(LibertySociety.com) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced fierce backlash from residents during a contentious city meeting on his proposed 2025 budget. The meeting descended into chaos as protesters voiced anger over extensive funding for migrants and rising city debt. Ultimately, Johnson ordered a temporary recess, during which police removed dissenting residents to allow council members to vote.
The budget narrowly passed after six weeks of debate, securing the minimum 26 votes needed. While Johnson’s administration succeeded in pushing through the budget, a proposed $300 million property tax was removed following intense opposition. Critics also targeted a $40 million short-term loan included in the plan, which delays paying off city debt and sparked accusations of fiscal irresponsibility.
“You caused all this money to go to illegal immigrants,” one resident said during public comments, while another decried Johnson’s failure to “protect the people of Chicago from invasion.” Protesters further slammed the mayor’s decision to take on new debt while funding what they see as unnecessary programs and excessive spending on staff salaries.
Local reporter William J. Kelly highlighted the perceived waste, noting that Johnson’s office employs more than 100 staffers, all earning six-figure salaries. He also criticized the appointment of Alderman Walter Burnett as vice mayor, a role with minimal responsibilities, while Burnett collects nearly $500,000 annually between his aldermanic and vice-mayoral compensation.
“The city is being bled dry by frivolous spending,” Kelly told Fox News. “Chicagoans deserve better.”
Beyond financial concerns, Johnson’s immigration policies were another flashpoint. Chicago’s status as a self-declared sanctuary city has drawn ire, especially as migrant costs balloon. The frustration has caught the attention of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Tom Homan, Trump’s nominee for border czar, issued a sharp warning last week: “Chicago will be among the first cities to see deportations.”
Homan also directed criticism at Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, threatening legal action if local officials obstruct federal immigration enforcement. “If your mayor knowingly harbors or conceals an illegal alien, I will prosecute him,” Homan declared.
With tensions escalating over fiscal and immigration policies, Chicago faces mounting challenges in addressing the concerns of its residents while grappling with a growing budgetary crisis.
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