Breaking: Lori Lightfoot is officially out as Mayor of Chicago. As Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson advance to a runoff. (Alpha: mortgage, unemployment)

[RowingFiend]

Originally Posted by Cool Arrow

In the end Vallas was too conservative for Chicago. People can't understand that this is Chicago not Alabama. I think the Trump effect didn't help him at all. Seems like in blue areas all over the country people are rejecting MAGA. Even in Tennesse kids are protesting by the thousands and Marjorie Taylore Greene was chased out of Manhattan . All the chicken little conservatives need to get a grip and realize that Johnson isn't going to defund the police or outlaw guns. Relax.

Hahaha. A Johnson voter speaks.

Vallas wasn’t a Republican, kid. He was just sane, which is disqualifying for your type.

[Robert9]

Originally Posted by RowingFiend

Hahaha. A Johnson voter speaks.

Vallas wasn’t a Republican, kid. He was just sane, which is disqualifying for your type.

True

[Cool Arrow]

Originally Posted by RowingFiend

Hahaha. A Johnson voter speaks.

Vallas wasn’t a Republican, kid. He was just sane, which is disqualifying for your type.

I said Vallas was too conservative for Chicago, didn't mention parties. He may fit in in southern states like Florida but not in Chicago or any major northern city.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Cool Arrow

I said Vallas was too conservative for Chicago, didn't mention parties. He may fit in in southern states like Florida but not in Chicago or any major northern city.

Completely disagree. There is no way that Vallas is somehow to the right of Giuliani or Bloomberg. I cannot imagine that Mike Duggan is any further to the left of Vallas either, if at all. Remember, Vallas has garnered over 48% of the vote. This was a close election. Unfortunately, coalition politics are extremely important in Chicago. When one candidate has overwhelming union support and the advantage of race, it's going to be very difficult for the other candidates to overcome that organizational advantage. As Johnson said, "Chicago is a union town." Yes, public employee unions run Chicago and Springfield. The more political power they have accrued, the more expensive and ineffective the government has gotten.

[SonySegaTendo617]

Originally Posted by Cool Arrow

In the end Vallas was too conservative for Chicago. People can't understand that this is Chicago not Alabama. I think the Trump effect didn't help him at all. Seems like in blue areas all over the country people are rejecting MAGA. Even in Tennesse kids are protesting by the thousands and Marjorie Taylore Greene was chased out of Manhattan . All the chicken little conservatives need to get a grip and realize that Johnson isn't going to defund the police or outlaw guns. Relax.

No way in fregging hell, is Vallas as conservative as say Trump, DeSantis, Greene, Boebert, etc. Why would you say that? Yes I'm aware he's pro-charter schools, but to me if the public schools near you all didn't do well in teaching students, wouldn't you want charter schools to exist to offer alternative schools to those in areas with less good school options? That is just me. The Johnson campaign to me was way overwhining about Paul during the runoff, just because he didn't oppose charter schools. I'm sure he would've worked to try to find ways, to improve even regular CPS schools had he been elected as mayor. And shame on him, for not calling out rogue supporters of Johnson for stupidly defacing Vallas for mayor signs during the runoff period. I know that wasn't Johnson's campaign directly that was doing this to Vallas signs, but he should've publicly called out those foolish Johnson supporters on social media and told them to stop defacing those signs.

Also to me, Brandon sounded obnoxious as heck during the runoff debates. To me I just said screw Brandon, when I heard his stupid 'the voters are going to retire you' insult he said against Paul during the channel 2 debate. Brandon to me doesn't seem like he will wake up and govern more realistically once he officially becomes mayor, but that is just me. And he had so many stupid taxation ideas that to me don't need to be implemented, i.e. the head tax on companies in Chicago to name one of many ideas. Even if he did back off his lame idea, of taxing Metra tickets for commuter rail rides going into Chicago. Is there a tax idea he didn't like?

Finally you know he'd give way too damn much in to the CTU, when the next teacher's contract is negotiated in 2024. Even if he(by law) has to resign his CTU membership, before he is sworn in as mayor.

