Earlier this week, it was reported that Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson crafted more than a dozen Facebook posts with antisemitic statements following Hamas’ attack on Israel Oct. 7, 2023. Additional Facebook posts surfaced Thursday in which Johnson supported a conspiracy theory that 9/11 was “an inside job” and questioned why working women don’t want families.

“This is the City Council’s moment to step up and take our government back and run the city like it’s supposed to be run — with a strong Council, weak mayor,” said Ald. Anthony Beale, the Council’s second-most-senior member. “The people don’t trust this administration. They don’t trust his decision making. They don’t trust his governing. … Donald Trump polled higher than the mayor is now in 2020 (in Chicago). That tells you what people think.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “Now that the charges have been issued, I can speak in more specificity in the attack that took place that was clearly motivated by hatred. But hatred towards our Jewish community. It is not only hideous, it is wicked. And as a leader of this city, as a husband and a father, it grieves me and it breaks my heart knowing that our Jewish city doesn’t feel safe…”

The 48 aldermen who took the pay bump will see a 4.1 percent jump in their pay stubs. City Clerk Anna Valencia and Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin also accepted raises.

You may or may not be surprised to learn that Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth’s decision to stop telling people about shootings and murders in the ward has failed to reduce the number of shootings and murders. “People are leaving Edgewater because they don’t feel safe,” the alderman said this week, “and we can’t afford to lose more people.”

Ald. Andre Vasquez said his nay vote Wednesday “wasn’t about the pastor,” but rather the “lack of process and respect” the Johnson administration showed by only offering up the nominations on short notice.

“Not word one. It says 100 percent,” Trustee Chris Gonzalez said. “Well, 100 percent of what? 100 percent to who? That could mean a lot of different things. What’s the administrative cost? When’s it going to start? When’s it going to end? Literally, [Henyard’s said] nothing.”

“And 2027 won’t be the end of this costly trench warfare over the future of Chicago’s schools. Those advocating for school choice for the city’s families are playing a long game here. To maintain its status as Chicago’s new political machine, the CTU’s political costs will explode. No amount of boohooing regarding ‘out-of-state billionaires’ will change that reality.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said Wednesday his newly appointed Chicago Board of Education president is “seeking atonement” for making antisemitic comments but did not call for his removal as requested by just over half of the City Council. “I know Rev. Mitchell Johnson has worked hard as a faith leader in his interfaith work.”

She said, “I’m very concerned about Chicago Public Schools. There was a walkout of kids from CPS on the day of the [council’s January] cease-fire resolution, and they were praised [by the mayor] for protesting the Gaza war. Meanwhile, I have Jewish students who were told, ‘Don’t wear blue and white because we’re not sure we can protect you.’ I have Jewish students who are afraid to go to school and who are being fed onesided information.”

Residents from South Shore and Woodlawn called for increased housing protections as the Obama Center is set to be built on the South Side. Activists noted that in June, the mayor vowed to prevent residents from losing their homes and said he needs to follow through on that promise.

Shannon Adcock, of Awake Illinois: In fact, looking at a Chicago Teacher Union resolution passed earlier this year, they focused solely on activism stating ‘all CTU delegates and members in their classroom will participate in the BLM at School Week(s) of Action’. This is unacceptable – students in Chicago need leaders who are robustly dedicated to academics, not political activism.”

Willie Wilson: “(Mayor Brandon) Johnson’s school board represents more treats for the CTU and a lot of tricks for our children, Martinez and the taxpayers.”