Peter V. Bella Posts

“Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters this week that “everything is on table,” including the potential layoff of city workers, which Johnson said he hopes to avoid, as the city grapples with how to address a nearly billion-dollar budget shortfall.” (NBC 5)

Chicago is facing a financial crisis, yet it found $80,000 to renovate the office of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s wife in the Cultural Center. The mayor is trying to fill an almost billion-dollar hole in the city budget and raising property taxes is on the table. Yet, he found $80,000 to renovate his wife’s ceremonial office.

“One invoice shows the city was billed more than $43,000 for furniture, including a $2,200 high-back executive chair and a $4,400 desk that’s referenced on the invoice as “First Lady’s Desk.” Another $4,600 is listed for what appears to be the desk for a staffer. The same invoice shows more than $8,300 was spent on two club chairs.” (NBC 5)

Past mayor’s spouses had that office in the Cultural Center. Former mayor Lori Lightfoot did not renovate the office for her wife. With property tax increases on the table, this sends a wrong message of wasteful extravagance to the citizens. The public should be outraged. Hopefully editorial writers will be writing poison pen screeds.

The real question not being asked by the news media is, why does the mayor’s wife have or need an office? Why waste money on this? The mayor’s wife has no civic responsibilities requiring an official office.

Brandon Johnson has no concept of optics. This extravagance makes him look worse than he already does. His approval rating is in the toilet at 27%. 62% of people polled disapprove of his performance.

“As for the $80,000 spent on his wife’s office, Johnson told NBC 5 Investigates, “if I were to allow my leadership to be based on someone’s opinion of me, it would be a derelict of duty. I never question my position to invest in people. I don’t do this for optics; I do this to transform lives.” (NBC 5 Investigates)

How does spending $80,000 on refurbishing and furniture for a ceremonial office transform lives? How does it invest in people? Johnson cannot even defend himself against any criticism without going on the attack. He can’t even give a reasonable honest answer to simple questions. As for Johnson’s leadership, it is nonexistent. He is not leading, Johnson is floundering.

If Johnson raises property taxes, he will alienate more alders. Johnson will anger property owners who are already overburdened by property taxes. Johnson will become the next one term mayor. Property taxes in Chicago are already too high and many people are struggling to keep their homes or pay higher rents.

Brandon Johnson is failing the people of Chicago. In his almost two years in office, he had no major accomplishments. Johnson has been derelict of his duty to the people of Chicago. His lack of concern for the optics of his wife’s office make over is startling. Politicians are supposed to care how things look when spending/wasting the people’s money. In this case, $80,000 was wasted. How much money will Johnson waste next?

“We can’t imagine how Johnson and his allies could have been more irresponsible in recent weeks regarding Chicago Public Schools, creating a terrible look for City Hall and destabilizing the district when it sorely needs managerial competence, not chaos.” (Sun-Times Editorial Board)

“Editorial: Brandon Johnson’s reckless Chicago Public Schools maneuvering must be vehemently opposed.” (Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Brandon Johnson shot himself in the foot when he demanded and got the resignations of all the Chicago School Board members. He then shot himself in the other foot when he tried to justify his actions. If the current School Board fires CPS CEO Pedro Martinez per Johnson’s order, it will be another self-inflicted wound.

Both the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times Editorial Boards scorched Johnson for his actions. Johnson wants the Board to take out an over $300 million-dollar high interest loan, considered a payday type loan. CPS, like the city, is already heavily saddled with debt. The loan would be a disaster, especially since the chances are slim it could be paid back or refinanced. Johnson also wants the teacher’s union contract settled on their terms.

“The parents of this city elected one of their own, and I’m going to do everything in our power to ensure we don’t go back to a time of chaos,” Johnson said on WTTW.” (WGN TV)

Exactly what does that mean? All the people who elected Johnson were not parents. The only reason he is the mayor is because less than 30% of voters voted. This was just more word soup and salad. Chaos? Johnson is the chaos. His administration is chaotic. In his time in office, he accomplished nothing except sowing chaos. Brandon Johnson should be the first definition of chaos in the dictionary.

41 alderpersons, many of them allies of the mayor, signed a letter over the debacle, condemning the mayor’s machinations over the school board and Pedro Martinez. He is losing support fast. I know people who voted for him and are sorry they did. Some are beyond angry.

