(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he and Mayor Brandon Johnson are getting along despite disagreements.
The year has been marked by high crime and an influx of noncitizen arrivals in Chicago. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are the two people responsible for addressing those issues.
On Monday, Pritzker was asked how he and Johnson are getting along since Johnson took office in May.
“I have had now three mayors that I have worked with, and I have made it my mission to make sure that the relationship is good, even when you disagree occasionally on some things,” Pritzker said. “You just need to work it out, and whenever we have disagreed, we have worked it out. “
Johnson took over for former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in May after defeating Paul Vallas in a run-off election. Pritzker did not put his support behind Johnson or any of the other candidates during the election cycle.
Pritzker said any speculation of a bad relationship between the two has been formed by the media.
“Every time there is a Governor and a Mayor of Chicago, and when you occasionally have things you’re working out together, they [the media] want to turn it into they hate each other,” Pritzker said. “Now, there have been Mayors and Governors that don’t like each other, but the truth is we get along and have much to accomplish.”
Recently, Pritzker announced the state would provide an additional $160 million to Chicago to help manage the 24,000 noncitizen arrivals.
Despite Pritzker saying he supports Johnson, a poll of Chicago residents showed Johnson’s approval rating is just 28%, while 50% of Chicago voters disapproved of his actions. It is the third time since 1979 that a mayor has had an approval rating of less than 30%.
