Chicago’s liberal mayor sparks conflict with allies by shifting towards the right on a critical issue
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Faces Pushback from Council Members over Handling of Migrant Crisis
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city’s aldermen have typically seen eye to eye on the handling of the migrant crisis, but Johnson’s recent change in housing asylum-seekers has caused council members to raise concerns.
Sixteen aldermen, including Johnson allies Ald. Daniel La Spata and Byron Sigcho-Lopez and moderate Ald. Matt O’Shea, sent a letter to the mayor on Thursday evening asking him to scrap his 60-day shelter limit policy for immigrants entering Chicago. Though conservative aldermen have severely criticized Johnson’s methods to address the issue, this is one of the first times that Johnson has received pushback from council members of his own party.
The letter sent Thursday comes just after 27 aldermen joined as co-sponsors for legislation put forward by Ald. Bill Conway, which would increase council oversight over the federal stimulus dollars being used to address the migrant crisis. The Johnson administration allocated $95 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to cover the costs, as well as $51 million of budget surplus to aid the mission, moves that conservatives and some local residents quickly blasted.
Though the sponsors of the two initiatives differ on how much to blame Johnson for the influx of immigrants, the dissent among both Johnson’s allies and adversaries signals the council is ready to exercise more control over how Chicago allocates resources and makes decisions.
Since August 2022, 608 buses have arrived from Texas at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), bringing more than 34,000 immigrants into Chicago. There are 28 shelters in operation within the city, holding 14,967 shelter members as of Jan. 16, and the city disbanded its plan to create new shelters, citing high costs. The 60-day shelter limit, which was put on pause on Jan. 12, will take effect after Feb. 1. The administration distributed eviction notices to 7,842 residents, according to a report from the administration.
The group of aldermen who wrote to Johnson on Thursday demanded that the money rescind the 60-day limit policy, citing “grave concerns” such as the weather conditions.
“The 60-day eviction policy poses a significant threat to the health and safety of new arrivals,” the letter from the 16 aldermen stated, according to the Chicago Tribune. “To put it simply: the city should not be in the business of handing out eviction notices. While the 60-day limit has been temporarily extended to avoid the worst of the weather, these extensions do not address the systemic issues that prevent new arrivals from being able to leave shelters and find alternative housing.”
The letter demands that the Johnson administration improve food, medical care, and other conditions at the shelters and requests that he fill the chief homelessness officer position that he created in October but has not filed.
Johnson did not respond to questions about the limit policy come Feb. 1, but said in a post-council news conference on Wednesday that, “we’re going to continue to review.”
“This is an evolving crisis,” the mayor said.
When asked about Conway’s legislation, Johnson said he values transparency but did not believe additional council oversight over the funds is necessary.
“There is oversight,” Johnson said. “In fact, I took it one step further. I actually went to the City Council and explained to them and told them what our intentions were, even though the process didn’t require that.”
Conway argues the council leadership’s maneuvers to sideline his bill “seems like a willful evasion of oversight.” The legislation, if passed, would require the mayor to receive City Council approval every time he plans to spend more than $1 million in stimulus funds.
“If a big chunk of money comes, it needs to be budgeted out,” Conway said. “I don’t think the mayor’s office should just have a $400 million piggy bank they can spend on whatever they want.”
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Ald. Jeanette Taylor, a Johnson ally who signed on to Conway’s legislation, said she always supports additional council oversight over budgeting.
“It’s about us being held accountable to the money we spend and the way we spend it, period,” Taylor said. “How many more damn migrants do we need? How many more shelters and spaces do we have?”
How has the handling of the migrant crisis in Chicago become a political battleground, particularly in the upcoming mayoral election, and how is this affecting Johnson’s position
Ded, it should be completely rescinded.”
The aldermen also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the allocation of funds and the decision-making process. They requested that Johnson provide a detailed breakdown of how the allocated funds are being used to assist migrants and what criteria are being used to determine eligibility for assistance.
Johnson’s handling of the migrant crisis has faced criticism from both conservatives and liberals. Conservatives argue that the city should not be using taxpayer dollars to provide housing and support for undocumented immigrants, while liberals argue that the 60-day shelter limit and eviction notices are inhumane and violate the rights of asylum-seekers.
The pushback from council members highlights the growing divide within the Democratic Party over how to address the migrant crisis. While some members, like Johnson, advocate for providing support and assistance to those in need, others believe that stricter immigration policies are necessary to address the influx of migrants.
The issue has also become a political battleground in Chicago. Alderman Bill Conway, who has been critical of Johnson’s handling of the crisis, is running against Johnson in the upcoming mayoral election. Conway’s legislation to increase council oversight over the allocation of funds is seen by many as an attempt to weaken Johnson’s position and gain political advantage.
As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Johnson will respond to the pushback from council members and the growing criticism of his handling of the migrant crisis. The issue has become a contentious one, both within the Democratic Party and among Chicago residents, and it is likely to remain a key topic of debate in the upcoming mayoral election.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: the handling of the migrant crisis in Chicago is a complex and politically charged issue that requires careful consideration and a thoughtful approach. The pushback from council members is a reminder that no matter the intentions behind a policy, it is important for leaders to listen to the concerns of their constituents and be willing to adapt and find solutions that address the needs and concerns of all parties involved.
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