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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
It’s been an open secret for weeks that at least some members of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Intergovernmental Affairs staff would be leaving after the Democratic National Convention, including its director, Sydney Holman.
That happened last week. Holman quit and two others were forced out of the IGA office, which is a liaison with the City Council and the Illinois General Assembly.
Holman is well-known to state legislators. She started on the House Democratic staff and did a stint as Gov. JB Pritzker’s House liaison. She’s well-liked, even though the mayor isn’t exactly popular at the Statehouse.
Holman leaves as the city is gearing up to face what is estimated as at least a $982.4 million budget deficit next fiscal year.
But the city has long known this massive deficit was coming. Almost a year ago, the city released a two-year budget forecast with a “base outlook” that projected a $986 million deficit in fiscal year 2025, which is only a few million dollars away from the current city projection. The city’s 2023 budget report predicted a “negative outlook” of a $1.14 billion deficit by 2025.
And now the city is apparently hoping to convince the General Assembly to help it out. One outlet reported the other day that city officials are “talking to state lawmakers about its budget concerns,” although I personally couldn’t find anyone who has had any serious talks with the city. Pritzker said the city hasn’t spoken with him, either.
Let’s count the bailouts Johnson wantsA Chicago-only bailout is just not in the cards, and a broader bailout of municipalities would cost exponentially more than the billion dollars that Chicago needs.
Chicago is already asking for an immediate increase of about $5 billion for statewide and Chicago-specific school funding, and $2.5 billion in state help to build a new Chicago Bears stadium. So, we’re talking about a total ask of $8.5 billion, not including money for every other municipality, which would have to be included if Chicago got any more cash, and not including the $730 million mass transit bailout for next year, which will eventually rise to $1.32 billion.
Good luck with all that.
Holman was superseded by Kennedy Bartley, who was hired by the mayor earlier this year as a liaison to progressive groups and unions. Crain’s Chicago Business reported last week that the mayor’s office had circulated an organizational chart showing that Holman and her staff would report to Bartley. Holman, as long expected, did not want to work for Bartley, so she left.
Bartley comes from United Working Families, a progressive group that is closely allied with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Bartley spent quite a bit of time organizing on behalf of the “defund the police” movement. Two days after the terror group Hamas attacked Israel, Bartley tweeted, “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free. Amen!” which is considered by many to be a call to eliminate Israel as a nation. Bartley also called police “f-ing pigs” in a 2021 interview
In other words, Bartley may have some problems lobbying the Illinois Legislature.
While most of the people stepping up to criticize Johnson for elevating Bartley are the usual Johnson critics, state Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) is a longtime Johnson friend, is very tight with the Chicago Teachers Union (where the mayor worked) and endorsed the mayor’s election last year. Martwick sent out a critical press release last week which focused on the “f-ing pigs” comment.
“The comments made by Kennedy Bartley serve only to disparage our valued public servants and diminish the progress that we have made,” Martwick said in the release. “Our government leaders should be working toward a greater sense of safety through unity, not chaos through division and insults. I condemn these comments, and I implore our Mayor to ensure accountability for the harm they have caused.”
That doesn’t portend well.
Johnson’s elevation of Bartley could also be seen as a sort of war declaration. The CTU and the mayor have strongly indicated that they plan to blame Pritzker and the General Assembly if they cannot achieve the union’s contract goals. And Johnson, who comes from the CTU, may be wanting the same bogeyman to justify his own deficit problems. Bartley would likely be a good fit for that sort of role, even though that confrontational path will undoubtedly lead to no good end.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 7:44 am
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It’s sad that politicians want bailouts instead of taking responsibility and making tough choices. Johnson wasn’t forced into the job, he sought it. Man up and fix the problem.
This idea of “magic beans” solutions also permeates the federal government, especially when Trump was president. Tax cuts and more spending and let future politicians and taxpayers fix it is the norm.
Sad.
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 7:59 am
Brandon Johnson, Kennedy Bartley, and CTU may try to blame the governor for all their fiscal issues, but it’s not going to work. Building relationships will be more effective, but it’s not in their nature. These are lefty goofballs whose schtick worked when all they had to do was protest and tweet. It’s a very Trumpy approach, IMO. Governing requires hard work, and the goofballs are angry that purity and tweeting aren’t going to cut it. Alas, it’s going to be a long 2.5 years.
