By Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
Finally, a Chicago Democratic alderman that‘s willing to talk in a direct, no-nonsense way about the city’s major problems, notably crime, education and the city’s increasing embrace of Socialism.
Ald. Ray Lopez, who represents Chicago’s 15th ward, doesn’t shy away from the violence and education metrics that plague most parts of the city. He doesn’t shrink from calling out District Attorney Kim Foxx and Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans’ failures to prosecute and sentence the city’s criminals. He’s quick to call out that just 11% of black students read at grade level. And he doesn’t hesitate to criticize Mayor Brandon Johnson for playing semantics over what criminals should be called.
Notably missing is any mention of equity, diversity or inclusion. Instead, he’s calling for good old fashioned accountability.
It’s good to see someone like Lopez not reduced to sound bites. Long-running policy and politics show Public Affairs has Lopez on for a full 30 minutes, allowing the alderman to back up his comments with facts and data.
On crime and Johnson’s playing games with criminal justice: “Arrest some people but don’t give them felonies. Give them tickets. Don’t call them mobsters, call them something else. That’s a natural progression of the far-left extremism that’s taking over Chicago politics over the last five years…even the term ‘gang banger’ is something that’s frowned upon…that you’d rather call them street organizations…anything other than the word gang member….but you have to call them for what they are…because the more you play semantics, the more cover you give them, the more PG you make them sound, and [the more] acceptable that they become.’
On schools: “I give them an ‘F.” First off, you can’t have people being rated 100% proficient as teachers when their product is 90% deficient. There’s something wrong with that. And let’s be clear what the product is – an educated student population. Educated youth, able to read, able to write, able to do basic math…nearly 80% of the student population can’t read [at grade level]…and we’re spending $28,000 per student. $10 billion dollars to our youth is education money that we are dumpster firing right now…”
On political extremism: “…we are seeing a decline in the status quo in the black and Latino caucuses within city government, caucuses which have a been a staple…As you see the idealism take over and cross ethnic lines where you see Socialism becoming more of a caucus…I think there has to be a counter to the Socialist or Progressive caucuses similar as we’ve seen in New York where you have a Common Sense Caucus, which takes into [account] all people.”
Alderman Lopez has long been a vociferous opponent of Chicago’s failed policies and was a persistent thorn in Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s side. Lopez got national attention a few days ago when the New York Post highlighted him as one of “Seven prominent Democrats [to] turn on Biden over soft border policies: ‘federal crisis of inaction.’ Lopez wrote an open letter to Biden, inviting him to tour Chicago’s overrun migrant camps.
He also recently joined Wirepoints earlier this year during our joint press conference highlighting Chicago’s place as the nation’s leader in homicides. See Chicago, New Orleans were the nation’s murder capitals in 2022 – A Wirepoints survey of America’s 75 largest cities for more.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Spree of robberies, car thefts drive Chicago crime to new highs
- Beginning a Truthful Conversation About Crime in Chicago – Alderman Ray Lopez Teams Up with Wirepoints to Advance Data-Driven Approach to Combating Crime
- Chicago, New Orleans were the nation’s murder capitals in 2022 – A Wirepoints survey of America’s 75 largest cities
- How many grades behind are Chicago Public Schools’ students?
- ‘Equity’ Fail: Illinois blacks suffer nation’s 2nd-highest unemployment rate, largest black-white gap
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Chicago is broken, and dying.
It’s citizenry are 100% to blame.
Per an article I read here the other day “The people of Chicago voted for me, and so I’m serving the people of Chicago,” Johnson said”
The people are getting exactly what the wanted it is as simple as that
If only it was that simple. LOL
Only a small fraction of the people in Chicago voted, and that’s if you believe the official stats. I have yet to see a legitimate poll. Despotism has a 100% approval rating until it gets ejected.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-voter-turnout-st-0512-20230512-7w5reqf6fvhwjfk6yninebjemq-story.html
Last I checked, Vallas was in the lead.
https://wgntv.com/news/politics/wgn-poll-vallas-leading-johnson-in-chicago-mayoral-runoff-election/
Every eligible voter made a decision in the last election. Some voted for BJ, some Vallas, and some voted for neither by not choosing either one. We all make decisions on Election Day and some choose to abstain. Not making a decision still results in a decision. You can pretend the outcome would have been different if more people would have voted but it’s only playing pretend.
You are 100% correct!
I’m going to feel cheated if I don’t see you and @Riverbender at the DNC next summer yelling at the mob for playing pretend and getting what they wanted.
You certainly do like to play pretend. You will no doubt be “cheated” by reality. Time to join the real world Dave. When are you going to launch this media organization that turns things around for Illinois. Your delusion is strong.
People, who chose not to vote, voted for things the way they are. They chose not to vote against the current situation so they want things as they are. Good for them and they deserve everything that they supported.
