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A day after sending President Joe Biden a letter criticizing the White House effort on migrants, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday called for a stronger show of unity among local Democrats in responding to the swelling influx of asylum-seekers arriving in Chicago from the southern border. […]

The governor said the letter was not an initial request for help from his political ally in the White House but an effort to reiterate the multiple pleas for assistance the state has made over the past year.

“We wanted to make sure that there was a public statement out there of many of the things that we’ve talked about in the past with the administration, but the things that we need right now,” Pritzker said.

I just don’t think the White House has a grasp on this topic.

* Background is here if you need it. Joe Mahr at the Tribune…

Six months after the Chicago Tribune published its “Stalled Justice” investigation, court officials told the Tribune they soon will begin recording the reason that a criminal case gets pushed to another date — a step that experts have long recommended so the county can better understand and target issues that can drag out cases for years.

The Tribune investigation, which focused on murder charges, found that the vast majority of court hearings in those cases last only a minute or two and end with a legal maneuver called a “continuance.” The case is then resumed on another date, typically four to six weeks later. Some cases get continued 50 or more times.

Reporters found a wide variety of reasons that judges grant continuances. Prosecutors may say they need more time to track down and turn over potential evidence. Judges might give themselves more time to rule on lawyers’ requests. Some police officers fail to show up to testify at pretrial hearings and need to be ordered back.

Though attorneys may tell the judge why a case should be delayed, many judges don’t record that information, the Tribune found. Instead, they typically scribble the date of the next hearing on a sheet of paper with the phrase “B/A” — to signify a case was continued “by agreement” of both attorneys.

Took ‘em long enough. But will the fix actually work? Color me skeptical.

* Meanwhile, from the Sun-Times…

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday signed an executive order creating Chicago’s first chief homelessness officer position.

The person in the role will be tasked with providing solutions “for stable, permanent and affordable housing” for the unhoused in the city, Johnson said in a statement.

“By establishing a Chief Homelessness Officer for the City of Chicago, we will have a critical point of contact to coordinate efforts and leverage the full force of government to provide shelter for all people,” Johnson said.

The officer will be responsible for “fostering greater policy and operational coordination across city departments and sister agencies” to tackle the crisis, the mayor’s office said.

This person will be purely a figurehead unless the office hires staff to do the work. We found out last week that Johnson’s Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights has only one paid staffer. Johnson has one comms staffer. Almost his entire administration is a shell of what it should be.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 8:51 am

Comments

===Johnson has one comms staffer. Almost his entire administration is a shell of what it should be.===

Keeping in mind that staff positions and depth in departments exist (like in comms) it’s a real malpractice that this administration isn’t… filling these spots, can’t find folks willing to take these spots, or doesn’t take serious the necessity to fully crew city government.

It’s not “Progressive” to have a shell of staff to fulfill the needs of the 5th floor, or worse, fulfill the needs of the 3rd largest city in America.

Think on this…

Even shell press releases and press packets for routine events, how can one person do all that, let alone handle press calls, department messaging oversight, daily press briefs for the mayor, I can’t fathom how that’s even being addressed. How professional can that be done with a one person shop?

Utter malpractice to the voters that elected Johnson.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:00 am
It’s almost like the Mayor doesn’t believe he needs to answer to the people?

Why would that be?

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:07 am
Mayor Johnson appointed one of the least-liked and most polarizing members of City Council as his floor leader. Told you everything you need to know about how he was planning to “govern”

Disaster from start-to-finish and tip my cap to OW who rightly points out there is nothing “progressive” about doing your job poorly.

Comment by wowie Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:22 am
But like his predecessors he does have a security entourage that would embarrass the leaders of most countries in the world. And why is anyone surprised he is not serious about actually governing? He has never run anything before.

Comment by Ucha Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:24 am
“Utter malpractice to the voters that elected Johnson.”

What about the rest of the city? /s

Comment by Opus Deus Ding Dong Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:24 am
“Johnson has one comms staffer.”

This is why his floor leader has become the defacto spokesperson for the administration.

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:26 am
Maybe the VP on one of her five (more?) visits here this summer could have efforted to better grasp this issue.

Comment by P Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:29 am
I would like to see Pritzker meet with (even virtually) Newsome, Hochul, Grisham, and Hobbs, and these governors put pressure on Abbott to meet and they ALL can then put pressure on this administration to meet the needs of all these states AND the migrants, and work to meet the challenges with federal support and money.