Comment by pragmatist Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:07 am
So they think they can bully their way into getting money from the state? Yeah. Excellent plan. I’d take money away from them if they started doing that and I was in charge.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:28 am
“Brandon Johnson, Kennedy Bartley, and CTU may try to blame the governor for all their fiscal issues”
You’re forgetting a couple other superstar tweeters there, but otherwise there is no ‘may’ about it, this is the only plan. There is nothing else and there never will be from these goofies.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:49 am
One additional observation. People are leaving the Johnson administration or being pushed out by Kennedy Bartley and purity goofballs to tighten the circle. That’s not a winning strategy as we learned from Donald Trump.
Comment by pragmatist Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:52 am
There are some very simple realities about governing that are total bummers, but are real nonetheless. One is that, unfortunately, blame-passing and can-kicking don’t solve the problem of empty coffers. So if your constituents want things like transportation, education and healthcare they, and you, are going to have to pay for that. Sometimes very nice friends help you out, but they’re usually dealing with their own burdensome realities and don’t have capacity for your troubles.
Anything that strays from that reality is noise intended to distract from this very inconvenient reality.
The blaming is a waste of your constituents’ time, Mayor Johnson. Please just tell me how much more you’re going to need me to pay so we can get through this.
Comment by Who else Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:56 am
Johnson’s going to have to recognize that he’s Mayor of the City of Chicago, and it may be that state legislators have to teach him that lesson.
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 8:59 am
Pritzker is a generally well-liked governor. He’s affable and has a genuine record of accomplishment.
Sure, he’s a billionaire, which of course for Johnson, Bartley and Gates makes him evil and an automatic villain, but most fair-minded observers, especially members of the General Assembly, would not agree with that simplistic caricature, and would recognize that he’s backed policies to build up the working and middle classes.
So, they can declare war if they like - as they’ve done with a good portion of the City Council - but it’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:10 am
Rich Daley, Rahm, Lightfoot…..never thought I’d be missing them so much.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:17 am
Chicago Democrats intentionally turned left with the selection of Johnson over Vallas. These are the results.
CTU and Johnson are under the impression that they simply need to demand more to satisfy their “vision”.
I don’t think they realize the PR problem they have. But then again, by virtue of the Chicago Media and compliant Democrats, their beliefs are really only tested every 4 years.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:19 am
you don’t have to live in Chicago to want things to be ok there. it’s a big driver of good for the State. heck, Democrats nationwide don’t want Chicago to be bad, to be used as an example of terrible. Somebody please get to the Mayor…no not you SDGates….and have him get it together. It’s terrible governing right now.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:19 am
I can’t imagine anyone in the gov’s office or the legislature being terribly concerned about a war declaration from the bad news bears.
Comment by VK Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:23 am
I’d love for them to pick a fight with Pritzker who could then peel off a few million to defeat Johnson in ‘27 and put an end to this disastrous administration.
Please Stacey, we know you read these comments, I’m begging you: Pick the fight with JB
Comment by Beep booop Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:31 am
The war has been happening since MBJ’s inauguration. I do not understand it. If he was the collaborative person he promised to be during the campaign, he would be in a much better position. MBJ/CTU (who are really a single entity) think that everyone has to kowtow to them because they beat Vallas. They’re already taking big legal risks in pursuit of their war, and it is just going to end up with more people hurt.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 9:51 am
Love to see school funding get funneled through the prism politics. Another fight JBP will win politically at the expense of the vulnerable.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:00 am
==Another fight JBP will win politically at the expense of the vulnerable.==
What would you prefer the Governor do?
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:03 am
@SW Sider:
If you’ve got a viable solution then by all means share that with us all. It’s easy to demand money. Not so easy to figure out where it comes from. The Governor has already said he would love to provide even more money from education. If you think yelling and screaming and bullying is the way to get that money then I guess feel free to support what the Mayor is doing. I personally would tell him to go fly and kite. The state provides Chicago more than a billion dollars. Nobody is shortchanging you.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:13 am
==What would you prefer the Governor do?==
I think anyone who thinks Chicago schools have all the money they need, needs to spend time with Chicago students and teachers.
Personally, if I was the governor of Illinois, the health of my biggest city would be one of/my top concern. Letting Chicago schools bleed dry because of tax problems will not be good for the future of the state.
