
<p>I was born and raised in Chicago. ; Much of my professional life was devoted to the civic and political life of the City. ; I loved the city and the people, even as I opposed the corruption and racism of the Chicago Democrat Machine.</p>



<p>During my ; years in Chicago, it was known as “The City that Works.” ; There was some truth to that. ; The corruption had not yet taken its full toll – although the segregation and oppression of blacks were unfortunately disgraceful. ; ;</p>



<p>The City was in great financial condition, the streets were clean, and graffiti was limited to Hispanic artistry. ; Long ruled over by ; the powerful Democrat Machine, Chicago was the American version of a Banana Republic with Major Richard J. Daley as “Da boss.” ; </p>



<p>His quarter century in power was followed by another quarter century of bossism by his son, Richard M. – separated by a 13-year gap in which several short-term mayors held the office, including the first and second black mayors and the first woman mayor).</p>



<p>Chicago today is not the City I knew – nor is it the City that works. ; And based on the results of the recent election, Chicago will continue on the path of decline and destruction. ; The last thing the Windy City needed was a radical left-wing mayor. ; </p>



<p>Voters rejected the commonsense reform policies of a moderate Democrat (a Daley-type without the racism) who would have set a positive corrective course for the City.</p>



<p>The election of a government bureaucrat and union leader, Brandon Johnson, is exactly what Chicago did not need. ; It means more of the very policies that have put Chicago in its current condition will not only remain but they will also be expanded.</p>



<p>For all the faults of the Daley Machine, it did focus on the fundamentals of city services. ; Criminals were to be tracked down and arrested – not coddled. ; The local prosecutors did not pledge to NOT enforce laws based on left-wing social or woke principles. ; Streets were kept clean, parks well-groomed, and infrastructure well-maintained. ; Housing and zoning laws keep neighborhoods vibrant. ; (Of course, none of that was true in the segregated black communities – but that is another story.)</p>



<p>In recent years, Chicago has been a less friendly and more unlivable City. ; The corruption and racism started to catch up. ; Taxes and crime rose under increasing left-wing leadership – starting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. ; It was wokeness before that term was popularized. ; He was followed by the disastrous term of Mayor Lori Lightfoot.</p>



<p>Despite the disenchantment with Lightfoot, a bare majority of the voters elected to follow the same course to further decline.</p>



<p>Mayor-elect Johnson’s policing policies had led to the police union endorsement of his opponent, Paul Vallas – and a prediction that a thousand police would resign if Johnson was elected. ; Johnson’s election means more pro-criminal policies and less support for the police. ; </p>



<p>The crime wave will continue.</p>



<p>Johnson’s budgeting proposals mean more investment in social programs and less in business development. ; He will find it very difficult to avoid more tax increases. ; As a school teacher, you can rest assured that the failing Chicago schools will continue to fail – and thousands of minority children will be denied quality education. ; The unions that have failed the school children will have more authority than ever.</p>



<p>Crime and high taxes – and lousy schools &#8212; have been the primary reason for the exodus of citizens and businesses from Chicago. ; That trend will now continue or even accelerate.</p>



<p>We have seen this movie before. ; It is called Detroit. ; The once vibrant headquarters of the automobile industry has been essentially reduced to third-world status. ; Its tax base has collapsed to the point that many of the basic city services and social programs can no longer be funded.</p>



<p>I am very pessimistic about Chicago’s future. ; And despite what my critics may suggest, it is not because Johnson is black. ; I worked very closely with the first black mayor, Harold Washington, who I considered a political adversary in many ways but a personal friend. ; He was why I was appointed senior advisor to the Chicago Board of Education. ; And I was the campaign spokesman for the second black mayor, Eugene Sawyer. ; It is not Johnson’s skin color, but his socialist political philosophy that is the problem.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Lightfoot is Gone, but New Mayor Johnson Bodes Ill For Chicago
