CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Former mayoral hopeful Willie Wilson and SEIU Local 1 both announced their endorsement for Chicago's April 4 mayoral runoff on Wednesday.
SEIU Local 1 announced its support for Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson Wednesday morning, while Wilson said he would stand behind former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas.
Wilson, a millionaire businessman, levied several attacks against Johnson on Wednesday. He cited concerns that Johnson would defund the Chicago Police Department and impose a slew of tax increases that would drive businesses and jobs out of Chicago.
Over the years, Johnson has called defunding police a “goal,” not a political slogan. He has steered clear of the term during a mayoral campaign dominated by the surge in violent crime.
Wilson said he is “not fooled.”
He argued Johnson’s refusal to commit to filling 1,700 CPD vacancies or fully-funding the department’s $1.94 billion budget speaks volumes.
So does Johnson’s plan to cut at least $150 million from the police budget by increasing the number of rank-and-file officers assigned to each police supervisor and launch an efficiency audit of CPD to identify even more savings. Johnson’s plan to promote 200 detectives would also create 200 additional vacancies that may not be filled, Wilson said.
“Politicians do change their minds when they see the wind blowing a different way. But I listened to him. I was in all of the debates with him. I’m not fooled at all,” Wilson said.
Yet another concern for Wilson and his church-based constituency is Johnson’s $800 million plan to tax the rich to help bankroll $1 billion in new spending on public schools, transportation, housing, health care and job creation.
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Johnson has called it “investing in people” and said it’s the cornerstone of his anti-violence strategy.
“People are having problems paying real estate taxes now. Taxing corporations and small businesses don’t make sense because you’re gonna run jobs out of this city. And if you take jobs out of the city, entrepreneurs will get hurt as well,” Wilson said.
SEIU, which represents more than 45,000 workers including janitors, security officers and employees for the contractors who work at O’Hare and Midway Airports, said Johnson’s would “unite a multi-racial working class to build a Chicago that works for all of us.”
“Brandon’s vision for Chicago will ensure that every working family—regardless of zip code or race—has access to affordable health care, a liveable wage, quality education, and safe communities,” union officials said.
Local 1 janitor and Vice President Maria Avila said janitors were “disposal” when Vallas was in charge of CPS.
“He took our custodial jobs and privatized them—cutting janitorial wages and benefits—making it extremely difficult to provide for loved ones,” Avila said.
Local 1 said it plans to provide essential resources to Johnson's campaign, including canvassing, phone banking and—perhaps the biggest contribution—financial support. Lamont Brown, an executive board member with Local 1, said he’s been able to work at the same building for 18 years because of the good wages and benefits he won through his union.
“This isn’t a reality for everyone,” he said. “Many are still fighting union-busting bosses like Paul Vallas.
Urszula Przybys, a Local 1 janitor and vice president, said many of the union members work late hours, take public transit late at night and return home in the dark.
“[We] do not always feel safe,” Przybys said. “With Brandon Johnson as mayor, I know he will fight to keep us safe and keep our communities safe.”
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In Chicago's 2019 mayoral race, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle had SEIU's support and made it to the runoff against Lori Lightfoot, the latter of whom had Wilson’s endorsement..
Local 1 also backed Jesus "Chuy" Garcia in 2015 with more than $3 million in campaign contributions.
Although Wilson described his endorsement of Lightfoot “a hell of a mistake,” he said that mistake won’t be repeated with Vallas. His endorsement was coveted by both candidates.
The millionaire businessman predicted Wednesday that a majority of the 51,595 voters who supported him on Feb. 28, most of them African American, would support Vallas.
(The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)
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