CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson used a campaign-style speech before the City Club on Wednesday to argue that Chicago’s upcoming election is a battle between working people and the ultra-rich, warning that crime could increase if corporations are not asked to contribute more.
Johnson told the audience he has kept every promise he made four years ago and expressed strong confidence about his reelection chances. The room was filled with business and civic leaders, along with representatives from unions and the faith community.
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He credited what he described as a significant drop in violent crime during his tenure to investments made by his administration, particularly on the South and West sides.
“Make no mistake, when we talk about the presence of crime, we are really talking about the absence of investment,” he said.
With budget season approaching, Johnson criticized 29 City Council members who signaled they would not support a corporate head tax. He accused unnamed forces of trying to “bully the city into austerity politics by protecting corporations.”
“Because they think it’s more important to preserve corporate profit margins than it is to preserve the lives of my neighbors,” he said, drawing applause.
Johnson went further, arguing that tax breaks for corporations contribute to public safety problems.
“Every time they give a corporation a tax cut and refuse to ask a rich person to pay their fair share, they are causing and increasing crime,” he said.
He also took aim at unnamed challengers.
“Unfortunately, you have people who believe that they can do my job, but they’re still running a playbook from the 1990s,” Johnson said in a later interview.
The mayor reiterated his call for more progressive revenue options, including a potential corporate head tax.
“I believe what corporations and billionaires can do is they can call for, you know, real progressive revenue. I mean, I think that’s the only right thing to do,” he said.
Johnson characterized the election as “billionaires versus the Brandon Johnson Coalition,” adding, “And I feel very confident that my track record will allow me to receive another four years.”
Johnson was the first mayoral candidate to address the City Club, with others scheduled to speak in the coming days and weeks.
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Source: abc7chicago.com
