Chicago Politics

Update From City Hall 9.25.25

Chapters

Description

Mayor Johnson hosts a media availability.

Transcript

0:02 Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Thank you all for being here. I know it's been a long day. I want to thank Southside Together and the CBA Coalition for their hard work and deliberation to protect the residents of this city, and particularly our seniors who are on fixed income. Thank you. This Jackson Park housing pilot is an incredible testament to how we are building safe and affordable communities. We're excited about the expansion, of course, of the ADU. We are grateful that we have a new member of our city council, Alderman Walter Burnett III.

0:38 And then, of course, today we were able to have an historic moment where we were able to settle the Watts cases. and it's a yet another example of how we are moving with expediency to deliver high quality government for the people of this city with that we'll open it up to a few questions okay we're just going to do one question to get through everyone heather you ready nothing like on the spot hi mayor hi um this week the coalition behind the consent decree moved to enforce the agreement

1:15 saying that the city was in violation of it because of an increase in the use of force by Chicago police officers against members of the public, specifically with what the department considers lethal uses of force, doubling in 2024 as compared to 2023. Is that an acceptable amount of use of force by the police department with you, and does the city need to do more to come into compliance with the consent decree? I mean, well, we obviously are moving forward with coming into compliance with the consent decree. from where we started when I took office in 2023 to where we are now.

1:49 And I fully expect that this year we'll have more gains as far as some of the challenges that we are still experiencing. There's no one that's disputing that there's still much more work to be done. And, you know, I'm going to work tirelessly, of course, with our superintendent, who has made this as a part of our top priority to ensure that constitutional policing becomes the form of governance that the people of Chicago can not only embrace but become accustomed with. After today, again, the settlement that we just secured,

2:19 we don't want to go back to a time in which we've seen these cases that have caused harm, and it's not only harmed individuals, but it's cost the taxpayers' dollars as well. So, yes, more work to be done. Yes, we're moving in the right direction. And, of course, yes, we're going to ensure that constitutional policing becomes the absolute form of policing in the city of Chicago. Hi, Mayor. ICE was seen floating down the Chicago River downtown today with several officers armed as well.

2:49 I'm curious, obviously you've been in a meeting all day, but what does the administration know of that operation, if anything, and is there concern that that will be a regular appearance as the federal government continues their immigration mission in Chicago? Well, look, the federal government is not communicating with me or our police department. And this is the problem that we have expressed from the very beginning

3:20 as this president has moved to, quite frankly, behave such in an abrupt way that I don't really see how this is helping anyone, anywhere. Do not know what they're up to. And, you know, I think the last part that I can just indicate, it's just further proof that this administration is only committed to intimidating people and working to strike fear into the hearts and to the minds of the people of this city. We're going to continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. As difficult as this moment has been, we have not wavered in our commitment and support for our immigrant communities.

4:00 Good evening, Mayor. You've said before that it's your job to propose a budget, but it's the city council's job to pass a budget. So would you say this year you hope that the final result is not seen as Brandon's budget, but just as much city council's? And do you hope that that framing would alleviate some of the pressure on you as well as allies ahead of 2027? Well, first of all, the focus that I have is alleviating the pressure that families have experienced in the city of Chicago for a very long time as we deal with, you know, our pensions, these, you know, unfortunate, these police settlement cases.

4:35 There are a host of items, of course, that we've had to deal with because of just, again, years of neglect. So, again, the goal of my budget is to speak to the values of the city of Chicago. Now, look, I'm going to work with city council to not just, you know, drive a narrative around how we can build the safest, most affordable big city in America. This budget really has to reflect those values. From the very beginning, the ultra-rich billionaires, millionaires, have to put more skin in the game.

5:07 And my budget is going to reflect that value system. Now, in terms of the pressure, you know, look, we've been under an enormous amount of pressure over the course of these first couple of years, and we've handled it every step of the way. Our agenda continues to move forward. As we build more affordable units today, we've doubled the amount of eligible spaces that will be able to benefit from ADUs. We are on pace to build thousands of affordable units by the end of my first term. And as we make these critical investments around mental health and housing

5:39 and making sure that our police department and all the departments are communicating with one another, we're still making strides of driving violence down in the city of Chicago. We're talking about, you know, numbers that we have not seen in 60 years. So it's going to be a collective response. And the hope is that the people that represent the people of Chicago and city council, that they see the values that we are putting forward and the effectiveness that has occurred as a result of my administration. And then, you know, hopefully we'll get a unanimous vote for the budget.

