Brandon Johnson

Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Dr. Garth Walker as the new Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Walker, currently Chief Medical Officer for Rush Health, will replace Dr. Olusimbo Ige, who resigned in May.

Three new businesses—a karaoke venue, community theater space, and ice cream shop—will receive funding through Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund to open in Austin’s Soul City Cultural District. The district, part of a revitalized commercial corridor, has seen recent investments including a $9 million infrastructure overhaul and new developments like the Avenue Apartments.

Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the City Council-backed 2026 budget, claiming it could lead to a $130 million shortfall this year due to failed revenue strategies like debt sales and advertising. The council, which rejected Johnson's proposed corporate head tax, accused him of delaying implementation to shift blame. The budget, which legalized video gambling in bars and included debt sales and augmented reality licensing, faces implementation challenges.

Illinois and Chicago face structural budget deficits due to insufficient tax revenue growth relative to rising service costs. The state's 2027 budget reduces public service spending by 1.1% after inflation, while Chicago projects a $700–$780 million shortfall next year with revenue growing slower than costs over 30 years. A task force recommends long-term reforms to address these fiscal challenges.

A 34-year-old Chicago man, Malik Wrightsell, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery against two police officers following a July 3 shooting. During a traffic stop, Wrightsell fled, leading to a pursuit where he fired a gun, injuring one officer protected by a vest and another in the arm. Both officers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while Wrightsell was critically injured and arrested.

David Axelrod criticized Chicago's emergency response after a 911 operator refused to send help to an unconscious man outside the Art Institute of Chicago. The incident sparked backlash online, with critics citing similar situations in Democratic-led cities and questioning policies under Mayor Brandon Johnson's homelessness initiative.

David Axelrod criticized Chicago's emergency response after a 911 operator refused to send help to an unconscious, possibly homeless man outside the Art Institute of Chicago. The incident sparked online backlash, with critics questioning Democratic policies and the city's homelessness initiative. Chicago's mayor has launched a five-year plan to address homelessness, but critics argue it fails to provide urgent aid.

Chicago police superintendent Larry Snelling is retiring, and his replacement will be chosen amid a contentious mayoral race and political uncertainty. Mayor Brandon Johnson's low approval rating and potential reelection bid may deter candidates from applying, while City Council members express concerns about the selection process and police union tensions.

Former City Hall chief operating officer Paul Goodrich had unpaid IRS tax liens exceeding $90,000 when hired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2021. His son later secured a paid internship with contractor Robert Blackwell Jr., who submitted $9.6 million in disputed invoices for unauthorized IT work, leading to an investigation. Current Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration reduced the payment to $600,000 and seeks to ban Blackwell’s company EKI-Digital from city contracts.

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling announced his retirement on July 15 after overseeing a historic drop in crime, including a record reduction in homicides and violent crime. Mayor Brandon Johnson praised his leadership, and interim replacement Fred Waller will lead the department during the search for a new superintendent.

Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling announced his retirement on July 15, 2026, following over 30 years of service. He recently restructured his command staff and named a new second-in-command. Fred Waller will serve as acting superintendent during the search for a permanent replacement.

Chicago is preparing for its busiest Fourth of July travel period with 2 million airport passengers and 4.29 million Illinois road travelers. Air travel at O'Hare and Midway airports is projected to increase by 7%, while gas prices in Illinois are higher than last year, averaging $4.35 per gallon.

Chicago closed 2025 with a $52 million unassigned balance due to spending controls and higher-than-expected revenues, marking a $381 million improvement from 2024. The surplus was reduced by $166 million in retroactive pay raises for firefighters funded through city borrowing, while pension obligations and reserve fund declines remain challenges.

Block Club Chicago hosted an inaugural workforce development and career fair in Austin, featuring over 30 community partners like JPMorgan Chase and Rush University Medical Center. Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized community investment to create economic opportunities, while BUILD Chicago's CEO highlighted the need for workforce development to address economic challenges. The event included resume reviews, mock interviews, and resources for job seekers.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson defended his administration's handling of a failed bid to repurchase the city's parking meters. The situation has raised transparency concerns.

Critics argue that Chicago's Johnson administration needs to enhance its extreme heat response by providing nighttime cooling solutions for vulnerable residents. Advocates like Lonette Sims from People's Response Network call for outreach teams, cooling buses, and utility shut-off moratoriums during heat emergencies, citing the disproportionate impact on low-income and unhoused communities.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) to address housing concerns for renters, including a citywide rental data system, a Bureau of Rental Housing Services, standardized fees and deposits, strengthened tenant rights, and requirements for landlords to provide 'just cause' for evictions.

Chicago's mayor has not created a noncitizen advisory board for the school board, as mandated by state law, despite 18 months passing since the first elected members were seated. The advisory panel, intended to give noncitizen families a voice in school board matters, remains unestablished ahead of the November school board elections.

Landlords in Chicago are protesting Mayor Brandon Johnson's renter protection plan aimed at addressing the city's affordability crisis. The plan has sparked opposition from property owners, who gathered in protest to voice their concerns.

A CBS News Chicago reporter and photographer were attacked near the Adler Planetarium by multiple men in a white truck who shouted racial slurs and damaged their equipment. The journalists escaped unharmed, and police later arrested suspects following a chase involving a gun. The incident remains under investigation.

