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After major push from Preckwinkle, city leaders begin recognizing reality

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* Last week, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle told reporters that she’d been working to help pass a $70 million migrant funding proposal through the Chicago city council. Mayor Brandon Johnson had initially refused to even admit that he’d cut a deal with Preckwinkle and the governor to ask for the funds. Then said he wouldn’t do it. Then finally capitulated. But it apparently took Preckwinkle’s experienced hands to move this thing forward. Here’s Fran Spielman…

A divided City Council committee agreed Monday to slap another $70 million Band-Aid on Chicago’s migrant crisis after behind-the-scenes lobbying by County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and others.

Preckwinkle was among those calling recalcitrant City Council members in recent days, urging them to support the $70 million in migrant funding Mayor Brandon Johnson promised months ago. Johnson then backed out of an agreement to match $70 million in Cook County funding to go with a $175 million commitment from Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Before the lobbying squeeze, key members of the Black Caucus, in closed-door briefings, had strenuously opposed new migrant funding, sources said.

After the frenzied phone calls, it wasn’t even close. The Budget Committee approved $70 million in surplus spending, 20-8, setting the stage for full Council approval on Wednesday.

* Fox News gave a megaphone to the handful of remaining opponents…

“We are not taking care of our own,” Ald. Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward said during the meeting. “We have all but forgotten the residents on the West Side and South Side.” […]

“Here we are begging for more money when we don’t have money for the people here,” said 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale, a Democrat who opposed the proposal. “We don’t have money for after school programs. We don’t have money to help our kids get off the street. Yet, we would just blow money left and right. That’s a fundamental problem.”

* But proponents pointed out the harsh reality: Pay now or pay later…

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th Ward) said the city had no choice but to set aside more money to care for the migrants.

“I know this is hard, but we have to do this,” Burnett said. “If we don’t, something’s gonna bust.”

The funds are set to come from the city’s 2022 budget surplus, Budget Director Annette Guzman told the Budget Committee.

If the City Council fails to act, Chicago’s unhoused population will swell, and more people will have no choice but to camp on city streets and parks, Guzman said.

“The unintended and indirect costs will soar,” Guzman said. […]

Fewer than 9,200 people were living in 18 city facilities as of Monday, a 22% drop since March 15, according to city data.

By the way, I’ve been doing this a long time now and I don’t ever recall a Cook County Board President so dramatically rescuing a Chicago mayor from him/herself.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 10:50 am

Comments

i guess that shows where the real power is in Chicago. i wonder if the mayor will learn anything from this. And i wonder if he will express any gratitude for her help. Certainly not publicly but privately

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:22 am
President Preckwinkle should get the Mayor’s salary since she has to do his job.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:23 am
I hope that, in addition to twisting arms on the council, Preckwinkle made time to remind Johnson that he’s Mayor of the whole city. He’s on the line every day for everything that happens, not just the stuff he wants to focus on.

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:24 am
“President Preckwinkle should get the Mayor’s salary since she has to do his job.”

Bingo

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:34 am
well she made him so she’s gotta support. especially as she lost the State’s Attny race so her power can’t slip more.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:35 am
The migrants being here is a reality. Yet some want to ignore that reality. They have to be cared for in some fashion. Those that oppose funding for the migrants have yet to lay out a strategy as to what should be done except that they simply don’t want to provide any funding.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 11:47 am
1) Preckwinkle and JB thank goodness are stepping in more and more. 2) This is another example of why Walter Burnett is a voice of reason and effective. 3) I’m not as up on the South Side, the reality is that there has been significan, targeted public, private and philanthropic investment on the West Side the last 5 years. The projects are just now becoming visible. 4) It seems like we still need more shelters (for migrants and the homeless).

Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:09 pm
===It seems like we still need more shelters (for migrants and the homeless)===

And instead of using some of the money to create permanent shelters that can be used for other purposes when this particular crisis passes, the city has focused on temporary shelters. It’s been a missed opportunity from Jump St.

“Never let a crisis go to waste.” This one has been mostly wasted so far.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:14 pm
The mayor made a mistake in promoting CPZ and that is not meant to be a knock against her. Rich G leaving was an opportunity to make major personnel shifts.

The migrant crisis could have established the mayor as an empathetic leader that learned to collaborate and co-govern. Instead he has allowed it to paint him as a divisive rookie who is in over his head.

I am cheering for the guy to change, but nothing indicated he thinks things need to change.

Comment by One Time Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:35 pm
===And instead of using some of the money to create permanent shelters that can be used for other purposes when this particular crisis passes,

This is a great point. It could serve as space for people after disasters, possibly homeless shelters, refugees, and just generally something for transitions people face. Having a good basis for those who come to a city where they can start a new life would payoff in the long run as well.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:40 pm
The mayor is a fantastic organizer and certainly knows how to win elections. Im not sure he is up to this job, however.

Comment by low level Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:30 pm
More and more I feel bad about voting for Lightfoot over Preckwinkle, just because I didn’t like the idea of feeding more power into a new Democratic machine. She seems to be the most competent political leader in the local region at this point.

Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:35 pm
@Homebody. I never really understood that criticism of President Preckwinkle. She was the “Boss,” as the commercials said, but it was a different type of machine. Progressive, sensible policies with a focus on equity and making sure that she was able to use her power to make sure all people were represented and in government (judiciary especially). Would have been a great mayor IMHO

Comment by Smith Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:06 pm
Quite simply, Brandon Johnson is out of his depth. Glad Pritzker and Preckwinkle are at least setting up a safety net to save him from himself.

Comment by Former Philadelphian Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:33 pm