But Johnson lagged behind Garcia in a potential runoff, earning 37% of the vote to Garcias 47%. Her persona as a stern leader earned her a degree of popularity early in her term, but her style has come to be seen by many in political circles as overly abrasive. Lightfoot, the first black woman to be mayor,sparked controversy in 2021 when she opted to only grant one-on-one interview requeststo minority journalists. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is the first openly gay person and first Black woman to lead the city. But she notes that the last four years haven't been easy, with a global pandemic and protests over police violence that she said represented some of the toughest times that weve ever faced" in Chicago. Lori Lightfoot concedes mayors race in Chicago, violence had eased by the end of last year. They wore buttons and put up posters saying "I'm riding with Lori." The two sides butted heads during an 11-day teachers strike in 2019 and bickered over returning to in-school instruction during the pandemic. Rising crime rates followed, as they did in many large cities, with domestic violence incidents, shootings, and retail and auto thefts posting sharp increases. She has also touted record spending on public safety, including the police department and anti-violence programs. But her failure to handle a series of crises including skyrocketing crime, the COVID-19 pandemic and battles with the powerful teacher and police unions quickly sapped her support. While she supports police, Allen said comments like Wilsons that officers should be able to chase people down like a rabbit are crazy., If the only plan you have for Chicago is to fight crime, what about the rest of us that dont do crime? Allen said. The Englewood resident said shes leaning toward Garcia, but also still considering Vallas for his tough-on-crime stance. 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When Garcia and Vallas were pitted head-to-head, 47% of respondents chose Garcia, and 36% went with Vallas. And we've already seen that the wealthy Republican establishment is pouring money into his campaign right and left. She says she's faced unprecedented challenges and joked she'd give this note of caution to her 2019 self. But yet the families left, because, one, nothing is changing, and its actually getting worse and worse under her administration, McElroy said of Lightfoot. And she now faces a tough reelection battle. SEE ALSO | Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her final Chicago City Council meeting, When asked if anything could've changed the election's outcome, Lightfoot said, "Yeah. What I need to do, is do my job," Lightfoot said. Voters were asked about potential runoff matchups and Lightfoot fared poorly in the scenarios that included her. A triumphant Johnson claimed his spot in the runoff a few minutes later with an updated version of what former Mayor Harold Washington said on the day he became Chicagos first Black mayor in 1983. At a City Council meeting, Lightfoot was caught on a microphone referring to a union leader as this FOP clown., The police union has endorsed mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, a former city budget director and schools leader who served as an adviser to the police union during negotiations with City Hall. Her last day in power is May 15. We will make Chicago the safest city in America," he said Tuesday night. Fights with the teachers' union over when to bring kids back to school after the height of the pandemic led to work stoppages. Mayor Lori Lightfoot. When he did take the podium, he asked the crowd to give the outgoing mayor a round of applause for her service and courage. In a hypothetical Vallas-Lightfoot contest, the former CPS chief led the mayor 48% to 35%. Earlier Tuesday, sources told NBC 5 political reporter Mary Ann Ahern that Lightfoot was expected to announce her 2023 re-election campaign at a private event for donors and close allies in. Chicago is the most segregated city in America. Weve made progress year-over-year, Lightfoot said. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced her re-election bid on June 7, with a video saying that Chicago needs her brand of hardball government. It comes one week after another big name, Congressman Chuy Garcia, launched his mayoral campaign. "What I hope, is that the work that we have done in the weather - it's through the investments in youth, investments in health care, affordable housing, public safety, mental health, public health - I hope that that work will stand the test of time through the lives of the people who have been most affected by it," Lightfoot said. Teachers in the nations third-largest school district ended up going on strike for 11 days, which led to canceled classes for more than 300,000 students over a labor contract deal regarding pay raises. David Brown and stubbornly refused demands from all eight challengers to get rid of him failed to make the runoff. That makes his runoff endorsement pivotal, just as Wilsons endorsement of Lightfoot was in 2019. "When you come on November 28, and you see the wheelbarrow or the hand truck that we pull in with all of our petitions, I think that will answer that question," Lightfoot said. Lightfoot's unfavorable ratings have soaredwith Chicagoans fed up with gun violence, as well as carjackings and robberies. I think she feels that crime is low, to be honest with you. A number of popular retailers have closed their doors or announced their departures from the downtown area in recent months, including Banana Republic, Old Navy, Timberland, Uniqlo, Gap and Macys. Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes the election at the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council in River North Tuesday night. Virginia Beach struck by tornado, dozens of homes damaged, At least 27 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings: police, Toddler dies after being shot inside Chicago home last week: officials. "It's really sad to see someone who, you know, as well trained as a lawyer and a former prosecutor, elevate politics over constitutional rights in the way that the mayor did," said ACLU of Illinois Communications Director Ed Yohnka. Never will be good for Chicago, said Wilson, who said he plans to visit churches and neighborhoods before deciding whether or not to make an endorsement. "You can't get the kind of things done that we have gotten done through the most difficult circumstances without being able to build partnerships and coalitions. With the election less than three weeks away, three out of five voters disapprove of the job the mayor has done in her first term, more than half hold an unfavorable opinion of her, and 71% think the city is on the wrong track. Now Lightfoot follows in the footsteps of Byrne after suffering the ultimate political humiliation an incumbent mayor not only denied a second term: She couldnt even make it into the runoff. Veteran political consultant Delmarie Cobb says in a city that's a third Black, a third white and a third Latino, it's a factor that can't be ignored. Lightfoot is eager to take on a second term while taking on her critics. I have to put blinders on and run forward. When asked what she will miss about being mayor, Lightfoot said, "there's a long list. But even as crime continued to increase, Lightfoot was accused of a lack of concern after she was caught on camera in January cheerfully dancing in the streets during a Lunar New Year parade. The city also saw more than 20,000 cases of theft last year, nearly double the amount of similar incidents in 2021, Chicago Police Department data shows. Virginia Beach struck by tornado, dozens of homes damaged, At least 27 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings: police, Toddler dies after being shot inside Chicago home last week: officials. The mayor faced hot water again with the teachers union in early 2021 over her plans to reopen schools as the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane. Mariah Woelfel of member station WBEZ reports. The Republican National Committee released a statement in response to Lightfoot's announcement. Were she to lose, Lightfoot would be the first Chicago mayor in decades to run for reelection and fail. CHICAGO (WLS) -- It has been two months since the voters sealed the fate of Lori Lightfoot as a one-term mayor. Thanks for contacting us. It will not only come from providing the police with the resources and the support that they need, but from building the bond between the police department and the community so we have true community policing. As head of the Chicago Public Schools, he ran the teachers pension fund into the ground, closed neighborhood schools and punished students who were in need, Johnson said Tuesday night. Lightfoot said she will leave the mayor's office with no regrets. "Politics is a part of everyday life. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will seek to more than triple the tax charged on most solo ride-share patrons heading in and out of downtown Chicago as part of her plan to reduce congestion and raise much . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. A feminist, Allen said Lightfoots historic election resonated with her, and she plans to vote for her again even if Lightfoot doesnt make it into a runoff election. In Chicago, gun violence is a long-standing issue affecting mostly Black and brown communities. Having lost the support she once held along Chicagos lakeshore neighborhoods and with major labor unions working against her, she was among seven Black candidates competing for votes among the citys Black population. Elected as a reform-minded outsider who would rid the city of pay-to-play politics, Lightfoot was criticized when a campaign staffer sent out an email to public school teachers seeking students to volunteer for the campaign in exchange for class credit. In the runup to the 2024 election, the Sun-Times, WBEZ and the Center for Effective Government at the University of Chicago will be collaborating on a project to educate our audience about the threat to our democracy and how we can form a more perfect union.. While 22% of voters said they didnt recognize Johnsons name, the former CPS schoolteacher and CTU member was neck and neck with Vallas when voters were asked to choose between them in a hypothetical runoff Johnson earning 39% to Vallas 38%. Ald. Melvina McElroy, a 57-year-old Englewood resident, had high hopes for Lightfoot when she voted for her in the 2019 mayoral election, and even helped give people rides to the polls. For NPR News, I'm Mariah Woelfel, in Chicago. WOELFEL: Lightfoot faced backlash recently after warning Black residents against splitting the vote, saying a ballot for anyone but her is like giving your vote to Vallas. Lightfoot has increased her support in some areas of the city. In addition to the pandemic, her biggest challenge might be the perception by many that crime is out of control. Its not like they won contests for Mr. Congeniality, she told the Times. But that hasn't eased anxieties among Chicagoans. Sophia King (4th) or state Rep. Kam Buckner. "That's an issue that touches every voter in the city, and she's going to have to address that one head on.". Harano, 80, said he considered voting for Vallas, but believes Garcia brings so much more experience than Paul.. Lightfootended up taking Catanzara to court, where she successfully argued that his call for officers to ignore the vaccine mandate was illegal. Four years ago Mayor Lori Lightfoot swept every corner of the city and won all 50 wards. Black voters were split, with 26% supporting Wilson, 25% supporting Lightfoot and 16% in support of Johnson. I am so freakin proud because we did this. But, she declined to discuss what they talked about in private. The poll was conducted Jan. 31 through Feb. 3 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy Inc. A total of 625 registered voters were interviewed by telephone, all stating they were likely to vote in the Feb. 28 election. The finances of this city belong to the people of the city. Lightfoot has also clashed with the Chicago police union, the Fraternal Order of Police. Crime has spiked roughly 40% since she took office in 2019 and homicides rose to their highest numbers in. 33 . Vallas has cast the city as gripped by out-of-control crime and blamed leadership for failing to hold people accused of crimes accountable. Dear Abby: Is it cheating if nothing physical ever happened?
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