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* UPDATED x2 * No way to run a railroad

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Johnson’s deputy chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, acknowledged the lack of buy-in from many aldermen who were asked to find locations to house migrants in the administration’s race against time before winter.

In September, Johnson rolled out his plan to house new migrants in winterized base camps rather than the Chicago police stations and airports where many are currently huddled. He tasked all 50 aldermen to help scout suitable locations. Pacione-Zayas told reporters Thursday only “about 25%” of them have fulfilled that request.

“We’ve had some of them that understood the assignment,” Pacione-Zayas said. “We’ve had others that, with their back against the wall, have now offered up things, but it’s a work in progress.” […]

She added that she doesn’t see [House Speaker Chris] Welch’s denial of migrant funding in the veto session as a closed door, and said the city appropriating only $150 million in next year’s budget for migrants is “an acknowledgment that this is a shared responsibility.”

1) Their “assignment”? That’s an interesting choice of words, particularly after what we discussed here yesterday.

2) CPZ, who I had great respect for when she was in the Senate, basically acknowledged that the city is reducing its appropriation by $50 million to put pressure on the state. I just don’t see how that’s gonna do anything but backfire.

I went through some other aspects of the Trib story with subscribers earlier today, so I’ll just leave it at that.

*** UPDATE 1 *** It’s actually worse than we thought…

Mayor Brandon Johnson set aside $150 million to cover the cost of housing, feeding and caring for the men, women and children sent to Chicago from the southern border in 2024, even though that is less than half of what the city will have spent to care for Chicago’s newest arrivals through the end of 2023. […]

The migrant crisis is likely to cost taxpayers $361 million between January and December 2023, an increase of more than 4% in the past week, according to updated financial projections released Thursday by the mayor’s office.

*** UPDATE 2 *** At least they finally got the message. Maybe they can figure out an actual ask by next May…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:36 am

Comments

Don’t understand the City’s logic:

“You don’t want to send us money to help with migrants? Fine - We will reduce our appropriation too. That will show you.”

A little bit of hyperbole there of course, but it still shows the logic in that argument. It seems like they are trying to guilt the state into giving it money. Very weird.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:43 am
It’s almost a feel like what happened in Joliet, but the city is already in the midst of this and trying to figure out how to get everyone in board “after the fact”

I saw the administration now has TWO people in the press shop. That’s fun.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:48 am
“assignment” well Brandon Johnson was a teacher…

Comment by Edgewater Libertarian Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:49 am
Don’t use meme-speak like “understood the assignment” when communicating professionally. Ever.

Comment by DuPage Dad Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:52 am
– only “about 25%” of them have fulfilled that request –

What’s the world come to when you can’t trust politicians?

Comment by ORD-ELP Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:52 am
In four months he came up with the plan “warm tents” (end of plan). No aldermen were consulted on this plan and now he is ordering their cooperation on no authority? He is operating like Trump: unable to staff his own office and expecting other branches of government to pick up the slack. Sounds like he assumes they exist to do his personal bidding without input or oversight.

Comment by D0 Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:53 am
“…acknowledged that the city is reducing its appropriation by $50 million to put pressure on the state.”

It’s not going to work because we’re not idiots. Seriously, it was so incredibly obvious that that’s what they were doing and it’s not going to work. Not one little bit. Each passing day I’m even more amazed at the level of strategic and tactical incompetence of this Mayor and his administration. Good grief.

Comment by New Day Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:54 am
Wow.. I guess it’s different type of airflow on the 5th floor at City Hall. Not enough oxygen getting to the old brain cells.

Comment by NotRich Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:54 am
==basically acknowledged==

That or she’s saying, the city doesn’t want to short pensions, or schools, or mental health, etc, but if they have to fund migrants, it’ll come from somewhere.

Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:57 am
It is hard to say we all need to come together as Democrats and address this problem when you are constantly questioning people’s ideological purity.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 10:57 am
What’s next in the city’s failure playbook? Threatening to move to Arlington Heights if they don’t get their way?

Comment by ORD-ELP Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:00 am
=== That or she’s saying, the city doesn’t want to short pensions ===

The proposed budget had additional pension payments over the required amount. That additional payment is more money than they are reducing from the migrant payments.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:08 am
==The proposed budget had additional pension payments over the required amount. That additional payment is more money than they are reducing from the migrant payments. ==

Which seems like pretty clear proof that this is a negotiating tactic, no?

Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:17 am
===pretty clear proof that this is a negotiating tactic, no? ===

Yeah. A really weak one.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:18 am
==In four months he came up with the plan “warm tents” (end of plan). ==

What ideas has the City Council come up with? They are the ones who make the laws. Where are their ideas? I haven’t seen them.

The tents seem to work in Texas, New York, and other places housing large scores of migrants. Why wouldn’t it work here?

Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:20 am
=== The tents seem to work in Texas, New York, and other places housing large scores of migrants. Why wouldn’t it work here? ===

Ask that question again at the end of January.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:21 am
suburban and downstate legislators constantly get push back from their constituents about the amount of money sent to Chicago. No way do they want to support more during petition season. Also to suggest pulling funds from suburban “welcoming centers” just adds to the disconnect that the city has with the GA.

Comment by Dupage Dem Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:21 am
==Yeah. A really weak one. ==

I’d say they have a pretty weak hand. The State and Feds have failed to provide much support over the past 18 months. They will likely continue at that level until it becomes nonviable, in the meantime it will fall entirely on Chicago taxpayers.

The city has to toe the line of providing what is needed for these folks while also expressing the need for more funding. It is a chicken and egg situation. We can’t stop supporting them for humanitarian reasons, but we won’t get more funding until we stop supporting them.

Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:23 am
=== Which seems like pretty clear proof that this is a negotiating tactic, no? ===

If someone tried to negotiate with me like that I would just laugh at them. They can literally pay an additional pension payment and still fund the migrant relief efforts at previous year’s level.

It makes no sense.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:25 am
===The State and Feds have failed to provide much support over the past 18 months===

The state has provided well over $300 million in cash and on the ground work. Y’all keep dismissing that as nothing. It isn’t nothing. If the city wants more money, it needs to find a way to make that happen. Give the state a list of budget cuts. See where that goes.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:27 am
==Ask that question again at the end of January. ==

No actual response, just another question to be answered in 4 months. I see people hanging out in tents/bubbles along the river all year round. Seems like heating is a solved problem.

I’ll ask again, what solutions has the City Council presented?

Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:27 am
==The state has provided well over $300 million in cash and on the ground work.==

Fair enough, the state has provided some funding. The question is really about what will be provided for the next 12 months, right? What has the state appropriated?

Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:29 am
===What has the state appropriated?===

How about trying the Google? I don’t have time to debate your silliness all day.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:34 am
Again, an example of a City devoid of leadership on this issue. I’m still looking for some type of strategic housing, resettlement, and integration plan. They haven’t even been able to provide blankets and water to new arrivals so for us watching, this was to be expected. In addition to the States $300 million, the Feds have given $33 million.
I think the questions becomes–where has all the money gone? Is putting new arrivals in hotels and buildings in high-end neighborhoods like West Loop really the wisest course of action here?

Comment by LastModDemStanding Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:39 am
=== We can’t stop supporting them ===

This is going to sound callous, but of course we can. Legislators, whether in Congress, the General Assembly or the Chicago City Council are the policymakers that have to decide how they are going to use their finite level of funds. No government has an infinite amount of money to do whatever they want.

So far, the migrant relief efforts have been mostly paid in a piecemeal faction with monies that were originally earmarked for other programs. At the end of the day, legislators have to prioritize what they want taxpayer funds to be spent on.

The only caveat to that is that Congress has a lot more leeway in terms of its spending so long as there is an appropriation for it.

At the end of the day, the migrant issue needs to be looked at like other spending priorities. If legislators want to increase the spending on migrant relief, then they either need to legislate some new revenue stream to pay for it or reduce spending on other areas.

That is what it comes down to. Nobody has proposed any new revenue streams for migrant relief other than to say the federal (or state) government has to help more. If the City wants more state help, maybe its legislative affairs folks should review the state budget to see where that money should come from. Oh wait, they don’t really have a legislative affairs team.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:39 am
Are they doing the Garda tent cities? Honest question. The alders don’t even know the answer. It’s that opaque.

Comment by P Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:40 am
We are wondering why the Mayor and his brain trust haven’t camped out at Holy Name cathedral to get some $$ from the Cardinal and company since Catholic Charities seems to have the dough to fly folks from TX to Chicago. Seems like that effort should require some folo up spending by the Church.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:40 am
The migrant situation is admittedly a very unusual problem for a city mayor to have to deal with. State and federal funds will help of course.

