Well, look at that. Turns out Paul Vallas wasn’t a Republican after all. How can I tell? Easy. His swift, gracious concession Tuesday night after losing the race for Chicago mayor to Brandon Johnson.
“It’s critically important that we use this opportunity to come together,” Vallas said.
Recognition of electoral reality is not the standard GOP go-to move. It isn’t just Donald Trump and Kari Lake. Look at the key state Supreme Court race up in Wisconsin this week.
“I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede,” complained Dan Kelly, of the pro-choice woman who thumped him. “My opponent is a serial liar. She’s disregarded judicial ethics; she’s demeaned the judiciary with her behavior.”
Classy. The only reason Kelly couldn’t challenge the results was how badly he was drubbed — 10 percentage points, 55 to 45, a reminder that, given a say in the matter, most Americans don’t want Republicans peering down their pants, checking their business.
Returning to Vallas channeling the Beatles. “Come together.” But how?
First by recognizing just how perilous the city’s situation is right now. Take the usual urban woes — crime, schools, jobs, pensions — and mix in the unprecedented, seemingly endless post-pandemic hollowing out of downtown, and you have a recipe for a cake that looks very much like Detroit. That’s bad.
What should Johnson do? They say that to a hammer every problem looks like a nail, and, since I am a centrist, I’m going to plump for the middle way. It’s the only path to navigate a city that voted 51 percent for a fire-breathing union organizer who thinks a 3.5 percent flee-for-the-hills income tax is a good idea, and 48 percent for a corporate water carrier so in harmony with big money interests that gazillionaire Ken Griffin was blowing him kisses from Florida.
Start with the cops. FOP capo John Catanzara has been threatening that a thousand police officers will quit rather than work for a man who doesn’t roll at their feet like a puppy. Somebody should observe that maybe Chicago wants those particular officers to take a hike, in the hopes they’ll be replaced with new hires who maybe don’t think their choices are limited to a) do whatever we want without consequence or b) curl up in a fetal ball and whine about how everybody hates them and they can’t do their jobs. There must be a third choice. Other professions sure don’t act that way. “If you’re going to insist the cookies not be poison, then maybe I won’t bake anything at all!”
Here Johnson has some freedom. Because as the former Defund-the-Police guy, he will never win over the FOP crowd. He can shut off their body cameras and rename Chicago “Coptown” and it won’t help.
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Caught the end of your appearance on big johns show yesterday. I for one would appreciate a heads up when you are going to be on the radio. A little more self promotion on your part couldn't hurt. you are a good interview.
ReplyDeleteOne thing you said is: being mayor is a hard job, real hard. thatsaforsure as my uncle Dom used to say. I'll be surprised if mayor Johnson can do it well. I hope he has great success. Even though I'll be leaving soon.
Could not help but recognize Mayor Johnson's conscious efforts to incorporate Harold Washington's mannerisms (outstretched arms), opening salvo (How you feeling now Chicago?), and cadence. No problem with that; he could do a lot worse. Impossible job to be sure, but that doesn't mean progress can't be made. His heart seems in the right place and that's worth plenty.
ReplyDeleteAfter 12 years of Rahm and Lori I think we are all hoping for a less confrontational approach from the mayor, and hoping it leads to at least a little progress on the issues. Sadly I fear that the opposing forces - political, business, unions, etc. - are right now plotting how to walk all over this guy they see as a rank amateur.
ReplyDeleteI wish the new mayor luck in dealing with the many issues Chicago is currently facing...certainly more of them than in recent times. Maybe more of them than in my entire lifetime — crime and the post-pandemic hollowing out of downtown (both of which are also happening in other urban locations) are but two of them.
ReplyDeleteA cake that looks and tastes like Detroit? Is it really that bad now? Possibly. When I announced that I was about to visit Chicago last summer, three different people, all current residents, told me to totally forget about my nostalgic all-day "L" tour. They advised me not to ride it at all. So I didn't. Not even on the Red Line, which I rode daily for decades.That floored me. But I listened to them.
Now I'm being told to avoid the Loop, as well. Thought about pooh-pooing all this negativity, but then I had second thoughts. I'm an old geezer now, and an easy target. Perhaps it's like when you've been out partying. When three people tell you you've had too much to drink...it's time to lie down. -73- and good night, all...
Could it be that Chicago has finally become ungovernable? Brandon Johnson, and those who eventually succeed him, will not solve Chicago’s problems...because they can’t be solved until society's problems are solved. Which is not going to happen in any of our lifetimes, or in any of the the lifetimes of many generations to come. descendants.
He can certainly try to effect change, and I wish him all the best. But frankly, it's like putting a nice clean bandage on skin cancer. If he fails to produce any positive outcomes, and if Chicago eventually goes the way of Detroit and Cleveland, the fault lies not in our mayors, Mr. S, but in ourselves.
It doesn't seem that Chicago has been afflicted by the divide that is prominent in many parts of the country. That's a big plus but it doesn't mean Johnson won't have his detractors. Chicago Mayors always will.
ReplyDeleteMaking changes in Chicago will be like trying to turn a speeding cargo ship around. It can be done but it will take a lot of time. If he can affect some positive change, any positive change, and avoid major missteps, his administration will have served all Chicagoans well.
I'd love to see it. He has the fewest skeletons in his closet compared to most if not all prior Mayors.