Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: All heck breaks loose on Illinois’ far right after ‘leaked’ document ignites firestorm
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Posted in:
* Click here for video. Saturday…
Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed IFT this morning in a speech that was brimming with jabs at Springfield: “The state of Illinois needs to come up off of itself … You will stand for righteousness and stand for public education or get the hell out of the way.” pic.twitter.com/MwJRgy5IrD
— Alice Yin (@byaliceyin) October 18, 2025
* Transcript…
The state of Illinois needs to come up off of itself and release the $1.6 billion for Chicago and the $3 billion that they owe to the state of Illinois to finally fully fund our education system. You either support public education or you do not. I am tired of lip service when it comes to the education of working people. You will stand for righteousness and stand for public education or get the hell out of the way. If you believe in a millionaire’s tax, then pass it. If you believe we have to cut the corporate interest loopholes, then fix it.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 1:55 pm
Previous Post: All heck breaks loose on Illinois’ far right after ‘leaked’ document ignites firestorm
Next Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
===You will stand for righteousness and stand for public education or get the hell out of the way.===
Is standing for health care not righteous? How about public safety? Infrastructure? Is it only public education that is righteous?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 1:59 pm
He lives in LALA fantasy socialist land where we can tax anything.
Just nuts.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:08 pm
It seems like a reflection of the Mayor’s knowledge of the legislative process. Yeah bro, just pass it.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:08 pm
==get the hell out of the way==
Sounds kinda Trumpy. #NoKings
Comment by City Zen Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:08 pm
Serious question: Did I miss the MBJ/CTU/IFT bill amendment since he was elected to effectuate any of that rhetoric?
Like I think I would’ve noticed a ten figure approp bill getting filed but still learning the new ILGA site so maybe I missed it?
Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:16 pm
The state of Illinois owes $3 billion to the state of Illinois??
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:16 pm
I wonder if this is giving the Mayor a feeling of more strength? “Stacy Davis Gates was elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers Saturday.”
And seriously does it give him more power? I would think the Governor is so far out of the Mayor’s league that the Mayor is insignificant to the Governor
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:17 pm
This former teacher doesn’t do his homework and blames everyone but himself when he fails.
He’s a demagogue and a phony who discredits those on the left who understand that successful governing requires so much more than thunderous words from a faux preacher.
All he’s really doing is auditioning to get his CTU job back when voters bounce him harder than they did his predecessor.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:22 pm
Tell him he doesn’t get one $ till he closes every school with less than 200 students attending. Watch him n Stacey run away from that scenario
Comment by NotRich Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:27 pm
Mayor Johnson is a righteous man who understands Ezekiel 25 : 17
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/81237-ezekiel-25-17-the-path-of-the-righteous-man-is-beset
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:29 pm
I hear him say that in a Samuel L. Jackson kind of way.
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish. And the tyranny of evil men…”
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:31 pm
-Tell him he doesn’t get one $ till he closes every school with less than 200 students attending-
You assume public education is just about education. It’s not. It’s a jobs program first in Illinois.
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:32 pm
Hot Mic prior to ITF registered Webinar , not a good look to start off !!!
Comment by Hot Mic Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:38 pm
If only he was elected to some kind of position of responsibility to do something about this!
Remember when the Office of Mayor of Chicago was considered the most powerful in the state?
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 2:40 pm
=You assume public education is just about education. It’s not. It’s a jobs program first in Illinois.=
Yeah, because in Oklahoma it’s about the really serious business of the bible.
What a joke.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:01 pm
I’m not sure if it’s an example of irony, hypocrisy or both, but I find rich every time Brandon/CTU rage about the sanctity of EBF when they worked against the bill that created it.
Comment by TNR Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:11 pm
If we add up all the money that advocates claim the state “owes” to various groups, (each with some justification but with no concern for other groups’ needs), it easilly totals another $50Billion, and double the taxes.
We’re struggling to hold it together right now, with Trump bleeding us dry weekly.
Adults do better.
Comment by Walker Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:11 pm
==release the $1.6 billion for Chicago and the $3 billion that they owe to the state of Illinois==
I say give Brandon the money but only if he can clearly explain the EBF equation.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:15 pm
truly hoping candidates in Chicago can decide on one person who can defeat him. it is unhelpful to the dialogue not only to hear him say this but to have the mayor perceived as such a goof.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:36 pm
MBJ keeps ignoring the old adage about politics being the art of the doable. Also, agree with NotRich.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 3:40 pm
Just when I was beginning to like him due to unfounded Trump Admin attacks, the Mayor reminds me why I disagree strongly with his approach to government.
This type of rhetoric isn’t helping him or helping advance his agenda.
Comment by low level Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 4:09 pm
Johnson thinks everybody owes Chicago money, even as it is being squandered by the City and CPS. Maybe he can issue more demands by Executive Orders and hold more press conferences?
Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 5:01 pm
Why do his “speeches” always sound like he spent hours in front of the bathroom mirror rehearsing?
The next mayoral election is when???
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 5:19 pm
-Yeah, because in Oklahoma -
I’m not aware of Oklahoma spending 93K per pupil at any school.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/13/chicago-public-schools-declining-enrollment-causes-small-schools-high-costs/
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 5:25 pm
==The state of Illinois needs to come up off of itself and release the $1.6 billion for Chicago and the $3 billion that they owe to the state of Illinois==
So according to Mayor Johnson, the state owes the city and also owes itself? That doesn’t make any sense. No wonder he is having problems in Springfield.
Comment by low level Monday, Oct 20, 25 @ 5:43 pm