WBEZ: Brandon Johnson will be Chicago’s next mayor #ChiMayor23

Brandon Johnson Mayor-elect

I hope he lives up to these words, a united city will be a great city.

Starting with little citywide name recognition, Johnson finished second in the first-round election in February to qualify for the runoff and rallied from behind in polls in the weeks before Tuesday’s vote.

“You know, they said this would never happen,” Johnson said in his victory speech before a raucous crowd. “If they didn’t know — now they know.”

Johnson said his win represented a victory for a “bold progressive movement” and would bring “the revival and resurrection of the city of Chicago.”

But he also immediately reached out to the many voters who did not pick him Tuesday: “I care about you. I value you. And I want to hear from you. I want to work with you. I will be the mayor for you too. This campaign has always been about building a better, stronger, safer Chicago for all the people of Chicago.”

Another piece of analysis:

Brandon Johnson Mayor-elect #ChiMayor23

 

[VIDEO] Well as a casual observer Paul Vallas seemed to be very good on policy issues. Brandon Johnson was said to be a very good talker. 

Johnson had to answer for his comments with regards to "defund police" and Vallas had to answer for being a Republican.

Vallas was the top vote getter on February 28th and it seems polls favored him initially and then it seems Johnson seemed to gain some traction. Now he notes that the outgoing Mayor stated that he couldn't win and guess what he did tonight?

I didn't expect Vallas to concede, perhaps he'd wait for the mail in vote to be counted - it wouldn't have been counted tonight anyway. Of course that means that the numbers would have to justify Vallas holding out for all votes to be counted. And Vallas noting the division in the city, just decided to concede and move forward which is certainly necessary.

Well time to move forward a lot of serious issues that requires serious attention. Here's hoping we solve most of those issues in the next four years.

Could social media be utilized to influence people to move into a neighborhood?

 Over at the Capitol Fax today there is a post about a Peoria, ILL resident who is using her reach on TikTok to influence people to live there. She doesn't work as a real estate agent or even for Peoria itself she is sure to tell people about what to do there (say entertainment or restaurants), what movers to rely on, or certainly another important aspect finding a job in a particular city.

TikTok infulencer persuades hundreds to settle down in Peoria https://t.co/WiVx7cL8EL

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) March 30, 2023

The question I may ask is what things are available for people to do in say Roseland or Pullman? What restaurants exist? What entertainment options? What kind of retail?

Also the price of housing - that is rent or a mortgage. What kind of people live there? Certainly what types of opportunities entrepreneurial or employment might exist?

Perhaps there a person out there pondering these things whatever neighborhood in the city they live in. Of course if we're lacking in those attributes that makes a particular community attractive what can be done to change that?

The Chicago Neighborhoods

Chicago Decides: Brandon Johnson, Paul Vallas square off in CBS 2 debate #ChiMayor23

 

[VIDEO] We have one week before the April 4, 2023 runoff and this is the last televised mayoral debate between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson which aired tonight on CBS 2 Chicago WBBM-TV.

You know allow me this opportunity to look at a recent mayoral poll via Rich Miller at CapFax.

NewsNation: Tale of two Democrats running for Mayor #ChiMayor23 #RushHour

 

[VIDEO] WGN Anchor Ben Bradley goes on NewsNation's Rush Hour program to talk about the mayoral election. He is already predicting 30% voter turnout among those voters who have a vested interest in the system, the teacher's union. Crime is a big issue, however, they talk a little about the education system.

Brandon Johnson is a former teacher and an organizer for the teacher's union vs. Paul Vallas who former ran CPS in the 1990s under Mayor Daley. Could the teacher's union make a difference in the April 4th runoff?

CapFax: Toddlin Town roundup - Is Vallas losing support of Black voters?

 At the start of this roundup looking at support among likely voters in the mayoral race we see where both Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas are at with voters. I can see Commissioner Johnson's standing beginning to rise, especially with the Black vote. And then the whole issue of Vallas saying things with regards to Gov. Pritzker managing the pandemic and what he says on right-wing talk shows that are starting to become issues.

Before Feb 28, 2023 election people were taking shots at him for being a Republican. What say you all once you check out the round-up at Capitol Fax.

That toddlin’ town roundup: Poll has Vallas’ Black support plummeting https://t.co/jBUdU3IMpB

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) March 23, 2023

FOX 32 Mayoral Forum #ChiMayor23

 

[VIDEO] Another mayoral debate airing on WFLD-TV 32 aka FOX 32 Chicago between Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former CPS CEO Paul Vallas. About an hour debate which I hope you guys well let the public know who you think did the best in this debate. 

I'm sure there will be react about it!

Early voting has been going on since March 20th and through to April 3, 2023. Election Day for the mayoral runoff will be on April 4, 2023.

ABC 7 Chicago: Ed Gardner dies at 98

 

[VIDEO] Ed Gardner in addition to being a husband, father, grandfather was also a longtime businessman having owned Soft Sheen Products and this entertainment business known as House of Kicks located at 95th & Cottage Grover you might see some scenes of that in the above story from WLS-TV. He was also formerly a CPS teacher. Also he was a veteran of the Second World War.

He was still active in 2012 as you see part of a protest to help Black workers on these public works jobs. He helped to register people to vote also. He made the world a better place.

Oh wait he also at one point owned the Avalon Regal Theater located at 79th & Stony Island.

May he rest in peace.

CBS 2 Chicago: Johnson & Vallas get fiery at latest debate #ChiMayor23

 

[VIDEO] This most recent debate took place on WGN Tuesday night and I wanted to share this brief story about is from our local CBS affiliate. If I see a video of that whole debate that is embeddable I will share here.

Anyone has any thoughts on these runoff debates? In your opinion who won?