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) March 11, 2023
AFSCME endorses Brandon Johnson for Chicago mayor pic.twitter.com/87wpwSwIWA
— AFSCME Council 31 (@afscme31) March 11, 2023
…Adding… SEIU IL Council just put $1.1 million into its PAC.
On the other side…
This morning, three large construction unions announced their endorsement of Paul Vallas in the upcoming runoff election for Mayor of Chicago. The unions were joined by former Secretary of State Jesse White, who endorsed Vallas earlier this month.
Among the unions were the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 9. In total, the unions represent about 40,000 workers. These endorsements come only days after the Plumbers Local 130, which represents more than 6,000 members, announced its endorsement of Vallas.
In addition to its endorsement, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 committed $1 million to the effort to elect Paul Vallas.
“The men and women here today built Chicago,” said White, who has been an influential voice in Illinois politics for nearly fifty years. “These unions are committed to a bright future for this city, and their unity on this endorsement symbolizes the vital role that Vallas will play in shaping that future.”
* Think about the framing of this policy idea for a moment…
The centerpiece of mayoral candidate Paul Vallas’ plan to reverse decades of disinvestment on the South and West sides of Chicago is the creation of an independent community development authority that would limit the ability of Chicago City Council members to have final say on ward-level issues.
What the idea boils down to is wanting to help Black wards by disempowering Black alderpersons and then handing over control to an unelected “independent community development authority.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m in favor of drastically reducing aldermanic prerogative. It just feels a bit too “on-brand” to sell it this way.
* Counting the same money twice is also on-brand for Vallas…
Vallas also proposes creating a municipal bank, which would hold the authority’s funds, which would come from “a dedicated portion of all new revenues from [tax-increment financing districts] and all developer fees, future casino, sports betting and gaming revenues” that would be earmarked for investments on the South and West sides. […]
However, state law requires Chicago to use all casino revenues to fund its police and fire pensions.
* This policy idea reminds me of candidate Bruce Rauner’s empty pledge to prosecute corruption out of his own office…
Even more unproven is Vallas’ plan to establish a “Law Department Municipal Prosecution Unit” to try the city’s cases itself, which likely would require a change in state law.
And Johnson supports this…
Christened the “Anjanette Young Ordinance” as a nod to the Black social worker who was forced to stand naked in her home as several Chicago officers in 2019 executed a search warrant at the wrong location, the legislation is opposed by Lightfoot, who has said it was not grounded in the reality of policing. Young has endorsed Johnson for mayor.
The latest proposed version would add a provision that mandates officers seeking warrants to first conduct at least a week of surveillance on the location.
A week?
* Also…
Hard to imagine cops being more amenable to reform, no matter who is pushing it.
But it's pretty easy to imagine the guy endorsed by the FOP who negotiated their last contract wouldn't actually push for reform. https://t.co/n4v6BrhTdV
— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) March 13, 2023
On the other hand, Brandon Johnson is a CTU staffer. I’m sure he’ll be tough on them during contract negotiations. /s
* This is on-brand for the CTU candidate…
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson said he will not raise property taxes if elected. … Johnson is proposing a slew of new revenues, mostly in new taxes on big businesses.
The CTU always opposes property tax hikes, relying instead on “tax the rich” proposals, many of which would require state legislative approval or even constitutional change or a strong belief in unicorns.
And Vallas…
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas said he would cap the city’s property tax levy, but has been less clear about whether that means we would not raise property taxes at all. A spokesperson said Vallas is “committed to not raising city property taxes.” … Vallas, meanwhile, promises to use budgetary acumen to work within the existing budget’s bounds.
He claims to be a unicorn wizard. I’d beg to differ.