It’s become apparent that “ones and twos” in governors complaining or publicly criticizing isn’t getting anything done.

Now, getting Abbott to even hear out these Dem governors would be the biggest ask ever, but if Abbott is serious to this issue, what would be better than the three Dem governors of the “5 largest states, and Texas’ border state governors working together? It’d be a big win for Abbott, and the politics to that hurts the politics to Dems and Biden, but is having a situation as it is now isn’t helping anyone, including the migrants.

But… send a letter

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:31 am
===he does have a security entourage===

Choose another hill.

In these days, the safety of any mayor shouldn’t be something that is a joke or a line to anything.

===What about the rest of the city?===

The voters that elected Johnson want him to be competent and delivering. I dunno if those who didn’t vote for him are all that wanting for Johnson to be effective.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:35 am
= He has never run anything before.=

The most recent “republican” candidate for governor was a cow milker/seed planter downstate. Seems he hasn’t done much either.

Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:43 am
It bewilders me why you blame Abbott for the migrant problem. He isn’t the one responsible for openly inviting the 8 of 9 million into the country since Jan 20 2021. As JB himself said- Biden has no grasp on the problems he unleashed

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:48 am
===bewilders me===

Purposeful dis-coordination to own the Libs instead of working a problem, seeing sanctuary states/cities, and working in a bipartisan way to humanely move people…

… I mean, given how you comment and your thoughts, it doesn’t bewilder me that you don’t see human beings being treated humanely as something to strive for.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:51 am
Somebody needs to tell Brandon (and Biden, for that matter) that issuing press releases and appointing czars isn’t governing.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:52 am
Big shock to see a Rauner supporter fawning over someone playing with human lives to earn political points because they want to destabilize a state run by an opposition party.

Comment by P Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 9:56 am
The slow pace of justice in the Cook County criminal courts has been a scandal for decades and there’s plenty of reasons to be skeptical about a fix.

Judges in Cook County are rarely held accountable for misconduct or mopery (the former happens rarely, while the latter is very common.) Being a Cook County judge means you’re a member of an exclusive CYA club. Judges get to elect the boss of their club (Chief Judge Tim Evans) who maintains his job by ensuring no one makes waves, no judge works harder than they want, and no one gets in trouble.

Combine that with the farcical 60 or 70-judge retention ballot Cook County voters are supposed to navigate every general election, an we have close to zero credibility.

Comment by 26th Street refugee Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:00 am
Why no outrage over Denver busing people to Nyc???

Comment by Must win Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:01 am
===Denver busing===

That stopped in January of 2023, no?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:03 am
The Johnson administration has a number of empty slots with people that received offers waiting on the sidelines. Candidates were told to wait for a start date. Immigrant and refugee rights associates, operations, policy managers and a communications deputy.

The mayor cannot run a successful government with a 50% filled office.

Comment by DisappointedVoter Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:19 am
“… openly inviting the 8 of 9 million into the country … .”

Perhaps you could provide link to a picture of the engraved invitation. In Calligraphy, of course.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:34 am
It was clear from the debates that Johnson was in way over his head. He has no management or political experience and seems to have a very limited understanding of the basic processes of lawmaking, governance, and public policy. Nor does he seem to understand basics of budgeting arithmetic, let alone the viability of revenue streams and management of expenditures. He waited more than 100 days to come up with a plan for the migrant crisis and turns out the plan was “tent city at an undisclosed location for an undisclosed amount of funds”. Most people could come up with that plan in 5 minutes. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for him to get the house in order.

Comment by D0 Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:37 am
I like Johnson and think he’s doing quite well. The Cook County court system is the Eeyore of crominal justice. The only difference being Eeyore doesn’t assess court costs that destroy people economically. Quite frankly they need to work harder, cheaper, and faster.

Comment by Stormsw7706 Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 10:37 am
The Biden adminitration bailing out Illinois, California, and New York for those states sancuary city policies may just cost Biden (or whoever the 2024 Dem pres nominee is) Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. That is the shallowness of conversation that is occuring.

Comment by Rerwit Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 11:19 am
===may just cost Biden (or whoever the 2024 Dem pres nominee is) Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.===

Now do the same with abortion.

A pro-life GOP nominee in the era of Dobbs…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 11:21 am
Anyone Remember. Watch the 2019 Dem primary debate- think it was October. That’s exactly what Biden said. If you are listening get ready to travel to the Border

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 11:25 am
Sue is referring to the tenant at 1600 Pennsylvania ave before Noon on 1/20/21. Why did he do this?

Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 11:31 am
==It bewilders me why you blame Abbott for the migrant problem. ==

Nobody is blaming him. However, his “solution” isn’t a solution. It’s a political stunt. Too bad your partisan lense doesn’t allow you to see that.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 11:57 am
I don’t understand this. Pols generally like staff, right? Staff give you power. They give you flexibility and options and the ability to command more things. I guess they do pose a danger to your ability to try and micro-manage everything. Is that Johnson’s weakness?

Admittedly I’ve never seen data about comparable positions filled, at this point in similar new mayoral administrations (not a ton of data points there…)

Why isn’t the Johnson administration hiring up faster? I know it takes awhile but it is October. Any insider perspectives welcomed. This is one of the most mysterious things about his administration so far.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 12:26 pm
I don’t understand this. Pols generally like staff, right? Staff give you power. They give you flexibility and options and the ability to command more things. I guess they do pose a danger to your ability to try and micro-manage everything. Is that Johnson’s weakness?

Admittedly I’ve never seen data about comparable positions filled, at this point in similar new mayoral administrations (not a ton of data points there…)

Why isn’t the Johnson administration hiring up faster? I know it takes awhile but it is October. Any insider perspectives welcomed. This is one of the most mysterious things about his administration so far.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 12:26 pm
Maybe we need performance bonuses for judges, a limit on the number/length of continuances, fines paid by the attorneys when those limits are exceeded, and exceptions to those limits requiring appellate court approval.

Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 12:28 pm
= exceptions to those limits requiring appellate court approval. =

I’m sure the Appellate Court justices have nothing better to do with their time.

Besides, it rather defeats the purpose, no? Because while we’re waiting for them to rule, the trial would be postponed.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 1:12 pm
Stalled Justice - I find it odd that none of the bases for continuances are attributed to defendants in the above article, a glaring omission in my opinion.

Comment by Adam Laroach's Son Drake Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 1:36 pm
== Maybe we need performance bonuses for judges, a limit on the number/length of continuances, fines paid by the attorneys… ==

One fix would be to make the Chief Judge an elected position. That would make him or her accountable to the voters instead of his or her fellow judges. What’s more, Evans oversees a $300 million budget and more than 2,600 employees. That’s a lot of power and responsibility to give to one person without the direct input of the voters.

Comment by 26th Street refugee Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 1:40 pm
Governor Pritzker is to be commended for his letter to the White House. As a Democrat, we need to be the party of solutions. As a Democrat, I’m already tired of VP Harris and DNC parties and galas in prep for the Chicago Convention. Tip to the DNC - solve the migrant crisis in Chicago before planning a party and parading the VP here to pick up cash. Not a good look.

Comment by ok Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 1:43 pm
==However, his “solution” isn’t a solution. It’s a political stunt. Too bad your partisan lens doesn’t allow you to see that.==

Should Abbott be using the buses Illinois sent down to the border to get migrants instead? Maybe Abbott’s partisan lens doesn’t allow him to see the charter buses with Illinois plates.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 2:23 pm
===Should Abbott===

… be working with the governors of CA, AZ, NM, IL, and NY and push for a federal answer to the migrants by putting together a plan to first get information from the migrants, process them to prepare them to work, and quickly move them from Texas to locations prepared to accept them, under a schedule and those locations have the means and monies to assist the migrants in their new next steps?

How about that?

That work?

Why won’t Abbott do or promote something like this?

You’re worried about the “license plate” gotcha?

I mean…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 2:28 pm
OW- what they should be doing is insisting Biden control the border then worry about the 8 to 10 million he already waived in. Read the W Post. Today. The President’s strongest supporters are now voicing their strong opposition of his border policy

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 2:51 pm
- Sue -

You’re adorable.

If I’m asking the Feds to fund and control the function of the migrants, processing, the moving, and funding, what part am I saying that the administration is doing the job, or dismissing them in the process.

Instead of the heaving breathing, take a breath, read what I wrote, and then speak to things honestly.

It’ll take reading and thinking.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 2:58 pm
Does anyone know that Biden tried to continue to enforce the restricted immigration policy but was struck down by a federal judge? How about Congress does their job and comes up with an immigration policy? That we have been talking about since Bush days. The bofe of them.

Comment by DMC Wednesday, Oct 4, 23 @ 3:23 pm