“Look, this a very difficult decision, but to be quite frank with you … we’ve just have had irresponsible administration after administration that has kicked the can down the road, and now it’s in front of my door,” Johnson said about his backtrack when talking to reporters Tuesday about the tax hike.” (Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson did what he always does. He blames others for the city’s woes he is creating. He has no clue that he is to blame now. He wears the hat. The past is the past. He stubbornly refuses to take responsibility or accountability for anything.
He pulled the trigger pointed at all our heads. He is raising property taxes to balance his budget. The projected raise is 4%. Homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes will be impacted by his foolishness. Rents and mortgages will go up. If properties are paid for, owners will pay more out of their pockets. Prices for goods and services will go up. All of us will suffer this perfidy. He promised not to raise property taxes. He broke that promise like a typical politician.
Property taxes are already too high. That is partly because the Cook County Assessor’s Office inherited and uses the Ouija Boards and Tarot cards from Joe Berrios to over assess property values.
Johnson is cutting Chicago Police hiring, defunding the police. It was his position before running for mayor. The police department is undermanned. Public safety will be impacted. Police officers may have to work more overtime to compensate for shortages, impacting their physical and mental well-being. Response times to calls will be negatively impacted.
Johnson also wants to raise taxes on alcohol. Those taxes are already too high. What will he tax next? He is also taking away the two cents retailers keep from the seven-cent bag tax, causing more pain.
During the 1980s Mayor Jane Byrne had budget problems. She solved them by demanding every city department to cut their budgets by 10%. Johnson is only asking for a measly 3% budget cut from department heads. Better to make people suffer than cut the fat from bloated payrolls.
“Maybe it’s time for the City Council to step into the power that they have always had, but never exercised before and be a true co-equal branch of government that actually comes forward with alternatives that do involve shared sacrifice,” Ferguson said. (Sun-Times)
Johnson needs 26 alders to pass this atrocious budget. There is only one thing to do. Write, call, or email your alder now. Demand they do not vote for this travesty, or you will not vote for them. As for Johnson, some people have an excellent opportunity to start running against him now. The campaign slogans should “Bye Bye Brandon.”
People are already primed for a tax rebellion. You’re gonna come into that environment with a significant property tax increase proposal? It’s folly. I don’t see how he gets 26 votes.” (Ald. Brian Hopkins/Sun-Times)
The city council and the mayor need to fear for their jobs. They need to feel the heat now. Johnson guaranteed he is a one-term mayor over the property tax increase.