CHICAGO | Politics and Current Events

[ardecila]

Harold Washington is certainly the role model that Brandon Johnson has in mind. But it's not 1980 anymore...

Latinos are a huge voting block in a way they weren't in 1980, and they have tended to lean conservative since Daley decided to cut them in on the patronage spoils. Younger Latinos like younger members of every group, lean more progressive but don't show up to vote in large enough numbers.

[SamInTheLoop]

Arne Duncan's endorsement of Vallas in Trib oped is very much focused on the overwhelming need for reform of CPD and its exceptionally problematic union.

[ardecila]

Yeah but Duncan's logic doesn't really work.

We've had pro-cop mayors before, and the result has never been reform or even a reduced police budget... instead, we spend more money per capita on policing than any other city in our size class. Having a mayor that is cozy with the cops has not actually produced results.

It's possible that Johnson will have a similar cozy relationship with CTU. But even if he does, I'm willing to roll the dice that throwing more money at the schools is a lesser evil than throwing even more money at the police department.

One thing I haven't heard Johnson address is how he plans to deal with cop resistance. He can talk all he want about how he has good intentions and he doesn't actually want to defund, but if he gets elected, the cops will put up a huge nasty fight no matter Johnson's intentions. It's a fight worth having, because the cops should not be able to hold the safety of Chicagoans for ransom. But it's gonna happen and I hope Brandon has a plan to actually beat the guys with the guns.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yeah but Duncan's logic doesn't really work.

We've had pro-cop mayors before, and the result has never been reform or even a reduced police budget... instead, we spend more money per capita on policing than any other city in our size class. Having a mayor that is cozy with the cops has not actually produced results.

It's possible that Johnson will have a similar cozy relationship with CTU. But even if he does, I'm willing to roll the dice that throwing more money at the schools is a lesser evil than throwing even more money at the police department.

One thing I haven't heard Johnson address is how he plans to deal with cop resistance. He can talk all he want about how he has good intentions and he doesn't actually want to defund, but if he gets elected, the cops will put up a huge nasty fight no matter Johnson's intentions. It's a fight worth having, because the cops should not be able to hold the safety of Chicagoans for ransom. But it's gonna happen and I hope Brandon has a plan to actually beat the guys with the guns.

He doesn't have a plan.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Kim Foxx has been a disaster literally allowing brazen criminals back on the street to go carjack someone again the next day.

Fritz Kagei has been a disaster running on shifting the burden to commercial owners and actually winding up pushing 8% more of it onto homeowners through his utter incompetency.

Lori Lightfoot has turned out to be a disappointment incapable of retaining major businesses, keeping downtown attractive, containing crime, and delivering even the slightest modicum of her promised reforms.


And we think another "progressive" like Brandon Johnson is going to turn out well why exactly?

This guy is an inexperienced clown with literally zero resume aside from "I'm the latest CTU stooge". If he gets elected this city is going to devolve into a total cluster fuck. He doesn't have a plan to stop crime, he doesn't have any proven leadership skills, his only qualification is "I'll give the teachers more raises and benefits".

That doesn't make you qualified to run the third largest city in the United States.

[ebitdadada]

Dick Durbin endorsed Paul Vallas yesterday.

I could be wrong and Dick Durbin could be a MAGA guy but it seems rather inconvenient in relation a key pillar of the Johnson campaign of which, according the the New York Times, is convincing voters that Paul Vallas is a right wing extremist (a strategy of which they are apparently rather proud of. I guess lying makes you warm and fuzzy inside).

The other pillars of Johnson's campaign (from what I can tell):
1) Claiming the platform you had 6 weeks ago is not actually your platform
2) Claiming to have a "budget" but in reality having a list of half-backed thoughts which, per pillar #1, you didn't actually mean to do anyway.

On a related subject: If I read one more article like the one linked claiming this is "The Teachers Union vs. The Police Union" I'm going to have several aneurysms in a row, probably followed by some kind of septic seizure* (thank god Rush is a great hospital, I may live to see another day.)

You have:
- B Johnson: A former CTU organizer, picked by the CTU to run for mayor and bankrolled by the CTU.
vs.
- P Vallas: Guy who has received the endorsement of the FOP and helped negotiate a contract for the FOP (which included a good # of reforms) but is taking $0 from the FOP because he knows it would be a huge conflict of interest.

Ok, my apologies, time for good old Ebitdadada to go back to his spreadsheets containing non-made up budgets. He should not be allowed internet posting privileges in his current state. Please in the name of the Chicago god we pray to tell all of your friends to vote for Vallas.

