Chicago Politics

Press Availability 2.3.26

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Mayor Brandon Johnson hosts press availability.

Transcript

3:34 Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here, as always. Let me first start off by fixing my tie here. There you go. How do I look, Lawrence? Okay. I do want to start off by acknowledging that February is Black History Month, when we reflect on the contributions that black people have made and continue to make on behalf of this country. The struggle for black liberation has always been at the center.

4:04 of the fight to build a true multiracial democracy in America, from the abolitionist movement led by leaders and figures like Frederick Douglass, David Walker, Harriet Tubman, to the mass unionization waves throughout the 1930s led by black labor leaders like A. Philip Randolph, and, of course, the Civil Rights Movement under the leadership of some of the most transformational figures in America's history,

4:35 including Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., who we continue to lift up in our prayers and someone who we still continue to learn from today. At every critical junction or juncture in our nation's history, black Americans are at the center leading the fight for Or... the improvement of all people and for our country to ultimately live up to its founding promise. The struggle continues today for a true democracy where every person in this country enjoys their

5:07 full civil, social, and human rights. We have more work to do to build that country, but that is the struggle that we all inherited and that we are tasked with moving forward. I spent a few days last week at the United States Conference of Mayors, ultimately spending some time with them working with and learning from other mayors across the country as we work to protect the rights of our constituents from federal overreach. We talked about everything from effective public safety strategies to affordable housing.

5:40 We also talked about lessons that we've learned and how our cities can continue to make progress together. To that end, we have seen a few positive trends in terms of our ongoing focus on community safety. First, you may have seen the piece that was in the Tribune highlighting the fact that our homicide clearance rate has reached over 70 percent last year. Now, I want to be absolutely clear. Certainly, we have much more work to do in terms of solving cases, particularly shooting incidents.

6:13 But our focus on the Detectives Bureau, working closely with CPD leadership to implement many of the report's recommendations, is already delivering measurable results. The focus on detectives and solving cases is both about bringing closure to the victims and their families, but it also works as a deterrent to future crime. It tells people that if you commit a crime, we will hold you accountable. Secondly, we are seeing some positive movement in crime trends thus far.

6:46 This year, though it's early, we've seen a 27% reduction in shootings, 30% decline in homicides, and a 35% reduction in robberies compared to this point at this time last year. It goes without saying that we are still early in the year, so we still have a long way to go, so we will continue to make adjustments as needed to continue to drive down violence throughout the year. And finally, over the weekend, we signed an executive order directing the police department to attempt to identify and collect evidence, when possible, of ICE or Border Patrol agents who engage in potential criminal misconduct.

7:23 Now, under normal circumstances, this would be and should be the responsibility of the federal government. Normally, federal agents would investigate federal agencies, and federal law enforcement would hold them accountable. However, unfortunately, we're not under normal circumstances. Mayor Mara Martinez is testifying today in D.C. She is a young woman who was shot five times by a federal agent just about five months ago. And federal agents were caught on record bragging about the shooting.

7:56 In that time, there has been no investigation by federal agents and no investigations opened by local authorities. That came months after Mr. Cerverio Villegas-Gonzalez, an unarmed father, was shot and killed by an unnamed federal agent just outside of Chicago after dropping his kids off at school. There has been no accountability of these shootings or for any of the countless incidents of abuse by federal agents that we have seen with our own eyes throughout the operation that was referred to as Midway Blitz.

