For Chicago's sake we are all Team Johnson

The divisiveness of the election has to be left behind

The euphoria of Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson being elected the 57th mayor of Chicago has started to ebb slightly and the shock of front runner Paul Vallas losing still has many Chicagoans shaking their heads. To call the battle between the two men anything but contentious means you weren’t paying attention.

Right now however, the focus needs to be that Johnson won and despite which side we were on April 4; it is time to help Chicago move forward. No way do we need to suddenly become cheerleaders for the new mayor. We do though, as Chicagoans have a duty to closely examine Johnson’s platform and find out where we can help. There is no doubt that Johnson and his transition team, along with his administration when it is established, will do the heavy lifting on the budget deficit, pension issues, the planned casino, the Democratic Party National Convention, and other matters. For some, that examination might reveal they don’t have the expertise or desire to participate. In those cases, your contribution should consist of not sitting on the sidelines and bombs at those trying to help.

The more mundane matters tell us in traditional urban parlance “get in where you fit in.” Realistically, the city has enough problems that if everyone took on an assignment of solving just one of them, there would still be another waiting upon completion of that first one. We have witnessed previous administrations call upon corporate CEOs to lend their expertise or company’s expertise to a pet project. While those individuals meant well, their familiarity was not as expansive as the people living and sleeping and working here. Too often the last time we heard about any of those seismic projects was the day they were introduced.

It is imperative that helping wherever we can supersedes who we backed a few days ago. Admittedly there are areas of the mayor-elect’s platform that are shaky-tenuous even; however, there are areas that needed our help and attention long before he even considered running for mayor. We have to also understand that as you read this, Johnson is long on potential and short on experience-especially the executive kind. That is no slam on him, merely the reality of where we are. Additionally, we will be watching and possibly working with a city council that has its largest turnover possibly in history; meaning it too will be short on municipal government experience. The recent resignations and other reasons that incumbents left means the council lost more than 220 years of combined institutional memory.

Pointing that out can be seen as an important reason why we can and should be wiling to roll up our sleeves or turn on our computers to help.

Everyone who does step up should do so with a clarion understanding that the tasks they are taking on have nothing to do with politics or elections. They are coming on board ‘for the good of the order’ meaning to help lift Chicago, and no personal gain. It may sound altruistic, and if it is hopefully someone with a more concrete idea will city residents behind theirs. And anyone looking for a reward will likely be tremendously disappointed when the thank you for your work comes in the form of dinner and certificate -nothing more. Remember though, the accolades didn’t fuel your decision to help.