(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson are hopeful that the Chicago City Council will approve another $70 million to pay for the care of migrants coming to the city.
The $70 million would close the gap in what the state, county and city need to maintain the shelter system’s 15,000 beds and other services throughout the year.
“For those who have complained about the expenditure that’s being made, let’s be clear: First, this is just basic needs that people are getting,” he said. “Nobody’s getting any fancy luxuries out of this. People are arriving and just need a helping hand.
The governor said his family arrived with “absolutely nothing” to Chicago.
“A social service agency gave them a place to live,” said Pritzker. “[They] didn’t have one; [they] started out living in the sub-basement of the Chicago train station.”
He added that the new arrivals should be seen as an investment — not a burden.
“Think of the people who are arriving here today,” he said. “They’re human beings; they deserve to be treated with humanity, with care and to be treated as future contributors to the economy and the greatness of the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.”
There are concerns that more migrants will be sent to Chicago ahead of this summer’s Democratic National Convention.
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