Can Chicago’s new mayor solve the city’s crime issue? Experts give their analysis.

Chicago’s New Mayor Faces Uphill Battle Against Crime and Education Woes

Brandon Johnson, a progressive Democrat, will be sworn in as the 57th mayor of Chicago on May 15. However, experts warn that he will face an uphill battle against increasing crime and below-par public education trends. Johnson defeated Paul Vallas, a moderate Democrat, in the April 4 runoff.

A Deeply Conciliatory Tone on Public Safety

One of the biggest issues in the election was public safety. According to the Chicago Police Department, overall violent crime has increased by 45 percent. Murders are down 9 percent from 2022, sexual assaults are up by 3 percent, and robberies have increased by 14 percent. Aggravated batteries are up 7 percent, burglaries have increased by 6 percent, and thefts are up 23 percent. Most alarmingly, motor vehicle thefts have increased by 135 percent.

Johnson came under fire from Vallas and other critics for advocating for defunding the police. Johnson sought to walk it back ahead of the runoff. Nonetheless, experts told The Epoch Times to expect public safety to go downhill on Johnson’s watch.

“On crime and public disorder, Johnson takes a deeply conciliatory tone, whereas Lightfoot maintains that some accountability must be held,” said McGillis.

Experts Concerned About Johnson’s Past Support for Defunding Law Enforcement

Johnson had been a supporter of the “Defund the Police” movement, which he in 2020 called an “actual, real political goal.” Johnson has since sought to distance himself from that cause. Nonetheless, according to experts, Johnson’s past support for defunding law enforcement is a cause for concern.

“It’s clear he believes that less policing is good for our community when, in fact, just the opposite is true,” Zack Smith, a legal fellow and manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Meese Center, told The Epoch Times.

Smith noted that Johnson would be working with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who has come under fire—since she came into office on Dec. 1, 2016—from critics who say she is soft on crime.

“Based on her policies, I think it’s clear her tenure as district attorney has been a failed tenure,” he said.

Foxx recently announced she will not run for reelection in 2024. This could provide Chicagoans an opportunity to put in someone who can serve as a bulwark to Johnson’s public safety agenda.

• Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson, faces an uphill battle against increasing crime and below-par public education trends.
• Experts warn that Johnson’s past support for defunding law enforcement is a cause for concern.
• Public safety is a major issue in Chicago, with overall violent crime increasing by 45 percent.
• Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has come under fire for being soft on crime.
• Foxx recently announced she will not run for reelection in 2024, providing an opportunity for Chicagoans to elect someone who can serve as a bulwark to Johnson’s public safety agenda.