Can Chicago’s next 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.

Public Safety a Major Concern

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.

Concerns Over Johnson’s Policies

“Johnson’s administration has already made it clear that it will preserve many of the unproductive policies administered by Lightfoot, including handcuffing the Chicago Police Department, maintaining Chicago as a ‘sanctuary city,’ emboldening criminals, and excessively taxing and regulating what remains of Chicago’s once-thriving local businesses,” said Chris Talgo, an editor and writer at The Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank.

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.

Prosecuting Crime

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. 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.

“It would certainly be, if you have a prosecutor who is committed to upholding the law, to doing their jobs, to seeking justice for victims and holding criminals, particularly violent criminals, accountable, that would be a significant improvement over the current situation in Cook County in the city of Chicago,” said Smith.

Conclusion

Johnson’s administration will face a challenging task in tackling the increasing crime and education woes in Chicago. Experts have expressed concerns over Johnson’s policies and past support for defunding law enforcement. However, with the right prosecutor in place, there is hope for Chicagoans to see a significant improvement in public safety.