After two of the nine candidates for mayor of Chicago failed to show up to a forum, the remaining candidates and the audience had a frank discussion about the city’s issues.
The forum hosted by WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics was unfortunately missing Cook County Commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union organiser Brandon Johnson and rich businessman Willie Wilson due to scheduling difficulties.
Sasha-Ann Simons, host of WBEZ’s “Reset,” was there to moderate a discussion between neighbourhood organiser Ja’Mal Green and retiring Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), son of former Mayor Eugene Sawyer.
That two other competitors had to withdraw from the debate is a real shame. “Hopefully, they’re thinking about dropping out of the mayor’s race, too,” Green stated to some light chuckles from the in-person audience.
Simons asked her own questions and ones submitted by listeners and readers in a “Peoples Agenda” survey that garnered 2,000 responses during an event on Wednesday involving Mayor Lori Lightfoot and four other mayoral challengers.
Voters in the upcoming mayoral election have cited concerns over crime and public safety as their top priorities. As expected, there were discrepancies in sentiment amongst racial groups at the polls.
Candidates For Mayor Of Chicago
On the current ballot, you can find:
Kam Buckner represents Illinois’s 26th legislative district in the House of Representatives.
Ja’Mal Green, community activist and President of My Turn to Own, Inc. Jess “Chuy” Garca, U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District
Lori Lightfoot, Alderman of Chicago’s 4th Ward Brandon Johnson, Cook County Board Commissioner, 1st District Sophia King
Alderman Roderick Sawyer of Chicago’s 6th Ward Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas
Businessman and humanitarian Willie Wilson
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Personal Attacks By Candidates
Candidates for mayor of Chicago on Tuesday night engaged in a heated debate, with accusations of corruption and personal assaults thrown back and forth between the candidates.
Brandon Johnson, commissioner of Cook County, Illinois, was the target of protests from an angry crowd, prompting him to quip on live television that he must be doing something well if he’s getting booed for being a potential mayor. Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended Johnson, arguing that he “has a right to talk without interruption.”
As the forum progressed, chaired by Lourdes Duarte and Tahman Bradley of WGN-TV, the contenders became much less friendly with one another. Duarte and Bradley asked for a show of hands from those who supported keeping Lightfoot’s choice for police superintendent, David Brown, in place. Lightfoot put her hand up, and businessman Willie Wilson did the same, albeit sheepishly.
The response from Garcia was, “Check the facts.” She’s continually blowing smoke in order to hide her own shortcomings.
To counter this, Johnson claimed he is not a “defunder” but rather the “investor in chief” since he will spend taxpayer dollars on programmes that help locals.
This debate was one of several heated ones in which Lightfoot and her opponents criticised each other, often in very personal terms.
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What did Each candidate say?
Green proposes declaring a state of emergency on the CTA in order to increase funding for “social workers and peacekeepers” and train maintenance staff.
Simons inquired as to Wilson’s suggestion to eject railway passengers who are discovered napping.
It doesn’t shock me. As Green put it, “there are rabbits out there he wants to hunt,” referring to Wilson’s statement about pursuing criminals at an earlier discussion.
Sawyer said that the CTA is an unattractive, dangerous, and unreliable system.
We don’t want it to smell like cannabis and urine forever,” he remarked.
Both candidates were asked if they would close schools when a moratorium on school closures ends in 2025, as 22 public high schools and 95 elementary schools in Chicago are essentially empty, with fewer than 250 students.
Sawyer has expressed his receptivity to the idea. Green responded in the negative, saying he wouldn’t as long as some of the fifty schools that former mayor Rahm Emanuel shut down remained unoccupied.
Brandon Johnson, an educator and union organiser in Chicago, unveiled his formal education platform today, one of just a few of mayoral contenders in the city to do so with only a few weeks till the election.
Johnson, a current Cook County commissioner, presented his plan for Chicago Public Schools during a luncheon hosted by the City Club of Chicago on a Wednesday afternoon. Also, his plan calls for under-enrolled schools to share space with child care and health clinics, free bus and train rides on the Chicago Transit Authority, and collaborations with City Colleges and trade schools to increase kids’ educational opportunities.
Conclusion
A few speakers later, Johnson, now a Cook County commissioner and formerly a social studies teacher and organiser with the Chicago Teachers Union, was eager to point out that there had been a lengthy and contentious teachers’ strike on Mayor Lightfoot’s watch. The strike that started in October of 2019 lasted for 11 days.
Forcing teachers to go on strike for 11 days and losing salary to defend causes the mayor claims to support is not a good way to show support, Johnson told the mayor.
Lightfoot largely disregarded the remark, but she did redirect her criticism at Johnson and U.S. Rep. Jess “Chuy” Garca, whom she called “defunders” of the Chicago Police Department.
Also discussed were issues like the city’s finances, how to deal with violent situations, and how to promote positive mental health.
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 25 days from now, voters will choose a new mayor.
