Summer in Chicago should feel like a nonstop party, but we made the mistake of inviting buzzkill Mayor Brandon Johnson.
So far, his administration has made summer less entertaining by canceling the Friday Morning Swim Club, losing Riot Fest, and scaling back the Clark Street dining program and Pride Parade.
Johnson doesn’t seem in touch with what Chicagoans really want. We’ve watched him gush over a $1.5 billion proposal to redo Soldier Field, put $400 million toward migrant care only to evict families, and spend $30,000 in campaign finances on hair and makeup. Perhaps that’s why only 28% of Chicagoans view him favorably.
Thankfully, it’s clear what Chicagoans care about. Polling from the Illinois Policy Institute indicates the top concerns for Chicago residents are a safe city, reliable transit and affordable housing. If Johnson could prioritize these popular initiatives, he’ll put the city on a path toward a better, safer summer — and future.
To do this, Johnson must expand his efforts to decrease homicides, carjackings and car thefts and curb violent crime rates. The summer crime wave has already begun. Father’s Day weekend saw at least 72 gunshot victims and eight deaths. On June 18, the city mourned the loss of a 7-year-old. The city is eager for change.
A vast majority of Chicagoans support increasing the police force, according to a poll from the Illinois Policy Institute. Instead of wasting his political capital on the ShotSpotter debacle, Johnson could focus on adding officers.
This would help address the low 12% arrest rate and alleviate an overworked force. When the force was at its peak in 2007, arrest rates sat at 30% — more than double the current rate. The diminished force has left police overworked, and overtime cost taxpayers $293 million last year. The city could safely hire more than 2,100 addtional officers with that money.
Additionally, Johnson could work toward completing the requirements of the consent decree, a court-ordered police reform plan to improve training and curb misconduct. After five years, the city has implemented just 6% of the consent decree. Police misconduct cost the city $74 million just in 2023.
Implementing these reforms could appeal to Chicagoans and improve public safety, a model that Johnson could also apply to the CTA.
Safe, frequent and affordable public transit undoubtedly improves a city’s health. Contrary to Johnson’s claims that the CTA is “moving in the right direction,” Chicago lags when compared with other cities such as New York City, which provides higher frequency, and Los Angeles, which offers cheaper rides.
Despite having record-high budgets, current CTA leadership has been unable to improve security and reliability. Crime levels on public transit remain largely unchanged, even with a drastic decrease in ridership. The city is short more than 350 bus and rail operators compared with pre-pandemic years, creating unrest and unreliability.
It’s past time Johnson replaces Dorval Carter Jr. as leader of the CTA and removes unqualified members from the transit board. Johnson should use his emerging second-chance opportunity to appoint a transit expert, preferably a safety expert who actually uses public transportation.
Another issue Chicagoans cite is the need to develop more affordable housing. More than 68% of low-income renters pay more than half their income for housing in the city — the most in the Midwest. With an influx of migrants and the numbers of homeless people this summer, affordable housing is needed now more than ever.
Programs such as Johnson’s “Cut the Tape” need to be fully realized. High regulatory costs and current inclusionary zoning requirements, such as the Affordable Requirements Ordinance, often stifle and prevent new construction and development.
Chicago could model its reforms after Denver, Minneapolis and Austin, Texas. These cities prioritized multifamily developments and greater use of accessory dwelling units added onto single-family housing. Additionally, the city could expand areas zoned for residential use, legalize more mixed-use housing and reduce barriers to converting commercial zones to residential use.
If Johnson were to focus on these highly salient issues, he could rebuild trust with Chicagoans and position the city for a summer to remember.
Micky Horstman is the communications associate for the Illinois Policy Institute and a writer for Young Voices.
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