(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson says he's not buying the argument that the apparent poor performance of his signature “Bring Chicago Home'' referendum was about him and his progressive identity.
The proposed increase in the city real-estate transfer tax on high-end properties is widely expected to fail, as final vote tallies come in from Tuesday’s primary. The measure was designed to raise up to $100 million annually to fight homelessness.
Johnson listed several progressive measures his administration has helped shepherd into practice, including phasing out the so-called subminimum wage for service industry employees and mandating paid time off for many employees.
“The progressive agenda is not dedicated to one issue,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday.
The mayor also said ethics rules prevented him from formally campaigning for the referendum. He said the real-estate industry's opposition to the measure resonated with voters.
Meantime, Better Government Association president and CEO David Greising said the Johnson Administration has other ways to help pay for programs aimed at unhoused people. One way is to use unspent pandemic-era relief funds, he said.
“The immediate need to begin addressing the homelessness problem could be resolved without passage of this referendum,” Greising said.
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