8:30 That is why we move forward with an order that attempts to put some basic parameters that could provide a pathway to accountability for federal agents. During the signing, I indicated that the state's attorney was supportive of this measure based off of the discussions that occurred throughout the week leading up to the signing of the signing and the staff level conversations that were had. and also based off of numerous public statements in which she stated unequivocally that she would move forward with prosecution

9:01 if presented with evidence from local law enforcement. So ultimately, the executive order does not direct the state's attorney to do anything. As you may know, there's a 30-day process to address any concerns that might be raised throughout the rulemaking process. But what we are looking to do is to continue to work with all stakeholders so that we can meet the expectations of the people of Chicago who are justifiably demanding accountability for what they view as reckless and lawless actions by the Trump administration in our city,

9:33 and quite frankly, in cities across America. And so thank you for all of that, and at this time I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. Okay. Hello. Testing, testing. Is this on? All right. You want to. Come here. Hey. Good morning. Still morning. So State Rep. Cam Buckner introduced a bill that would pave the way for autonomous vehicles to operate in Illinois, including Cook County and, you know, the city.

10:05 Is that something you support? Have you talked about it with them? Would the city need to create its own rules and parameters around that? Well, I have not reviewed what Leader Buckner has presented. What I have said and what I will continue to say, that the city of Chicago is the best place for all economic development, but in particular, the bears remaining in the city of Chicago. And, you know, I'm going to continue to make that case. Any tool, you know, that is available for the city of Chicago to continue to incentivize growth, rather, of course, you know, I would welcome that.

10:42 But, again, I have not seen the specific language. On autonomous vehicles like Waymo, is that something you would support, having self-driving cars? He introduced a bill that would allow self-driving cars to operate in Illinois and in Cook County. I see. That's what I was asking about. Oh, okay. Yeah, I'm not familiar with that at all. I've not seen that. If you're asking me if that's something I would support, you know, I have to give that some more consideration, Justin. What were you talking about when I asked that? I thought you were referring to economic development in terms of, you know, stadiums of the like.

11:19 That's what I thought you were referring to. Thank you. Mayor Johnson, over the weekend you signed an executive order directing the Chicago Police Department to keep track of ICE agents' activities in Chicago with the obvious implication that you want to prosecute ICE agents. Yet there have been 140-plus shootings in Chicago since the first of the year. There have been 40-plus people murdered in Chicago since the first of the year.

11:56 What would you say to the people, the families of the victims of these shootings and murders? They want to know why you're focused on federal agents who are trying to clean up their neighborhoods and make their neighborhoods safe, their streets safe. Why are you worried about, you know, so myopically focused on the, you know, the shooting death of a citizen in Minnesota when you don't seem to care at all about the shootings and the murders of real Chicago people?

12:37 Yeah, well, look, you know, I'm multitasking. That's what the people of Chicago want me to do. So we can do both at the same time, right? And as I said before, of course, we would prefer. Please don't interrupt. Please don't interrupt. Thank you. William, we got it. We got it. All right. All right. Thank you. So, again, as I said before, I'm multitasking as the mayor of the city of Chicago, and we can do both at the same time, You know, ensuring that our police department has all of the tools that it needs in order to be effective at driving violence down while also making sure that our residents are not being brutalized by the Trump administration.

13:20 In fact, as you heard in my opening remarks, starting off this year, shootings are down, homicides are down, shooting victims are down. Of course, there's more work to be done. And yes, we would much rather focus on the local challenges of building safe and affordable communities. But at a time in which this administration is determined to create terror and havoc across this country, we are now placed in a position where we have to do both. And as the leader of this city, of this amazing city, the people of this city expect me to keep them safe, whether it's from violence that comes from within or violent attacks that come from from outside of the city of Chicago.

13:59 My job is to protect all of Chicago under all circumstances, and I will focus on that. The people of Chicago tell me that they don't feel that you are focusing on that when you're leading protests against ICE agents. Is that a question? And you've never once led a single protest for a Chicago victim of a crime. But different topic here. Chicagoans also want to know if you've paid your city bills and fees

14:29 and fines. You're an elected official. You get paid a six-figure salary. They don't understand why you didn't pay your water bill or your parking tickets. And now we hear that your ally, Stacey Davis-Gate, It also owes money to the city. Have you talked to her about this? Have you initiated a collection process to help Stacey Davis-Gates pay her fair share when you're asking working people, middle-class people, to pay their fair share?