*Full disclosure, a "septic seizure" may not be a real thing.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by ebitdadada

Dick Durbin endorsed Paul Vallas yesterday.

I could be wrong and Dick Durbin could be a MAGA guy but it seems rather inconvenient in relation a key pillar of the Johnson campaign of which, according the the New York Times, is convincing voters that Paul Vallas is a right wing extremist (a strategy of which they are apparently rather proud of. I guess lying makes you warm and fuzzy inside).

The other pillars of Johnson's campaign (from what I can tell):
1) Claiming the platform you had 6 weeks ago is not actually your platform
2) Claiming to have a "budget" but in reality having a list of half-backed thoughts which, per pillar #1, you didn't actually mean to do anyway.

This isn't wrong, it's just completely one-sided. Of course that is Johnson's attack angle on Vallas, why wouldn't it be? Vallas opened that door with the statements he has made. Just as Johnson did with his past "Defund" comments.

Meanwhile, Vallas is lying about Johnson's tax proposal. He isn't proposing a city income tax as Vallas advertisements are claiming.

Vallas is relying on fairy dust to pay for his priorities (rather than tax increases). Where is his "budget" proposal, is it anymore than half-baked thoughts? How much will his 1,800 new cops cost? Rough math: 1,800 new officers * $100k salary and $100k benefits = $360 million of new annual spending). How will this be funded? What is his Plan B if he can't hire those new officers? I think it's important to hold each candidate to the same standard.

I'm leaning towards Vallas, but everyone acting like he has some well-spelled out plan while Johnson is only talking about MAGA is silly. They are both bad candidates with personal baggage and expensive plans for the city.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

This isn't wrong, it's just completely one-sided. Of course that is Johnson's attack angle on Vallas, why wouldn't it be? Vallas opened that door with the statements he has made. Just as Johnson did with his past "Defund" comments.

Meanwhile, Vallas is lying about Johnson's tax proposal. He isn't proposing a city income tax as Vallas advertisements are claiming.

Vallas is relying on fairy dust to pay for his priorities (rather than tax increases). Where is his "budget" proposal, is it anymore than half-baked thoughts? How much will his 1,800 new cops cost? Rough math: 1,800 new officers * $100k salary and $100k benefits = $360 million of new annual spending). How will this be funded? What is his Plan B if he can't hire those new officers? I think it's important to hold each candidate to the same standard.

I'm leaning towards Vallas, but everyone acting like he has some well-spelled out plan while Johnson is only talking about MAGA is silly. They are both bad candidates with personal baggage and expensive plans for the city.

The reason why people think that Johnson is proposing a city Income tax is because Johnson aligns himself with an org proposing it. There were some articles written saying that Johnson aligns with it and maybe erroneously reported it. Although I seem to remember Johnson saying he's OK with it, only to push back later. The thing about Johnson is that it's great he's gone back on some of the boneheaded plans he had (like a Metra commuter tax) but instead of say "we looked at it , and determined it's not a great idea" he just is like "I never said that." which is ridiculous as some of those things are definitely on record as things said. It's 2023 not 1923.

And yes, Vallas' plans kind of beg the question "where does the money come from?" But realize that for politics, campaigns are run on empty promises. I sure hope you know this at least. I stopped taking seriously a lot of spending plans years ago. But both of these guys will realize that there's an entire process ro follow and they aren't Kings.

IMO Vallas is running a little bit more of a truthful campaign whether people like it or not. Johnson is basically drumming up votes based on promising all.sorts of good things, knowing he won't be able to deliver most of them. Now he's pulling back on them. Vallas is doing this to a much less extent and I appreciate the fact that he's BS'ing less at least.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by marothisu

The reason why people think that Johnson is proposing a city Income tax is because Johnson aligns himself with an org proposing it. There were some articles written saying that Johnson aligns with it and maybe erroneously reported it. Although I seem to remember Johnson saying he's OK with it, only to push back later. The thing about Johnson is that it's great he's gone back on some of the boneheaded plans he had (like a Metra commuter tax) but instead of say "we looked at it , and determined it's not a great idea" he just is like "I never said that." which is ridiculous as some of those things are definitely on record as things said. It's 2023 not 1923.

Exactly. I think Johnson was planning on running with it, but after people pushed back internally, he distanced himself from it.

The thing I am getting tired of with Johnson is his tired attempts to paint Vallas as a ultra MAGA racist asshole who basically aligns himself with far-right extreme politicians.

https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/ch...randon-johnson

Can we afford to wait for 1,600 vacancies when you live in Austin, where, within the last four years, there are more homicides in my neighborhood than the entire North Shore combined?" Johnson said. "Don't tell me that our safety comes down to a doggone hashtag. It's racist and it's ridiculous!

