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Coverage roundup of Mayor Johnson’s one-hour press conference

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* Politico has a good roundup of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s one-hour news conference yesterday…

His overarching message: He’s not going to make shoot-from-the-hip decisions that he’ll be criticized for later. “It’s important that we’re intentional,” Johnson said. “Too many decisions in this city have been rushed decisions.”

Here are seven pressing questions posed to him:

— What’s the strategy for the migrant crisis? The city is “still pushing the federal government to lean in a little bit more” to provide support, he said, making a point not to criticize the White House as New York Mayor Eric Adams has. “Transitioning individuals out of police stations is still top of mind. Finding more adequate places for shelter for families is top of mind. Having full wraparound services for families who wish to call the city Chicago their home that is still top of mind,” Johnson said.

He revealed that the city is also talking to suburban communities about stepping in. “We see some real support on the horizon,” he said. […]

— What about that weekend teen takeover? It was a question about the 40 teens arrested over the weekend for trashing a convenience store in what the reporter called a “mob action.” The mayor pushed back, saying it’s “not appropriate” to describe children as “baby Al Capones.”

He added that police have deterred potential teen takeovers, in spite of the weekend action. “Unfortunately, arrests were made. Unfortunately, some damage was caused. And the level of sensitivity and patience that our officers expressed, I’m appreciative of that. That is constitutional. That is a system of care,” Johnson said. “Having patience is truly a virtue.”

There’s more, so click here.

* More coverage…

* Mayor Brandon Johnson defends response to teen gatherings, migrant crisis: ‘My administration is different’: Police made the 40 arrests Sunday evening as large groups of youths refused to disperse after fighting and storming a convenience store near West Roosevelt Road and South Canal Street. The move to begin locking up teens at about 9:20 p.m. reflected a more decisive style from police leaders than in previous gatherings this summer, but Johnson underscored that the cops “attempted to engage with our young people, with community partners, giving as much warning as they possibly could.” “That’s a unique approach. You know, many people expect us to treat people undignified. My administration is different,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, arrests were made. Unfortunately, some damage was caused. And the level of sensitivity and patience that our officers expressed, I’m appreciative of that. That is constitutional. That is a system of care.” Large youth gatherings downtown have vexed Chicago police and other city leaders for the last decade, often springing up via social media flyers during warm summer months and sometimes turning violent. The mayor, who despite pushback has continued to vow that he will never demonize youth, elaborated Wednesday that his administration has “intercepted” other attempts at large gatherings that “could have been even more severe,” while also taking umbrage with the teens being described as a “mob.” “That’s not appropriate. We’re not talking about mob actions,” Johnson said. “We have to be careful when we use language to describe certain behavior. There’s a history in this city, and, I mean, to refer to children as like baby Al Capones is not appropriate.”

* Mayor praises Chicago cops for ‘great deal of restraint’ after teen takeover in South Loop: ‘That is a system of care’: A former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Johnson said there are always going to be students who “want to find spaces where they can cut up.” It’s his job to build “systems to prevent that from happening. “If you’re between the ages of 16 and 21, there aren’t a lot of places where you can go and hang out. There just isn’t. You’re too old for Chuck E. Cheese … and then you can’t go to a club,” the mayor said. “And so, the preventative dynamic is being far more strategic about finding out when these [events] are taking place and then, showing up with not just law enforcement but the full force of government, other agencies as well as our community partners to help deter and re-direct young people. That’s gonna be a constant effort as we build out spaces where young people can actually come and hang out in their neighborhoods or places outside their neighborhoods that are safe.”

* Johnson Denies Migrants Were Moved From Police Station Due to Lollapalooza: Johnson shared a statement on social media later that evening saying those were items “that individuals and families chose to leave behind, or could not take into shelter, such as mattresses and other bulky items.” “Everyone who transitioned understood shelter space is limited, and was able to take essential items,” Johnson said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that more than 100 people were moved from the 1st District station to the Broadway Armory. According to Johnson, organizers who assisted those migrants in their move said the families were “all thrilled” that the city was providing “far more stability.”