PS I’m from downstate and you won’t see me anywhere near that convention…I avoid high crime areas
I’m going to ask this every chance I get. Why are Democrats supporting the torture and killing of our American, illegal and homeless children? They are destroying as many of our family members or children as they can, but not their own. You better ask youself “Why”.
Lopez needs to get together whatever money he can raise now and run for higher office. He needs to put up or shut up. This state is already full of politicians who complain after the fact but don’t have enough guts to fight to change the facts when the opportunity presents itself. Now we got another one. Stop wasting our time.
This is a great interview and a great way to start the day! I’m glad we’re finally getting some traction. Regarding Brandon’s trauma and socioeconomic arguments, they’re complete garbage. I’ve posted before about robust consensus on the interactive and social nature of determination and accomplishments. When an authority figure like Johnson tells people they’re traumatized, it actually makes things worse. A simple experiment, like the one I outlined below, can actually score the damage Johnson is doing. One could easily skew results by administering this test after presenting one of Johnson’s public engagements to a variable group and comparing it… Read more »
I’m really curious how CPS students would score on this test. It’s basically malpractice to diagnose anyone without clinical assessment and Johnson has made this argument the cornerstone of his campaign. My guess is that excessive marijuana use, Cheetos, and cell phone distractions are more of a problem than trauma.
You’re using ‘old’ science from 1995 when researchers actually tried to put objective standards on things. As Mao would say, those are the old ways. I’ll again link to the new way. It’s a social justice model of therapy that permeates all of therapy these days. Because every idea you have about therapy in the past is wrong, and has been completely redone, to focus on social justice: Social-Justice Shrinks: How Identity Politics Infected Therapy In winter 2019, Leslie Elliott enrolled as a graduate student in Antioch University’s Mental Health Counseling program. At first, she found it to be a… Read more »
This is your U of I tax dollars at work. Paper: Train future psychologists to dismantle racism, injustice in society CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A team of psychologists representing several universities has created an anti-racist training model for psychologists that will prepare them to dismantle racism in society, as opposed to only teaching coping skills to individuals. The team is also calling upon the psychology discipline to acknowledge the racist theories and practices in its history and the inequities they created. While the training, called the Public Psychology for Liberation model, was designed for public psychologists – those who work in… Read more »
I know you accuse me of being a Demoralizing Debbie Downer, and you’re right, but again, you’re missing the point. The prophet Ezekiel screamed for 50 years that people were on the wrong path, and that bad things would happen if they did not repent and change their ways…and ultimately, bad things did happen. That’s kind of what I do. I’m telling you exactly how things are, and I’m begging people to change, because a progressive utopia is anything but.
There are papers everywhere. The DASS test is the easiest to understand refutation to Johnson’s claims. It’s not stale either.
If you want to dig deeper, these patient assessment measures below were developed to be administered at the initial patient interview and during follow up sessions to monitor progress.
Any respectable clinician, and that goes for the CPS too, would start here:
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/educational-resources/assessment-measures
I don’t want to hear jack from Ray Lopez. He had the opportunity to be mayor and instead got paid off by Screwy Chuy so Chuy could be the designated latino in the race. Lopez doesn’t care about anything but headlines.
I don’t enjoy seeing people as groups. But individually most Latinos are conservative in their family values, they just continue to follow left wingers politically for some unknown reason. Maybe Lopez can break this spell.
Soft on crime democrats created the Chicago crime toilet
As long as I get mine…who cares?
Alderman Lopez I certainly agree with your lofty goals; however, the Chicago voters do not agree with you and being election are about votes I have this strong feeling your goals will not be successful. While I hate to say it , sad, but true.
Alderman Lopez is about to experience the wrath of King Pritzker’s wallet. A well funded opponent will be ready to face off against him soon. This type of insolence will not be tolerated!
Ray won’t be allowed within a mile of United Center come dem convention time
Is there any room in chi/ill dem politics for a Lopez……if your not towing progressive orthodoxy hustle while lining your old school machine pockets?
Alderman Ray Lopez has always had my respect because he speaks truth to power and isn’t afraid to have these difficult conversations. He absolutely should have been mayor and he would have been a great mayor. Traditional Democrats would carry on a civics lesson and history lessons with conservatives like me and I respected our differences of opinion. Ray Lopez is all about Chicago and always has been. His passion and love for the city and the various folks who worked for agencies respected him big time. We are losing big because powerful billionaires like Pritzker are throwing their money… Read more »
It’s astounding Ray is the ONLY city alderman who has the COURAGE to say anything of substance…all the rest got their knee pads on not wanting to get cut out off the limelight come dem convention time.
Meanwhile, CTU/Brandons handing out pizzas today for first day of CPS….pathetic!!
Alderman Lopez should be Mayor Lopez.
Bravo!!!— Alderman Lopez, welcome to the Carnival Barkers Club, you are now an official member!!! We can only hope the other 13 to 16 Alderman mentioned in “Common Sense Caucus” have the cajones to speak up like you!!
And great job IllinoisNewsChannel!!