15:00 Got it. Thank you, man. And yet the elected officials and public officials are not paying their fair share. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jake, do you have a question? We're not going to answer that. We'll go to the mic, please. Are you covering for Stacey Davis-Gates? You passed the mic, please. Are you not going to ask her to pay her bills to the city? Has she paid her bill? Your office met on Sunday, and, you know, you just talked about Miramar Martinez.

15:30 What new cases are you looking at when you're considering charges in these incidents you're discussing? So I personally, I'm not looking at cases. What I have done is I've used my executive authority to create a pathway to accountability. Now, I have referenced cases that I believe have exhibited abuse. Right. The fact that a father was shot and killed. Miss Martinez was shot five times. You know, again, I've referenced the illegal chokehold of the young brother on the west side of Chicago.

16:02 I believe all of these are acts of brutality. In terms of me looking at any specific case, if that's what you're asking, that's not the authority that I am exercising. My authority is to ensure that there's a pathway to ultimately hold any abuse cases to provide accountability if any abuse actually does take place. But those are examples of the sort of what you call misconduct that you think you're hopeful for, the charges to emerge from.

16:32 Well, what I'm hopeful is that we have a pathway for accountability. That's what I'm hopeful for. You know, you've said again as you started this press conference that the state's attorney, you know, supports this measure, that, you know, you had discussions and, you know, you looked at her past statements to suggest that she would support this. Where do you think her pushback, if you feel that way, where does her pushback to distance herself from this come from? You know, I don't really interpret it, you know, that way. You know, look, I don't have jurisdiction authority over the state's attorney, right?

17:05 I have a responsibility and authority to direct my police department to not only identify ICE agents, but also to collect evidence and to make sure that that evidence is preserved. That's the authority that I have. What I am hopeful around is the fact that, again, that we have a tyrant in the White House that has ordered federal agents to engage in what clearly has been abusive and deadly force.

17:38 And that's something that I believe that as a country, there is a growing groundswell of support for accountability. We know that the district attorney in Philadelphia, Larry Krasner, along with mayors across this country, are organizing around how we provide executive authority in our respective spaces. I know Philadelphia right now, the city council, is literally looking at the executive orders that we've put forward in Chicago as a template and a guide for them to codify stronger protections for the people of that city.

18:12 New Orleans, there are groundswell of organizers down there calling for the same type of executive authority that we've implemented in the city of Chicago. And so all I'm simply saying is that as the groundswell continues to grow for accountability, the city of Chicago, as we have always done, we're prepared and willing to always lead and to go first to create a pathway for accountability. And then, like any other case, the state's attorney has their jurisdiction to decide if they're going to move forward with prosecution.

18:45 But that's the autonomy that the state's attorney has. How are you doing, Mayor Johnson? I'm doing well. Thank you. What conversations have your office had with the state's attorney's office following Saturday's announcement and signing of the executive order and her posts and statements on social media suggesting that she had not had an opportunity to review the executive order. And do you feel like you and the state's attorney's office are on the same page here? Well, look, the state's attorney has said publicly that she is prepared to prosecute federal agents,

19:22 has not had evidence brought before her, which makes sense, right? And so what I did, I used my authority to create a pathway for accountability, as long as there's a pathway for accountability based upon, again, what's happening nationally. People are being killed. Police officers have been harmed by federal agents indiscriminately releasing tear gas. The type of terror and chaos that has been evoked by this administration is something that has to be checked.

19:56 And so there will always be ongoing conversations at every level of government. My corporate counsel speaks with the attorney general, right? I'm speaking with mayors across this country and around the state of Illinois. I have conversations with the governor's administration. I am doing everything in my power to provide any level of support that can ultimately lead towards justice and protecting the people of the city of Chicago. So, you know, I don't see it as a disconnect. Look, Democrats know what our responsibility is in this moment.