6:12 But that's not necessarily a requirement, but that is at least my hope. Good evening. So the Deep South Press Corps' cauldron of sources has confirmed that the Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Housing and Urban Development was in Chicago all of last week investigating state governance through J.B. Pritzker and your local governance. And they were particularly concerned or quizzed some civic leaders about why you are still pushing Walter Burnett, Jr.,

6:49 for CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, before you sorted out these potential conflicts of interest, among them a lack of a waiver, they say, is federally required. And do not tell me how to do my job that I've been doing for 40-something years. I'm asking the question. Okay, please do. The question, so with these conflicts of interest, we were wondering, is there a timeline you have for clearing this stuff up before it gets to the point that the feds say,

7:27 you know what, enough is enough. enough we're going to take over and do a conservatorship until you get it together on these unresolved conflicts of interest so we do have it together we are in constant communication with the region as well as at the the regional cha leadership and we fully expect that we'll be able to move forward with the person that i believe is best situated to run cha and that's the former alderman Walter Burnett. Good evening, Mayor. I wanted to confirm it seems the city is

8:00 not pursuing passage of the replacement grocery tax ahead of October 1st. Is there thinking behind not pursuing that if that's true? And do you still intend to pursue that? There was public commenters today who said, you know, that's his regressive and they were calling on people to not support that. Well, look, it's it's first of all, it's not my tax. I don't own the rights to any taxes. This is a tax that's been around for 30 years. The state has historically collected this tax. The state has decided that it no longer wants the responsibility to collect the tax. And so there are municipalities

8:34 around the state that have decided to take on that responsibility because the state has decided not to. I do not believe that that tax should be raised, but the idea of the collection of that tax that is now in the hands of municipalities, like any other tax. Of course, people are allowed to debate or pontificate around whether or not the collection of this tax should be done at the municipal level. That's a conversation that the people of City Council I'm sure will continue to have. At this point, I've made it very clear

9:06 I'm going to work to ensure that we have the revenue that we need to make sure that we're hiring young people, that we're creating pathways to build more affordable units, that we're expanding mental and behavioral health care services, and that we're making critical investments to keep our community safe. Yeah. Hi, Mayor. Lee John Greco reporting for Southside Weekly today. I wanted to ask about the CBA. Do you support similar set-asides in other gentrifying neighborhoods, and can you comment on the foundation itself not supporting the CBA?

9:40 Well, look, I can't speak to, you know, someone's intent or their desires or commitment. I only can speak for myself, and what this pilot program is ultimately doing is protecting seniors. We're talking about individuals who are on fixed income, right? We're also talking about communities where there are overwhelmingly working-class folks, brown and black folks. Now, as far as how do we make sure that development happens without gentrifying communities,

10:13 it's doing the work that we're doing, green social housing, ADUs, these agreements with community stakeholders. Do I believe that we should think more strategically about how we can do this system-wide? Of course. We don't want people to get pushed out of this city. We don't. And we're talking about for places across this country where the average price of a home is a million dollars, $900,000, rent, $4,500, $4,200 a month. We don't have those type of significant challenges in the city of Chicago.

10:46 But if we're not strategic and intentional about our policies, that could very well be the case. Today is a good day because we're moving in the right direction. We double the amount of eligible homes that now can benefit from the ADUs. But we also have, again, representatives from a very strong coalition. These folks have been at it for some time, right, and we're grateful that they hung in there with this effort. And this is why elections do matter, because you actually have someone who is on the fifth floor. I'm talking about myself.

11:16 I don't normally do that, but I think in this instance, if you would just indulge me, I believe in protecting working people, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the people of this city can afford to live in it. So just to clarify, you want to support like a kind of copy-paste of the CBA for another neighborhood? Good evening. It was widely reported, not by Axios, but by others, that there would be a big reshuffle of council leadership today with Emma Mitz as vice mayor

11:50 and Alderman La Spada and zoning, what happened? And do you think we're going to be seeing a different lineup suggested next month? Well, look, you know, I've had to put forth an organizational chart that allows for us to build the safest, most affordable big city in America. I will put forth a structure. We'll vote on it inevitably. And as long as that there are people who are committed to fulfilling my mission, which is to build a safe and affordable big city, That's a pathway for success.

