(The Center Square) – The mayor of Chicago has expressed his opposition to an alternative budget proposal from the city council.
Aldermen offered a plan Wednesday to replace Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporate head tax proposal with several efficiency measures, taxes on some liquor sales and rideshares, video gaming revenue and higher garbage collection fees for some residents.
Johnson said the plan would nearly double garbage fees.
“I don’t support a budget that places such an incredible burden on working people,” the mayor said Wednesday.
Johnson said he remained committed to negotiation but would hold to his values. Earlier in the week, the mayor revised his corporate head tax to impact businesses with more than 500 employees instead of those with more than 100. He also raised the monthly tax from $21 per worker to $33.
The mayor’s more than $16 billion spending plan also includes an increased cloud tax, a tax on social media and taxes on sports betting and boat mooring.
Johnson said immoral and wicked people want chaos so they can control government.
“It’s well past time that the people of Chicago actually know and see who these individuals are. They do not mean us well,” the mayor said.
The mayor did not mention names Wednesday. Earlier in the week, he called out asset management executive and Democratic Party donor Michael Sacks for funding ads opposing his budget.
Last month, Black Voters Matter Fund announced a seven-figure ad investment to support Johnson’s spending plan.
During the public comment period at Wednesday’s city council meeting, Chicago veteran Dennis White called on President Donald Trump to investigate the mayor before the people vote him out.
“I’d rather see you in an orange jumpsuit. I’d rather see you locked up, because you are committing the most heinous crime. And Trump, get the [Department of Justice] and get this man out of office,” White told Johnson.
Chicago Flips Red Vice President Danielle Carter-Walters told the mayor he does not understand poverty, even though he cried about it earlier this week.
“We are trying to figure out how we are going to stay in our homes, senior citizens on a fixed income, trying to figure out how they are going to pay these high property taxes, me trying to figure it out. We know what it’s like, but we know you don’t know what it’s like,” Carter-Walters said.
Carter-Walters rattled off a list of city officials who would get five-figure raises if the mayor’s budget is approved.
Council members went against the wishes of Johnson’s ally and budget committee chair, Ald. Jason Ervin, by setting dates for five more council meetings before Christmas. A city government shutdown looms if a budget is not approved by Dec. 31.
The council approved Ald. Anthony Beale’s motion to set meetings for Dec. 15, 16, 17, 18 and 23.