Johnson is doing the bidding of the Chicago Teacher’s Union, who wants Pedro Martinez fired. He is bought, paid for, and owned by the union and will do what he is told. Martinez days are numbered. Johnson’s blatant conflict of interest with the CTU is egregious and appalling.

Johnson has no managerial skills. After over one year, he still does not know how the city operates and what those operations cost. It appears most of his appointees lack the same skills.

This administration is plagued with turmoil and chaos caused by Brandon Johnson. He has no one to blame for himself. Instead of surrounding himself with knowledgeable people, he hired political hacks and lickspittles to do his bidding. Johnson thinks he knows everything. When you think you know everything, you are wrong. Johnson’s only defense or answer to questions is expressing his grievance. Any simple question is an attack on him. If a reporter asked him the time, Johnson would go on a grievance fueled rant.

When cornered, Johnson makes accusations of racism. He hopes the media will not ask him the tough questions. If he claims racism enough, he can shut them down. He has no answers, only accusations and grievances. If this keeps up, Johnson may go down as the worst mayor in Chicago history.

Johnson is going to London to watch the Bears play this weekend. When asked about the trip, he angrily reproached the reporter, claiming he was going to London to bring business to Chicago. Yeah, right, on a weekend? Johnson cannot even tell a credible lie. Who is paying for the trip, hotels, game tickets, and other amenities for Johnson and his team?

Johnson cozies up to and has a bromance with Bears president and CEO, Kevin Warren. Johnson wants the Bears stadium on the lakefront and will do anything to get it, even if it means destroying the lakefront. Warren will do anything to get the mayor to get the funds for the Bears lakefront folly.

The 8^th Police District is the largest district in Chicago. It covers 23 square miles with a population of 250,000 people and quickly growing. There are only 9 police officers for every 10,000 citizens making the district the worst in the city.

There have been proposals to split the district. A former National Guard building became available. Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar sponsored a law to transfer the building to the city to specifically be used as a police station for $1. The bill passed and was signed by the governor. If the building is not used as a police station, it will revert back to the state.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has other ideas. Johnson proposed an ordinance to use the building for storage, maintenance, and operation of police vehicles. Evidently Johnson believes he has the power to override state law. The districts two alders, 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn are not happy. Johnson also claimed, without proof, that the federal government must sign off on the deal.

It is clear that Brandon Johnson does not care about state laws. He believes he is omnipotent above the law and can do whatever he wants. It is also clear that he does not take public safety seriously, contrary to his word soup and salad claims. He is playing his agenda games with public safety and that is a prescription for disaster(s).

Johnson is also playing games with the Chicago Public School System. He wants Chicago School Board President, Pedro Martinez, out, though he has no power to fire him. The Chicago Teachers Union wants Martinez gone. They bought and paid for Johnson, and he is controlled by them when it comes to public education. It is an egregious conflict of interest, as Johnson is also a former organizer- whatever that means- for the union.

Only the Board can fire Martinez, and it must be for just cause. Refusing to do the mayor’s bidding is not just cause. Martinez and the Board refused to take out hundreds of millions of dollars in what are considered payday loans for pension payments. The mayor does not want that money coming out of his budget, which will be facing another huge shortfall.

Johnson seems or chooses to forget he is management. He proverbially sits across the table from the union not on the same side. He has a total lack of management, fiscal, and budgetary skills. All he knows is his agenda. All he gives the citizens in this city are meaningless platitudes. Chicago needs sensible intelligent leadership. It is not getting it from Johnson and his team. Instead, the city is getting a chaotic administration.

Some in the news media claim these continual missteps are self-inflicted. If Johnson was competent, they would be. Johnson is not competent, and his team of political hacks are not competent. Competent leaders pick or keep people who are smarter than they are or who have expertise in the areas they are responsible for. Johnson picks political hacks.

“The building at 401 N. Wabash Ave. operates without a proper state environmental permit, does not accurately report water discharge levels and violates at least three other laws, according to the lawsuit. Wilson said those facts were “well founded” and “not materially challenged.” (Sun-Times)

Sun-Times Former Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan filed suit Trump Tower in 2018 over the issues. The suit has been bouncing around the court for six years. It is past time the owner/operators of Trump Tower were held accountable and held to the same legal standards as any other entity.

“Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is in almost constant contact with business leaders, and “all they want to talk about” is finding a candidate to defeat Johnson in 2027.” (Sun-Times)

Ald. Brendan Reilly represents downtown business interests. He is in contact with business leaders daily. Those leaders are disappointed in Mayor Brandon Johnson. Some who supported Johnson have buyer’s remorse and feel they were scammed. What did they expect, this is Chicago where all fairy tales begin with “If elected I promise…”

Economics is not Johnson’s strong point, nor is it a strong point of any in his administration. From its inception as a swampy trading post through today, Chicago has always been a city of commerce and industry. Johnson does no service to that history. Businesses contribute and generate taxes to the city. Businesses employ people who in turn pay taxes. Johnson does not have a clue how the economics of a big city work.

“Three members of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s City Council leadership team and the police union president are demanding that Johnson fire a top mayoral aide for calling police “f—ing pigs” and talking openly about defunding and even “abolition” of police.” (Sun-Times)

Kennedy Bartley, the former executive director of United Working Families, which worked to get Johnson elected was appointed to a cushy job created just for her. Now she is being appointed to the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. This triggered the resignation of several key people in that office. Mayor Johnson does not care about optics. Bartley has to get along with the governor and legislature in Springfield as well as the City Council. Her firebrand reputation will not play well. Johnson needed a salesperson for this position, not a loose cannon. This appointment was nothing more than a typical Chicago Machine payback hiring a political hack.

“We sympathize with those who wish this financially strapped city did not have use for an expensive system designed to get police officers more quickly to a bloody scene on its streets. We dearly wish the same. But the data is clear. Need it we do. To remove it will cost the lives of Chicagoans.” (Chicago Tribune)

Follow the money. Speed cameras make money for the city. Red light cameras make money for the city. ShotSpotter helps save lives but does not make money for the city. Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to eliminate ShotSpotter. ShotSpotter saves lives by getting the police to shooting victims before they bleed to death. According to the Chicago Tribune 85 lives were saved because of ShotSpotter.

The mayor and his minions in the City Council do not care about lives and bloodshed. They only care about money. They do not care about people. They only care about green backs.

“The massive barrier was part of an “emergency” effort to permanently lock out unhoused people from the location near the United Center, where the convention was held, the records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show…But City Hall’s contract allowing for “emergency” spending of up to $1 million for fencing says that this was needed “to address a threat to public safety and city operations during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.”

Once again, the mayor lied to the citizens of Chicago and the City Council. He wanted that camp shut down because it was an eye-sore. Now we are paying big money to fat cat developers- political contributors? – to house the homeless. Just like the tens of millions being paid to house migrant refugees. Follow the money and it leads to fat cats who will pay to keep the chaotic Brandon Johnson in office. The Chicago Way and the Machine are alive and going through a resurgence.

“If we can’t figure this out, Chicago, shame on us,” Warren said in a wide-ranging conversation with Conagra Brands President and CEO Sean Connolly before the Economic Club of Chicago…  Economists generally disagree with the proposition public funding of professional sports stadiums provides enough economic benefit to make it a worthwhile use of tax revenue… “But all this financial maneuvering has left the Bears’ considerable plans for a vast lakefront land takeover without much scrutiny. Dubbed the “Stadium for Chicago.”  (Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bear’s President is trying to sell the McCaskey’s and Mayor Johnson’s boondoggle plan to despoil the lakefront. The shame is on Warren, Johnson, and the McCaskey family. They want to despoil the lakefront while putting the taxpayers on the hook. All for their mediocre team. It is hoped that Governor Pritzker and the state legislature hold fast and do not approve any funding for the McCaskey family.

The Bears should just move to Arlington Heights. They should leave our- and it is ours- lakefront alone. They no longer have roots in this city. Their office and practice field are in Lake Forest. The McCaskeys were born, raised, and in the suburbs. They do not live or work in Chicago. So, let them go where they belong, and don’t let the door kick them in the a$$ on the way out.

Chicago is facing a Billion-dollar budget shortfall next year. Mayor Johnson wants to implement a hiring freeze, including public safety personnel. The police and fire departments are already short of personnel. Yet Mayor Johnson formed commissions with long titles and staffs. No one knows what they are doing or supposed to do, except collect paychecks.

