I don’t agree with everything in Jason L. Riley’s analysis of the Chicago mayoral run-off in his Wall Street Journal column but I did want to share this:
The good news for voters in the nation’s third-largest city is that they nevertheless have two clear choices on the ballot. Party affiliation is about the only thing the candidates have in common. Mr. Vallas is a white moderate backed by the police union. Mr. Johnson is a black progressive backed by the teachers union. Mr. Vallas has run hard on restoring public safety in a city that saw crime continue to rise in 2022 and that has long been the poster child for big-city mayhem. He also wants to expand school choice for low-income families. Mr. Johnson opposes the creation of additional charter schools and has called for cutting the police budget.
Theoretically, Mr. Vallas ought to win the race handily. But we elect candidates for office based not on theories but on how many votes they can muster. And in Chicago, where white (33%), black (29%) and Hispanic (29%) representation in the population is remarkably balanced, politics are about as tribal as they come.
Paul Vallas being Greek-American, I suppose we should expect John Kass to prefer him over Brandon Johnson but his remarks are harsh even for him:
Chicago is in a tight mayoral election centering on uncontrolled violent street crime and progressive Democratic Party resistance to upholding the law, I half expected raw and ugly race rhetoric from the candidate underperforming and under pressure.
And because this is Chicago, the city of tribes and unforgiven sins, the race rhetoric spewed out. But it didn’t come from some angry pink fellow.
It did not come from his opponent in the race for mayor, Paul Vallas.
Instead it came from one of the historical victims of ugly talk and ugly deeds. It came out in a torrent from the black leftist candidate for mayor Brandon Johnson, on the final days of the campaign, at a campaign debate.
“This is about Black labor versus white wealth. That’s what this battle is about,†Johnson said, explaining the mayoral campaign in the starkest and most limited terms.
It was a clear appeal to race, but the Chicago media hardly mentioned it.
Few if any of the political reporters bothered to note that the slogan Black Labor White Wealth, came from a Marxist book. It was to be studiously avoided. Why? Because there is nothing more malleable, more easily biddable than a fragile white reporter desperate to avoid the charge of racism.
Speaking of reports not getting much coverage, this seems to have disappeared with hardly a trace:
Chicago mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson owes more than $4,000 in unpaid bills and fines to the city.
Johnson owes $3,357 in water and sewer bills as well as $1,044 in unpaid traffic tickets dating back to 2014 and 2015.
He made a $91.08 payment to his water and sewer charges on Feb. 13, his first payment since June 22, 2022.
Johnson’s campaign released a statement to Fox 32 Chicago.
“Like many working and middle class Chicagoans, the Johnson household has received various fines and fees from the City of Chicago over the years. These fines and fees are on a previously established payment plan and are on schedule to be fully resolved before Brandon Johnson takes office as our next mayor,†Johnson’s campaign said.
If Johnson were to win the April 4 election, state law prohibits him from taking office until his debts are paid.
Johnson currently makes $93,500 as Cook County Commissioner and an additional $85,906 as legislative coordinator for the Chicago Teachers Union.
I found that report interesting in what it revealed about Mr. Johnson’s view of government.
The election is Tuesday and we are coming down to the wire. This election will largely turn on which candidate brings out his voters. I honestly have no idea who that will be. Vallas is favored to win the Northwest Side of Chicago which is where I live. Johnson is expected to carry the greater number with black voters on the South Side. The election may depend on Hispanic voters and their priorities.