[Tombstoner]

Originally Posted by Chicago Bob

My sister lives and works in the loop and got shoved to the ground by shoplifters late last year as she was entering CVS. Other than that she hasn't had any problems but definitely knows to stay in her lane and avoid going out late, etc. The CEO of Citadel must have been lying when he said some of his employees had been assaulted? It happens and if you want to prescribe to flock theory that is on you but the reality is such events are far more rare in other places so some of us choose not to expose ourselves to it.

No one would say that bad stuff never happens in the Loop (and sorry to hear of your sister's experience), but having lived in a 400-unit condo in the heart of the Loop for two years (and the building is pretty close knit/super-socializing compared to any other place I've lived) I have not heard anyone report of a member of our community being involved in a single altercation. Does that mean it hasn't happened? Of course not. But it does mean, I think, that for the vast majority of people that live here, crime is not something we obsess about (nor do most of the tens of thousands of folks that transit the area every day). Maybe we've all just been lucky (and know that some places are less savory than others).

As an aside, I was assaulted by a group of punks (and hospitalized) in Boston 8 years ago, but I would never tell anyone "don't go to Back Bay because it's dangerous." Bad **** happens everywhere.

[Vlajos]

Conservative now means not a criminal coddling socialist.

Chicago is screwed.

[aga412]

Originally Posted by SonySegaTendo617

Also to me, Brandon sounded obnoxious as heck during the runoff debates. To me I just said screw Brandon, when I heard his stupid 'the voters are going to retire you' insult he said against Paul during the channel 2 debate. Brandon to me doesn't seem like he will wake up and govern more realistically once he officially becomes mayor, but that is just me. And he had so many stupid taxation ideas that to me don't need to be implemented, i.e. the head tax on companies in Chicago to name one of many ideas. Even if he did back off his lame idea, of taxing Metra tickets for commuter rail rides going into Chicago. Is there a tax idea he didn't like?

Finally you know he'd give way too damn much in to the CTU, when the next teacher's contract is negotiated in 2024. Even if he(by law) has to resign his CTU membership, before he is sworn in as mayor.

He won’t govern more realistically. The debates proved he is unintelligent and out of his depth, exactly the kind of person the public unions would want running the show. He is an empty vessel for them and their harebrained ideas to bilk more money off of taxpayers and push their destructive agendas. A puppet for puppet masters.

[Hendu]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

Completely disagree. There is no way that Vallas is somehow to the right of Giuliani or Bloomberg. I cannot imagine that Mike Duggan is any further to the left of Vallas either, if at all. Remember, Vallas has garnered over 48% of the vote. This was a close election. Unfortunately, coalition politics are extremely important in Chicago. When one candidate has overwhelming union support and the advantage of race, it's going to be very difficult for the other candidates to overcome that organizational advantage. As Johnson said, "Chicago is a union town." Yes, public employee unions run Chicago and Springfield. The more political power they have accrued, the more expensive and ineffective the government has gotten.

I don't think his policies are too far to the right, but his social media activity, radio talk show appearances and speaking engagements at Awake IL (including suggesting that their president will be our next governor) definitely made it appear that way. Add in the FOP president chiming in, and a completely unnecessary and unhelpful endorsement video by that dork Darren Bailey, the DeVos donation..it just all added up. Every day seemed like there was some new connection making the rounds.

[Mathguy]

Johnson already blaming the corporations for poverty and thus crime.

Talks about having to put more taxes on those that have the means to pay...to fund programs.

I agree with him about addressing root causes but why not take the approach of bringing in jobs, encouraging corporate sponsorship (they love that stuff for PR) to help youth with opportunities etc?

He's a mayor, he can't impose that taxation anyway so he's not offering a workable solution....and the state is already having trouble retaining businesses.

(The corporations flood Chicago with money by paying employees that can then afford to pay extremely high property taxes, sales taxes and a host of other ways that money flows through the city.)

Just not a good look right out the gate to fingerpoint and deflect offering no real path to progress.