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SoS Giannoulias went off on Mayor Johnson about subminimum wage, Bring Chicago Home and public safety

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Illinois

* Nadig Newspapers published this story a few weeks ago, but I somehow missed it. A subscriber just sent it to me to ask what I thought. I’ll let y’all decide. Here’s Brian Nadig…

At Feb. 23 Northwest Side business luncheon, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias was critical of Mayor Brandon Johnson, while Alderman Samantha Nugent (39th) expressed concern that some local families would move to the suburbs if the Chicago Board of Education were to dismantle selective enrollment programs.

“I think what this administration is doing to small businesses is at a time it shouldn’t,” Giannoulias said, adding that he once served as business owner on the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce.

“No one is more pro labor than me” but the city’s new law on eliminating the subminimum wage will not generate more revenue for the city and will “hurt” small businesses, he said. […]

Efforts to increase real estate transfer taxes in Chicago also are “not good” for business growth, and the city should make “public safety needs … an absolute priority every single day,” Giannoulias said. He added that the mayor may be working to address safety but “the perception is there” that the city is not doing enough.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:02 am

Comments

Anecdotally: Every server in my circle of friends/family (a large amount) thinks ending the tipped minimum wage is going to be a disaster for them and the restaurants they work at.

Their opinions seem to be in line with the survey last week showing 86% of servers believe they will make LESS money under new system.

I’m glad Alexi is taking on this issue. I understand there are good intentions behind it, but I seem to remember an adage about where the path of good intentions leads.

Comment by Wowie Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:10 am
Starting to think being Mayor of Chicago is a thankless job where one can’t get out of bed without getting sideways of someone.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:12 am
And ending selective enrollment is a truly terrible idea.

Comment by Wowie Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:14 am
The cracks are beginning to form, Mayor Johnson starting to lose support amongst more IL Dems was a matter of when not if.

Comment by Charles Edward Cheese Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:26 am
The cynical version of me says this is Alexi thinking about running for mayor.

Comment by Montrose Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:44 am
==The cynical version of me says this is Alexi thinking about running for mayor. ==

It would not surprise me; especially if he is a realist. If he runs for Governor or U.S. Senator, he will probably not make it through the primary. The mayor’s race will be a year after that; it’s a good way to hedge his future prospects.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 11:56 am
The border ward alders better be front in center advocating for an end to the sub minimum wage statewide, put the energy you are putting into bellyaching into that endeavor.

Comment by Macon Bakin Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Alexi would probably make a great mayor. I would vote for him. I voted for Johnson in the last election.

Selective Enrollment is in no real danger. Students are already enrolled for next year with an elected school board on the horizon. Confusion over the fate of Selective Enrollment is just another communication misstep by an administration that cannot articulate what is they actually want.

Comment by Common Sense Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:09 pm
===The cynical version of me says this is Alexi thinking about running for mayor===

If it was, his people would’ve likely made sure other reporters outside the NW Side saw it.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:18 pm
Alexi is a smart man. He knows people are lining up for the senate and governor spot once they’re vacated. But it’s smarter to make sure you have a spot for anything in case those other two don’t work out.

Comment by Time Is Up Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:19 pm
Giannoulias seems to be operating on the basis of vibes about public safety rather than actual data.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:27 pm
== Giannoulias seems to be operating on the basis of vibes about public safety rather than actual data. ==

Arguing that your perception is wrong and the data says something else is rarely a winner with voters.

Also ending selective enrolment will cause folks to move out of the city and will impact public and private school attendance.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:36 pm
==Giannoulias seems to be operating on the basis of vibes about public safety rather than actual data.==

In New York, mere vibes were enough to send the Democratic Governor down the path of rolling back reforms and pushing discredited “tough on crime” policies. “I’m not going to talk about statistics. I’m going to talk about feelings and emotions and the psychology of a city,” she said, waving away NYPD data showing crime on the subway was down “markedly” while pushing for a crackdown.

