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Pritzker on why state is stepping in: Chicago ‘isn’t moving fast enough’ and ‘We cannot have people freezing on the streets of Chicago’ and the city did not make the case to legislature for direct funding

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* Background is here if you need it. From Gov. Pritzker’s answers to reporters earlier today about his asylum-seekers plan…

The city has been operating its own methodology process. And it hasn’t moved fast enough. So we’ve done a complete data analysis of everything that’s happened for the last 14 months to determine exactly where the bottlenecks are. And so we’re bringing our resources in to try to flatten out those bottlenecks, make sure that people are moving through faster, and make sure that the city is building shelters faster. […]

And once again, we’re stepping in here to try to help and accelerate this process. It isn’t moving fast enough. That’s why you’re seeing people still on the street and we just can’t have people on the street. This is a humanitarian endeavor. We cannot have people freezing on the streets of Chicago as we head into very cold weather. […]

The [soft shelter site] we’re assisting with is going to be dependent on the city turning over a property to us. That’s going to be up to them entirely. Speeding up the front end, the welcoming and the intake is something that will begin nearly immediately. We’re already working on it. […]

The city is running the shelter system. We are not. We are doing what we’ve been doing all along, which is providing all the wraparound, not all, but many of the wraparound services, including by the way, the immigration assistance, making sure people move through the TPS system. We brought the federal government in to work alongside of us in order to get that done. So I just wanted to make sure you understand the state doesn’t run shelters. […]

I don’t know, you’ll have to ask the city, they run the shelter system. We’ve been absolutely encouraging the city to find bricks and mortar shelter. I’m not criticizing, I’m just suggesting that now, here we are. We’re right up against winter and very cold weather and we want to make sure that no one is left outside. […]

The state doesn’t control property in the city of Chicago that could provide a location. The city really has to do that. But we’ve talked to the city literally every day and try to be responsive to their needs. Once again, we’ve been in charge of certain kinds of things in this process. And now that we’re very close to winter, it is clear that the city needs more help. So the state is now stepping in to provide some of that help to do the contracting, to up the game when it comes to breaking through the barriers in the pipeline. You know this is a challenge that no doubt everybody’s aware of, but with very cold weather upon us, the state is now having to step in and be more aggressive. […]

[Reporter says the city has been requesting help from the state for months, “Are you saying because they didn’t identify specific dollar amounts or specific funding requests for X, Y and Z, is that why the state didn’t step in sooner?”]

When you say stepping in sooner, we’ve been working with them all long. And indeed, we have spent much more money to support the system of asylum seekers arriving here than the city has. So, you know, I want to make sure you understand that that’s the case.

I also would say that, to the extent that the city is looking for dollars and not assistance, then it needs to go to the General Assembly and make the case for that in Springfield. They have not done that. They did not do that.

The mayor chose not to show up today. Oops.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:25 pm

Comments

The mayor chose to not be with the president when the president was in town. And now the mayor chose not to stand with the governor. Confusing decisions because Brandon has been calling for collaboration on this issue.

The mayor is lost and his messaging is all over the place. He seems stuck on wanting to please everyone and in turn is pleasing no one. Happy to see the gov step in. Let’s hope the federal government takes action next.

Comment by DisappointedVoter Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:31 pm
I think this helps explain why the Mayor didn’t show up today…the appearance here is that the Governor is stepping in to clear up his mess.

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Pretty clear that the governor doesn’t want to wear the jacket for the city’s incompetence, particularly if migrants die of exposure this winter. This is closer to a hostile takeover than it is government cooperation. That’s an exaggeration, but needless to say, JB and Johnson are not working hand in hand here.

Comment by Telly Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:33 pm
Brandon needs help. This is sad and embarrassing. But also, thank heavens that someone is doing something.

Comment by Formerly Unemployed Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:34 pm
I would be a lot more willing to give Team Brandon some grace for struggling with the scope of the migrant crisis if they weren’t also struggling with every single other issue in their portfolio. Glad to see an adult step in here, it was very clearly needed.

Comment by Suburban Legend Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:38 pm
I think I know why the mayor didn’t show up

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:44 pm
“”the appearance here is that the Governor is stepping in to clear up his mess.”"

Yes, but it didn’t have to be this way. Better to emphasize “we’re all in this together” message, than to publicly amplify management shortfalls by anybody.

We will probably have a presser by Tony P on some good moves taken by the County folks. Hopefully will be more positive and inclusive in message and optics.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:49 pm
Thankfully, there is actual leadership at the top here.