Everything is on the table, including property tax increases. This mayor has no clue how to manage a city. Neither do his appointees. Some of his supporters in the City Council are questioning his decisions. Johnson is good at one thing though. Bread and circuses, like NASCAR. He revels in bringing them to the city. No matter what the citizens think or want.

Brandon Johnson is what we get when less than 30% of registered voters show up at the polls. We get chaos, failure, and the potential to ruin the beauty of the lakefront.

First things first. If you are seventeen and your birthday falls on or before Election Day, you can register to vote. Do it. Do it now. Then vote.

It seems some so-called Christians and what the news media described as “many” Catholics got their panties in a twist. They are slamming and trying to shame Cardinal Cupich’s invocation at the Democratic National Convention. They are furious his prayer said nothing about abortion, and he did not mention Jesus.

An invocation is a prayer, not a political statement. It was not the Cardinal’s job or responsibility to “… call the Democratic Party back from the abyss,” as a Bishop fired by the Pope stated on X. Cupich also drew the fury of “Catholic journalist” Phil Lawler, who wrote in Catholic Culture that “nowhere in his invocation did Cardinal Cupich offer the slightest challenge to the perverse ideology that ruled the Democratic convention.” (Newsweek)

Lawler went further: “Certainly there was nothing in the cardinal’s invocation that could be read as even a hint of disapproval for the Democratic party’s platform.” Cardinal Cupich was there to pray. He was not there to approve or disapprove of a party platform. The organizers invited him to give an invocation. He was a guest.  The Cardinal acted like a guest should.

Cupich used the word Lord, which is another name for Jesus. By the way, there is no rule that every prayer or invocation must mention Jesus. Cupich stayed away from making any political statements. Like any good speaker, he knew his audience. Cupich also knew he would draw controversy if he strayed into injecting politics. supposed morality, or values- whatever those are. Those are not the purpose of prayer, especially public prayer. Catholics should know that. I am not sure if so-called extreme Christian mackerel snappers know that or anything else. They invited Cupich to give an invocation, not to preach, pontificate, or politicize. He did his job and did it well.     

Chaotic Mayor Brandon Johnson again used the word “freaking” in his address to the DNC, referring to Chicago. It is a constant with him. As any intelligent person knows, freaking is a nice way of saying f**king. Geez, Johnson has such a limited vocabulary that he cannot even come up with better language to describe this city.

Despite thousands of protesters, violence was minimal. Over the four-day convention, law enforcement made fewer than 100 arrests. Downtown hotels received bomb threats, and authorities apprehended a man attempting to bring a gun into the convention hall. It proves that some people are too dumb to breathe.

Superintendent of Police, Larry Snelling, was pictured leading his personnel from the front. That is a sign of great leadership. His predecessor would have been hiding in the press room at headquarters stumbling and mumbling about how great he is while looking at himself in a mirror.

Now that the convention is over, Chicagoans can get back to their normal lives. The streets will be open, businesses can thrive, and people can get from one place to another efficiently.

The Democratic Convention will run between August 19th and 22^nd. Street closures began at 10 PM Thursday.

“The closures are for:
-West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street
-Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard
-West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
-West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
-West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
-West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
-South Honore Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street
-South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard
-South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street

Restricted vehicle traffic: Jackson Boulevard from South Damen Avenue to South Wood Street.” (ABC 7)

“In an abrupt about-face, organizers announced the event would remain in Chicago after all. Neighborhood residents eager to see the festival leave town expressed dismay on learning they’d be dealing with the noise, trash and traffic again.’“(Sun-Times)

The residents around Douglas Park do not matter. Once again, their wishes fall on deaf ears of Ald. Monique Scott (24th) and so-called community leaders. Lollapalooza is returning to Douglas Park this summer. That’s the Chicago Way. There is a cure for this. Residents in the ward need to find someone to oppose the alder and vote her out. She does not care about her constituents. She only cares about her “community leaders- whatever that means.

“A top ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson has been hitting up Chicago businesses to contribute to a dark money political organization that is hosting several events next week during the Democratic National Convention, including a luncheon and a showcase Soldier Field event. Charles Smith, Johnson’s liaison to the business community, has been making the pitch for contributions to GoChiLife as a way to show support for the mayor.”(Chicago Tribune)

There is a strong level of hypocrisy in the chaotic administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. Progressives rail against dark money unless it comes to their own needs. Supposedly the dark money is to fund events.

