Chicago Politics

Update From City Hall 6.17.26

Legislation

Description

Mayor Johnson hosts a media availability.

Transcript

0:02 Congratulations again, Commissioner. I hope I didn't cry on your jacket too much. Once I finish my remarks, you can be seated. As long as I have a long time. Okay. You can come on this side, Commissioner. Okay, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us. I'm grateful to share that today during City Council, we advanced a set of initiatives that reflect what our administration's work is ultimately about. Investing in our residents and building Chicago into the safest, most

0:36 affordable big city in America, especially in neighborhoods on the south and west sides where disinvestment has persisted for generations and where too many residents continue to feel the realities of that history in their daily lives. First, though, I want to formally congratulate Commissioner Kenneth Gunn on his confirmation to take the helm of the Chicago Commission on human relations. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with the mayor's office and city council to strengthen protections against employment and housing discrimination,

1:10 expand disability rights and LGBTQ plus rights protections, address sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and support opportunities for returning residents. I look forward to continuing that partnership as we enforce anti-discrimination laws and continue advancing civil rights protections that ensure every Chicagoan can feel welcome and supported in their communities. Today, the City Council also approved my administration's measure to acquire the Greyhound bus station on the near west side. This is groundbreaking and

1:46 it is an historic moment for the people of Chicago. For generations, this terminal has been a critical intercity hub that connects residents to jobs, education, health care, and their family. It serves working people, seniors, people with disabilities, students, and our residents every single day. And by bringing this facility under public stewardship, we are preserving a transportation hub that hundreds of thousands of passengers across

2:16 Chicago and the region rely upon each and every year, and ensuring that it remains a long-term public asset. When it became clear the station's future was in jeopardy, we refused to sit idly by. I could not accept an outcome where bus riders would be forced to wait on sidewalks. We had a responsibility to ensure Chicagoans retain access to this critical asset for generations to come and today we did just that. We worked across the full force of government to

2:49 produce a plan to preserve this station and the service that it provides while also leading meaningful engagement with advocates in the surrounding community to ensure equity, continued safety could take place at this facility. And at its core, this is about protecting equitable access to safe, reliable transportation for everyone who depends on it. From the Red Line extension and continued investment in bike safety infrastructure, my administration remains committed to ensuring Chicagoans have access to sustainable, diverse transportation options.

3:25 And as we invest in transportation, we are also continuing to invest in housing and face the housing crisis facing our city head on. Today, the council approved 54 more missing middle homes in East and West Garfield Park as part of our broader effort to expand affordable and attainable housing in communities that have long been underserved. This represents an $18.1 million investment and another step towards strengthening neighborhoods

3:57 through sustained, thoughtful development. Repopulating our communities is essential to the future of Chicago. By filling vacant lots with new homes, we are creating opportunities for current residents to stay in their community, for new residents to put down roots, and for neighborhoods like East and West Garfield Park that have too often been left behind to grow and thrive. With this step forward, Chicago now has 100 missing middle buildings

4:28 representing more than 300 homes across the West and South Sides. That means hundreds of families gaining access to stable, attainable housing in neighborhoods where investments have long been overdue. This reflects our continued commitment to expanding affordable housing and ensuring that families across Chicago have real opportunities to stay in their communities they love and to help those communities grow. Additionally, the City Council approved funding to support Abrams Intergeneration.

5:00 A village and affordable housing project in Washington Park that will create affordable homes tailored to the needs of families of all kinds. These investments in stability and peace of mind are at the heart of our work to build safer communities across Chicago. Today, we also took an important step to spur more private housing development. As part of our broader cut-the-tape agenda, we advance Phase 3 of the Chicago Construction Codes Modernization Initiative.

5:31 Phase 3 continues our work to remove unnecessary barriers to responsible development and create opportunities for housing growth. And these opportunities are real. It helps speed up the development of housing and commercial spaces while maintaining strong safety standards for residents and modernizing outdated building codes in ways that strengthen safety, accessibility, and predictability in the system. Taken together, today's actions reflect a broader commitment to building a more connected, more affordable, and a more equitable Chicago.

6:05 Transportation access, housing production, responsible development, and sustainable revenue all work together to support that vision. And it is especially meaningful that these steps come during a month that holds significance for black Chicagoans and the LGBTQ plus community. This progress is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring equity shows up in how we govern, how we invest, and how we serve all of the residents of our city every single day. We are grateful for this advancement and our continued efforts to create a safer, more affordable Chicago for all.