However, that might not matter for someone who might be in a cabinet in a few months or running for president in a few years.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:19 am
=The CTU and the mayor have strongly indicated that they plan to blame Pritzker and the General Assembly if they cannot achieve the union’s contract goals.=
LOL, running things requires real adulting. WHat they are doing is childish. They think government is being snarky on social media. I predict that this is where CTU’s influence starts to wane. They have massively overplayed their hand and their capacity. They have never understood management or governance. They do understand grousing though. They could teach a master class on grousing. But when you have the power that comes with the mayor’s office in Chicago you actually have to do reaal work for people other than CTU leadership and they haven’t caught on to that yet.
=Another fight JBP will win politically at the expense of the vulnerable.=
I have often been critical of CTU and CPS. For them, there is simply no amount of money that will ever be enough. They will always cite funding as the source of all of their problems. MAke no mistake, there are many great teachers laboring at CPS and, on the daily, responsible for minor miracles. But it cannot always be about money.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:27 am
My mayor may be one of those people who prefer to yell and throw rocks at the power elite. Problem is, he is a member of the power elite now. Not ready for prime time player I think.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:35 am
SW Sider, you still haven’t said exactly what you would like the Governor to do. I understand your rhetoric but don’t see a proposal.
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:35 am
“Love to see school funding get funneled through the prism politics.” Yeah, it was called the 2023 Chicago mayoral election.
Comment by Navin Johnson Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:40 am
==I think anyone who thinks Chicago schools have all the money they need,==
He absolutely never said that. Ever. And you can’t give Chicago schools more money without giving the rest of the schools in the state more money. If you give Chicago what they way they are “owed” (which is a ridiculous way to frame the argument) then that’s multiple billions of dollars that need to be spent. Again, where would you like that to come from? You’re childish “tax problems” argument shows your lack of understanding other than you seem to be on the same page as Mayor Johnson in that you think Chicago is “owed” something. You’re not owed anything.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:40 am
==You’re childish “tax problems” argument==
State needs a graduated income tax. JBP knows it and he spent less energy fighting for it than his walk in the park re-election for a reason.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:53 am
==SW Sider, you still haven’t said exactly what you would like the Governor to do.==
Use his endless amounts of literal capital and almost endless amount of political capital and actually fight for a reform of the Illinois tax code.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:56 am
“The CTU and the mayor have strongly indicated that they plan to blame Pritzker and the General Assembly”
Johnson is not exactly bubbling over with popularity. That’s a dumb fight and could result in Johnson losing next time. He was lucky to have run against someone like Vallas. But that’s the far left, picking fights with the people most likely to help at all.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 10:58 am
===and actually fight for a reform of the Illinois tax code. ===
Were you asleep in 2020?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:00 am
==One additional observation. People are leaving the Johnson administration or being pushed out by Kennedy Bartley and purity goofballs to tighten the circle. That’s not a winning strategy as we learned from Donald Trump.==
A closer-to-home comparison would also be Rauner in 2017. Brandon Johnson should see how that ended up for ol Bruce.
Comment by fs Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:00 am
==Use his endless amounts of literal capital and almost endless amount of political capital and actually fight for a reform of the Illinois tax code.==
He spent over $50 million on this fight. And it still lost. Your notion that he just sat on his hands is just laughable.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:00 am
Where does the CTU stand on more funding for transit?
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:01 am
“actually fight for a reform of the Illinois tax code”
He tried that with the Fair Tax and it failed. Johnson’s homeless tax failed. Where have people been the last few years? Does the far left want Pritzker to flail away and fail repeatedly like Republicans did when trying to get rid of or weaken the ACA, just to virtue signal?
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:01 am
==Were you asleep in 2020?==
He buried Irvin when he stuck his head out of the ground. He did not respond to the tax issue until way, way too late.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:02 am
==He spent over $50 million on this fight. And it still lost. Your notion that he just sat on his hands is just laughable.==
The notion that he worked as hard in 2020 as he did to set up and run against Bailey is laughable.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:03 am
Johnson has demonstrated a lack of skills in his time as mayor. Chicago will endure somehow.
But please don’t get nostalgic for former mayors who were terrible in their own ways. And please don’t pretend that Vallas was a Democrat.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:03 am
If you think you can convince a majority of the voters to approved a graduated income tax then I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who would like to know exactly how you would go about it. 55% of the voters rejected it.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:04 am
As Donald Rumsfeld once famously said, “you go to war with the army you have.”
