“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?