6:39 Thank you all again. And with that, I will take questions. Commissioner, if I need you, I'm going to call you, all right? Working. Okay, here we go. One question, one follow-up. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. Can you tell me, is there an ETA on replacing the commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health? We're going through an interview process now. Ballpark. I mean, as soon as possible. I mean, we're going through that process now, and that work continues, though.

7:12 We have an incredible person who is filling in this space in the meantime. As you know, this week we announced the life expectancy gap between black residents and white residents, that we closed it. We extended life in Chicago. People are living longer in Chicago, and it's a direct result of our investments. I think the really big takeaway is that the subgroup that experience the greatest extension of life expectancy are black men. This is something that's incredibly important to me, someone who lost my brother because of an addiction.

7:46 And the lives that we are saving and the investments that we're making are critical to sustaining life. And, again, that work continues, and we are going through an interview process now, and I fully expect that we'll have someone to fill that position permanently. Great. And today I believe Alderman Riley introduced a measure to rename Wabash Barack Hussein Obama Avenue. Is that something you'd support? Look, I think any way in which we can honor the first black president in the history of America is always a good thing.

8:18 Look, we're looking forward to saying hello to the former president and Mrs. Obama. They are constituents of mine, and they probably are the most famous constituents that I do have. And, again, any way in which we can honor the life and the accomplishments, but really the progress that President Obama has laid, I think it's a good thing. In fact, I represent part of the Obama legacy.

8:48 It was folks in their 20s who were inspired when he ran for the United States Senate. I remember being at an eighth-grade graduation for my godson and listening to Michelle Obama give the keynote address. They've certainly come a long way. I don't know if she still issues eighth-grade graduations, but if she does, I'll put in a good word for the class of 2027. How are you doing, Mayor Johnson? Doing well, thank you. A question about the Greyhound Station. Now that the council has approved your plan to buy it, what happens now?

9:22 What's the timetable, and what will people see as the city takes over ownership and operation of the depot? Well, look, you're going to, first of all, the people of Chicago are going to see the first of its kind, a publicly supported and protected added public form of transportation. I think it's actually quite poetic and appropriate that we are celebrating this public asset as we celebrate Juneteenth. As you know, the descendants of the formerly enslaved fought for education, housing, good-paying jobs.

10:00 and, of course, transportation and health care. So this is very much aligned with that history and the continuous work that we have to do to ensure that public accommodations work for the most vulnerable. What you're going to see is over a half a billion people are going to have access to a form of transportation that, quite frankly, was undermined because a private equity firm decided to give up on providing service. We have the Cut the Tape initiative now that this has been officially approved.

10:32 We're going to move with expediency, turning an asset that private equity undermined into the hands of the public. You know, again, is one of the most transformational things I think we can do in this season as we honor Juneteenth. And quickly, when is the city taking possession of the building? You know, I don't have to give you those specifics. I think the larger point is that we have it. A private equity firm, of course, you know, withdrew their support from something that the most vulnerable amongst us needed.

11:11 And I wasn't going to sit idly by. I'm grateful that we had a chance to work with Alders to address all of their concerns. And now the public has a public good that will benefit the most vulnerable amongst us. Quickly to the Obama Center. We've seen some reporting this week about contractors who did the work for the Obama Center being concerned about late payments and that kind of thing. Is there anything the city can do to help make those people whole and also support the center? Well, I mean, first of all, the Obama Center is just a remarkable monument of the progress that we have made as a country.

11:50 Clearly, there's a lot more work for us to do. and I'm looking forward to hosting people from around the globe who will come to celebrate the legacy and the accomplishments of President Obama. One of the things that I am aware of is that this particular project overwhelmingly supported black-owned and minority-owned businesses and contractors. This is something that was important to the Obamas, and I'm grateful that they held true to that. As far as, you know, payments, you know, are concerned, you know, I have complete confidence in the folks who have put this operation together

12:27 that they'll be able to make all of those who participated in this great monument, they'll be able to make them whole. Hi, Mayor. Hi. Are there plans to address any of the safety concerns constituents have raised around what will be the city-run bus station at the Greyhound station? Yeah, I mean, as you heard from Alderman Conway, who was a big proponent of this idea, but that wasn't the case initially. And so, you know, we'll have a complete, full safety plan that ultimately will be designed to ensure that a brand-new public asset,

13:01 Chicago made history today, a brand-new public asset that a private equity firm literally just disheartened people by withdrawing their responsibility to provide support for working people, that that public asset that I said was important that we had to get done. We had multiple conversations with Alderman Conaway and others, and we addressed those concerns. And, of course, safety is always our top priority. What do you think of Alderman Raymond Lopez's proposal to rename Northerly Island after Pope Leo?