“At one point, the group asked for donations of up to $500,000 in exchange for 10 VIP tickets to each of its DNC week events, 20 regular event tickets, a logo on event and promotional materials and potential “additional benefits,” according to a presentation obtained by the Tribune. Other sponsorship tiers ranged from $5,000 to $100,000.” (Chicago Tribune/Subscription needed)

The Chicago Public School System has been in a financial mess for as long as anyone can remember. The situation may get worse. The Chicago School Board and CEO Pedro Martinez approved a budget the mayor does not like or want. According to the Chicago Tribune, the mayor is trying to oust Martinez. The mayor wanted to fund the system with a loan, the equivalent of a high-interest payday loan. The Board is currently in contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union. If some or all of their demands are met, the budget deficit could explode.

“CTU’s outlandish demands, including 9% average annual raises, would create a budget deficit of $2.9 billion a year from now and about $4 billion by 2028, CPS contract negotiators declared Tuesday in a public bargaining session.” (Tribune)

Only the Board can fire Martinez. He can only be fired for just cause, for example, corruption, other criminal activity, or incompetence. One newspaper called Martinez “the taxpayers’ best friend.” We will see how this plays out after the Democratic Convention leaves town.

Union president Stacy Davis Gates told the Board to get the money any way they can, even demanding raising in property taxes. Johnson was an organizer for the union, and they heavily funded his campaign. Johnson, like too many past and present politicians, does not understand what conflict of interest is. He should recuse himself from this issue. But he won’t. He owes the union. This is the Chicago Way, concealed corruption at its finest.

Finally. The White Sox fired Pedro Frifol after a 21 game losing streak. The question is, what took them so long? This season could be worse than last season, when the Sox went 61-101, if the losses do not stop. The Sox lost 89 of 117 games so far this year. Coach Grady Sizemore will take over to finish the season. “The team, which plans to hire a permanent manager in the offseason, also fired multiple coaches Thursday. Grifol lasted less than two seasons, finishing with a record of 89-190.” (Sun-Times)

“Overall, the sum of the parts, the sum of everything, we expect better, we need better,” general manager Chris Getz said during a video conference call Thursday afternoon. “So that certainly motivated us to make this change… I reflect back to how we went into the All-Star break and then came out of the All-Star break in hopes that it would be a reset for players and staff, and was disappointed in how they responded after the break. And it motivated us to make this decision.” (Chicago Tribune)

“What a peculiar franchise Jerry Reinsdorf’s Sox are. Built on resentment, weaned on stubbornness, fermented by inanity, the organization seems to enjoy thumbing its nose at fans. That the Sox don’t care what the fan base thinks is apparent in almost everything they do.” (Rick Morrisey/Sun-Times)

The Sox do not just have a manager problem. They have a front office and ownership problem. That they let Grifol go so long is proof of that. And why did Reinsdorf bring back that antique, Tony Larussa? Why is he listening to him? La Russa is living in the far past. The game evolved. La Russa is stuck on stupid.

The Cubs are running hot and cold. They moved from last place to third in their division. If they can keep some momentum going, they could get a wild card place for the postseason (The 2024 season ends September 29th) There are 36 games left. The team is 56-70. The teams in the Central Division, except for the first-place Brewers, have similar win-loss numbers.

This is one of the best years for America in the Olympics. Our teams and individuals are on top with 103 medals so far-30 Gold, 38 silver, 35 Bronze. China is number two in the medal count with 72.

“Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a post on X. “The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.” (Fox News)

Political logic: All politicians are liars. Not all liars are politicians. Politicians give liars a bad reputation. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is a politician. Mike Johnson is a liar. He also knows nothing about Christianity or the Bible. There is no war on faith. There is no war on “traditional values” because they do not exist, except in the small minds of ignorant supposed Christian less-ons* like Mike Johnson.

All this nonsense about the depiction of the Last Supper mural with drag and trans performers at the Olympics in Paris is just dishonest rage fest by the dishonest and the ignorant. The Last Supper was a Passover celebration. It was not a Christian Last Supper. Jews celebrate Passover. Jesus and his apostles were Jewish. So, if any group should express real or faux outrage over the performance, should be the Jewish people. Christianity is post Jesus.

“The burlesque performance was an “interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus” to make viewers “aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” the Olympics said on X.”  

