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Month: January 2025

Will the New Year bring more failure from City Hall

“In less than two years he has become the most disliked mayor I can find in the city’s history—his 12 percent approval rating is lower even than the last Republican elected in the 1920s. He got off to a good start by appointing a veteran city-manager type as his chief of staff, but that did not last very long, and he has filled the city positions with inexperienced progressives of varying actual capabilities. Meanwhile the city is deeply in debt and suffers from a serious homeless problem—to say nothing of crime issues.” (Political strategist Don Rose)

Don Rose posted a devastating take down of Mayor Brandon Johnson on Facebook. He demonstrated courage where our local news media shows cowardice. Johnson is the worst mayor in my lifetime. His approval rating is hovering at 12% and sinking. He is the lickspittle of the Chicago Bears, championing their race to despoil the lakefront with their ugly stadium and other commercial endeavors.

Johnson tried to punish home and other real estate owners with a debilitating property tax increase. Fortunately, most alders knocked the wind out of those sails. Johnson is still trying to gouge taxpayers to fund his alleged progressive agenda.

Johnson’s pet Alder, Jason Ervin proposed reactivating the cost-of-living property tax increases to cover future bloated budget shortfalls. It would be better to cut the budget further by cost-of-living increases. The city does not have costs of living. The people suffer those increases.

His over bloated mayoral staff and other staff at city hall are overpaid with mysterious and dubious qualifications for their positions. The Johnson administration is one big failure. We must suffer with his embarrassing administration for two more years. The question is how much more damage can Johnson do to our city?

Any media criticism of Brandon Johnson is labeled as racism. Johnson claims the press does not respect him. Johnson does not understand that respect must be earned. He has not earned the respect of the media, as he treats them with disrespect and disdain. He does not understand that respect is a two-way street. He must respect if he wants respect.

Johnson alienated the governor, and it is rumored he alienated his patron, Cook County Machine Boss, Toni Preckwinkle. He is also on the outs with several Democrat state legislators whose districts encompass Chicago.

Brandon Johnson is owned, bought, and paid for by the Chicago Teachers Union. It is an egregious conflict of interest. His ham-handed firing of Chicago School CEO Pedro Martinez was disgraceful. It is hoped when the members of the elected school board will have a majority and reinstate Martinez. That would be a slap in the face and payback to Johnson’s fecklessness.

We are in a new year. Questions remain how this year will play out for Chicago with Brandon Johnson at the helm. How much more suffering will he try to inflict on the shoulders of the citizens? How much of a laughingstock will he continue to be?

One other thing. The least Johnson can do is dress like he is the mayor of the third largest city in the country. He should wear ties when he is performing his official duties, giving or attending press conferences. He is the mayor of the City of Chicago, not the casual Friday guy.

Happy New Year

I get nostalgic during the holidays. I miss the large family and friend’s gatherings with great food, conversation, card games, and other activities. It is less stressful when celebrating with my small family. It is just the same great time. We cook together and enjoy the food and company of each other.

For too many years, I worked on New Years Eve. Usually around 11:30, my partner and I would find a viaduct to hide under. Shortly before midnight, gunshots would start ringing out and it would sound like a war zone. We would just sit in our squad car and drink our coffee, safe from stray bullets.

I have rarely gone out on New Years Eve since my early twenties. It is one of the amateur nights. Amateur drinkers, amateur drunken drivers, and professional ass wipes. If I did venture out, it was for an early dinner and getting home before all the gunshots and drunk drivers came out. I was home way before midnight. At midnight, I cracked a bottle of champagne.

Most of us welcome the New Year hoping it will be better than the one left behind. We try to put the last year in the rear-view mirror. The key word is hope. None of us have a crystal ball to predict what the New Year will bring. The only ones who can make the New year better are ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, we can be better people or do better ourselves.  I do not make resolutions. I am not good at keeping them. I just try to improve myself, even if it is just a little.

I am very fortunate. I am lucky to have lived this long. I have a small circle of family and friends. My needs are taken care of. I am content. Thinking back over the past year, I lost many people I know. Too many were were people I worked with. I mourn their loss. I have fond memories of the time were shared together at work or socializing.

This past year has been hard on many due to our broken national political situation. Way too many people take politics seriously. It is personal to them. For some, a few politicians are treated with religious fervor. Others were “traumatized” by the election results. I do not have the mental energy to get angry or argue over the less-ons (Lower than morons) from both parties in Washington. I do ridicule them. Better to be joking about them than wasting energy on anger.

Many will celebrate New Year’s Day watching the Bowl Games, after treating their hangovers so they can drink again. Some will pursue other activities or maybe celebrate with a nice meal.  Gathering with friends and family is one of the best ways to celebrate the New Year, no matter what you are doing.

Whatever you are doing, I wish you a Happy New Year.