* Vallas constantly heaps praise on private and charter schools, but his own words on 60 Minutes when he was running the New Orleans school district undercuts his arguments. Most of the schools are simply too small to accommodate kids with special needs, and there are lot of those kids in Chicago…
We don't applaud Paul Vallas opening up new charter schools in New Orleans, and then putting a gate on them to keep SPED students out. 😡
"They can go to another school" Vallas says. That's discrimination and it hurts NOLA children. 🍎✊ @erasetheboardNO #NoVallas pic.twitter.com/B5w1g1rSX0
— Activate Chicago Parents (@ChiParentsAct) March 13, 2023
* NBC 5…
A new poll of more than 800 likely Chicago mayoral election voters found that former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas is holding a lead over Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, and several key voting blocs could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the race.
The poll, conducted by Victory Research, asked 806 likely runoff voters about their preferences in the upcoming election, with Vallas collecting 44.9% of the vote. Johnson grabbed 39.1% of the vote, with 16% of respondents saying they are still undecided for the April 4 runoff.
The margin of error in the poll was 3.45%, with a mix of respondents on land lines and cell phones, according to the polling company.
Adding some intrigue to the proceedings was the number of voters who said that their choices could change. According to the poll, 18% of respondents said they could change their minds prior to Election Day, meaning that one-third of the voters either haven’t settled on a candidate or could move to the other in the two-man race.
Victory Research also cited demographic data that showed two key groups that could help determine the outcome of the race. Voters living near the city’s lakefront, normally a key constituency in the race, are narrowly favoring Vallas by a 44-to-41 margin.
Celinda Lake had Johnson up by 5.
* The Triibe…
Spurred by the fatal shooting of Rekia Boyd by then-Chicago police officer Dante Servin in 2012, they organized a movement that led to the creation of elected civilian councils and a civilian commission with police oversight powers—the first such bodies in the city’s, and the nation’s, history. By the end of election night, the [Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression ] candidates and organizers in the ballroom had won 62 percent of the council seats.
The Chicago City Council passed the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, which created the district councils and CCPSA, following not only years of grassroots organizing by CAARPR and its allies in the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA), but also months of negotiations with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who tried to block giving any police oversight powers to elected civilians, despite supporting it during her 2019 campaign. What came out of those negotiations was a compromise that gave some oversight powers to the CCPSA and kept some in the mayor’s office.
Each of the city’s 22 police districts will have a three-member elected PDC that interacts with the community and can make recommendations to local police commanders. Those district-level councils also nominate members of the citywide CCPSA and make reports and recommendations to them. They also are in charge of nominating people to fill vacancies on the district councils themselves (which may be necessary immediately after this election in at least one district).
Unsurprisingly, many of those folks endorsed Brandon Johnson today.
* And finally…
Hey, @PaulVallas did you accidentally delete this? Don’t worry, we have the screenshot so you can repost. pic.twitter.com/wITsZ3gY19
— Brandon Johnson (@Brandon4Chicago) March 13, 2023
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Sun-Times | Runoff campaign: Vallas’ and Johnson’s pension, property tax plans underwhelm fiscal experts: Brandon Johnson is proposing a slew of new revenues, mostly new taxes on big businesses. Paul Vallas promises to use budgetary acumen to work within the existing budget’s bounds. Neither plan is failsafe, experts say.
* Tribune | Crime is a top issue for Chicago voters. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson offer sharp contrasts to public safety: Johnson represents some of the city’s most violent neighborhoods and repeatedly discusses crime in personal terms. He talks about shielding his children from gunfire on his block that sometimes has pierced his home’s windows and a classmate of his oldest son who died in a shooting this school year. “I have more incentive than Paul Vallas for a safer, stronger Chicago,” he’s argues. “I’m living it, just like families are all over the city. We have to get it right.”
* WBEZ | Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have vastly different visions for Chicago’s taxes and finances: Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson said he will not raise property taxes if elected. Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas said he would cap the city’s property tax levy, but has been less clear about whether that means we would not raise property taxes at all. A spokesperson said Vallas is “committed to not raising city property taxes.”
