Brandon Johnson's attention is misdirected
Attempt to organize the Chicago City Council should be a back burner matter
In the first six months within taking office Mayor Brandon Johnson will:
address a migrant issue that could be as politically volatile as COVID 19
be the first mayor in decades who will have to deal with a partially elected Board of Education
abide by recommendations of an elected police commission
develop strategies to reduce the budget deficit
contend with any fallout from the city’s first casino
Even for a seasoned mayor the above represent a platter full of matters that could cause sleeplessness. And for a first-term mayor with neither a mandate or municipal government experience; it might be next to impossible to get much rest, let alone sleep. Each of these issues can easily take on a life of its own and seriously curb plans Johnson has to move the city forward.
The question arises that with all of that staring him in the face from day one why pick an unnecessary fight with the Chicago City Council. It is tough to determine whether he is being naive, stubborn or just doesn’t understand. This week Johnson floated a plan to “organize” the council’s committee structure.
Maybe the new mayor is attempting to flex and demonstrate he can ignore what veteran council members said months ago that they would not operate under the thumb of any mayor. That shot was fired across the bow long before the first ballot was cast in the last primary election. To ignore that position is a display of hubris Johnson really can’t afford now.
When the mayor and all 50 aldermen take office on May 15, he can’t be sure of where his support is among the members. After all, 15 men and women who have never served before will be taking their seats. Some of them will battle with longtime incumbents to become committee chairs or get their preferred committee appointments. City council will be the equivalent of a polite roller derby.
There are no ordinances or state laws that dictate the mayor must try to oversee council activities. It has become a reality instituted by the formidable former Mayor Richard M. Daley and continued by both of his successors. Council members have agreed that the committee structure they recently voted on will get do-over once the new members are seated. That should be sufficient for Johnson. He has to realize that any time spent on dealing with a recalcitrant council is time that could be spent on a more impactful issue-particularly migration, along with the budget.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said more than $20 million has been spent on issues related to the thousands of asylum seekers who have been sent to Chicago from Texas. Texas Gov. Abbott has doubled down on sending those migrants here since Lightfoot’s appeal to him to stop. The city, understandably, is out of resources.
That is Lightfoot’s assessment. Nearly every idea Johnson has offered to raise revenue-most through new taxes has been flagged as not doable because they require either state or city council approval. A rift with the council certainly can impede the new mayor’s agenda.
The wisest move Johnson can make regarding the migrant issue is to reach out to government officials in surrounding suburbs and ask them to find space for some of the new arrivals from Texas.
He might also want to reconsider his pledge to move 200 officers up to detective. The Bally’s temporary casino at the old Medinah Temple will need more patrols than the neighborhood currently has. Residents in the area have already expressed concerns about safety and criminal activities associated with the casino. It is scheduled to open this summer.
No one should be surprised if our assessment of government four years from now is it was in utter chaos.