The piece was a take-off on Grecian bacchanal feasts. The Olympics began in Greece. So, maybe the Greeks, like the Jews, should be outraged. On the other hand, the planners of the opening event should have realized that there would be international opprobrium to this performance before they approved it.

All those oh so offended politicians, who should not be preaching religion- that First Amendment-, should shut their pies holes and quit flapping their soup coolers about values and traditions that never existed in this country. The performance was not an effort to denigrate Western culture- whatever that is. It was entertainment, an art. No matter what we may think, art is part of all cultures. Whether it is bad or good is up to art critics, not dominionistic religious mackerel snappers like Mike Johnson and other hypocritical prevaricating politicians.

 Mike Johnson and his ilk in the Christian dominionistic National Christian Movement refuse to believe that this nation was never founded on Christianity or Christian values. The last thing the Founders wanted was a national religion, one of the things they fought against.

Mike Johnson and his ultra religious  cohorts in both houses of Congress are a danger to society.  They do not define what traditions, values, and religion(s) we believe and uphold. We do. Values are personal, not national. They can practice whatever religion they want. They cannot shove their religion down the nations throat. There is only one set of values in America. They are enshrined in The United States Constitution.

Johnson and his religious fanatics are the drivers of political hatred festering in this country. They preach the gospel of hatred. They do not preach or live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their dishonesty is stunning and front and center for all to see.

*Lower on the ignorance scale than morons.

110 people were shot in Chicago over the holiday weekend. 22 people were killed. Dozens of other citizens were wounded. Mayor Johnson was vacationing in New Orleans. He did come back. But why would he leave town knowing that the holiday weekend would be bloody as usual?

Once again, Johnson offered loads of weasel words concerning the bloodshed:

“We are here to say emphatically that this is enough. It’s enough. When this reckless violence ravages across our city at this magnitude, we are losing a piece of the soul of Chicago. It deeply pains me to admit that, but it is true,” Johnson told reporters at public safety headquarters, flanked by Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and other officials.” (Sun-Times)

“But I will not stand idly by. We will not be passive in this moment,” he added. “We need to ensure that we are holding every single individual accountable for the pain and trauma and the torment that they have caused in this city. There will be consequences for the violence. We will not let criminal activity ruin and harm our city.” (Sun-Times)

Johnson blamed “generations of disinvestment and deep disenfranchisement” for the violence. Typical nonsense. While they may be a factor, humans pulled those triggers, not some narrative. What in the hell is the “soul” of Chicago?

“…the fact of the matter is where there is most violence, that’s where the poverty is most pervasive.” (Brandon Johnson/Newsweek)

What about the violence occurring all over the city? Armed robberies, armed carjackings, and other violent crimes are citywide. I guess those do not count for Johnson.

“I’m so sick and tired of losing Black boys to violence in this city. It grieves me, fiercely.” (Brandon Johnson/WGN)

Mayor Johnson, what about losing Black girls lost to violence? What about Hispanic boys and girls lost to violence? What about the boys and girls of all races lost to violence? What about the adults of all races lost to violence? Geez, are you a racist, misogynist, ageist, or just plain clueless?

“There will be consequences for the violence,” Johnson promised. “We will not let criminal activity ruin and harm our city.” (WBBM News Radio)

No one believes that. State’s Attorney Kim Foxx will not prosecute, judges let violent criminals out on bail, and the Chicago Police Department is handcuffed. There will be no consequences or accountability.

Since juveniles caused many of the shootings, hold their parents responsible. The city should assist victims and their families to sue the parents for their negligence. That would be accountability. Maybe passing a law to hold parents criminally responsible for their negligent parenting would be some form of accountability.

“The mayor also stressed that everyone must take responsibility for helping end violence, and on Tuesday, along with the city health leaders, the Johnson administration will explain how residents can do just that.” (Brandon Johnson/WGN/Emphasis mine)

I am not responsible for ending the violence. My family is not responsible. My neighbors are not. Everyone is not responsible. The only people responsible are those who commit violent acts, and if they are minors, their parents. You, members of the City Council, Kim Foxx, Toni Preckwinkle, and Tim Evans are responsible for ending the violence, along with the Chicago Police Department.

There will be little to no accountability or consequences for the violence in Chicago unless we change the leadership across the board. With so few people voting in elections, that change will not happen. Be proud Chicago. You have the government you deserve and the violence that comes with it.