But there needs to be some kind of overall plan and the city seems lacking in that area. There’s no one to shift the blame to on that front.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:41 am
=== No actual response, just another question to be answered in 4 months. I see people hanging out in tents/bubbles along the river all year round. Seems like heating is a solved problem. ===

Let me be more clear. It traditionally gets really freaking cold in Chicago in January and February. And there is a big difference between people “hanging out” in bubbles and tents (most likely with winter coats, hats, gloves, etc.) and people actually living there.

It is not the same. The people hanging out can choose to leave if it gets too cold or if the conditions deteriorate. The migrants have nowhere else to go and will be sleeping (yes sleeping) in heated tents during the middle of a Chicago winter. Let’s hope it stays mild and that no polar vortex related cold fronts come through this year.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:45 am
==We are wondering why the Mayor and his brain trust haven’t camped out at Holy Name cathedral to get some $$ from the Cardinal and company since Catholic Charities seems to have the dough to fly folks from TX to Chicago.==

Brain trust? LOL

The Catholic Charities entity is using FEMA money to fly folks to Chicago. If you think things are bad here, the Southern Border is 5x worse.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:53 am
To an overall,

The continued mis-remembering, dismissing facts that don’t meet a narrative to a comment…

What makes this place special and great is the calling out and batting back false information and talking point redirection, along with regurgitating what has been known as untrue.

The monies already allocated by the state is the equivalent of 1/3 of the existing rainy day fund. It’s not a pittance… and $30 million or so by the Feds is inadequate, let alone how all these monies are used.

It’s NOT the way to run a railroad, that much is too true.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:54 am
===The Catholic Charities entity is using FEMA money to fly folks to Chicago. If you think things are bad here, the Southern Border is 5x worse.===

“What would…”

Yeah.

The border governor willing to propagate mere movement of people in no clear plan to a national crisis, and CC flying folks, how is it that the idea of federal involvement at a greater level isn’t the cry, but the yelling is about moving humans for politics

Meanwhile, here, the inadequate plans, leadership, and follow through is highlighted by posturing to unhelpful avenues of focus.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 11:59 am
In my 45 plus years of life I’ve never seen so much disjunction in messaging as I have with this administration. There is no cohesive messaging or narrative. The mayor needs to shake up the team and needs to start with whoever is running lead on press. Truly pathetic for an admin that is only 6 months in.

Comment by No Cohesiveness Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:02 pm
All Mayors/Governors come in and assume they’re in charge. Good ones learn that isn’t the case and they adjust their strategy. It has been six months and doesn’t appear Mayor CTU has learned the lesson yet.

Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:07 pm
Mayor CTU or Mayor 1%. Please pick your poison.

Comment by Jerry Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:42 pm
==No actual response, just another question to be answered in 4 months. I see people hanging out in tents/bubbles along the river all year round. Seems like heating is a solved problem.

I’ll ask again, what solutions has the City Council presented?==

when the City has relied on a strong executive since forever, what has the city done to release alders of tree trimming requests so they can put time and energy into citywide policy?

We have a freaking city wishlist on Amazon. This is not functional.

Comment by Chicago voter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:43 pm
I feel like shaking Mayor Brandon by the shoulders. We have $330 million to use up on hotels, arenas, convention centers, aircraft hangers, and barracks. That money can be used to defer a month (or more) while you get your act together. Call Sedexo or Aramark and get a quote. Get some cots and some security.

Daylight is burning (exclamation point)

Comment by Jocko Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:50 pm
I bet it would be helpful in Mayor School to devote a whole semester on Governors who ship citizens they dont like out of state without notice, as they wrap themselves around the idea that somehow they are Christian.

Comment by Jerry Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:58 pm
The Inn of Chicago on Ohio Street off Michigan Ave., the Parthenon Guest House in Greektown, a Marine Corp Center in North Park, the Lake Shore Hotel near Hyde Park, the former Standard Club on Plymouth Ct., are only a few of the buildings being used to shelter migrants.

Why is the city resorting to using tents when buildings were located and negotiated for the migrant?

One would hope that the city would use the CBRE and other commercial brokers to locate additional properties for migrants.

Tents are not a viable option when buildings are available throughout the city. If renovations are needed, the Building Trades are available to do the work.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:01 pm
What is Ronnie Reese doing? It’s clear he isn’t prepping executives. I can’t find anything on the record from him clarifying where the mayor is at. Brandon Johnson needs a new press leader.

