CHICAGO | Politics and Current Events

[Steely Dan]

Nice!

A much-needed repudiation of the progressive agenda here in the windy city.

[LouisVanDerWright]

What a fucking shit show BJ has turned out to be. Utter embarrassment on all fronts and now I'm hearing that even some of his closest progressive allies are thinking of turning on him.

Meanwhile city council is debating making cancelling Shot Spotter a ward by ward decision and allowing some wards to keep it if they want.

Obviously BHC failed in humiliating fashion. Then his Chief of Staff resigns.

Instead of acknowledging that voters have resoundingly rejected his shitty agenda and calling for a change of course, he goes full Smollet and blames MAGA voters for his failures.

Given the mechanics of Chicagos system, he's not just a weak mayor, but the position of acting mayor is basically up for grabs. Whoever in city council can string together a block of 26 votes can basically appoint themselves mayor by totally taking over the legislative process since there's no veto and the Mayor has basically no powers if he doesn't have the backing of a council majority.

To make things even worse, the outcomes of this primarily imply Johnson has already done deep damage to the "progressive" cause. Voters are turning not only on his agenda, but associated candidates. I can't help but think there are many allies in city council considering the fact that continuing to tie themselves to this sinking ship will likely make them lose the next election. Again, knocking off rogue alders is how the mayor is supposed to rule. The consequences of not participating in his agenda are supposed to result in lost elections for noncompliant alders.

Instead we are looking at a situation where alders are probably more afraid of being associated with this clown show than of Bozo himself.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Given the mechanics of Chicagos system, he's not just a weak mayor, but the position of acting mayor is basically up for grabs. Whoever in city council can string together a block of 26 votes can basically appoint themselves mayor by totally taking over the legislative process since there's no veto and the Mayor has basically no powers if he doesn't have the backing of a council majority.

Which is why people need to be pressuring their Alders to move important things through the system and take back the control they ceded to past mayors. A more-powerful council and less-powerful mayor would be the best outcome of a Johnson admin.

Have you contacted your Alder about approving pending permits or otherwise encouraging development?

[UPChicago]

Put more power in the hands of alders………you all have lost it

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by UPChicago

Put more power in the hands of alders………you all have lost it

Better than hoping a single individual can solve everything and kowtowing to their every whim (parking meter deal, toss and scoop financing, skipping pension payments, etc.). An emboldened Council may have stood up to some of these bad ideas. It works just fine for lots of cities.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

Better than hoping a single individual can solve everything and kowtowing to their every whim (parking meter deal, toss and scoop financing, skipping pension payments, etc.). An emboldened Council may have stood up to some of these bad ideas. It works just fine for lots of cities.

The problem isn't the City Council, but the fact that there are way too many alderpersons with competing agendas, a lack of a cohesive city-wide agenda, and oh yeah, still a shit-ton of grift going on.

At this point in Chicago's political era, I don't have faith in either BJ nor the Council; he's useless and lacks a clear, enforceable agenda, and the Council is full of schemers.

[UPChicago]

I’d agree if there weren’t 50 of them and many who refuse to work together.

[BrinChi]

https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investiga...ne-data-shows/

There have been 111 murders in Chicago in the first three months of the year, down 5-percent from the same period last year. There were 410 shootings, down 7-percent. CPD says the number of shooting victims has declined to its lowest level since 2019. There have been 241 carjackings reported so far this year, down 22-percent from last year.

[lakeshoredrive]

With the recent protests on college campuses across the country, I’m really dreading the DNC convention this summer. I wish it wasn’t coming here!

[lakeshoredrive]

Well, this is concerning.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazi...o-dnc-00157208

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

Well, this is concerning.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazi...o-dnc-00157208

The bad news is that Johnson is being recognized on a national level as weak, unprepared, unskilled mayor who pretty much sucks because he kowtows to a multitude of factions (political and otherwise) who proverbially shoot first and ask questions later.

The good news is that with Prizker as gov, and the national DNC being fully aware of this, they will not be unprepared to deal with Johnson's possible lack of preparation or laissez-faire attitude towards protests, and will fill in the gaps where needed.

The BIGGER issue to me is who can possibly be a good enough candidate to end Johnson's tenure so that he is only a one-term mayor? I cannot think of anyone right now, and THAT is what concerns me.

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by sentinel

The bad news is that Johnson is being recognized on a national level as weak, unprepared, unskilled mayor who pretty much sucks because he kowtows to a multitude of factions (political and otherwise) who proverbially shoot first and ask questions later.

The good news is that with Prizker as gov, and the national DNC being fully aware of this, they will not be unprepared to deal with Johnson's possible lack of preparation or laissez-faire attitude towards protests, and will fill in the gaps where needed.

The BIGGER issue to me is who can possibly be a good enough candidate to end Johnson's tenure so that he is only a one-term mayor? I cannot think of anyone right now, and THAT is what concerns me.

Kam Buckner would be a great option. Hopefully he will run again.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by sentinel

The BIGGER issue to me is who can possibly be a good enough candidate to end Johnson's tenure so that he is only a one-term mayor? I cannot think of anyone right now, and THAT is what concerns me.

Kam Buckner, Susanna Mendoza, Mike Quigley, Kwame Raoul, and Julianna Stratton would all be legitimate, experienced candidates (although one of them will likely become Governor). In the city council, you have Matt Martin, Bill Conway, and few others who could be strong candidates.

[OrdoSeclorum]

Originally Posted by sentinel

The BIGGER issue to me is who can possibly be a good enough candidate to end Johnson's tenure so that he is only a one-term mayor? I cannot think of anyone right now, and THAT is what concerns me.

Crudely, we can think of Chicago as five constituencies: North Side progressives, Loop business folks, Hispanics, Blacks, South Side St Patrick's Day Parade attendees

Johnson won because he was progressive and black and turnout was suppressed for his opponent. Both Vallas and Johnson has support that was broad, but quite shallow, coming out of a deep field, competitive field.

A candidate who can beat Johnson pretty easily would be 1) a black politician who appealed to the business community and who wasn't hated by progressives. 2) A hispanic politician who wasn't hated by the business community and appealed to progressives. The first candidate would split the black vote. The second candidate would get massive support from latinos. Both would turn out the anti-Johnson vote in the Loop and Jefferson Park.

Johnson would be easy to beat if the primary against him isn't too deep again. If there's rapid consolidation around any anti-Jonhson candidate, I think he's toast. If there's six black and six Latino candidates running, he'll still win the primary.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by OrdoSeclorum

South Side St Patrick's Day Parade attendees

.....and I just spit out my coffee


But seriously, that's actually a really good way to sum up that constituency

[ithakas]

We sure Rahm doesn't want another round?

[pip]

I know nothing about this person but I was listening to Raymond Lopez speak the other day. I was impressed. He took a shot at running for mayor? Would he be good?

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by pip

I know nothing about this person but I was listening to Raymond Lopez speak the other day. I was impressed. He took a shot at running for mayor? Would he be good?

In my opinion, no. All I’ve ever seen him do is self-promotion and attention seeking. I don’t think he’s accomplished much of anything.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by pip

I know nothing about this person but I was listening to Raymond Lopez speak the other day. I was impressed. He took a shot at running for mayor? Would he be good?

LOL


No.

[sentinel]

Yes, please.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/05...ew-resolution/

CTA Boss Dorval Carter Should Resign Or Be Fired, Fed-Up Alderpeople Push In New Resolution
Ten alderpeople — including more than a third of the City Council’s transportation committee — are calling for Carter to be replaced.