* Laura Washington | Chicago mayoral race is a job interview. Voters should ask: Who is more experienced?: We have heard much about how the runoff candidates, Paul Vallas, a former Chicago Public Schools CEO, and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, are polar opposites on issues, policy and ideology. Yet throughout these months of campaign debates, forums and news conferences, not so much about experience.
* WTTW | City Council Won’t Pay $1M to Settle Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Man Killed by Chicago Police Officer Who Turned Off Camera: A recommendation from the city’s lawyers to pay $1 million to the mother of a man who was fatally shot by Chicago police in May 2019 after a foot chase will not get a vote by the Chicago City Council.
* Crain’s | As mayor, Johnson would revive push for anti-homelessness ‘mansion tax’: The Bring Chicago Home proposal spearheaded by homeless advocates would more than triple the transfer tax that a buyer of a residential or commercial property at $1 million or more would pay. The transfer tax is a one-time payment at the time of purchase, not a recurring expense like property taxes.
* Sun-Times | City must push forward in holding businesses, residential buildings responsible for recycling: The Streets and Sanitation Department has corrected “two problems” and partly fixed another since the IG’s audit in late 2020 revealed that it “makes no attempt to identify noncompliant commercial or high-density residential buildings.” But it has a way to go, Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said in her follow-up report earlier this month.
* Tribune | Smoke detectors save lives, but Chicago has slow-walked efforts to toughen rules: Illinois policymakers have been straining in recent years to catch up with national trends in safety standards to make sure modern, reliable smoke alarms are installed in every home so that tragedies like the Humboldt Park fire are not repeated. But their efforts have been repeatedly undermined by real estate interests, by Chicago Fire Department officials who have lobbied to delay and weaken regulations, and by lackluster outreach and spotty enforcement on the part of city officials, an investigation by the Illinois Answers Project and the Tribune found.
* Crain’s | Juul settles with Chicago for nearly $24 million: Since 2018, Chicago has filed nine lawsuits against 45 online vaping retailers, reaching settlements with 50 companies in exchange for agreements to change their business practices and pay almost $27 million in fines, the statement said. It has also won about $2 million in fines from default judgments against seven online vaping businesses, it said.
* Sun-Times | 3 groups vie to revive a chunk of Chicago’s industrial legacy: Proposals being evaluated by local groups and the Department of Planning and Development would introduce new uses to the old Central Manufacturing District on Pershing Road.
* Block Club | Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day Parade Is Back In September With The Theme ‘Tu Mexico, Tu Chicago’: The parade begins noon Sept. 16 at the arch at 26th Street and Albany Avenue. It will proceed down 26th Street to Kostner Avenue. The celebration typically brings thousands to the neighborhood’s business corridor.
* Block Club | Chicago-Evanston Border Could Get 3 Dispensaries Within 6 Blocks As Pot Shops Target Howard And Clark Area: Perception Cannabis, a social equity cannabis license holder, is also looking to open a dispensary at 7000 N. Clark St., according to Ald. Maria Hadden’s (49th) ward office.
* Crain’s | A Chicagoan to know: Sammy Dorf of cannabis firm Verano: Sammy Dorf is co-founder of Chicago-based Verano Holdings, one of the largest cannabis companies in the nation, boasting more than 120 dispensaries in 13 states, 14 cultivation and production facilities, and nearly 4,000 employees. Dorf, 38, and his wife live in the Gold Coast neighborhood and just had their first child, a boy, in late February.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 10:52 am
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Two candidates living in their own separate echo chambers.
No matter what, this is going to be a messy four years.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:01 am
re: the “Municipal Prosecution Unit”: the City’s Law Department already has a Legal Investigations & Prosecutions division that prosecutes municipal code violations in both administrative and circuit courts. Not quite sure what Vallas is proposing.
Comment by Emanuel Collective Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:06 am
In the WTTW piece on development in Chicago, there’s a bit that’s confusing me. The Alder who has screamed the loudest about aldermanic control—scary affordable housing– now endorses an agency outside the ward that develops? is it that he knows his guy won’t cross him but will work in other wards against what those Alders want? what gives?