13:34 yeah i mean look we have a lot of famous people right who are you know tethered to our to our city and again i think any opportunity uh to to lift up and highlight the rare and quite frankly the prophetic sort of ascension of a pope who has his roots in chicago i think we should we You should do that. Good afternoon.

14:10 With three open audits of mixed immigration status. Mark, I can't hear you. Oh, what about that? Okay. So with three open audits of mixed immigration status and rampant fraud, waste and other corruption detected by our cauldron of sources, What's the game plan for heading off a potential takeover of the Chicago Housing Authority by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development? Because we're told that's where it's heading if those problems aren't cleared up anytime soon.

14:43 Well, I'm not aware of what you are referring to in terms of allegations of fraud as it relates to CHA. I'm not sure what you're referring to. And if it's coming from the federal government, there's a good chance. that there is some inaccuracy there. And look, I mean, there's no secret that the federal government wants to undermine public assets. Again, as I said before, we're celebrating Juneteenth.

15:14 Housing and public housing in particular, that was one of the demands of the formerly enslaved. So it wouldn't surprise me if the president of the United States of America is going after something that black people fought for and still want today. Well, that's what we were told about Walter Burnett not being on or being on the short list and not being on the short list for a CEO. So we'll see on that score. So getting back to a question you still refuse to answer as late as yesterday, the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor says that your continued failure to make regular meetings open to the public and the news media.

15:55 And I stress regular meetings, not hearings, but regular meetings in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. How long will your administration continue to defy the IGPAC's robust determination that you should comply with what seems to be a very clear statute backed up by case law before my news organization has to follow up with an additional complaint and pull in county, state, and federal resources for enforcement?

16:28 Well, we're not defying anything. We have advisory councils that exist, multiple advisory councils. This idea that these advisory councils are subject to the Open Meetings Act, again, there's no law that I'm aware of that would suggest otherwise. And, again, as far as the minutes are concerned, we're happy to provide that. Again, there's nothing surreptitious about the work that we're doing. There's going to be two public hearings tomorrow.

17:03 Well, again, it's not that I'm not clear about it. What I'm saying is we're not in defiance of any ordinance or statute, right? The Open Meetings Act that is centered around how government entities make space for the public to have access to it, these advisory councils, I don't believe they're subject to what you're referring to. And, again, there's nothing surreptitious about the work that we're doing. We're always very open and transparent about ensuring that we can build the safest, most affordable big city in America,

17:33 and we can do that together. And I'm grateful, first of all, for all of our advisory councils. These folks, they volunteer. They're Chicagoans. These are, you know, voters, parents, families, all of them with different levels of expertise. And these advisory councils have existed long before my beard began to turn gray. You know, so, again, I think it's important to note that we're not in defiance of anything. And, in fact, if we are in defiance to anything, it's defiance to the interests of corporations and the ultra-wealthy that want to continue to try to marginalize the least of these.

18:10 Thank you very much. Thank you for the question. So to clarify, if I attend one of these revenues, I won't return the way. You're not a part of the advisory council, Mark, is what I'm saying. I don't have to do that. That's the whole point of the advisory council, Mark. I don't have to do that. I don't have to do that. question like if you want to like if you want to talk about advisory i i have clear i've clarified already thank you mark thank you mark i appreciate your your question come here so the the current

18:47 owners of the chicago parking meters uh sent the city a letter a series of letters in recent weeks It's essentially saying if the city council blocks the transfer to this new owner, that it puts the city at risk financially, that the city would be held responsible for essentially thwarting a deal measured in the billions. Were you aware of this threat, and what do you make of the validity of such a threat?

