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Pritzker official pushes back against mayor’s claim that Chicago shouldered asylum-seeker shelters alone

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Illinois

There’s friction between Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s teams about how to manage the migrant crisis — though both sides agree on one thing: More help is needed from the federal government.

What’s causing the split: The city’s plan to stop building new shelters, which we reported Monday, drew a sharp response from Pritzker. “I’m deeply concerned. We do not have enough shelter as it is in the city of Chicago,” he told reporters during a press gaggle.

* WTTW…

In a statement, Johnson spokesman Ronnie Reese indicated that if Pritzker’s so concerned, he could pull the levers at his disposal as the state’s chief executive.

“There are 1,300 municipalities in the State of Illinois, of which Chicago is one. The State has the authority to fund, stand up and operate a shelter in any one of those municipalities at any time that it chooses, including the City of Chicago,” Reese wrote. “Thus far, the City of Chicago has carried the entire weight of the new arrival mission, sheltering nearly every asylum seeker sent to Illinois. We remain committed, however, to ensuring that asylum seekers are housed while also fulfilling our fiduciary responsibilities to the people of Chicago.”

A Pritzker official said that Illinois has taken on responsibilities ranging from wraparound supports to six months of paying for food in shelters, plus allocating the majority of grant funding to Chicago.

“The idea that they are shouldering all of this on their own is ridiculous,” the official said.

The official also pushed back that the state has the authority to build a shelter anywhere it pleases.

* Tribune…

Asked whether the state would be providing additional funding to address the state’s migration crisis this year, Pritzker said he has encouraged state legislators to ensure they can fulfill the $160 million in additional funding the state has committed to address the issue.

“If you think this problem is going to end when the temperature warms up, it’s not,” he said. “We still need shelter for people.”

Pritzker came up with the $160 million largely by moving money around within the existing Illinois Department of Human Service budget but wants lawmakers to approve using surplus revenue to replenish those line items. Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, has expressed a reluctance to address migrant funding as a stand-alone issue.

* More…

* WGN | Pritzker critical of Chicago’s plan to handle reduced shelter space for migrants: A tweak to Chicago’s plan for migrants. In closed-door briefings, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson informed officials that the city would no longer set up new shelter space. Sources say last Friday, a group of City Council members were told that the city does not plan to add new shelter beds. As residents leave, new arrivals will fill the beds.

* Axios | More migrants receive permits to legally work in Chicago: Nearly 1,000 new arrivals in Chicago have obtained work permits roughly four months after the Biden administration expanded eligibility to nearly a half-million more Venezuelans.

* NYT | 9 Democratic Governors Push Biden and Congress to Address Migrant Crisis: The governors, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, asked in a letter to the White House and Congress for “a serious commitment” to overhauling the immigration system that would include federal coordination on a strategy to relieve pressure on the southern and northern borders, as well as for more funds for states. “It is clear our national immigration system is outdated and unprepared to respond to this unprecedented global migration,” reads the letter, which is signed by Ms. Hochul and the governors of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:14 am

Comments

It feels like the city is looking for people to fight with. Pritzker is Tom Cruise/Jerry Maguire and the city is Cuba Gooding Jr.

Help me help you!

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:32 am
==It feels like the city is looking for people to fight with.==

My son’s CPS school had 50 migrant children join after classes started, at a single school. Maybe the city is just looking for help? We are clearing shouldering the load.

Comment by supplied_demand Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:39 am
Feuding with the governor didn’t work out for MLL. What makes MBJ think it’ll work out for him?

Comment by DisappointedVoter Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:44 am
Lightfoot is doing pretty well for herself given how she sued the Illinois attorney general, I must say. She’s at Harvard now.

Comment by Macon Bakin Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:49 am
“We are clearing shouldering the load.”

Absolutely, which is why it seems like it would make a lot more sense to work in tandem with Governor instead of wasting time on publicly feuding with him.

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:50 am
The Gub’nor of Texas made his point…just looking at what is going on here in Illinois. Which is why he did this.

His method? Reprehensible and not “xtian”.

Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:53 am
@supplied_demand agreed, so wouldn’t it be great if Mayor Johnson put forth a comprehensive plan on how they’ll address this, request specific support from the state, and work collaboratively with them to implement it? Because at this point it seems like the 5th floors plan is no plan and finger pointing to shift the burden of responsibility. The mayor was elected to lead and govern, I would sure hope his administration is able to do so.

Comment by Charles Edward Cheese Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:59 am
Mayor Johnson promised to bring more collaboration to government than his predecessor. While there was always tension between MLL and the Gov., it was never like this. Classic bait and switch by Mayor Johnson.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:59 am
==Lightfoot is doing pretty well for herself==

Third place as an incumbent, dude.

Comment by Drury's Missing Clock Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:00 am
Governor Pritzker has loads of credibility, and Mayor Johnson has none.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:11 am
- Charles Edward Cheese -

Exactly! When you have inexperience and naivety working on the 5th floor, there’s no insight as to what is being looked for to “unlock” federal funding. A comprehensive plan is what is necessary and thats what the Admin was failed to do. There has to be clear trails of where funding is going and appropriate checks…Chicago may play loose and fast with taxpayer money, but federal agencies require more scrutiny for the sums being asked.
Is there ANYONE on the 5th floor assigned to work on federal advocacy these days?! Or anyone with federal experience??

Comment by LastModDemStanding Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:16 am
When the state has spent $640 million dollars helping you, you don’t really have credibility to say you’ve shouldered this alone.

Comment by reality Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:21 am
It would be easier to take MBJ’s word on this if the admin had succeeded on a single thing to date, which to my knowledge, it has not.

Comment by Better Man Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:22 am
Brandon Johnson and his administration is delusional. The state has taken on the majority of the burden here. All MBJ can do is stick his head in the sand, pretend problems will go away and blame the guy helping him the most. I’d say I don’t understand their strategy but that would suggest there is one when there clearly is not.

Every time one of these fights happens, I hear the words of Ald. Taylor. “We’re pretending like now we got the power, let us show you how it’s supposed to be done, and we look real stupid right now.” “We coordinated, we organized, we got our shxt together before this, and I feel like because we have the Fifth Floor now, we’re dropping the ball, and that’s all of us,” she said.

Yup. 100%

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 10:34 am
That delusional statement from my mayor’s office is another example of how poorly qualified this team is. The state’s contributions can be fact-checked in seconds. I fear they don’t even know that they should be embarrassed for their performance to-date.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 11:17 am
Before the Gov shifted $160 million, the state had spent $478 million to care for migrants.
Cook County added $100 million to their budget for migrants.
The city is paying $40 million a month according to Brando.
I think that’s low but it’s what he said, so let’s just use the past 6 months (though it’s been going longer) that’s $240 million.
Essentially $1 billion has been spent so far on the migrant issue.

Comment by Frida's boss Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 11:18 am
This administration is in constant need of a distraction from the 5th fl. No one is buying this.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 3:08 pm
Want to think things would be even worse under Vallas, but come on Mr Mayor. Time to do better…

Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 5:17 pm
What is it with Chicago Mayors? On a losing streak.

Comment by Antonio Ricardo Tuesday, Jan 23, 24 @ 9:35 pm