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:08 am
i absolutely can’t remember the last time that Unions were so pivotal in the Mayors race since Harold Washington.
I consider this a great thing.
You go Brandon!
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:25 am
The only person who talks about “defunding the police” is the Republican candidate. Next thing he’ll do is ban the movie Mrs Doubtfire (to protect the children) like other republicans are doing.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:28 am
===The only person who talks about “defunding the police” is===
Yeah. Now. A year ago? Not so much.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:41 am
Since a city income tax would have to be first approved by the state legislature: I think it is newsworthy to know who exactly approves of this in Springfield. Brandon Johnson does have more support in Springfield than a Republican but on this?
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:44 am
“Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who tried to block giving any police oversight powers to elected civilians, despite supporting it during her 2019 campaign.”
I mean, why treat them any different than every other thing she said she would support during the 2019 campaign season.
Comment by Benniefly2 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:45 am
Wouldn’t be the first time Vallas used pension funds for something else.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:46 am
How would Brandon’s city income tax be collected? Also, can Brandon promise that Chicago residents working in the suburbs will not be taxed?
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:47 am
Vallas called Chicago the Saudi Arabia of Fresh Water. I would love to hear about how he plans to sell the fresh water from Lake Michigan given its controlled by interstate compact. Also, that’s a horrible idea.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:48 am
Just out of curiosity: you figure WIND has the tapes (or digital files) from when Vallas subbed for Dan Proft. Has anyone in the media asked to hear them? Has WIND refused access?
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:48 am
Defund police and raising taxes. Game over
Comment by Watchful eye. Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:49 am
=he would cap the city’s property tax levy,=
Unless I am mistaken PTELL already caps property taxes.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:50 am
Brandon needs to outline a positive view of changing public safety and just say that he overstepped on saying defund, but lay out a way to change public safety to intervention when possible and enforcement as necessary. Vallas appears to just want to release the CPD to do its worst.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:50 am
According to tweets from Frank Calabrese, over 563,000 ballots have been cast.
Cast. Done. Banked
That’s a lot of folks out of the picture to “convincing”.
We’re in the actuality part of this in a GOTV mindset.
Are the candidates?
Persuade and vote as quickly as possible.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:54 am
I do not live in Chicago, but it appears that Chicago loses with both candidates
Comment by Appears Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:55 am
===The centerpiece of mayoral candidate Paul Vallas’ plan to reverse decades of disinvestment on the South and West sides of Chicago is the creation of an independent community development authority that would limit the ability of Chicago City Council members to have final say on ward-level issues.===
It sounds like the TIF Investment Committee anyway. It has all the buzz words. I don’t understand the fascination with aldermanic prerogative anyway. It is an informal rule at its heart. There are no great legislative solutions to “don’t do crime.”
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:58 am
According to the Chicago Board of Elections, no mail in ballots have been mailed out yet and the first ones are expected to hit the mail this Friday. Also, early voting does not start until next week so Frank Calabrese is way wrong about 563,000 ballots being cast already.
Comment by Corruption Committee Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:04 pm
==According to tweets from Frank Calabrese, over 563,000 ballots have been cast.==
That’s for the February primary. Voting is not open yet for the April 4 runoff.
Comment by Anon324 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:05 pm
“I do not live in Chicago, but…”
Then kindly keep our good name out of your mouth.
Comment by Dangersandwich Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:06 pm
The city income tax was quite possibly the dumbest policy he could have shared. Even though Johnson only wants to tax income only over a certain amount (which can’t be done anyway as it violates the state constitution) and maybe just commuters, it’s simple to slap “city income tax” and it’ll get everyone up in arms.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:07 pm
Ah. Thanks. My bad.
I knew requests for absentee ballots were open.