Comment by de Gaulle Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:55 pm
The Governor stepped in out of necessity. He simply could not allow Johnson to continue to flounder. And Johnson should have been at the presser.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 12:57 pm
JB saying he doesn’t trust Johnson, his administration or his city council allies to not let the migrants freeze is horrific.
What would Brandon say? They’ve been successful? They have good results? The migrants are doing well? Neighborhoods aren’t being flooded and overwhelmed?
It was a complete failure by Johnson, his council allies and staff. Can’t imagine why he’d want to stand there?

Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:04 pm
Brandon’s incompetence aside, why is this just the problem of the City of Chicago? why not other municipalities? where is Toni in all of this? Yes, they arrive in Chicago but because they are sent by right wing nut gov who sees sanctuary city and goes off. Pitch in, other government entities. God knows the State of Illinois has enough of them.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:14 pm
Mayor Brandon Johnson and his team soiled the bed with regards to the migrant crisis.

It is not platitudes but concrete plans that will assist migrants with housing, work permits, and healthcare.

Johnson’s actions do not bode well for the city of Chicago going forward.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:34 pm
“The mayor chose not to show up today. Oops.”

Oof.

Comment by wildcat12 Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:38 pm
The last mayor annoyed the state gov and allies with abrasiveness, seems like this mayor will annoy them with absence and inaction.

Comment by Charles Edward Cheese Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:43 pm
City of Chicago electeds could take note of how much space the Governor made between what the State is contributing to and what the City is choosing to do on its own.

Building large basecamps, which is a city choice, is building the apparatus that Trump talks about wanting.

JB is not suggesting the city should do this, rather the city is making the choice it sees as appropriate.

Comment by Chicago Voter Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:48 pm
“The mayor chose not to show up today.”

Today?

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:55 pm
I don’t know if the Republican Mayoral Candidate/Lesson Plan Writer (Vallus) would have been any more competent.

Comment by Jerry Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:55 pm
===would have been any more competent. ===

Yeah, well, he lost so we don’t have to bother with that thought much.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 1:57 pm
This is what happens when you elect totally unqualified people to run a global city. The adults have to step in.

Comment by Hahaha Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 2:00 pm
“Toni” not Tony of course

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 2:10 pm
Is the Governor, as has been reported, using “soft shelter site” to mean “mass tent encampment”?

Comment by Stephanie Kollmann Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 3:55 pm
Can anyone say they are surprised that the Johnson administration is where they are today? Experience matters - and if you don’t have the experience, surround yourself with those who do. This isn’t hard.

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 3:59 pm
= So we’ve done a complete data analysis of everything that’s happened for the last 14 months to determine exactly where the bottlenecks are.=

I really like and support this governor, he has been so good for Illinois. BUt why don’t they take this approach to DCFS? It was a disaster and getting worse.

To the post…what @Walker wrote +1

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 4:11 pm
Good to see some take charge on an issue that seems to mushroom into worse and worse territory each week. But I think it is small and bully like to take a shot at the city of Chicago and mayor Johnson by withholding funding and calling out the mayor’s administration on this. Bite your tongue Governor and help the mayor learn how to govern rather than showing him up, He has much to learn and could use your expertise I still think he has tremendous upside and it does no good to show him up that you are smarter than him politically (we all see that already,,)

Comment by Interested cook countian Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 4:55 pm
=Bite your tongue Governor and help the mayor learn how to govern =

That’s not how this works. You hire a staff, surround yourself with competent people. The Governor has enough of his own responsibilities to find time “ to take Johnson under his wing.” The fact that the Mayor didn’t go to the legislature or put forth any credible plans to use state money is inexcusable. In any other setting he would have been relieved if his responsibilities.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 6:37 pm
== take a shot at the city of Chicago and mayor Johnson by withholding funding ==

I’m not that fond of some of JB’s policy positions, but he does have management skills, and seems to be detail oriented / results driven.

With minimal results to date, and little sign of any competency from the mayor’s office, Im sure JB views it as not throwing good money after bad.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 7:22 pm
It would be great if middle Illinois or Southern Illinois saw the opportunity here to offer migrants a chance. Farm laborers, small manufacturing, local retail, and logistics all are having issues finding staff in rural communities.
I’m shocked there hasn’t been a Freedom Caucus statement yet blasting the Governor for coming in and doing the work.

Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 7:50 pm
===You hire a staff, surround yourself with competent people.===

The Governor has some competent folks on staff, but not enough. The Mayor Johnson may be up against a steep learning curve, but Govenror Pritzker’s been sitting on cricises in state government that haven’t been addressed at almost five years in but the victims aren’t as obvious as tens of thousands of immigrants and the Governor’s office can only blame other parts of the administration so maybe that’s why it takes a story in propublica before the Governor’s office cares.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Nov 16, 23 @ 11:41 pm