It’s a red flag when policymakers start leaning on “perceptions” rather than facts–especially where those perceptions are largely created and reinforced by deliberate fearmongering and misinformation.

Comment by charles in charge Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:51 pm
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:27 pm:

Giannoulias seems to be operating on the basis of vibes about public safety rather than actual data.

Actual data: 5 killed 18 wounded in Chicago this past weekend.

March stats courtesy of the Chicago police department.

March to Date
Shot & Killed: 27
Shot & Wounded: 98
Total Shot: 125
Total Homicides: 31

Comment by old man poodle owner Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:54 pm
===Actual data: 5 killed 18 wounded in Chicago this past weekend===

Let’s see the context now.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:01 pm
@Rich Miller — Are there any elected IL Pols who think Brandon Johnson is doing a passable job? I saw Jan Schakowsky was in his corner for Bring Chicago Home, but it seems like the rest of the IL elected class are letting him foul things up by himself.

Comment by Old IL Dude Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:01 pm
“No one is more pro-labor than me, but…” is a sure sign that someone is about to say something very anti-labor!

Comment by JC Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:17 pm
- charles in charge - Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 12:51 pm:

And her militarized subway national guardspeople and the cop mayor of NYC flooding the subways still didn’t stop a subway shooting there last week in Brooklyn–and that’s with a police station one block away too!

Comment by Google Is Your Friend Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:27 pm
== very anti-labor!==

Lowering server’s take-home pay is anti-labor? Hmm.

Comment by Wowie Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:32 pm
Let’s see the context now.

One was a guy who stabbed an 11 yr old. Context?

Comment by Nope. Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 1:48 pm
I gave you context Rich. You chose not to publish it.

Why is that?

Comment by old man poodle owner Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 2:46 pm
===I gave you context Rich===

I meant context for how this month or this year to date compares to other months or years to date.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 3:02 pm
Goodness

All this work I do for you and for what. Now for you… tell me how many homicides for the rest of the state to date? Is Chicago safer or less safe
than the rest of the state?

Here is “context”

Year To Date
Shot & Killed: 84
Shot & Wounded: 356
Total Shot: 440
Total Homicides: 100

2024 Homicide Trend
Year Homicides Wounded
2023 128 425
2022 138 503
2021 149 600
2020 108 433
2019 89 356
2018 115 433
2017 148 598
2016 153 683
2015 87 358
2014 73 239

Comment by old man poodle owner Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 3:22 pm
If you prefer, here’s a graph (only) showing early-March shooting data in Chicago from 2018-2024. 2024 is in line with previous years. Not as bad overall as 2021, not as good as 2018 & 2019.
https://www.datawrapper.de/_/QSKnD/

Comment by Dr. M Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 4:12 pm
I’m no math major but to get to the argument that servers will make less you have to believe that people will stop tipping at restaurants because servers are being paid the minimum wage. It strikes me that most people don’t know servers make less than the minimum wage now and most people don’t know that it’s going to change, so the most likely possibility is that people keep going to restaurants as they do now and they continue to tip as they do now, which would result in workers making more.

Comment by Jeremy Rosen Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 4:38 pm
Personally I feel Alexi should focus on road safety, licensing and other state issues.

As for the crime stats, I feel much safer in Chicago then I do in hellhole Xenia

Comment by low level Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 5:23 pm
==It strikes me that most people don’t know servers make less than the minimum wage now and most people don’t know that it’s going to change.==

Restaurants will likely increase their prices to cover the new minimum wage requirements. When customers ask why the burger that used to cost $14 is now $17, and they’re told why … it’s gonna basically say that the 20% tip is now priced in to the bill. No tip.

Comment by Old IL Dude Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 5:26 pm
===it’s gonna basically say that the 20% tip is now priced in to the bill. No tip.===

If that’s truly the case, then what’s the problem?

Also, I belong to a club that factors in a service charge. But, I always leave extra because the service is very good. And because I leave extra, my service only improves.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 18, 24 @ 7:38 pm