Given the Mayor’s team of generals, I’m not sure that’s making the Governor nervous.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:04 am
I know, Team Pritzker tried nothing and they’re all out of ideas.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:06 am
==Team Pritzker tried nothing==
And with that you’ve shown you’re not to be taken seriously. Now you’re just trolling.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:07 am
==fight for a reform of the Illinois tax code.==
If you are referring to a graduated income tax, I voted for it in 2020 but the rest of the state didn’t quite agree. I knew it was in trouble when several AFSCME union colleagues were opposed.
If you cant get them to agree, I’m not sure how you get suburban independents to vote yes. Remember it requires a constitutional amendment, not just a legislative change.
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:08 am
Dear swsider: do you remember the fight for a fair tax in 2020? It didn’t pass. So, blaming the governor for not advancing something he tried to do and didn’t pass is typical for the Chicago left. All grouse and whine, no solutions.
Even if the governor wanted to run a progressive income tax 2.0 campaign, it would be a few years before that money would show up. (All assuming voters change their minds on the issue.) So the question to the goofballs is: What do you want to have happen now? Silence.
The CTU and Mayor are the most unserious bunch since the Trump administration.
Comment by pragmatist Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:08 am
I was a Johnson supporter, and the thought of Vallas as mayor was unacceptable. I still hate that thought, and hope JB is active in finding a real democrat to primary Johnson in the next mayoral race. Johnson is proving himself to be in way over his head, and is taking counsel that gets it wrong nearly every time. After November, it will be time for a real and capable opponent to surface and begin to run IMO
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:13 am
@SWSider
By my count there are 28 state representatives from the City of Chicago. I can guarantee you that you aren’t getting a majority of representatives in the House to agree to give Chicago one dime more of money without opening the spigots to the rest of the state. That’s just the House. Same for the Senate. Do you really honestly think that bullying and whining is the way to get what you want?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:15 am
Not sure Mayor of Chicago can “go to war” with the state, Johnson would need to have a unified bloc of legislators to be for a plan to address city problems — budget, pensions, school, transit, etc.— but he don’t. Next choice is focus a statewide issue to build a statewide consensus. Possible, but ain’t happened yet.
Transit could be a starting point, but everyone needs to move on from “reform” to the notion that
transit needs a new framework rather than just hauling folks back and forth to the Loop.
BTW folks should probably scrap new Bears/Sox stadium chatter too.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:17 am
“”you don’t have to live in Chicago to want things to be ok there. it’s a big driver of good for the State”"
Agree w. Amalia. JB and GA pretty much know this as well.
But outrageous asks, and public personal attacks aren’t helping..
Comment by walker Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:19 am
“Letting Chicago schools bleed dry”
Sometimes I think I’m out of touch with the mainstream. Then I listen to a CTU militant and realize how much more insane I could sound.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:31 am
SWSider seems to be spoiling for a fight in comments and redirect to JB Pritzker.
It was Mayor Johnson who selected 39th and California for GardaWorld, it was Mayor Johnson who can’t seem to manage budgets internally and externally, it’s Mayor Johnson’s team that is horribly bad at relationship management and communication. I expect with Sydney gone - alders will organize themselves, previously a group that couldn’t organize themselves out of a shoebox. I guess that’s one administration success.
Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:32 am
==But outrageous asks, and public personal attacks aren’t helping..==
Exactly. The 5th Floor / CTU wont get any votes from Republicans and by making an enemy of the governor and legislative Dems I dont see how they could expect to get more than 5-10 votes on any of their priorities. Thats not a good place to start.
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:34 am
I don’t miss RMD as mayor (but do miss Rahm) since he’s plenty responsible for the City’s current fiscal situation. The last mayoral election is a strong argument for ranked choice voting. It can’t come to our Republic soon enough.
Johnson and the CTU massively overplaying their hand. Are they still unwilling to consider closing underutilized and underperforming schools? Blaming a popular governor will not end well for them.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:37 am
I don’t think Republican Paul Vallis would be able to do much better and he was a school worker.
Gov Pritzker has already said there is no welfare available for the Bears or the Sox. Both team owners have plenty of money stuff underneath the mattress to pay for things themselves without mooching off of hard working tax payers.