19:18 Well, listen, I'm aware of how bad this deal is and the framing around the ordinance and what authority the city council has and the parameters in which the ordinance requires them to work within. I think everybody's been aware of how bad that is. In terms of any particular threat, I think it's premature to make any sort of speculation around how the city council will deliberate. You've said repeatedly you think that or believe that the deal is ironclad

19:53 and that they won't be able to receive concessions from the proposed owner. Not so much not be able to see concessions. I believe no one is in disagreement. And I'll let you clarify your second question, your follow-up. What I've said is that the ordinance in and of itself just reflects how bad of the deal it is. And there is a framework in which the ordinance lays out who has the authority and what ability that authority is allotted in an instance like this.

20:27 That's all I've said. But, again, I don't think it's appropriate to speculate whether or not the deliberation of the city council, who has the authority to do this, that somehow, in the course of the deliberation, there could not be room, if you will, to be able to work with the potential buyer. Even if the authority to approve or disapprove rests with the city council, are you able to weigh in? Do you think the city council should approve any deal unless Stone Peak makes concessions to the agreement or makes some sort of financial concession?

20:59 Well, what I've said is that there has to be full engagement. You know, the city council has the technical support and the elements that it needs. We have put folks in contact with their respective individuals who have this responsibility. You know, again, to opine or speculate on what's possible in this scenario, I just don't know if that's fruitful. You know, what I will continue to say is that as jacked up as this deal is, the City Council's responsibility to go through a thorough process and to do it with, you know, transparency and taking time to go through it, I commend our City Council members for that commitment.

21:46 Good afternoon, Mayor. Good afternoon. Are you still calling on the City Council to consider the repeal of video gaming in the city of Chicago? I know there was a Workforce Development Committee meeting that was called and then called off this week. Well, what I've called for repeatedly is for a fair, open hearing to be able to discuss all the ramifications that are associated here. There are some legitimate concerns, particularly around the amount of jobs that have been promised by the Bally's Casino.

22:16 I believe it's imperative that this committee goes through a healthy debate so that we don't, one, cause harm to the revenue that we are projecting from the casino. Two, that we don't have a negative impact on the workforce. And three, to make sure that we're just not in any way violating what the initial agreement called for. Do you think that there's a threat for them to sue the city of Chicago if video gaming goes live?

22:52 I know that six businesses have licenses now from the state. Again, I can't speculate what a private entity would do. That's why I'm grateful that the chair of the committee is committed to going through a thorough process here. That's what – I mean, if you look at what happened today, look at all the things that we accomplished in city council today. Think about all the things that we're able to push back against today. It's because, as I said from the very beginning, I'm interested in collaboration. I'm interested in making sure that stakeholders are at the table so that voices are included as we deliberate.

23:28 This is a good thing for Chicago. You know, your colleague referenced the parking meter deal. It's a really good example when you don't have debate and that you're not thorough and that you don't spend time interrogating what's in front of us. The fact that city council is noisier than it's ever been at a time in which we are building the safest, most affordable big city in America, it looks like that my approach towards governance is certainly paying dividends. Hi, Mayor. Yes, Heather. We're six months into the year.

23:59 The city has spent a total of two hundred and twenty five million dollars at least to resolve police misconduct lawsuits. How can you ask Chicago taxpayers to bear that burden, and is there any end in sight? Well, unfortunately, Chicagoans have had to bear these responsibilities because we had bad actors in the department, right? I mean, this is not just, you know, some arbitrary bill, if you will, that we have to respond to. We're talking about the violation of trust and abuse of power.

24:30 Is there end in sight in terms of how police engage moving forward? I'm hopeful, right? We have seen a dramatic reduction in in these type of abusive cases that have been brought to light that have led to taxpayers footing the bill for for bad behavior. Constitutional policing is the focus. We're moving faster to be in complete compliance with the consent decree. I thought he was going to ask that question, but I probably shouldn't have spoken so soon. But, you know, look, it is a problem. Don't get me wrong. It is a significant problem.

25:05 I was talking with some members of our team, thinking about ways in which we can engage Springfield around these efforts, because between pensions and how bad that infrastructure has been, as well as settlement, it is placing an enormous burden on everyday people. As you know, some of these cases go back, well, I won't use the line that I wanted to use referring to Alderman O'Shea, because he took a really unnecessary shot at Alderwoman Harris today.

25:38 She was a really good sport about it. But these cases go back a long way. And so the hope is that we continue to have stronger, better community policing moving forward so that this is not a pervasive problem that I inherited that I certainly hope we can put back an end in sight. Excuse me. And I know part of that effort involves the early intervention system that is under development with the Chicago Police Department.

