Mayor Brandon Johnson, like many Chicagoans, I was excited about your election. As a fellow organizer and a newly elected alderman, I had high hopes that your administration would mark the beginning of a new era in Chicago government — one in which all residents and stakeholders were heard, valued and brought together. I believed your victory signaled the start of a Chicago for all.
You came into office with a strong ideological perspective, but early signs pointed to an inclusive administration — one that welcomed diverse viewpoints, even those that challenged your own. We hoped that your inexperience would be balanced by humility and a willingness to listen to those with deep experience in governance.
Yet, as I look back over the past two years, your administration has been the opposite of what we hoped for. Dissenting voices are consistently shut down. Detractors are shut out. Advice is ignored. Instead of collaboration, we see ideological isolation. Instead of a “Chicago for all,” we see a government that treats those who disagree as enemies. This is not what I voted for, worked for or can continue to support.
Chicago under your leadership has become a cauldron of frustration. Multiple public polls reflect growing dissatisfaction, and the dysfunction is evident. Every mayor faces opposition from some bloc of aldermen, but the repeated close votes and tie-breaking votes you’ve cast are not signs of collaboration. They are signs of a government in disarray. Your own supporters — those who stood with you in difficult times — are not invited to shape policy but expected to fall in line behind half-baked proposals developed without meaningful input.
Chicago is at a financial crossroads — not of your making, but one that requires sound leadership. Yet, if the recent budget process and the recent bond vote are any indication, your administration is adding to the financial burden future generations must bear. I can no longer support that.
Mr. Mayor, Chicago needs a vision that embraces the concerns of all its citizens. Yes, we must prioritize the most vulnerable, but intellectually honest critique — no matter where it comes from — must be acknowledged. Truth is not the exclusive possession of those we agree with.
We need a financial strategy that, as our esteemed Vice Mayor Walter Burnett put it, makes Chicago truly self-sufficient. We cannot continue spending recklessly while hoping for bailouts from afar. Instead, we must do the work of our own hands, building relationships as we lay the foundation for a more equitable and sustainable future.
Look, I understand that this job is not easy. I also recognize that some of your challenges stem from America’s original sin of racism, and Chicago has long been a test case in that regard. A glance at the rhetoric directed at you on social media makes that clear.
As a 53-year-old Black man, I have experienced my share of racial bias. But not every critique from citizens, the media or aldermen is racially motivated. Some are, but not all. The concerns raised about the recent bond issue were valid, and the pushback was not about race. It was about accountability. In fact, it reflects an increasingly engaged and informed citizenry that demands more from its leadership.
The people are demanding more. The City Council is demanding more. And as the elected representative of the 5th Ward, I am demanding more.
Mr. Mayor, the moment is yours. There’s so much at stake. In fact, the future of this great city and those who call it home are counting on you to be the leader you promised to be during your campaign.
Ald. Desmon Yancy represents the 5th Ward.
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