On the eve of a final budget vote that is not in doubt, representatives from the DefundCPD Campaign, Black Lives Matter, the Grassroots Collaborative and United Working Families put the mayor on blast and aldermen who “cave” to mayoral pressure on notice.

If there were a responsible way to close our budget gap that didn’t involve raising taxes or requiring furloughs for employees, we already would have taken it.

The grandson and nephew of Chicago’s two longest-serving mayors wants a $1.25 tax on packages weighing 50 pounds or less, and $2.50 for packages over that. Prepared food, prescriptions and medical appliances would be exempt.