Chicago is experiencing extreme heat with temperatures reaching 92°F and heat indices near 105°F, prompting city officials to issue warnings. Despite the conditions, residents continue daily activities, with some relying on hydration and shade to cope. Mayor Brandon Johnson urged people to stay hydrated and use air conditioning as the heat warning lasts through Wednesday.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's 'Protecting Renters Ordinance' faces strong opposition from building owners, who protest provisions like banning move-in fees, requiring $10,000 compensation for evictions, and a $20 annual registration fee for rental units. The proposal, championed by Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez's Housing Committee, aims to level the playing field between renters and landlords but has been revised to remove controversial measures like compensation for rent increases, which critics argued could lead to rent control.

Chicago’s school board lacks a required noncitizen advisory panel 18 months after its first elected members were seated. State law mandates the mayor create the board to include noncitizen perspectives, but no timeline or guidelines exist, and the mayor’s office has not finalized an application process. The advisory board’s absence is concerning for parents and advocacy groups ahead of November’s school board elections.

Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced a renters' ordinance on Monday. The proposal is part of his rental housing initiative, as outlined in the title.

Mike Quigley, a Democratic Congressman, announced his candidacy for Chicago mayor. He will challenge Brandon Johnson, who currently holds the position.

Mike Quigley launched his Chicago mayoral campaign at the Uptown Theatre, using its dilapidated state as a metaphor for the city's potential. He highlighted pension issues and zoning reform in a campaign ad, with supporters attending the event.

Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman lost his reelection bid in New York as the party shifts toward socialism. The article highlights socialist mayors in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, along with DSA-backed candidates gaining momentum.

Chicago aldermen learned Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration submitted an unsuccessful $3.3 billion bid to buy back the city's parking meter system, raising questions about the secretive process and financing. The move has prompted aldermen to demand answers.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration secretly offered $3.3 billion to reclaim Chicago’s parking meters, exceeding Stonepeak’s $2.5 billion winning bid. City officials withheld the bid details from the City Council under a confidentiality agreement, prompting criticism from alderpeople like Matt O’Shea, who accused the mayor of opacity.

Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to establish an Office of Gun Violence Reduction in Chicago, aiming to create a permanent department to coordinate anti-violence initiatives. The move follows a recent rise in shootings, including 39 people shot over Juneteenth, though critics question its effectiveness. The office will initially operate within the Mayor’s Office and may expand into a full department with greater resources.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson established the Office of Gun Violence Reduction. The office aims to address gun violence in the city.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson launched the Office of Gun Violence Reduction to centralize violence prevention efforts and coordinate programs across the city. The office will publish monthly reports and form an advisory committee, though a standalone department requires City Council approval. Recent shootings on Chicago’s South and West Sides highlight ongoing concerns despite a decline in homicides.

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order to establish an Office of Gun Violence Reduction within his administration and outline procedures for a permanent city department to address gun violence. The initiative includes creating a 17-member advisory council and designating high-impact neighborhoods as 'Community Safety Priority Zones.'

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's financial task force proposes revenue measures including a downtown congestion fee, higher electricity taxes for high-volume users, and a sales tax on consumer services to address the city's $36 billion pension crisis and $1.15 billion budget shortfall. The task force, led by Jim Reynolds and Karen Freeman-Wilson, suggests long-term reforms like pension lump-sum payouts and property tax escalators to resolve structural deficits.

Bally’s proposed installing slot machine lounges at O’Hare and Midway Airports to replace $6.8 million in projected revenue from newly legalized video gambling terminals in Chicago. The city’s 2026 budget assumed 80% of eligible establishments would apply for licenses, but delays in processing have created a revenue uncertainty. Ald. Anthony Beale highlighted concerns about sweepstakes machines operating illegally while advocating for airport slot machine revenue.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's financial task force proposes revenue measures including a downtown congestion fee, service tax, and higher electricity rates for high-volume users to address the city's $36 billion pension crisis and $1.15 billion budget shortfall. The task force, led by Jim Reynolds and Karen Freeman-Wilson, aims to shift from temporary budget fixes to long-term solutions like pension reforms and property tax adjustments.

Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized the 2008 Chicago parking meter privatization deal but refused to disclose analysis behind his decision not to buy it back. The mayor's office and city officials are withholding details of a proposed new meter sale under a confidentiality agreement, leaving the City Council and public in the dark ahead of a voting deadline.

Mayor Brandon Johnson supports creating a stand-alone Chicago Department of Gun Violence Reduction following a violent Juneteenth weekend that left eight dead and 40 injured. The proposal, backed by community leaders, aims to consolidate city efforts into a $100 million annual budget department, despite financial challenges including a $1.3 billion budget shortfall and $36 billion pension crisis.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering creating a gun violence reduction department in response to a violent Father's Day weekend that resulted in 40 people shot and 6 killed.

A Chicago priest criticized President Trump for his social media comments on a violent Juneteenth weekend in Chicago, calling for restored funding to gun violence prevention programs. Trump suggested federal forces could quickly reduce Chicago's crime, while community leaders proposed a new city agency focused on violence prevention.