That’s on me. Apologies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:09 pm
“Unless I am mistaken PTELL already caps property taxes”
PTELL does not impact Chicago as the city is under home rule. There is a cap for the city but it is based on a local ordinance…
Chicago is a home rule unit of government that is not subject to the PTELL law. However, in 1993 the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance imposing a cap of 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, on property tax levies. The ordinance exempted levies required to pay off existing general obligation (GO) debt, but placed new GO debt under the cap.[10] However, in many years after 1993, City leaders decided not to increase property taxes to the rate of inflation. Though on several occasions, the City did waived the cap. Most recently, Chicago raised property taxes by more than CPI in 2015 in order to pay for police and firefighters’ pensions.
In 2020 the City Council approved an ordinance that would index – that is, automatically increase - the property tax levy by CPI.[11] The City uses the same source as the State of Illinois uses to calculate annual inflation increases under PTELL.[12] Given that the allowable CPI increase for the 2022 levy, payable in 2023 will be 5.0%, the City can, if it so chooses, increase its levy by that amount next year.
https://tinyurl.com/yckwvc82
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:13 pm
I don’t live in Chicago but I can certainly comment on it. The better the city is the better the region and better off the state is.
Comment by Spooky32 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:25 pm
That’s why I care about the winner of the mayoral runoff
Comment by Spooky32 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:26 pm
yep, those of us who live in Illinois have a deep concern about who runs Chicago. It is the engine for the State. And this election is concerning.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:30 pm
JS Mills. As a home rule municipality, I don’t believe Chicago is subject to PTELL.
Comment by Tominchicago Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:34 pm
==Just out of curiosity: you figure WIND has the tapes (or digital files) from when Vallas subbed for Dan Proft. Has anyone in the media asked to hear them? Has WIND refused access?==
Here’s one episode of it, with very special guest star Kristen McQueary.
https://omny.fm/shows/chicagos-morning-answer-with-dan-proft-amy-jacobso/august-8-2020
You can also find clips of him as a guest as far back as 2018 on their show on YouTube. Paul appears to be a long-time listener, long-time caller.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:35 pm
Vallas has too many clever ideas that he pretends will be objective. I am not saying his ideas around creating independent decision making bodies are necessarily bad, but it feels like he doesn’t really understand that politics and self-interest will find their way into those as well. His ideas don’t feel grounded in the world as it is.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:38 pm
Brandon Johnson is trying to walk back the “Defund the Police” comments. Good luck with that.
Comment by Gravitas Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:42 pm
==You couldn’t ask for a higher contrast race.==
Being a high contrast race doesn’t necessitate that either option is good. I live in the city and agree with both statements: yes, the candidates have stark differences, and yes, my options stink. I have never not voted…but that’s certainly on the table at this point, and based on conversations I’ve had, I’m not alone. Anecdotal, yes, but those 16% in the Victory Research poll come from somewhere.
Comment by Anon324 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:52 pm
From the gym here’s today’s treadmill count (from about 12:30 to about 1:30 on 4 Chicago TV stations): 2 Johnson ads, 3 Vallas ads (all negative).
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:52 pm
I think I’m with the plurality of Chicagoans in that I’m a traditional, center-left, liberal Democrat. We don’t have a candidate in this race. It’s a utopian socialist against a moderate, Ken Griffin-style Republican.
Comment by TNR Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 12:53 pm
“those 16% in the Victory Research poll come from somewhere.” They are just waiting around for Johnny Unbeatable to join the race.
Comment by Dangersandwich Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:04 pm
Here’s the sitch.
The Vallas “three prong” constituency:
* There’s the “Daley” folks harkening to the 1990s
* The “LaSalle Street” folks, banking on 1990’s pinstripe patronage (jobs & contracts), and labor leaders and organizations that like the past relationships
* AND… the racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists & insurrection apologists
Can Vallas win with these three prongs?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:20 pm
-Can Vallas win with these three prongs?-
He’s up only by 6% with 16% undecided. I wouldn’t want to bet money on this one.