* Migrants Weren’t Moved Out Of Downtown Police Station Because Of Lollapalooza, Mayor Says: Johnson made the statement at a press conference Wednesday after video showed mattresses and other items being thrown out at the Central (1st) District police station, 1718 S. State St. Hundreds of migrants who had been sheltering there were relocated to a new Edgewater emergency shelter, just days before the music fest in Grant Park is set to welcome tens of thousands of fans. Johnson said the video, which was deleted and later tweeted back out, gave an “inaccurate depiction of what happened.” It was the city’s plan to move migrants to the Broadway Armory shelter all along, he said. The Armory opened as a city shelter Tuesday, the day the migrants were moved. “As a city, do we want people living in police stations? Is that acceptable?” Johnson asked. … “What I’m committed to doing is honoring the law of … sanctuary city and building systems of care that provide a pathway with dignity for individuals who are seeking refuge and hope here in the city of Chicago,” Johnson said. “As we build that structure, I’ll be better prepared and positioned to have an assessment on how we move forward beyond that point.”

* Slow down, Chicago Bears? Johnson won’t be rushed into deal to keep team in the city: ‘We’ll get there’: “Something that I’ve learned in my work to get to this point is listening to people, hearing their values. That’s the best position to be in in order to come to a conclusion that works for everyone,” he said. “We’ll get there. I believe it’s inevitable that we ultimately will have conversations that will be far more guided and specific. But, in the meantime, it’s just an understanding that the history of the Chicago Bears and what the people of Chicago want to see — those interests have to align. And so, the early parts of our conversations have certainly put us into position to have another one.” … “This city has become accustomed to these types of decisions being made in a moment’s notice. I’m a different mayor, you all. I am. I’m gonna take my time because getting this right is important,” Johnson said. “What I don’t want is that you all push me to rush a decision to then come back to tag me for making a decision too soon that people don’t ultimately like. At the very least, you know that whatever decision that I made that I didn’t take it lightly. I believe the Bears understand that and appreciate that.”

* Mayor Johnson talks Chicago’s top cop search, migrant relocation: WBEZ is reporting that in 1994, Fred Waller was accused of domestic violence by his then-wife, who ultimately stopped cooperating with an investigation of the incident before CPD concluded the complaint was not sustained. The mayor shrugged off the report. “Fred Waller being willing to come out of retirement to serve in this capacity is a tremendous sacrifice,” he said. “As far as any dynamics that have occurred in the past, as I understand it, that investigation of that initial investigation has been settled and solved.”

* Mayor Brandon Johnson addresses teen takeovers, migrant crisis, other issues affecting Chicagoans: Johnson is also coming under fire for skipping Tuesday night’s National Night Out event, which are meant to foster police and community partnerships. Johnson instead took his boys to a Cubs game. The Fraternal Order of Police called this a slap in the face, especially with one event honoring murdered Chicago police officer, Aréanah Preston. “He is who we thought he was, self centered,” Chicago FOP Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said. “I mean, how tone deaf can you be? He should have been to several National Night Out events. That’s your job. That’s what you signed up for. Shame on him.” Johnson responded to the criticism. “The fact that we believe in this city that there’s only one day that is set aside to connect with people, that is a very short-sighted view of the entire frame of what this city is ultimately,” Johnson said.

* Mayor Johnson addresses migrant crisis, teen takeovers, his own availability at news conference: Johnson also called for patience from the news media with regard to his administration. “I do appreciate you all being patient with my administration. I do,” the mayor said. “And I know you all want to interact more with me – and we’ll figure that out – but a brother’s working, every day.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:23 am

Comments

1. ==what the reporter called a “mob action.” The mayor pushed back, saying it’s “not appropriate” to describe children as “baby Al Capones.”==

   Perhaps Brandon should take this up with the General Assembly.

   https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K25-1

   Comment by City Zen Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:34 am

2. The inference being that in the past the CPD hasn’t shown a great deal of restraint. Seems about right. I don’t support praising people for something that should be the norm.

   Comment by Loyal Virus Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:36 am

3. Maybe the mayor is like anyone else who thinks about it, confused about what the ‘national night out’ even is and why it exists.
   I know it started during the Reagan administration but why is it still happening and why am I being asked to care about it? I hope the federal government isn’t still wasting money on it.

   Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:42 am

4. Johnson is playing the Bears situation right. He can afford to be patient, even apathetic. Keeping the Bears is not a priority for his political base. But even if he’s worried about a loss of prestige that could come from the Bears leaving town, there’s no reason to rush into a bidding war right now. The Arlington Heights proposal has stalled, to put it lightly, and I’m not sure how the Bears avoid running into the same obstacles to their “property tax certainty” requirement at the other suburban sites that have been floated.

   Comment by Tony T Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 9:58 am

5. Looks like the same crew has done a number of these carjackings/holdups, but the cops are encouraged not to pursue them?
   The mayor’s solution is talk therapy?

   Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:01 am

6. Yes. Can’t criticize or label these little kiddies as a mob.. they only destroyed property, stole items that were not theirs.. cracked someone in the skull with a fire extinguisher.. for sure not a mob action. Chiraq

   Comment by NotRich Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:03 am

7. What happened to picking up these alleged partiers, putting them in a wagon, taking them to the station and then calling mom and dad up to pick them up? Several videos posted of the latest episode are simply not flattering to the participants, the businesses and victims involved and the City of Chicago.

   The looting, vandalism, car burnings and beating up individuals is not cool. He will need to stress
   this going forward. No more waffling. Period.

   My office building downtown sits on a block where the majority of businesses are now closed, vacant and have for rent signs. Gone is McDonalds, Subway, 7-11, several other restaurants, a chiropractic clinic, a Chase Bank branch, CVS and Walgreens. All gone. The for rent signs are fading from the length of time they have been posted.

   The alleged partiers need to understand that this isn’t cool, including the new mayor who seems to be well intentioned but conflicted on public safety issues.

   The sooner this issue is tackled and resolved, the sooner everyone’s nerves will settle down on this subject.

   Until then, I guess the new mayor will continue to field questions on this topic that simply cannot be spun away.

   Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:14 am

8. “Chiraq”

   Tell me you are not a serious person without telling me you aren’t a serious person.

   Comment by Montrose Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:14 am

9. =Perhaps Brandon should take this up with the General Assembly.=

   We don’t agree often but on this one we seem to. The mayor seems to be conflating the use of the term “mob” as in “the mob” which has been used as a label for organized crime. In this case, it is the more common term “mob” describing a group of unruly people. That description is spot on and the mayor needs to be less sensitive to adjectives and more sensitive to people who would like to live in a safer community.

   In excusing these crime events by stating kids between 16 and 21 (the real age range is 12-23) don’t have a lot to do, he is doing a disservice to the kids who are not participating.

   The better question is why are these kids engaging in these destructive when it is happening in other communities. It isn’t because other communities provide entertainment. It isn’t about ethnicity either. There are many majority minority or high poverty communities that do not have these issues. So what makes Chicago so special.

   Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:17 am

10. ===What happened to picking up these alleged partiers, putting them in a wagon===

    They picked up 40 and hauled them away.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:18 am

11. =The better question is why are these kids engaging in these destructive when it is happening in other communities.=

    Correction…

    The better question is why are these kids engaging in these destructive ACTIVITIES when it is NOT happening in other communities.

    Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:29 am

12. I don’t see a lot of actual difference in City government over the last 3 months. I see a lot of distinctions without a difference in the Mayor’s statements but very little actual change.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:31 am

13. Lots of silly virtue signaling and panic peddling from the ideological extremes on the teen take over, from the mayor’s weird “mob action” push back to the right-wing’s tired “Chiraq” trope.

    Bottom line is the incident was handled pretty well by the CPD: A restrained effort to break up the crowd, followed by a mass arrest of the kids who refused to disperse and got way out of hand. De-escalation followed by enforcement. Hopefully the community outreach groups on the ground and the police brass continue that approach and ignore the political rhetoric.

    Comment by TNR Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:36 am

14. ===I don’t see a lot of actual difference in City government===

    I do. Nobody is running around publicly screaming like their hair is on fire and making snap decisions that prove disastrous and creating enemies with people/groups who should be seen as partners. I think there’s an element in the news media which misses that.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:36 am

15. I support what JSMills said. Brandon taught a couple years and then did union work. JSMills has much more time with kids. He delineates the key questions. Answers to his questions give a pathway to solutions. Also, 18 to 23 years old are adults. Making excuses for clearly inappropriate and illegal behavior especially for adults will not lead to solutions. Just my opinion.