Comment by DisappointedVoter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:04 pm
Mayor Johnson seems loyal to a fault. I do not think singling anyone out is effective advocacy.

Wait a second… I should be charging for this advice .

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:25 pm
=Why is the city resorting to using tents when buildings were located and negotiated for the migrant?==

Because these buildings come at a high costs. The most sensical thing would have been to rehab City owned buildings (which fun fact, do not consist of solely schools) and charge $1 for a lease. Instead, they’re paying fair market value in high priced neighborhoods to private landlords, in addition to the staffing, security, food, bed, etc. One bad decision after another.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:40 pm
“. . . the city appropriating only $150 million in next year’s budget for migrants is ‘an acknowledgment that this is a shared responsibility.’”

It was clear prior to release of the Mayor’s budget that neither the Speaker nor the Governor agree there is any such “shared responsibility,” or at least none for which they’re willing to provide funds. The Mayor seems to believe that he can somehow generate leverage where none exists by creating a train wreck. His problem is that when, as in this case, other folks hold almost all the cards with no need to play any of them, that’s exactly what the Mayor will get, a train wreck of his own making. He’s just not very good at this stuff.

Comment by Flapdoodle Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:43 pm
Since the contract with GardaWorld did not fall from the sky into Brandon Johnson’s lap, who were the principals involved in presenting and negotiating this business opportunity?

Was the City Council privy to this information?

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:48 pm
== What ideas has the City Council come up with? They are the ones who make the laws. ==

Remember in the waning days of the Lightfoot administration when it briefly appeared the City Council might assert itself as an independent body and actually pick its own committee chairs? Well, Mayor Johnson and his allies completely blew that up, ensuring Chicago’s tradition of an imperial mayor would continue. If he didn’t want to share power with them then, he can’t offload responsibility on them now.

Comment by Roman Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 2:00 pm
=== It was clear prior to release of the Mayor’s budget that neither the Speaker nor the Governor agree there is any such “shared responsibility,” or at least none for which they’re willing to provide funds. ===

As was mentioned above, the State has given the City over $300 million so far to address this crisis. At some point, there isn’t any more money that the State can provide unless they raise additional revenues or cut existing programs. What programs would you cut to pay for migrant aid?

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 2:00 pm
=== Since the contract with GardaWorld did not fall from the sky ===

I believe this was a piggyback contract, which is one of the fastest ways to get something done from a procurement standpoint. You can’t just give random (or even established) companies money to provide a service without going through a procurement process. Piggybacking on an existing contract is one of the quickest ways to move forward with a service or commodity.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 2:03 pm
==Was the City Council privy to this information?==

The Tribune released some notes about the decision to engage GardaWorld in July 2023 and Beatriz Ponce de Leon issuing criticism from within the administration, to be ignored.

Most alders found out about GardaWorld when it hit popular press.

This is the Mayor’s Office plan. It’s day -234987 kind of thinking. Other Alders suggested McCormick Place and Archdiocese properties which is Day 3 thinking.

We are on day 365+.

Comment by Chicago Voter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 2:09 pm
The tents via GardaWorld, negotiated by IEMA and piggybacked by the City, are not contracted to maintain city ordinance level temperatures for work or living space if it is below 40 degrees.

I understand that the contractor lobbyists have muddied the water by throwing around marketing terms that some in City Hall have latched on to, like “Red Cross standards” which have nothing to do with winterization or temperatures.

But the contract terms are written in black and white. If it’s below 40 there is no guarantee that GardaWorld can make it warm inside. End of story. I don’t know what is confusing or mysterious about this.

Comment by Stephanie Kollmann Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 3:17 pm
The push to corral people into unsuitable shelter for inhumanely long stays is not the main problem with the containment approach to human services the City continues to pursue but it is a good indicator of the extent to which basic needs are not being anticipated on paper, much less met in reality.

Comment by Stephanie Kollmann Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 3:23 pm
@Hannibal Lecter 2:00 PM

We actually agree — it was poor writing on my part. I should have said something like “for which they’re willing to provide [newly budgeted] funds.” In another thread, I ask exactly your question: What programs should be cut to provide additional immigrant funds? Until people are willing to address this question, further state assistance will be difficult.

Comment by Flapdoodle Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 3:37 pm
=== Until people are willing to address this question, further state assistance will be difficult. ===

Agreed.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 4:09 pm