20:29 And it's imperative that we stand up for the working class, for the downtrodden, for undocumented families, for working people across the city and across this country. Quickly, Christina Passione-Zayas said last week that you are considering a reboot of Bring Chicago Home. How close are you to pulling the trigger on that if you are, and what are the circumstances that make you think that it will have a better hearing the second time around? Well, what she was ultimately getting at is that we are looking at all forms of progressive revenue, right?

21:05 Just like the fair tax was unsuccessful, we have seen other ballot measures not move in our favor. The millionaire's tax, as you know, I've been calling for that consistently. I've been a long supporter and champion of it. As of August of last year, I believe, you heard the Speaker of the House provide his support. He has reinforced that. So I believe that we have to continue to look at all of it. But in the meantime, we're going to be focused in on our efforts in Springfield to draw more progressive revenue so that we can continue to make the necessary investments to build safe and affordable communities.

21:45 Hi, Mayor. Hi. The state's attorney has either declined to join a coalition of other prosecutors who are exploring ways to charge federal agents engaging in misconduct or criminal activity during those immigration raids. Would you call on State's Attorney O'Neill Burke to join that coalition and work with people like Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to develop those strategies? Well, look, I have repeatedly said that we all have to work together and ultimately build progressive power and strength as we push back against the Trump administration and work to protect all of the people of this country.

22:25 You know, as far as any individual call, that's something that that person has to be drawn to do. That has to be a personal conviction. I do see unity is our greatest strength. I was in D.C. last week with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. You're seeing bipartisan support grow. I want to commend the leadership of President and Mayor Holt, who has helped draw these connections one to another.

22:55 to call out this administration. So I think it's imperative, but I also believe it's a really unique opportunity for us to draw strength from one another to push back against the tyrant in the White House. Anjanette Young, who, of course, was the subject of a wrongful raid back in 2019, she has a new book out describing sort of the trauma that she went through post that raid. The new CPD policy governing search warrants is now final. It hasn't taken effect, but it will once enough officers are trained on it.

23:27 That policy does not ban no-knock warrants. It does not ban officers from pointing guns at children, and it does not require officers to wait 30 seconds before entering somebody's home, as Ms. Young has asked. You had endorsed an ordinance that would go through the city council. You've yet to introduce that ordinance. Why have you not been able to make those changes that she has called for and that you campaigned on? Well, first of all, I commend Ms. Anjanette Young on her incredible journey,

24:00 the way that she's been able to use that moment that was obviously very painful, traumatic, and I would even venture to say humiliating experience, how she has turned that into power. So I congratulate her on that. You know, I've been working with the chief sponsor, as you know, the ordinance to create a pathway for that ordinance to become realized. So that, again, that requires the support of a lot of different interests. There has to be some buy-in from our local police department.

24:34 That's something that was spelled out. In the initial conversation around in our negotiations, and again, I'm going to continue to work with the chief sponsor of that ordinance to see to it that we could pass something that can create, you know, more stronger reforms within our police department to ultimately create that bond and that trust that's needed in order to drive violence down in Chicago. I'm here. Hey. So I wanted to circle back to the Miramar Martinez case because the feds have now agreed that they are going to not oppose the release of a lot of the evidence, including the video in there.

25:16 It seems like this might be a perfect test case for your executive order and the kind of thing that police could investigate. Do you think this would be a good one, and would you direct police to look at any evidence that's released and pursue charges if possible? Well, one of the things that the executive order does is that it provides opportunity for past cases and encounters with federal agents to be considered. As I've said repeatedly, I believe that there are a number of incidents that have not just provided the impetus behind this executive order,

25:53 but they are cases that I do believe that should be reviewed. You know, as far as, you know, again, Ms. Martinez, first of all, I'm just grateful that she has been able to survive that tragedy. And, of course, we're praying for her to have full recovery as she deals with the lingering trauma of that type of abuse. But as I said, whether it's Ms. Martinez or whether it's the gentleman who was in an illegal chokehold by federal agents, I believe that these are examples of how this administration has gone unchecked,

26:27 and there has to be stronger accountability so that we can protect the people of our city and really the people across this country. How did you weigh concerns in going forward with this on the position this could put police in? Former Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy told us yesterday that he thinks this could be a complete disaster, a recipe for disaster, and could jeopardize working relationships between police and other federal agencies. What concerns do you have, and how would you try to avoid that kind of difficulty?