This is such a turnoff. Just because you disagree with a far-left progressive on the prescription to reduce crime across the entire city, doesn't automatically equate to "Racist", but that's the tactic Johnson is choosing to use.

Also - As i've stated before, Vallas seems to be presenting tangible solutions. Pushing for putting CPD officers on CTA is low-hanging fruit that will actually have a positive impact. For those of you who ride CTA on a regular basis, the security the city has hired is a F'ing joke. They are clearly there to collect a paycheck and most of them won't do shit to actually stop people from smoking on the L, etc, etc.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by marothisu

And yes, Vallas' plans kind of beg the question "where does the money come from?" But realize that for politics, campaigns are run on empty promises. I sure hope you know this at least.

I completely agree with you. I am simply commenting on the fact that Johnson has been pressed to show how he pays for his plans, while Vallas has skated by without that same rigor.

Originally Posted by marothisu

Johnson is basically drumming up votes based on promising all.sorts of good things, knowing he won't be able to deliver most of them. Now he's pulling back on them. Vallas is doing this to a much less extent and I appreciate the fact that he's BS'ing less at least.

Just yesterday Vallas made a bunch of brand new progressive promises. He is trying to prove he is more progressive, meanwhile Johnson is walking back his "Defund" comments to prove he is more centrist.

Vallas endorsed a series of other stances Monday, like establishing ranked choice voting ahead of the next mayoral election and providing reparations for Chicago’s descendants of enslaved people.

Vallas also said he supports the concept of universal basic income but called the city’s pilot program “ineffective.”

They are both doing the exact same things, but Johnson takes far more heat. That was my point.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by twister244

The thing I am getting tired of with Johnson is his tired attempts to paint Vallas as a ultra MAGA racist asshole who basically aligns himself with far-right extreme politicians.

The city went 85/15 for Biden and Vallas literally aligned himself with "far-right extreme politicians". It seems like a smart line of attack. Just like Vallas is continually hitting Johnson for his "Defund" comments considering crime is the top concern in this election. The candidates made stupid comments in the past and are being hit with it on the campaign trail, that's how campaigns work.

Originally Posted by twister244

For those of you who ride CTA on a regular basis, the security the city has hired is a F'ing joke. They are clearly there to collect a paycheck and most of them won't do shit to actually stop people from smoking on the L, etc, etc.

Your assessment of the current CTA security is correct, but I've had the exact same experience with CPD officers who sit in their cars and watch Netflix while collecting overtime.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

I completely agree with you. I am simply commenting on the fact that Johnson has been pressed to show how he pays for his plans, while Vallas has skated by without that same rigor.

Totally. I mean I don't like either candidate but Johnson to me is too much "I'm going to promise everything just to get votes." I feel like Vallas has some low hanging fruit stuff that's way more attainable.

They are both doing the exact same things, but Johnson takes far more heat. That was my point.

Johnson takes more heat for it because he's been doing it the entire time, especially since after the first round. Vallas' is newer to this. They should both be scrutinized equally on their ideas but it's obvious why Johnson gets more heat and it's because he's been at it for a solid month straight. In the beginning,,Vallas wasn't even biting back which I appreciated. It's only the last week or 2 that he's stooping to the same attack levels which isn't great.

[Kngkyle]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

How much will his 1,800 new cops cost? Rough math: 1,800 new officers * $100k salary and $100k benefits = $360 million of new annual spending). How will this be funded? What is his Plan B if he can't hire those new officers? I think it's important to hold each candidate to the same standard.

Aren't these just open positions that are already budgeted for? But since they're struggling to fill the positions, the money is instead spent on overtime? I'm not sure this is actually "new" spending... I could be wrong.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

The city went 85/15 for Biden and Vallas literally aligned himself with "far-right extreme politicians". It seems like a smart line of attack. Just like Vallas is continually hitting Johnson for his "Defund" comments considering crime is the top concern in this election. The candidates made stupid comments in the past and are being hit with it on the campaign trail, that's how campaigns work.

This was my previous red flag about Vallas. His campaign isn't run as well from this perspecrive as it should be - he admitted it in a recent debate but he's hiding too much behind some things. I don't like how he spoke ar an Awake event even if he claims he didn't do his homework on them beforehand. He has some serious old man yells at cloud vibes sometimes.

Some of the attacks against him tho about who endorsed him are stretches though. He has no control over that- nobody does. David Duke endorsed Biden - so should we say Biden is KKK now? I don't think that's fair. I think a lot of the right wingers see Vallas as someone they can actually vote for because he is much better in their eyes than Johnson. I think that a lot of them wouldn't vote if it was almost anyone else in the run off in his place. And no matter how many times people state it, he still hasn't really aligned himself with FOP other than their dumb president endorsing him.

