Ahead of Springfield Speech, Johnson Response to Weekend Crime Draws Criticism
Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson.
After a large group of teenagers swarmed Chicago’s Loop over the weekend resulting in vandalism, fights, and even two shootings, business leaders are indicating privately they’re “spooked” by the lack of a forceful response by Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson.
Johnson issued a statement following the incidents claiming “in no way do I condone” the activity of the teens, but said it was “not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”
16 teens have been arrested so far.
Johnson’s comments have been lambasted by conservatives and some liberals.
“Where are these kids’ parents?” Ald. Brendan Reilly wrote in an email to the Sun-Times. “They need to know where their kids are going and what they are doing. There needs to be parental accountability for this kind of outrageous behavior.”
Following the incidents, many in the business community are, at least privately, concerned about Johnson’s interest or ability to crack down on crime.
“The business community is even more dispirited than it was a week ago,” said one business insider, who pointed out numerous retail businesses in the Loop were forced to close early amid the violent crowds over the weekend.
Johnson is scheduled to visit Springfield tomorrow and address a joint session of the General Assembly.
“I don’t know how this guy shows his face [in Springfield] if he has no clue how to keep the city safe,” said one Republican lawmaker. “We need serious solutions, not a photo op for Senate Democrats.”
Johnson will surely be peppered by questions form reporters in Springfield this week to clarify his position on the weekend incidents and how he will handle Chicago’s crime issue, especially as he backed off his previous “defund the police” rhetoric during the mayoral runoff.