LAKEVIEW (WBBM Newsradio) - Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters Friday he'll use every tool at his disposal to restore more than $2 billion in federal transit construction funding blocked by the Trump Administration in a dispute over minority contracts.
The Department of Transportation announced Friday morning that it's blocking money for the Red and Purple Line Modernization plan as well as the long-awaited extension of the Red Line to make sure money's not going toward what it calls "discriminatory, illegal and wasteful contracting practices."
"The American people don't care what race or gender construction workers, pipefitters, or electricians are," said the DOT announcement. "They just want these massive projects finally built quickly and efficiently."
Hours later, at a ribbon-cutting for the Lakeview Landing accessible housing development at 835 W. Addison Street, the mayor appeared to make reference to the value of diversity.
"Aren't you glad we have the most diverse, most powerful administrative team in the country?" the mayor asked, to applause from the people in attendance.
Later, he amplified that sentiment with reporters: "He doesn't value the work our diverse contractors are providing."
The mayor said he'll use "every tool at my disposal" to fight the Administration's decision to block funding, and that he intends to do whatever he can to continue work on the projects, noting that the extension of the South side past 95th Street has been a wish list item for decades.
"After 50 years of struggle to make sure the South side is prioritized, this President's gonna disrupt that? Not under my watch," the mayor said. "This President is not gonna stop our progress."