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:35 pm
funny on the Twitter, Vallas supporter who makes fun of a Brandon Johnson intern/researcher for searching for hours to find the 2019 Republican mention associated with Vallas. I love how Vallas world says ignore what he says, don’t look for what he says. I think they know that if this all finally crystallizes in the minds of progressives, they will either not vote or vote for Johnson.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:43 pm
at least it seems a Vallas supporter. Chicago Bars, you should know better. And Vallas has taken down the 2019 Republican endorsement from his Twitter feed so I guess he feels embarrassed?
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:46 pm
=== He’s up only===
It’s one snapshot, GOTV and who exactly is voting will make a big difference.
Vallas has a recognized constituency to mine.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:48 pm
==Can Vallas win with these three prongs?==
I think a big question is going to be if he can peel off enough of the Latine vote, combined with a decent chunk of the current Lakefront liberals (which I’ll classify as from boystown to Rogers park, for those who subscribe to the view that the original LLs are no longer extant) whose patience in waiting for the city to address crime and the various issues on the CTA has run thin.
Comment by Anon324 Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:54 pm
OW, I think you got those three prongs right but I’d offer a 4th if I could: liberal leaning, affluent white voters who live in and around downtown and up the lakefront. Those precincts gave Vallas a lot of votes in the first round and he needs to expand his support there if he’s gonna win the runoff. They are very focused on crime. But they’re not Trumpsters.
Comment by TNR Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:55 pm
Vallas is probably the last of that generation’s candidates.
The white old guy network is flaming out.
Saw a couple of the old guard this weekend, and the future will not be their oyster.
The demographics will dictate.
It’s not that Brandon is a socialist.
It’s that most of the solutions offered in the pas have failed to better the quality of life for poor Chicagoans.
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 1:58 pm
=He’s up only by 6% with 16% undecided. I wouldn’t want to bet money on this one.=
Agreed. But that 16% undecided may also be a reflection of the underwhelming candidates. Some of those folks may chose to stay home. And while I may dislike what constitutes Vallas’ base, I’m struggling to see if Johnson actually has one.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:06 pm
The Trib had a piece last week featuring Latino voters who feel neither candidate speaks to them and are planning to stay home. They’re apparently not alone.
Comment by Tim Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:12 pm
@Pundent - If you live in Chicago, chances are strong that Brandon Johnson’s base will hand deliver his literature to your door and/or make a personal call to your phone at least once this month and possibly again in April.
Comment by Corruption Committee Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:34 pm
=== liberal leaning, affluent white voters who live in and around downtown and up the lakefront. Those precincts gave Vallas a lot of votes in the first round===
Who won those precincts, who won the black wards, as described by Calabrese and seen by those numbers?
Those are not prong base Vallas voters. That’s where mining votes is possible, that’s not a base.
It’s not like either wants a Lightfoot endorsement?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:37 pm
White old guy network will be replaced by white middle aged network in the years to come
Same situation with Black and Hispanic old people networks that mother nature will flame out too
Brandon is a self described socialist.
What socialist county has poor people with a better standard of living than the USA?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:52 pm
=== What socialist county has poor people with a better standard of living than the USA?===
Hey, Marie Antoinette…
What’s next, you going to ask why they aren’t the poor in the US of A eating cake?
It’s on brand for you, Thinking the Billionaire Bears need a Bailout.
Heck, if the poor here are going so well, why should the Bears get any help?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 2:58 pm
Vallas = Old/Past
Johnson = New/Future
Pick which way you want to go.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:02 pm
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-07-me-10010-story.html
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:07 pm
===It’s not that Brandon is a socialist.
It’s that most of the solutions offered in the pas have failed to better the quality of life for poor Chicagoans.===
I think Mr. Johnson should have a good answer to the question of whether now is a good time to hand over CPD to a self described police defunder. I have some sympathy for this policy positions, but crime is pretty bad out there in Chicago at the moment. I would not make broad conclusions about Chicago voters from this runoff given the two candidates.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:07 pm
Again you deliberately miss the point and conflate completely different issues, which is “on brand” for you
It is not the Bears interest that people should be concerned with but with the economic plan for Arlington Park redevelopment. The Bears are not asking for public financing of the stadium.
