CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As Mayor Brandon Johnson is preparing to deliver his first budget address on Wednesday, he has — so far — left most of the specific questions about his plans unanswered.
Johnson’s predecessor Lori Lightfoot backed away from some of her campaign positions on matters such as reopening mental health clinics and funding to fight homelessness, but when he met with reporters last week, Johnson said he will do no such thing.
“I’m hearing loud and clear, from our Black residents in particular, that they have high expectations — as they should,” he said. “It’s why making sure that we passed One Fair Wage was a priority of mine, because the vast majority of individuals, of Black and brown women who are doing the work. It’s why we’re going to bring Chicago home. The vast majority of people who are unhoused in this city are Black people.”
Jack Lavin, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said his organization applauds Johnson’s plans to hold the line on property taxes and continue paying down the pension debt faster, but he added that they’re anxious to see what else is in that budget.
“We’re concerned with the cumulative impact on small businesses with high property taxes, the real estate transfer tax, tipped wage, the proposal on paid time off — going from five days to 15 days — the lingering impacts of the pandemic and the changes in the way we do business, [and] inflation,” he said. “All of these things add up to a cumulative impact.”
Johnson has prided himself on being a person who sits down with all sides, and Lavin said they have talked.
“I wouldn’t say a formal briefing, but there’s been lots of discussions and conversations,” he said. “We’ve been working closely with the mayor and his team on youth and summer jobs, finding employment, [and] working with his team on creating economic development in every neighborhood in the city. We’ve had discussions on pensions.”
Still, Lavin said the real test of Johnson’s first budget will be how he balances spending cuts and the new revenue.
The mayor will outline his budget before a special meeting of the Chicago City Council on Wednesday morning. Although Johnson said he wants to reopen mental health clinics that were closed under former mayor Rahm Emmanuel, he wouldn’t say what might happen under this budget. Chicago has recently seen a sharp rise in the number of migrants arriving in the city.
Johnson insisted last week that he will not go back on his promise to invest in neglected communities.
“I’ve made a commitment to invest in the very communities that were disrupted by previous administrations that have closed schools, that have closed mental health clinics, that have shut down public housing,” Johnson said. “Everything that I’ve done up to this point — while still handling this crisis — I have not stopped governing to make sure we’re raising the wages, passing Treatment Not Trauma, bringing Chicago home.”
Johnson added: “Apparently, in the city of Chicago, you have a mayor who can walk and chew gum.”
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