Elections Chicago Mayoral Election: Latest poll shows Paul Vallas widening lead; Lightfoot makes her case

[Jack V Savage]

@Jack V Savage

So I figured this was a good example to point out vis a vis "defunding the police".

Johnson (one of the two candidates in the runoff) evidently said in 2020 that "defunding police isn't just a slogan, it's an actual political goal", then sponsored a resolution to divert funds away from police.

This is someone who may be the mayor of the 3rd largest city in America (and one with a pretty extensive crime problem) not some podunk, means nothing craphole in Jerkwater USA.

It's just one example obviously, but it illustrates why some do have concerns about who they vote for when it comes to this topic.

Perhaps, but it's a local issue there, and the current (now outgoing) mayor was a strong opponent of defunding. Johnson has said that he wants to send mental health professionals to non-violent emergencies so police can focus on violent offenses, which is what a lot of "defund" people were saying (i.e., they tried to find middle ground with activists without sacrificing crime prevention).

 

[ShadowRun]

I mean of course.

“Asked if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, Lightfoot said: “I’m a Black woman in America. Of course.”

Yea who would have guess this card would be played , I’m sure it’s true this time !

 

[KnightTemplar]

I mean of course.

“Asked if she was treated unfairly because of her race and gender, Lightfoot said: “I’m a Black woman in America. Of course.”

 

[Edmond_Dantes]

Who cares about Chicago, amiright @panamaican?!

LOL, for him, all thing Chicago is a "culture War thread".

 

[USA!USA!]

A lot of people care about Chicago I guess. Who knew!

 

[regmma123]

I am shocked this is thread worthy, but at the same time, I agree. Good riddance.

Never forget her infamous words that will go down in Chicago political history:

"My dick is bigger than yours and the Italians, I have the biggest dick in Chicago"
- Lori Lightfoot

Extremely poor choice of words (and judgment) on her part, but let's be real: this would be a non issue if she wasn't a gay black Democrat woman

 

[PhitePhan]

Extremely poor choice of words (and judgment) on her part, but let's be real: this would be a non issue if she wasn't a gay black Democrat woman

 

[Edmond_Dantes]

Yea who would have guess this card would be played , I’m sure it’s true this time !

she didn't get ousted becaues she was black, woman, gay.

she got booted because she was a terrible mayor, did nothing/ (actually exacerbated) the ridiculous violent crime rate, betrayed police officers and is a racist.

It's a shame more Dems and libs didn't speak out against her earlier. she was utterly abysmal.

 

[mkess101]

Perhaps, but it's a local issue there, and the current (now outgoing) mayor was a strong opponent of defunding. Johnson has said that he wants to send mental health professionals to non-violent emergencies so police can focus on violent offenses, which is what a lot of "defund" people were saying (i.e., they tried to find middle ground with activists without sacrificing crime prevention).

It is "local", but Chicago is pretty influential throughout this region (I live in the midwest). The rhetoric somewhat mirrors Minneapolis (ie sending in mental health experts instead of cops) but the issue is that in those cities at least, the vast majority of crimes aren't of that variety. Yes they have domestic issues etc but the proposed changes (actual changes in Minneapolis where they really instituted them) were way disproportionate to the type of crimes being committed.

In these places anyway, it's lip service to say they want police to "focus on violent crime" when that's overwhelmingly what they already do (and can't keep up), and reducing their budgets for that type of crime cannot do anything but make it more difficult to deal with.

 

[Jack V Savage]

It is "local", but Chicago is pretty influential throughout this region (I live in the midwest). The rhetoric somewhat mirrors Minneapolis (ie sending in mental health experts instead of cops) but the issue is that in those cities at least, the vast majority of crimes aren't of that variety. Yes they have domestic issues etc but the proposed changes (actual changes in Minneapolis where they really instituted them) were way disproportionate to the type of crimes being committed.

In these places anyway, it's lip service to say they want police to "focus on violent crime" when that's overwhelmingly what they already do (and can't keep up), and reducing their budgets for that type of crime cannot do anything but make it more difficult to deal with.

Where we disagree here is on who is getting lip service. Chicago's police budget is way higher than it was in 2019, for example. People in power are not cutting police budgets, though in some rare cases, a few of them are trying to make activists happy.

 

[TryggeTryggvar]

So the 2 remaining candidates are "sponsored" by 2 unions.