Does it make sense to offer the same economic incentives other multi billion dollar developments get because the project will create a lot of jobs and ultimately result in substantially more tax revenue like the multi billion dollar Lincoln Yards development? I don’t recall you saying peep about that billionaire bailout.
Is there a socialist success story you can point to where the poor people are better off that they are in a thriving capitalist economy?
Sorry there is a lot less cake in those countries
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:18 pm
=== Again you deliberately miss the point and conflate completely different issues, which is “on brand” for you===
No I didn’t, you said our (American) poor are going better than socialists’ poor.
Right here…
=== What socialist county has poor people with a better standard of living than the USA?===
All you needed to do was ask why Chicago poor aren’t eating cake.
Like this too
=== Is there a socialist success story you can point to where the poor people are better off that they are in a thriving capitalist economy?
The unclothed are still unclothed, the hungry are still hungry, the sick are still sick.
I mean, you are saying the American (Chicago) poor are better off, their hunger is better. Their sickness is better, their homelessness is… better.
You are a pathetic elitist soul, looking to help the Billionaire Bears get a Bailout… because Chicago’s poor are lucky, living in a capitalist system where Billionaires like the Bears get … “revenues”… your words… they aren’t getting now.
Granted, you think the Billionaire Bears hurting AH schools is fine, you can’t point to 60/71 or 30/36… is Pritzker, who you say hurts Illinois business, daily…
Spend more time passing your Bears Bailout and less time wondering why Chicago poor can’t find cake.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:39 pm
The future sounds dystopian for the private sector and the people getting the bill for a huge increase is government spending with CTU on the fifth floor, and a defunded police department
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:42 pm
This alone…
=== multi billion dollar Lincoln Yards development?===
The Billionaire Bears are in a closed industry of 32 partners where this month they received (or will in days) over $330+ million, a quarter of a Billion dollars in *shared* revenues. The Bears haven’t played a down of football since… December.
Not the same.
Your want of a bill better not be an 11th hour, “just put on my desk” bailout that no one read, hurting Arlington Heights schools, and horrific for AH for 40… that’s 4-0 years.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:43 pm
How exactly would it hurt Arlington Heights schools for the next 40 years to get substantially more property tax revenue than they are receiving now from a vacant racetrack that is currently generating zero entertainment tax revenue or jobs?
What is different about the Bears and the other NFL franchises that have partnered with their local governments on stadium projects?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:53 pm
I wasn’t looking at some of the ideas from the nefarious position of reducing aldermanic privilege. But, I have thought since he first came up that a municipal bank wasn’t a bad idea because cannabis stores could bank there, the casino could be encouraged to also and it could provide loans vs. payday loan operations. A de facto finance authority actually popped up that was sponsored through a group called West Side United. It pools funding to provide impact investments and small business grants. Vallas needs to flesh it out more.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:57 pm
==I think Mr. Johnson should have a good answer to the question of whether now is a good time to hand over CPD to a self described police defunder.==
I think Mr. Vallas should have even more good answers to the question of whether now is a good time to hand over CPS to someone with a three-decade track record as a public school defunder.
For all the rhetoric around “Defund The Police” in the summer of 2020, most of it came from activists with no access to the purse strings. And for those few politicians who did say it, there’s been no follow-through nationally. No police are getting defunded. They’re barely getting reformed. And no, “getting a smaller increase in year-to-year funding than the FOP wanted” is not “defunding.”
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 3:57 pm
==What is different about the Bears and the other NFL franchises that have partnered with their local governments on stadium projects?==
Nothing. They’re all money pits that suck down taxpayer funding exclusively for the benefit of private sports team ownership, a billionaire class. Thank you for so concisely making the point.
Comment by Roadrager Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:10 pm
=== How exactly would it hurt Arlington Heights schools for the next 40 years===
Why are the school boards looking to hire lobbyists?
