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Yeah, no

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Illinois

* We’ve already talked about the first half of this excerpt, but the second part is new. Block Club Chicago…

City officials “paused” efforts to open additional migrant shelters as of Dec. 22, citing “budget constraints,” according to a briefing obtained by Block Club Chicago.

The city is switching its migrant housing strategy and has begun planning the “rightsizing” of its shelter system to help address budget concerns, according to the briefing. Officials are also working to fill available shelter space immediately when people are resettled, according to the briefing.

In a statement, mayoral spokesperson Ronnie Reese said the city is expanding its “outmigration and resettlement services” to free up more space at existing shelters.

The change in policy comes as new migrants continue to outpace available shelter beds, and after the city’s plans for large migrant base camps were halted. State officials, who are spending $160 million to help house and resettle migrants, will lead the way in establishing another 2,000 migrant shelter beds, Reese said.

That’s quite a policy change, especially considering that the state, not the city, is in charge of resettling new arrivals. Also, from what I can gather, the city hasn’t yet told the state that they’re shifting money toward resettlement.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 11:15 am

Comments

Hmm. I thought this was a good post. Oh well.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 1:28 pm
It is a great post Rich. I have been coming back to it repeatedly because I thought the comments would plentiful and interesting
I wonder if it is possible that the Mayor has managed to not amaze or surprise anyone anymore

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 1:39 pm
==“It’s well documented we haven’t opened a shelter since December,” Johnson said==

Last time I checked, November 18th isn’t December. I guess he’s rounding up. /S

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 1:54 pm
The disgust and disappointment with Brandon Johnson is so deep and so profound. The incompetence of both he and his staff is breathtaking. And. Jeanette was soooooooo right. They simply don’t belong on the fifth floor. So sadly this isn’t the tiniest bit surprising.

Comment by New Day Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 2:13 pm
As Chicagoans who voted for Mayor Johnson, my wife and I feel the same, She has been trying for several days to find a way to contact the mayor’s office directly. Anyplace that lists contact info for the mayor gives 311 as the number to call. When she called that number she was told that they have no way to get messages to the mayor. Does anyone here know of a phone number for the mayor’s office.

Comment by Jimbo2 Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 2:36 pm
It was a good post, but at this point I think we can all agree the City fumbled - and continues to - fumble the ball in every way possible. Remember the victory lap around moving new migrants out of the police station….

As I often point out on here, this outcome was predictable absent a comprehensive plan and a tiger team of (actual)issue and operational execution experts from the Mayors Office.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 3:08 pm
Profoundly disappointed, and beyond upset at the humanitarian crisis. This seems like the thing that a progressive mayor would take care of, but apparently not.

Comment by Formerly Unemployed Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 3:25 pm
@Jimbo2 -

It took some googling, and I haven’t tried this number, but found (312) 744-3300

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Jan 17, 24 @ 5:20 pm