12:21 But in the meantime, you know, government is still operating and working. Nothing has been lost in this moment. And today, obviously, was yet another indication of how we're building more affordable communities. Hi, Merit. Hi. Excuse me. On that same topic, why do you think you are struggling, you and the city council, collectively struggling to make these committee assignments? I spoke to Alderman today. He said one of the problems is your office is not speaking with enough Alderman. You limited this negotiation to the Latino and black caucuses, and these discussions should start sooner.

12:56 Who told you that? Okay. Alderman M. O. Metz said it should begin sooner. Okay, so someone said that I'm not speaking to all members of the different caucuses that are represented here. That's just dishonest. Is it true of this reorganization specifically? It's just honest. It's not true. We speak with all of the different interested parties that recognize that our number one priority right now is to build the safest, most affordable big city in America. Look, let's just walk through the record here for a second.

13:28 Paid time off was a promise. We made it. We did it. Abolishing the subminimum wage, a promise. We made it. We did it. Right? Right. Ensuring that we have green social housing. It's a promise. We did it. ADU's promise. We made it. We did it. This agreement with Jackson Park and individuals who could be impacted by gentrification. We made a commitment. We did it. Right.

14:01 Every single promise that I put forward to ensure that we build the safest, most affordable big city in America, we're accomplishing it. We had an historic action today where over 200 years collectively of time in prison, jail, we were able to settle that case. No other administration in the history of Chicago has been able to accomplish that. The $1.25 billion bond investment to build more affordable homes and economic development. We have an airport that is breaking records every day.

14:32 Hotel occupancy is up. Tourism is up. Ridership on our trains are up. and violence is down. I mean, I hear you, but government is still functioning. Look, there's a lot of work for us to do, but you can't sleep on the fact that our investments, oh, I should have mentioned Mental Health and Behavioral Health Service as well, that the investments that we have put forth based upon promises that we have made for communities that have been historically neglected for decades. We are fulfilling those promises. And so in the process of this reorganization, as long as there is a commitment to allow for this agenda to be moved forward, then I think that's the most important thing here.

15:13 Thanks, Mayor. You're welcome. Do you mind if we jump over to James Comey? I know it was busy inside and outside chambers today, and this is unprecedented with two charges for obstruction and alleged false statements. Yeah, look, this is further proof that this president has used, you know, the sanctity of our departments within government to politicize them. Look, he said he's going to go after his political enemies.

15:46 He's politicized the United States military, the National Guard. The president is investigating me for hiring too many black people. Now he's threatening to withhold dollars because we want black children to be successful. I really want to call him a name. But my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is asking me to just stay saved.

16:22 Good evening, Mayor. How are you doing? For a minute there, you almost had me. I'm better now. I had to call on the name of Jesus again. I don't know that my question will get you to do that, but I do want to ask about the 78 and plans for the fire stadium along Roosevelt Road in the Chicago River to get you to talk about what that's going to mean for that community, and will you become a soccer fan? Well, first of all, let me just say, you know, I'm grateful that Joe Mansueto and Chicago Fire

16:53 is willing to put skin in the game. That's what we've asked. It has to be public benefit, public use. Appreciate the Alders in that area that have had very robust conversations, some of which have been concerns around gentrification. Alderman Mandel has done an incredible job leading these discussions. What it means is that, as I've said before, the city of Chicago, we are open for business. We're just not for sale. That's the past. And it's unfortunate it's a dark past, but now you're seeing that there are corporations that want to bring their business to Chicago.

17:33 And our sports teams play an incredible part. moving our economy. You know, as far as being a football fan, using the international term, I'm just very proud to say that I am a soccer dad, and congratulations to the Kenwood Broncos. My son is a senior there, and they are conference champions for the first time in over six, seven years, and obviously our brother here is a proud Bronco. So, no, I'm a huge soccer

18:04 or a football fan, and both my sons play, my daughters play now, and I'm really looking forward to moving forward with this particular investment and project so that we can continue to build the safest, most affordable big city in America. Thank you all. Thank you very much. Good night. Thank you.

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