27:00 Yeah, I mean, look, as I said before, I mean, this is not something that we thought that we would have to do as local municipalities. And under normal circumstances, the federal government would hold itself accountable, but these are not normal circumstances. What I'm really concerned about is the breakdown of trust with law enforcement within our communities because, you know, look, as Superintendent Snelling, you know, working with me, as we have worked to restore confidence in our police department, that has helped drive violence down in the city of Chicago.

27:43 As we have worked to revamp our Detectives Bureau so that we can bring closure and accountability to violence in our city. And when you have the rogue, reckless behavior by federal agents, that actually undermines the work that police officers in our city have been doing. That's really what my larger concern is. Of course, in normal circumstances, the federal government would do its part, but we're not living under normal circumstances today. You know, I wish I did not have to use executive authority to provide protection for the residents of the city of Chicago because the president of the United States of America has declared war on our city, right?

28:24 And so because we are living in very unprecedented times, you know, these circumstances call for us to be far more innovative and boisterous in our ability to deliver quality government to the people of our city. Would you go after these on their own by the fence? This is about making sure that there's clear direction. That's all this is about. Now that we have clear direction, now we have an opportunity for, again, a pathway for accountability.

28:59 Good morning, Mayor. Good morning. Last week, the CCPSA officially nominated LaKenya White as the next COPA chief administrator. You'll have 30 days, obviously, to put in input on that nomination, but I was hoping to know what are your thoughts on that nomination, and what are you looking for in the next COPA chief going forward, especially because COPA might get jurisdiction soon to investigate violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance? Well, look, first of all, she's done a really solid job in the interim.

29:30 I understand that there was a national surge. Dozens of individuals were interviewed. So it speaks volumes that, you know, that she has gotten this far in that process. You know, what we're looking for is an administrator that is sharp and that is, you know, capable of reviewing complex matters, right? But someone who understands that in order for us to have a stronger police department, that accountability has to reflect our values.

30:03 and having someone who understands that, the history of distrust, as well as, quite frankly, brutality in our city, and someone who has, again, an administrative, compassionate heart to be able to deliver justice for families, that's what I'm looking for, and we're going to review what's been put before me, and I'll make a decision in short order. And if COPA is given that jurisdiction to investigate welcoming city violations, White said last week that they had a little over two dozen potentially related allegations.

30:38 Is that something that you would want COPA to prioritize over the next year or two? Well, as I said earlier, there's a question that was asked about our ability to, you know, focus on, you know, driving down violence here locally while also responding to the federal attacks. It's a both-and approach, right? I mean, I think that there are so many ways in which government can deliver better services and build trust within community. That's the focus. All of the priority is restoring and building trust in communities so that we can continue to drive violence down the city of Chicago.

31:15 You know, I can't express this enough. You know, one act of violence, one act of misconduct is one too many. And as we work to transform this city into the safest, most affordable big city in America, having strong administrators who can carry out government through the lens of justice, that's going to be imperative as we move forward. So I believe it's a dual approach. And, again, I'm going to review what's been put in front of me to ensure that we have a strong, compassionate, with strong conviction in that position.

31:47 You're welcome. Good morning. Good morning. So it's come to our Auduby Wells-Burnett-inspired attention that the reparation task force meetings are closed to the public and that the community outreach sessions and public hearings described in its charter have not happened. So when will the body operate in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act? What is the publicly appointed and publicly funded members of the task force hiding?

32:21 And when will it become in compliance with the Open Meetings Act before we have to consult the public counselor of the Illinois Attorney General's office? Oh, and by the way, is the funding that was reappropriated from last year for the task force, the entire $500,000, or is that $500,000 minus the $180,000 paid out in stipends?