Because they support a bailout designed to be longer than the building… and designed to hurt AH schools so the Billionaire Bears can earn more revenue.
Someone is gonna get hurt, it ain’t the Bears.
=== than they are receiving now from a vacant racetrack===
The Sneaky Billionaire Bears bought the land, not ensuring any assurances through legislation.
That’s on the Bears.
The McCaskry can sell the racetrack at anytime.
If it’s such a hot piece of land, bidders should be no problem for the Bears to dump the land, at a profit too, amirite?
A bailout on a purchase the McCaskeys feel they should not pull their own weight, hurting AH schools for 4 decades with a building that will need renovations in 20-25 years.
How’s the bill doing?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:12 pm
@CityZen, just to clarify Brandon did not share any city income tax proposal. The Sun-Times said it in a headline and then had to issue a retraction. https://www.brandonforchicago.com/statements/1-24-budget-correction
Comment by A Brandon Supporter Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:18 pm
I forgot to add the link to Brandon’s actual budget plan: https://www.brandonforchicago.com/issues/city-budget-and-revenue
Comment by A Brandon Supporter Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:22 pm
No your not right
The developer of Lincoln Yards is Sterling Bay owned by the Crown family who are the 34th wealthiest family in America worth 10.2 billion dollars.
The Chicago city council voted in 2019 to give Lincoln Yards 1.3 billion in tax incentives for the 6 billion dollar project.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/09/10/lincoln-yards-1-3-billion-tax-subsidy-battle-heads-to-court-as-opponents-try-to-stop-controversial-project/
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:26 pm
“- Appears - Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 11:55 am:
I do not live in Chicago, but it appears that Chicago loses with both candidates.”
Your analysis is spot on. Sadly, we’ve been losing in this game for quite a while now. This just keeps the losing streak intact.
Comment by Just a guy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:32 pm
=== No your not right===
The NFL is a closed industry. Their revenues are guaranteed.
You know this, yet you want the Billionaire Bears to get a bailout.
Completely different.
You’ve tried comparing it to baseball. Failed.
You’ve tried comparing it to other programs as “same”. Failed.
You’re not helping, in actuality you’re hurting … Chicago.
The new mayor will have the McCaskeys hurting the Chicago Park District, as you say “America has the best poor, only the best poor in America”
=== The Chicago city council voted===
Where’s your 60/71, 30/36… you think a new Chicago mayor is gonna help?
lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:40 pm
== Who won those precincts ==
Vallas. He won the “greater downtown” wards and the lakefront up to Lakeview. The one exception was the 4th Ward, which extends from downtown to 43rd Street, but Vallas carried the Loop precincts in the northern half. The folks we used to call “yuppies” were part of Vallas’ base on February 28th. In fact, he got more votes in the 43rd Ward (Lincoln Park) than he did in the 38th (Cop-land on the NW Side.) They’re one of his prongs.
Comment by TNR Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:41 pm
- TNR -
You seemingly forgot…
===who won the black wards, as described by Calabrese and seen by those numbers?===
In totality, you missed the point.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:43 pm
=== affluent white voters who live in and around downtown and up the lakefront. Those precincts gave Vallas a lot of votes in the first round===
You wouldn’t call those “Daley” voters in this climate of “Vallas” or “Johnson”?
Are you saying those wards shoulda been Johnson wards?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 4:53 pm
==Not quite sure what Vallas is proposing.==
Well he’s more familiar with Palos.
Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 5:13 pm
Willy, you’re pulling me into arguments I’m not trying to make. Your initial post said there are three prongs to Vallas’ base of support. I agreed with you and suggested a fourth prong: downtown-Lincoln Park-Lakeview yuppies. That’s all.
Comment by TNR Monday, Mar 13, 23 @ 5:20 pm
===you’re pulling me===
And
===suggested===
Friend, you inserted yourself, don’t be a victim.
Daley himself moved into the north lakefront in 2016.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 6:08 am