Every new year brings excitement about the possibilities of achieving dreams and goals with the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. It calls for self-reflection on the year ending and goal-setting for the one ahead. Amid the New Year’s Eve parties and watch night services, the mistakes and shortcomings of the prior year must not be swept away.
If we are to achieve a stronger, better Chicago and America, we must acknowledge and learn from the mistakes of 2024. Otherwise, we are doomed to take the same bad habits into the new year. What’s to come can be better than what’s been.
Last year ushered in a Chicago City Council that discovered its voice and flexed its muscle in denying Mayor Brandon Johnson a property tax increase to support his 2025 budget. The mayor abandoned his attempts to raise property taxes after being rebuffed multiple times. Ultimately, he balanced the budget by raising some taxes, fines and fees. It is not an ideal blueprint for the 2026 budget. The city will need to operate with fewer positions and cut fat from the budget. With an all-Republican government coming to Washington, Chicago cannot count on federal bailouts.
In fact, incoming “border czar” Tom Homan has indicated that Chicago will be ground zero for mass deportations of migrants. The federal government may attempt to withhold funds from sanctuary cities such as Chicago. Also, with big deficits looming in Springfield, the city would be wise to begin the belt tightening.
The city has spent $574.5 million on migrants, according to Fox Business. It is shameful that leaders in Chicago and Illinois have prioritized the needs of migrants over their own citizens. Elected leaders should put a referendum question on the ballot that reads: “Shall the city of Chicago remain a sanctuary city and refuse to cooperate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?”
Another big story was the mayor’s hand-picked school board firing, without cause, Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez less than a week before Christmas. Martinez angered the mayor when he refused to take out a $300 million high-interest loan. The firing of Martinez has elevated his profile and made him a cause celebre in his fight to protect taxpayers from a greedy Chicago Teachers Union.
Gov. JB Pritzker and state leaders should put guardrails in place to protect students and Chicago taxpayers from a hostile takeover of the school system by the CTU and Johnson, its former employee. The damage might be irreparable before Chicagoans have a fully elected school board. While test scores may be improving for some, too many students graduate without being able to read or write at grade level. In 2025, Johnson, the Board of Education and the new CEO must ensure all students are reading and doing math at grade level. The school board should end the policy of social promotion.
A significant national story last year was how indicted and convicted former President Donald Trump rode waves of anger over high inflation and the border crisis back to the White House. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris who ascended to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden was forced to step aside. Trump helped Republicans hold the House and retake the Senate.
Biden’s blanket pardon of his son Hunter and some questionable commutations open the door for Trump to pardon those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. To be clear, the mob that breached the Capitol sought to prevent a joint session of Congress from counting electoral votes and certifying Biden’s victory.
For example, former Judge Michael Conahan was among the nearly 1,500 people Biden announced would have their sentences commuted after they had been placed under home confinement during the pandemic. Conahan was incarcerated alongside another former Democratic judge for sending thousands of children to for-profit jails in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks, Newsweek reported.
It defies common sense that Biden would commute the sentences of judges engaged in unconscionable behavior. This is an abuse of that executive power.
A recent Gallup poll showed just 35% of those polled are confident in the judiciary and courts — a record low and down from about 60% in 2020. Biden’s actions further erode confidence in the judicial system.
Perhaps Trump should reconsider pardoning those convicted of assaulting police officers on Jan. 6 — if he wants to unify the country.
The following are some recommendations for 2025:
- Resolve to be honest and kind.
- Resolve to forgive those who have hurt you.
- Resolve to always vote and participate in democracy.
- Resolve to do more to help others.
- Resolve to eat healthier, exercise more and sin less.
- Resolve to put citizens needs first.
- Resolve to seek unity.
For some of us, last year was rough — the pain and frustration of unemployment, violence, inflation and loss of a loved one. If it had not been for the Lord on our side, we would not have made it to a new year.
Every day of 2025 will not be pleasant. There will be some mountains to climb and valleys to traverse too. The Bible declares in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I write this commentary to make those comfortable with breaking or failing to set New Year’s goals uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.
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