32:51 So it's $500,000 total. Thank you for all four of your questions. It's $500,000 in total, and that is what has been appropriated. It's both and. And there are some closed sessions, and there are meetings that are scheduled that will be open to the public. As far as that public schedule for this year, we're happy to get that to you. Nothing is, again, there's nothing surreptitious about this process. We are very open and in the forefront in terms of my administration's commitment to this reparations task force.

33:25 It's a really good opportunity for us to really uncover and unpack the historic harm that has been done to black residents. So, again, the $500,000 is the full appropriation and the open public meetings that will happen. I'll make sure someone gets that scheduled to you. Now, an unbundled question. While we have an unbundled question that's very timely. While you confirmed during the last City Hall presser that your senior advisor, Jason Lee, lives in Chicago,

33:59 What you've not acknowledged is whether he reinforced that residency by registering with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners as far as his vote is concerned. Jason Lee lives in the city of Chicago, and I'm confident that he voted for me. Thanks. We're going to go to Taman now. Thanks, Mike. We'll go to Taman. Good morning, Mayor. Good morning. Your executive order directs CPD to preserve evidence related to potential federal agent misconduct and at the direction of your office make a referral to the state's attorney's office.

34:36 Who in your office would be making that recommendation, and why wouldn't police just work with the state's attorney's office on potential misconduct as they normally do? Yeah, look, there's a 30-day rulemaking process to continue to work through that element. What we wanted to do was create, again, a pathway for accountability. These are, again, you know, the abnormality of this moment cannot be underscored enough. But again, through the next 30 days, we'll be able to work through the implementation process that we have put forward.

35:12 And unrelated, Governor Pritzker is out with policy papers saying he wants 100 percent pension funding for state workers by 2045. In the short term, things may be tight. When you hear that, do you hear, all right, right now might not be the time to go for progressive revenue, to ask for a billion dollars that you say that the state owes CPS? or do you hear that now is the time to push even harder? Well, you know, look, let me just offer up, just passing the mic around. Hey, can you come get this microphone?

35:43 We're almost done here. Thank you. You know, look, I think that the time for progressive revenue is now, and everybody's in agreement with that. It's just a matter of ensuring that we get it done. And I wouldn't characterize it as the city of – I just want to make sure that I'm I want to make sure that this is framed right I don't want the term the state of Illinois owes CPS as some sort of provocative

36:14 like adversarial tone there's a new funding formula that the state of Illinois supports that requires our schools to be fully funded across the state of Illinois There's about a $3.2 billion shortfall for the entire state. Of that $3.2 billion, the proportion that would go to the city of Chicago is just based upon the math, right? So this is something that there's an agreement around. And quite frankly, if you talk to any individual who is in the legislature about, you know, fully securing our retirement for people who have contributed to government, they'll say absent progressive revenue, there's not a clear pathway of how that gets done.

37:03 So it's both and, right? There's a way in which we can ensure that families receive high quality education and that the state of Illinois fully funds our school districts, particularly at a time in which the Trump administration has shown so much disdain and animus towards public accommodations. I mean, we're talking about a president who has defunded every single public asset that the people of our country rely upon. And particularly the time in which we're celebrating black history, just indulge me for a quick second.

37:34 You know, after the Civil War, there were five demands from descendants of slaves, education, housing, health care, transportation and good paying jobs. I've added a friendly amendment, environmental justice. If you look at where the Trump administration is attacking our government, he is literally going after every single institution that slaves fought to secure for the entire country. And so when we talk about securing pensions, absent of the historic context of what it means to fund these institutions, don't tell me how much you love black people.

38:15 Don't ask me how we're going to celebrate Black History Month if you're not talking about funding public accommodations. The best way to honor my ancestors in this month is make a commitment to fund the very institutions that my people fought and died for. Thank you all. Happy Black History Month.

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