By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants to make Chicago the safest and most affordable big city in the country, but Chicago Republicans say the city is not safe or affordable.

The mayor has repeated his hope many times since taking office in 2023, and he said it again at a City Hall press briefing on Tuesday.

With less than a month to go before the city council is required to pass a budget and the city facing a deficit of more than $1 billion, Johnson was asked about a proposal by some aldermen to impose higher garbage collection fees and a $1.25 package delivery fee instead of a corporate head tax.

Johnson reiterated his desire for corporations to pay “their fair share” and said the plan to raise garbage fees would still leave a $700 million hole in the budget.

“What I’m going to do is, I’m going to use the tools available to me to protect the working people of Chicago. That is my sole responsibility in this moment, to protect the people of this city,” Johnson said.

The mayor said he had concerns that the delivery fee proposal might not hold up against litigation.

Johnson praised members of his budget team and said he did not have a formal proposal from aldermen.

“I guess some people are just used to cramming. Our team, we work nonstop constantly. We consider ourselves responsible stewards of the people of this city,” Johnson said.

Chicago Flips Red Vice President Danielle Carter-Walters spoke at a press conference outside the Cook County Treasurer’s Office the day before and said the mayor and his top administrators are failing.

“They want higher taxes but can’t provide safety. They want more money but can’t protect our children on the way to school,” Carter-Walters said. “They demand billions but can’t secure a single train car, and they spend our tax dollars to fight President [Donald] Trump in court to stop him from sending the National Guard to handle what they can’t.”

Political and social commentator James McCoy joined city residents, Republican candidates for elected office and Chicago Flips Red members at Monday’s event.

McCoy took note of Johnson’s claims that he wants to make Chicago the most affordable safe city in America.

“I don’t know anybody who feels like Chicago is affordable. Chicago, year after year after year, is getting less affordable, especially for homeowners. In a few years, if we allow this crisis to persist, there will be no homeowners,” McCoy said.

The city council is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Aldermen are required to pass a budget by Dec. 31.