CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is assuring Chicago alderpersons that they will have input into his plans to borrow more than $1 billion for local initiatives.
Ald. William Conway (34th) has proposed that city council approval be required any time the administration spends over $1 million from COVID relief funds, but that measure is stuck in the council's rules committee.
What is moving is Johnson's plan to borrow $250 million over each of the next five years for economic development and affordable housing.
"What I have to demonstrate is that I'm committed," Johnson said. "Whether it's a down payment through a quarter of a billion dollars, setting up the Office of Re-Entry, moving closer to our conversations around a sustainable, guaranteed basic income — all of it is on the table. And I know that there is an urgent moment now, but real-talk, y'all, we're not having these conversations four years ago."
He told reporters that alderpersons will be a part of the conversations going forward.
The matter is headed to the council's finance committee. The chairwoman, Ald. Pat Dowell, said the measure is not on a fast track and promised that there will be robust discussion.
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