Matt Paprocki: Chicago’s Mayoral Election Is a Warning to Big Cities Everywhere

Chicago’s Feb. 28 mayoral primary is well worth watching for the nation’s crime- and mismanagement-weary city dwellers  — along with the politicians that serve them.

The progressive politics that have dominated Windy City For decades, we have reached an inflection point. Headline after headline proclaiming violence Government failure at every level. It greets people when they get off the plane, as shown by recent photos of sprawling homeless camps Check in at O’Hare International Airport. Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Los Angeles, is preparing for a very real chance of a stinging vote rebuke. She faces challenges from both moderate Democrats as well as candidates further to her left.

The election could be a sign to Chicagoans, and other large urban leaders, that their citizens are more moderate than the politics they willingly accept. The election of a Chicago centrist would mark a serious threat to the entrenched power structures currently coursing through big-city politics – especially the outsize influence of public-sector unions.

At the turn 20^Th century, Chicago was one the most rapidly-growing cities in the globe. With a population of 3.6 million people, Chicago had a booming economy and peaked in 1950. 

Today there are only 1 million more Chicagoans. In recent years, outmigration has increased. No mystery here: A new poll revealed that the primary reason is “Nearly two-thirds Chicagoans plan to vote. This month’s municipal elections are not safe for you. 

The public education system has also suffered. Nearly 90,000 students – roughly 25% of the city’s total –  have left Chicago’s Public School (CPS) system since 2010, as families opt for private schools or flee the city entirely. The remaining students in public schools are still struggling. Nearly 80% Chicago 11th-graders could not read or do math at grade level according to state data starting 2022. Half of CPS students are absent chronically.

These problems aren’t unique to Chicago. However, it is the only place with an election. Chicago’s actions could be a model for the rest of the country regarding crime, public education, politics and public funds.

The result is that a lot of cash is flowing into this race. Lightfoot is worth approximately $2.75 Million Comparable to approximately $3.8 million for former CPS CEO Paul Vallas – viewed as the race’s leading moderate – and $2.5 million for U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. According to polls, all three Are running neck-and–neck. 

Public-sector unions – who are funded by taxpayers in the form of the dues harvested from public employee paychecks – are pumping money into the race on the progressive end. The American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers have all contributed more than $1 million to this race. Brandon Johnson, CTU operative, is $2.3 Million behind In total, His campaign is worth more than $3 Million – and Lightfoot clearly Considers him to be a threat.

Chicago’s history is full of corruption and machine politics. And the CTU is still the unquestioned leader of this machine. It is, first and foremost, a political organization – and its politicking never rests, even when employees are supposed to be on the job in schools. 

John Kugler. Interview with John Kugler for the new documentary “Local 1: The Rise of America’s Most Powerful Teachers Union,” the licensed educator — who formerly served as a CTU field rep — said that he “was assigned to do political campaign calls during the workday. I have the emails.”

Those politics don’t only focus on education. This often means fighting for things like Banks being defundedDefunding the police is a good idea. Changes to the tax code Adopting and backing candidates who will follow their left-leaning agenda.

“I think, ultimately, [the Chicago Teachers Union would] like to take over not only Chicago Public Schools but take over running the city government,” Mayor Lightfoot spoke to The New York Times 2021.

They are on the right track. CTU has supported 34 of Chicago’s 50 current aldermen in their election campaigns. This is par for the course when it comes to teachers’ unions. According to a report filed with U.S. Department of Labor in February, the American Federation of Teachers was the parent affiliate of CTU as well as the United Federation of Teachers. It is the local representative of teachers in New York City Public Schools. The American Federation of Teachers spent $35.7 Million on politics and lobbying nationwide in 2022. 

Teachers’ unions gave parents an opportunity to see what money could do during the pandemic. Chicago to LA New York successfully delayed or prevented schools from opening for several months. New York City schools hosted some of the most extensive COVID policies. Students were often forced to hide their identities. Jusqu’au March dernier. 

As the CTU wins, crime increases, living costs rise, and education outcomes plummet. Forty-five million people In 2021, Chicago was left behind. San Francisco lost 55,000, and New York City lost 305,000 – the most of any major city in the U.S. Officials in both Chicago and New York City correctly points out that murders dropped in 2022 compared with 2021, but overall crime in both cities jumped over 20%, driven primarily by burglaries and robberies. Chicago murders are at their highest point since the 1990s.

What are the commonalities among these cities? There is an addiction to big government as well as close ties to progressive special interest groups and their cash.

Enough. America’s major cities have been exposed for their disastrous policy of subservience to ideologues, public-sector workers unions and other ideologues. Chicagoans have the opportunity to vote for a better direction as they are mainstream voters. Yes, New York and Los Angeles mayors may be still in the early stages of their administrations. However, like all Americans, they should be mindful of the Windy City’s headwind.

Matt Paprocki serves as president and CEO at the Illinois Policy Institute. The Institute released the documentary “Local 1: The Rise of America’s Most Powerful Teachers Union,” On February 13, Watch the film at chicagoteachersunion.com.