Will be a tough choice if u want better schools or police

 

[mkess101]

Where we disagree here is on who is getting lip service. Chicago's police budget is way higher than it was in 2019, for example. People in power are not cutting police budgets, though in some rare cases, a few of them are trying to make activists happy.

Sure, in Chicago for whatever reason (maybe the city council has enough sane members to keep things in check so far) they haven't slashed police budgets...yet. In Minneapolis they did. So we can't act like it "just won't happen" in a big city. And when a guy who may be mayor is openly advocating for it, I don't think it's unreasonable for people to take him at his word.

 

[Jack V Savage]

Sure, in Chicago for whatever reason (maybe the city council has enough sane members to keep things in check so far) they haven't slashed police budgets...yet. In Minneapolis they did. So we can't act like it "just won't happen" in a big city. And when a guy who may be mayor is openly advocating for it, I don't think it's unreasonable for people to take him at his word.

But the mayoral candidate isn't actually calling for it, is what I'm saying. Just paying lip service to activists (whose numbers I think he is misjudging).

Ed: From what I can see, Minneapolis' police budget went from $183M in 2020 to $178M in 2021 to $206M in 2022.

 

[mkess101]

But the mayoral candidate isn't actually calling for it, is what I'm saying. Just paying lip service to activists (whose numbers I think he is misjudging).

How can we know this? He already sponsored a resolution calling for it once. Like...if you're a voter making your choice, why are you just ignoring what he says? Why do you say he "isn't actually calling for it?" Based on what?

 

[Halifax]

Where we disagree here is on who is getting lip service. Chicago's police budget is way higher than it was in 2019, for example. People in power are not cutting police budgets, though in some rare cases, a few of them are trying to make activists happy.

The budget is bigger because of 4% yearly wage increases and massive amounts of overtime pay due to short staffing. They are down 1500 officers from their 2019 staff numbers and the rest are working overtime to compensate for the staffing shortage.

 

[mkess101]

The budget is bigger because of 4% yearly wage increases and massive amounts of overtime pay due to short staffing. They are down 1500 officers from their 2019 staff numbers and the rest are working overtime to compensate for the staffing shortage.

1500 less cops? Seriously?

Holy shit.

 

[Jack V Savage]

The budget is bigger because of 4% yearly wage increases and massive amounts of overtime pay due to short staffing. They are down 1500 officers from their 2019 staff numbers and the rest are working overtime to compensate for the staffing shortage.

Well, cops are quitting. The appropriations level is higher than the budget, in fact, because they're having trouble getting proper staffing. Different point. I think an underrated issue lately is cops quitting or deliberately doing a bad job out of petulance.

How can we know this? He already sponsored a resolution calling for it once. Like...if you're a voter making your choice, why are you just ignoring what he says? Why do you say he "isn't actually calling for it?" Based on what?

He isn't calling for it based on what he said.

 

[mkess101]

Well, cops are quitting. The appropriations level is higher than the budget, in fact, because they're having trouble getting proper staffing. Different point.



He isn't calling for it based on what he said.

Huh?

"Defund the police isn't just a slogan, it's a real political goal."

I don't understand what you mean. That's his quote, which was followed by him sponsoring a resolution to actually take $ away from the police budget to be allocated elsewhere. You gotta explain what you mean here...

 

[Jack V Savage]

Huh?

"Defund the police isn't just a slogan, it's a real political goal."

I don't understand what you mean. That's his quote, which was followed by him sponsoring a resolution to actually take $ away from the police budget to be allocated elsewhere. You gotta explain what you mean here...

Just for example:

https://www.grid.news/story/politic...ls-to-defund-the-police-they-have-in-chicago/

Johnson’s campaign emphasizes investing in the community as a way to combat crime more broadly. On his campaign website, he says that he would “work with police and first responders to invest in community-based interventions that de-escalate conflict, reduce violence and make our neighborhoods safer.” Johnson doesn’t specifically call for defunding the police on his website, nor is it mentioned in his ads. Instead, his policies include streamlining positions within the Chicago Police Department. And in multiple campaign ads, he states he would send mental health professionals to certain nonviolent emergencies so police “can focus on truly violent offenses.”

Seems pretty straightforward to me. Chicago's police budget is up 8% over 2020 (15% over 2019). Is that going down if Johnson wins?

 

[ShadowRun]

Can’t imagine why they don’t want her