Chicago Residents Anger Mayor Over Migrant Spending: 'Worst Mayor in America'

Chicago residents condemn Mayor Brandon Johnson for spending more than half a billion dollars on housing migrants. One told the Democrat to his face during a city council meeting that he was the “worst mayor in America.”

The criticism of Johnson and Chicago’s New Arrivals Mission — which has cost the city $574.5 million so far since its inception in August 2022 — comes as the mayor seeks to close a $1 budget deficit by the end of the year billion US dollars. The City Council held a meeting Monday where residents voiced their opposition to a roughly $60 million property tax increase that was floated as a way to close the gap.

“I have a great idea of what we can achieve with this budget. First, let’s start by stopping illegals from getting everything for free, free housing, free education, free food. Yes, let’s start with that. This will save us a lot of money,” one woman told Johnson.

“Let’s start there. Then let’s start with you. your salary. You will go down in history as the worst mayor in America. Let’s start by reducing your salary. They make too much money,” she continued.

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Chicago City Council Meeting Public Comment

Chicago residents criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday for the city’s spending when it comes to assisting migrants. (City of Chicago)

Another resident told Johnson that she was an immigrant who came to the U.S. legally and that she was “very, very embarrassed by what my fellow Latinos in this city are doing on behalf of the people who work, on behalf of them of the people”. who pay taxes on behalf of the people who contribute to the city.

“I want to make it clear that not everyone is the same. The doors were wide open for these people and they feel entitled to many things that no one else has. There are U.S. citizens who suffer from poverty,” she said. “There are U.S. citizens who are on public assistance, and these people are just enjoying the benefits here, becoming criminals and facing no consequences.”

At one point in the meeting, a resident asked Johnson for his “undivided attention.”

“So this just proves to you the lack of leadership you are showing in this city. They can’t even give me direct eye contact,” he said. “Now I will let you know, the people of Chicago, that we are done with you.”

Johnson’s office said in April that the goal of the New Arrivals Mission was to “provide short-term emergency shelter to address this humanitarian crisis while making long-term investments in the city’s ability to address future challenges related to displacement and new migration patterns.” .

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson provides an update on migration issues at Chicago City Hall on January 29, 2024. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

“Since August 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has bused hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers across the United States. The city of Chicago has taken in the third most asylum seekers of any major city in the country after New York City and Denver. “Almost 39,000 new arrivals are coming to the city,” it said at the time.

“The City of Chicago, in collaboration with the State of Illinois and Cook County, has worked to support newcomers on the path to self-sufficiency by providing basic needs such as food, temporary shelter, urgent medical care, education, vaccines, etc., as well as case management and relocation assistance.” , the city also said.

From the end of this year, the New Arrivals Mission protection system will be phased out.

“This transition is consistent with the sharp decline in migration to Chicago and our current fiscal realities,” Johnson said in October. “We are moving to a more cost-effective, equitable and strategic approach to addressing homelessness for everyone who needs support in the city of Chicago.”