Public transit needs some work. Its not just reform. There is less ridership today than before the pandemic. The Forest Park leg of the Blue Line is a wreck.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:40 am
To a previous post, CPS are not bleeding dry. The problem is they have not rightsized their workforce to their current student population. They need to close schools and reorganize their budget. The union needs to recognize this reality.
Johnson didn’t create this budget issue for the city but he has to deal with it. There is no pot of gold in Springfield so cuts will be needed. So bite the bullet and do the right thing now.
Comment by Center Drift Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:55 am
The plan is ain’t nothing you can’t fix with money. That’s history making
Comment by Rabid Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 11:56 am
==Are they still unwilling to consider closing underutilized and underperforming schools? Blaming a popular governor will not end well for them.==
they are considering it with delegates with a meeting about space consolidation
==The problem is they have not rightsized their workforce to their current student population. They need to close schools and reorganize their budget. The union needs to recognize this reality.==
the union sees this reality but can’t politically make this work with their overreliance on the hunger strike and his 4 year teaching stint at Jenner, a school that was closed
Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:08 pm
==Letting Chicago schools bleed dry because of tax problems will not be good for the future of the state.==
Then the mayor of Chicago should probably start trying to do something about it. Once he has a plan that is more comprehensive than simply demanding that other people fix it for him (at the expense of the rest of the state), the state is likely to start looking for ways to help.
Rahm took a lot of heat for closing schools and making other hard decisions, but at least he was making decisions.
Comment by Leslie K Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:08 pm
==The problem is they have not rightsized their workforce to their current student population. ==
IMO sounds exactly like BVR on how waste, fraud and abuse will be cut to balance the budget.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:14 pm
- The notion that he worked as hard in 2020 as he did to set up and run against Bailey is laughable. -
I have plenty of criticism for the way the fair tax campaign was run, but the fact is JB put in a great deal of effort and money to put it in front of the voters.
It didn’t pass, that’s the reality we’re dealing with. Pretending JB can snap his fingers for a do over or to get the money CPS is demanding is not reality.
Johnson and CTU need to put some skin in the game, starting with raising property taxes. Unfortunately it’s easier to stamp your feet and point fingers.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:19 pm
IMO sounds exactly like BVR on how waste, fraud and abuse will be cut to balance the budget.
My wonderful CPS teachers taught me fractions and proportions. Thanks to them, I know that a school infrastructure maintained for a population of over 3 million people should shrink accordingly as the population decreases. This is just the baseline, and CTU will never accept it.
Add in additional variables of CPS’s enrollment dropping at a faster rate than the City’s population, and we can argue that the system should have even fewer buildings and employees. This is not a knock on CPS quality or even caused by competing parochial and charter schools (who face the same issues), but just the reality that there are fewer school-aged kids in Chicago than there used to be.
The City can learn from many of its parochial high schools, who have had to embrace reform to face the issue of a shrinking student base. Some schools adapted by going coed and merging. Other ones refused and they closed when the rent came past due.
Comment by Jurist Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:33 pm
Goodness, Paul Vallas was and remains a deeply flawed candidate going back to his primary campaign against Blogojevich. When can we just stop with the rehashing. I received one of those phone surveys over the weekend from the school choice/ Vallas fan club. The idea that they are still polling for him is nuts in IMHO. Johnson will either fix his course or he won’t. It a rough road but he and his comrades appear up for the fight.
Comment by Annon Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:34 pm
=== They need to close schools and reorganize their budget.===
This has got to be trolling, right? What, is MBJ going on a “hunger strike” to protest his own decisions? I am no fan of his, but let’s be real, that will never happen.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:35 pm
=SWSider seems to be spoiling for a fight in comments and redirect to JB Pritzker.=
Obviously an agent. This is how the war starts - with guerrilla tactics. Win the hearts/minds on CapFax and whatnot
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:35 pm
If SWSider is any indication, it looks like the answer to your question is yes, Rich. This is a war declaration. As a center left voter, I find that to be very unfortunate.
Comment by low level Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:39 pm
=I know, Team Pritzker tried nothing and they’re all out of ideas.=
Says the supporter of the team that has only shared one idea, that “idea” being…somebody needs to fix this with more money but not us.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:41 pm
Not going to argue with the obvious troll. Will simply make this point:
City Hall can’t bully Springfield into giving it more money. First off, this is going to be a very difficult budget year. Second, as Rich cites above, City Hall’s asks are enormous, absurd and impossible. Essentially they want billions more just for themselves. As many have pointed out, that’s not how this works. And finally, how is bullying the state for $$$$ working out for the Bears? Hint: it’s not.