    Comment by Almost retired Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:38 am

16. …And I think the same thing happened after Rauner was voted out. Reporters/pundits kept demanding that Pritzker pick up where Rauner left off vis-a-vis MJM, etc.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:39 am

17. the Mayor has it both ways. who knows how long he can keep it up. he’s calm about what he says which stops fueling the other mob mentality. meanwhile the CPD did a pretty good job of handling the large number of teens who were committing crimes. the only people with their hair on fire will be Kass, Prieb, Proft, and other assorted no longer living in Chicago folks.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:45 am

18. The Mayor like he’s carrying on the grand tradition of Chicago mayors who, regardless of the color of their skin, seem to suffer from the same thinness condition. The South Loop actors certainly seem to fit the statutory description of Mob Action. And, yes he should have gone to the event honoring Officer Preston. It’s not like the Cubs are on a tear heading for another 2016.

    Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:50 am

19. == Nobody is running around publicly screaming like their hair is on fire and making snap decisions that prove disastrous ==

    Agreed. Particularly true in the way the Bears stadium situation has been handled by the mayor, as I referenced above. The “mob action” comment was odd, but ultimately a harmless rhetorical debate.

    Comment by Tony T Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:55 am

20. Should be “looks like”. Hit a wrong letter and automiscorrect jumped at the opportunity to do its thing

    Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:55 am

21. ===Nobody is running around publicly screaming like their hair is on fire and making snap decisions that prove disastrous and creating enemies with people/groups who should be seen as partners.===

    The personality of the chief elected official is not the same as the operations of City government. I mean, do you think Mayor Johnson invented CPIC?

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 10:56 am

22. Running a government is not the plot of a reality TV show, after more than 20 years, we seem to have a Mayor who understands that. Meanwhile the press is going through withdrawal, because Johnson won’t feed their hysteria addiction. Maybe a Middle School teacher was exactly what Chicago needed.

    Comment by West Sider Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:07 am

23. ===is not the same as the operations of City government===

    Agreed. But it’s gonna take a bit to change those.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:13 am

24. === I don’t see a lot of actual difference in City government over the last 3 months. ===

    What do you think the Mayor has failed to change in the operation of City government in the three months he has been in office?

    Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:20 am

25. === In excusing these crime events by stating kids between 16 and 21 (the real age range is 12-23) don’t have a lot to do, he is doing a disservice to the kids who are not participating.===

    Kids that have nothing to do aren’t always committing vandalism. A lot of non vandalizing kids also have nothing to do. Get them involved and the numbers will stay in their neighborhoods. The rowdy kids will follow the peaceful kids. Nobody wants to jump on a car with no audience.

    The better question is why are these kids engaging in these destructive when it is happening in other communities. It isn’t because other communities provide entertainment. It isn’t about ethnicity either. There are many majority minority or high poverty communities that do not have these issues. So what makes Chicago so special.

    Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 11:23 am

26. We have gone from one Mayor unable to take any criticism or responsibility for crime and violence to one who is a total apologist. Hope the voters who elected mayor Johnson are happy and sleeping well

    Comment by Sue Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 12:41 pm

27. ==The mayor pushed back, saying it’s “not appropriate” to describe children as “baby Al Capones.”==

    Who referred to them as Baby Al Capones? I must have missed it.

    Comment by low level Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 1:40 pm

28. I like the mayor in that he is purposeful in his commentary and has a genuine concern for taking time to make decisions with a collaborative approach.

    With that said there are times when he needs to actually say “I’m the Mayor and this is what we’re going to do” He doesn’t have to be a condescending schmuck about it like our last mayor. He doesn’t have to trash other elected or business community or neighborhood kids parents etc etc. But at some point it would be nice for him to say this is what I want, this is how we’re going to accomplish it and this is what it will achieve. Mansion Tax- just say you’re doing it, you’ll work to resolve some issues, this is what it will achieve and you can be sure it’s going to happen.

    Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Aug 3, 23 @ 1:49 pm

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