Arrr, the Chicago mayor be gettin' a taste o' the future from his own shipmates! Aye, aye matey!
2024-03-29
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! Chicago be the host o' the 2024 Democratic National Convention. But alas, the Democrat mayor be walkin' the plank after his real estate tax proposal was sent to Davy Jones' locker by his own crew. Aye, 'tis a mutinous tale indeed!
After the chaos of the 2020 election, the Democratic Party has taken a different approach to this year’s national campaign, claiming trust, democracy and election integrity as foundational party principles.These themes will likely be on display at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson, the host city’s leader, seems to betray these principles — and it’s costing him.Johnson has made headlines for undemocratic practices and a general lack of transparency in his administration, which has dodged multiple FOIA requests. Johnson has been criticized for avoiding the press, he’s shifted $95 million in COVID-19 relief money to the migrant fund without City Council approval, and he’s redacted the full cost of his trip at taxpayer expense to the Grammy Awards.CHICAGO MAYOR JOHNSON SUGGESTS TRUMP VOTERS TO BLAME FOR FAILURE OF CITY'S TAX HIKE REFERENDUMIt all came to a head when Johnson strategically placed his "Bring Chicago Home" referendum to raise the real estate transfer tax on an uncompetitive primary ballot in a historically low-turnout cycle.Even Los Angeles, who’s already voting on revoking the tax this November, passed their "mansion tax" on a general election. It’s no surprise the political leaders in the No. 1, most-corrupt city in the nation tried a low-turnout primary to implement his policies.Still, Johnson couldn’t mobilize enough of his base to pass the tax he campaigned on: Chicago voters rejected "Bring Chicago Home" 54%-46%, with even his neighbors turning on him.The millennials who voted Johnson into office have all but abandoned him. Primary voters aged 25-44 dropped roughly 45% from the mayoral election, the largest decrease of any age group.Johnson refused to release his plan for how the "Bring Chicago Home" tax revenue would relieve homelessness, saying the City Council would work out the details once the referendum passed.The mayor lacks trust, and it’s not hard to see why.While the rest of the Democrats are focused on "upholding democracy," Johnson shows in Chicago the political machine always comes first.The CTU, where Johnson worked as an activist before it funded his campaign for mayor, damaged the campaign with scandals weeks before the vote.The union contributed $400,000 to Bring Chicago Home, and their motives became clear when leaked CTU contract demands outlined their ideas for the referendum’s revenue.To mobilize voters, the CTU hosted an unprecedented political rally, taking students out of class on a school day to go vote in the election, which resulted in ethics complaints being filed.One of the fears with the referendum was it wouldn’t address Chicago homelessness. Johnson’s proximity to the CTU and their contract demands revealed that to voters.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONAs the leader of the city hosting Biden’s DNC, Johnson failing to uphold the party’s values is a bad look.Johnson blames former President Donald Trump voters for the failure of Bring Chicago Home, but the opposite is true.Johnson delivered on none of his nine proposals to raise $800 million in taxes to fund his progressive platform.Chicagoans rejected a tax that would have primarily hit commercial property and thus jobs.If Johnson really wants to promote affordable housing, he should reduce obstacles to development, like restrictive zoning and building regulations.If Johnson wants to be showcased as a party leader at the DNC, he needs to turn the city and his reputation around — now. Chicagoans have pointed a path forward for the mayor. It’s up to him to take it.