(The Center Square) – Chicago city residents are giving elected officials an earful as the city looks to craft a budget facing a billion dollar deficit.
Monday morning, the city council started with public comments. Danielle Carter said President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar should make an example of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“Trump, Tom Homan, make an example out of this [mayor] here first, please come here first,” Carter said. “We want a forensic audit.”
Johnson interrupted Carter, who is Black, turning her microphone off.
“If you want to continue speaking, you have to make sure that your language is appropriate,” Johnson said, allowing her comments to continue.
“You said you going to spend our tax dollars to take Trump to court to protect these illegals if they try to come up in your district,” Carter said.
Johnson has said the city will remain a sanctuary for non-citizen migrants.
Mrs. Lawrence, a separate speaker during the 30 minute public comment period who did not state her first name, said Johnson’s time is limited. She accused him of harboring illegal aliens.
“Because there’s a 10-year prison sentence when you want to stand up here for those illegals,” Lawrence said.
The city council then held a budget hearing with public comments. P Rae Eastly thanked the city council for unanimously voting down Johnson’s $300 million property tax increase.
“The city of Chicago is out of the business of funding illegals. We are out of the business of prioritizing non-American citizens on top of the American citizens,” Eastly said.
Eastly hoped the city council would reject any further tax increases.
During a news conference after the city council meeting, Johnson said he and the city council will balance the budget, but insists he’s talking with state and congressional leaders about “progressive revenue.”
“This is an ongoing dynamic that really requires progressive bold leadership at this moment,” Johnson said.
Earlier during the budget hearing, a resident identified as Mr. Cruz (first name also unstated) said the city doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem, and warned “progressive revenue” won’t fix it.
“The only way to get out of this budget crisis and insolvency is to increase the population and keep people here, encourage people to want to move here, encourage businesses to want to hire here,” Cruz said. “Raising taxes does the exact opposite of that.”
The budget for the city’s new fiscal year must be resolved by the end of the month. Chicago faces a billion dollar deficit.
