If the Illinois General Assembly refuses to support progressive revenue sources to help Chicago dig out of its massive budget hole, Johnson confirmed what senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee said nearly a month ago: the mayor will seek a dramatic expansion of the city’s home-rule authority to allow the city to help itself. That might allow Chicago to tax professional services, high-end property transactions or impose a corporate income tax.

Ald. Anthony Napolitano, a member of a multi-generation CPD family and a former CPD officer and Chicago firefighter, emphasized that he wasn’t accusing the department of engaging in a conspiracy, but said, “It’s just weird that, all of a sudden, our numbers have come down drastically and it’s not what people are witnessing on the street right now.”

“He’s defunding our efforts to fight crime so he can send troops into the city of Chicago for one reason, and I want everyone to pay attention. It’s about the elections in 2026 and about interrupting our ability to have a fair and free election in 2026,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.

“The budget fails to make any structural fixes, guaranteeing Chicago will face a similar budget crisis next year. Programmatically, the plan elevates CTU priorities above student needs. That’s pretty sad.”

A court-approved settlement of over $2.6 million is being paid to 207 former Chicago Public School students who were required to participate in a Transcendental Meditation program during class.

“The city of Chicago is emphatically clear that we do not want our streets occupied by federal troops,” Johnson said. “Unless there’s a warrant, these federal agents do not have the right and the authority to bullguard their way through our institutions, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that we stand up to tyranny.”

“Thursday’s vote is what happens when pragmatism prevails, when adults make difficult decisions and when the borrow-and-spend ethos of this mayor and his team is repudiated.”

“Exactly what history of ‘rising up against tyranny’ is this man talking about? Or does this delusional nut think he is going to take up arms and lead some sort of rebellion? Against legal law enforcement officials, yet. Is Johnson wishing for riots, mayhem, and bloodshed in this city? And, again, in opposition to legal law enforcement activities?”

Nearly a dozen reverends prayed on the walls of the Dirksen Federal Building before going in to deliver a letter for President Trump to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Rev. Ira Acree called Trump’s actions and threats “reckless leadership.”

The fundamental issue is while revenues have grown substantially, so too have expenses. Nearly $1.7 billion of the increase in expenditures – 70 percent – from 2020 to 2025 have been for salaries or benefits of employees.

David Greising, of the Better Government Association: “Trump may have lawless intent. But that hardly means the residents of Chicago should accept the level of lawlessness on the city’s streets. Despite the recent improvements, crime is still a major problem in Chicago.”

City agencies serving food and beverages will be given purchasing guidelines that call for healthier and more “culturally appropriate” food options for residents, according to an executive order signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The debate over the municipal pension payment and loan consumed the budget process. But CPS faced a deficit outside of these factors in large part because CPS had used $2.8 billion federal COVID relief funding to hire thousands of teachers and other staff — and that money ran out.

“The city is not safe,” said Sam Sanchez, a member of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “For the mayor and the governor to go on TV and use us as statistics, as numbers, I mean, we’re human beings, we’re talking about real time. … What’s happening right now, real time, the mom who lost a five-year-old child doesn’t care how many murders were done ten years ago, what we care about right now.”

The two-month delay (so far) of a $247 million pension fund payment has translated into $2.4 million in interest owed, and it is estimated that millions more in interest will be owed to the fund and line of credit by the time property tax revenue is actually delivered.

“We don’t need Trump’s troops on our streets. What we need is investment in our neighborhoods, food on our tables, health care for our families and safety, rooted in justice and opportunity, in our communities.”

“In Chicago this year, decreasing violent crime is now matching the national trend. While homicides are down, domestic violence is up. Clearly, (State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill) Burke and (Police Superintendent Larry) Snelling need a true partner leading the civil courts, as well as the court system in its entirety.”