This Administration needs to learn the lesson that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar. But to a CTU hammer, everything looks like a nail. So on we march.
Comment by New Day Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:53 pm
“This is how the war starts - with guerrilla tactics. Win the hearts/minds on CapFax and whatnot”
Judging from all the above comments, seems to be working spectacularly.
Comment by New Day Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 12:54 pm
There is ample opportunity to run against Pritzker and DPI in the next primary. Those who think a magic wand can be waved have the opportunity to make it happen and show everyone how easy it really is.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 1:24 pm
==This Administration needs to learn the lesson that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar==
You get more flies with vinegar than with honey.
Comment by Garfield Ridge Guy Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 1:40 pm
Somebody said once or a hundred times that politics ain’t bean bag. If the Mayor’s latest moves are “a sort of war declaration,” then he best be ready for some return fire from a governor and a legislature that is substantially better positioned for the fight than is the Mayor and his one note chorus of supporters. But reading the room has never been a strong point with that crowd.
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 1:55 pm
“Is this a war declaration?”
Kinda like water balloons to a gun fight. /s
Comment by Huh? Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 2:14 pm
==Johnson and CTU need to put some skin in the game, starting with raising property taxes. Unfortunately it’s easier to stamp your feet and point fingers.==
Yup.
Comment by Who else Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 2:14 pm
SWsider- Raise property taxes the way it’s done in the suburbs.
Go to a referendum if you think everyone cares so much.
Grow up and pay your fair share like the rest of us in the collars. We pay 1/3rd of the assessed value of the property where, as you pay only 1/10th of the assessed value. Change that, and you’ll have all the money you need.
Comment by Frida's boss Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 2:43 pm
===My wonderful CPS teachers taught me fractions and proportions. Thanks to them, I know that a school infrastructure maintained for a population of over 3 million people should shrink accordingly as the population decreases. This is just the baseline, and CTU will never accept it.==
You’re listening to WIND 560 on your afternoon drive…
Comment by SW Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 2:45 pm
==Grow up and pay your fair share like the rest of us in the collars.==
Someone needs to stand up for Naperville. Thank you.
Comment by SWSider Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 2:47 pm
Yes stand up for Naperville and all the collar counties that get back about 56 cent for every dollar sent to Springfield and who get very little back for schools but support referenda while CTU demands the billions that the Governor is hiding somewhere
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 3:01 pm
=We pay 1/3rd of the assessed value of the property where, as you pay only 1/10th of the assessed value. Change that, and you’ll have all the money you need.=
With multipliers Chicago/Cook County is closer to 1/5th but your main point is accurate. I pointed this out to someone once using their actual tax bill compared to mine. It broke their brain.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 3:16 pm
US birthrates have been declining since the Great Recession of 2007, declining 2% year-over-year (although there was a brief uptick during the pandemic, but the downward trend resumes and continues). MBJ & CTU do not seem to be having a war with Springfield — they’re having a war with reality, and unfortunately that’s a war that they’re not going to win.
Comment by Old IL Dude Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 3:19 pm
SWSider- what’s your solution? If you have one? The ones you cited failed.
You’re willing to make others pay. Add more money to your State taxes and send it in. Send the city a check. Send CTU a check.
Or sit on a blog and cry and blame other people.
Comment by Frida's boss Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 3:25 pm
==Or sit on a blog and cry and blame other people.==
That’s the option they have chosen and it’s clearly working. lol
You couldn’t represent the CTU or the Mayor’s office any better than this person has been doing today. It seems they have the message down, which is basically “lack of money is not my problem, give us what we’re owed.”
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 3:37 pm
I think if some day they reframed the progressive tax amendment as something like “Save Our Schools” initiative and pledged that any additional revenue it brought in, constitutionally had to be spent on public schooling, statewide, it might have a shot someday.
I hate these kinds of messaging / budgeting gimmicks fyi, it’s a dumb way to run a Constitution, but we really need the revenue, and again, public schooling is popular everywhere, even in rural districts, so, maybe in the right environment. And then you need to put in there probably something about how retirement income is not taxed, etc. etc.
But in the short run Mayor Johnson needs to find the courage and raise property taxes and stop blaming everyone else for his inability to do what needs doing.
Comment by ZC Monday, Sep 16, 24 @ 7:41 pm