But again, there is an entire city council to get thru for whoever wins this. They can't just pass whatever they want. No matter who you are against, people need to realize this. Edicts aren't going to be issued and poof. To me, both candidates are big meh. But ill.vote for Vallas as the person who I believe isn't going to blow up the city. If the city was in better fiscal shape to tax more and take on these programs I'd probably vote differently though.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

The city went 85/15 for Biden and Vallas literally aligned himself with "far-right extreme politicians". It seems like a smart line of attack. Just like Vallas is continually hitting Johnson for his "Defund" comments considering crime is the top concern in this election. The candidates made stupid comments in the past and are being hit with it on the campaign trail, that's how campaigns work.



Your assessment of the current CTA security is correct, but I've had the exact same experience with CPD officers who sit in their cars and watch Netflix while collecting overtime.

No. Again - Vallas is not a right-wing conservative - Let alone "far-right". It's absurd for folks on the progressive left to continue to run this line over and over again.

Vallas is pro choice - He's stated this multiple times across forums/debates.

Vallas has marched in pride parades before.

Vallas is a registered Democrat.

With respect to the CPD, of course there are going to be lazy cops, but I trust a cop to stop a dude from smoking on an L train before these "security" officers the city has hired.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by marothisu

But again, there is an entire city council to get thru for whoever wins this. They can't just pass whatever they want. No matter who you are against, people need to realize this. Edicts aren't going to be issued and poof. To me, both candidates are big meh. But ill.vote for Vallas as the person who I believe isn't going to blow up the city. If the city was in better fiscal shape to tax more and take on these programs I'd probably vote differently though.

I think one of the upsides of a Vallas win could be a more assertive City Council. As the council has drifted farther left, Vallas could provide a good balance.

[Vlajos]

Emerson Poll shows Vallas doing well and Emerson has a great track record.

https://emersoncollegepolling.com/ch...tion-for-mayor

Johnson is basically backing down from every policy he supported previously like massive new taxes and Defund the police. He knows he's in trouble.

[SamInTheLoop]

In yesterday's NYT article that ebitdadada linked to:

"Mr. Catanzara is not lying low. He predicted that 800 to 1,000 Chicago police officers would leave the force if Mr. Johnson wins, adding to the hundreds of vacancies already awaiting the next mayor."

Hmmmm, that's almost enough to put Johnson back on the table for me.....almost.....perhaps if they could sign something to that affect contracturally, and Catanzara himself would join in by resigning from the FOP. Might take that deal, because if true (obviously a big if) those would be precisely the individuals that should not be CPD officers to begin with.

Not to say I'm arguing for a smaller force. Certainly not - I want all the vacancies filled, absolutely. But, in addition to more officers (a fully staffed force), we do need different officers than a portion who are currently 'serving'.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

In yesterday's NYT article that ebitdadada linked to"

"Mr. Catanzara is not lying low. He predicted that 800 to 1,000 Chicago police officers would leave the force if Mr. Johnson wins, adding to the hundreds of vacancies already awaiting the next mayor."

Hmmmm, that's almost enough to put Johnson back on the table for me.....almost.....perhaps if they could sign something to that affect contracturally, and Catanzara himself would join in by resigning from the FOP. Might take that deal, because if true (obviously a big if) those would be precisely the individuals that should not be CPD officers to begin with.

Not to say I'm arguing for a smaller force. Certainly not - I want all the vacancies filled, absolutely. But, in addition to more officers (a fully staffed force), we do need different officers than a portion who are currently 'serving'.

Why would that put Johnson back on the table for you? What does this have specifically to do with Vallas? I hate how the FOP President says this though especially for a department that's sworn to serve and protect. I feel they've been playing too many games like this since mid 2020.

Also Vallas has specifically talked about the quality of officers if I remember correctly. What you are asking for I believe is what he's still calling for. So is Johnson.

[ardecila]

LOL, he explained it... any cop who is so MAGA-brained that they would rather resign than work for a progressive mayor like Johnson, should probably not be on the force to begin with. If they are serious about their threat to resign, then they should just get it over with and the city will be better off. If the CPD is mostly good with a few bad apples, well, those are the bad apples!

The whole idea is that police swear an oath to protect and serve the community no matter whether they like their boss or not. Cops are free to vote however they wish and can hold any political opinion they want, it's a free country. I wouldn't have it any other way. But they don't get to hold the safety of the community for ransom when the democratic process doesn't go their way.