26:09 I reported this week that the city has paid Benchmark Analytics $2.7 million, but I was unable to obtain any records that show whether that contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process or whether it was awarded after a sole source designation. Do you know how that contract was awarded and why it was awarded to Benchmark Analytics? I believe that the contract with this particular entity already existed, and so it just continued.

26:41 That's my understanding. Hi, Mayor. Hi. So to piggyback off of Monica on the street designation, a little more detail on that. Alderman Riley wants to do an honorary street. designation, which is typically reserved for folks who have passed. But he's hoping that the wording of his ordinance will make an exception for the former president. Is that something that you support the concept of?

27:12 I mean, look, as I said before, I think it's important that we honor, you know, President Obama. And any way in which we can do that, we should do it. You know, as far as the language of the ordinance that would allow and permit such a thing from occurring. We'll have to take a deeper look at it and let's just be honest we hope it doesn't remain this but President Obama is an exception. Now the hope is that that does not become an

27:42 exception and that we see more individuals that come from an organizing background, from a working class family to ascend to the most powerful position on the planet. And so is there potential room to make adjustments to honor someone who is alive and well today? You know, I'm glad that the Alderman put it forward and, you know, we'll have the debate, but there certainly is no debate to the exceptional leadership of President Obama and to Mrs. Obama.

28:19 You know, I think personally Michelle should get a little bit more love from Chicago. So, you know, maybe I'll come up with an idea to rename the whole South Shore community. Just call it Michelle Obama Neighborhood. Only if you want that, Mrs. Obama. My follow-up question relates to that. Do you think that former President Obama should be able to weigh in on whether he wants this designation or not? I think it's important to, you know, engage, you know, with the Obamas.

28:53 I mean, look, they are a true motivation to so many people, right? I'm thinking about my eldest son. I mean, he was in an Obama, you know, fist onesie, and there's a picture out there of him that he is desperately hoping that it doesn't get released to the public. And, you know, he cast his first vote. But one of the earliest elections that's documented with his participation is him in a onesie. And I say that and I lift that up for someone who knocked on doors for President Obama when he was running for the United States Senate.

29:29 I had a chance to introduce him. In fact, when politicians go to churches on Sunday, which I encourage all politicians to go on Sunday, whether they're running for office or not. But I had a chance to follow, at that time, State Senator Barack Obama around as he was making his U.S. Senate run. And, you know, I know how much he loves this city, and I know how much this city means to him, to Mrs. Obama, to his children. They were born here, and, you know, whether or not he's thinking about us right now in this designation, I don't know.

30:06 But when I see him tomorrow, I only get two questions. I'm happy to use one of my questions that you just asked exactly. Like, I have all these things I want to talk to you about. However, they're going to name a street after you. Are you good with that? Hey, Mayor, my cauldron of – oh, I'm just kidding. Sorry, Mark. Why do you – you know, like I had this $425 million TIF subsidy for the 78. Why do you support spending taxpayer money to help that mega project move forward?

30:40 Why does that make sense for taxpayers? To develop a whole community in which we're going to create jobs and housing and be able to generate revenue to make more investments into people. Why am I investing to invest more into people? I mean, that's the hallmark of my administration. You know, look, these investments aren't necessary to be able to drive economic activity. What's happening right there economically right now? What has happened there for the last several decades? Nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada. And I believe any time that we can attract private entity to put skin in the game, and then we put skin in the game to build out infrastructure that's literally going to generate revenue for generations to come, that's why those investments are important.

31:30 Look, if we're going to build the safest, most affordable big city in America, there's only one way to do that, and that's to invest in people. And this neighborhood has sat dormant through multiple administrations. I activated it, and the type of impact it's going to have, not just in the South Loop, but in Bronzeville, in Chinatown, this is exactly what the people of Chicago elected me to do, was to invest in them to create jobs and opportunities, generate revenue so that we can continue to make those critical investments. And on the parking meter deal, your administration has repeatedly cited a nondisclosure agreement

32:02 to explain why certain information might not be shared with Alderman or with us. Is that nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement still in effect? The confidentiality agreement is still in effect. It is. How does that mean? Morgan Stanley told me today that it isn't in effect, that they sent a letter to your legal department saying that they released you from it. So how does that? I believe we actually just got one on the 12th recently. the confidentiality agreement still exists. All right. Thank you all very much. Have a great day. Again, Commissioner, congratulations, sir.

Sources and methods: how we get and count this data · report an error