Alderman vote 39-11 to pass budget after mayor’s threat that City Council members would be “permanently blacklisted” for solidarity with CTU allies.
CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2019—The Chicago Teachers Union released the following statement in response to today’s passage of the 2020 city budget:
The City Council today passed an austerity budget that does not serve the needs of the people of the city of Chicago, counts on shaky financial help from the Trump administration and siphons money from school communities to avoid taxing individuals who can most afford to pay. We should be expecting more from those whom the people elected to lead, but sadly, we have come to expect less from all levels of city government. Today was no exception.
The Chicago Teachers Union salutes the true progressive aldermen who voted “no” for their fearless and compassionate leadership. These individuals stood strong to reopen mental health clinics, support reallocating resources to trauma-informed care and away from punishment, demand support for homeless services and affordable housing, and put forth a bold vision of securing revenue that properly funds the city we need—a city for the many—and not the city we are consistently told we have to settle for. With their dissenting votes, these leaders refused to wither, and instead, chose to govern on the same principles and platforms on which they campaigned. The same can’t be said for the mayor.
Voting against a property tax increase is easier than voting against a budget that doesn’t envision public accommodations for those who need them most. Thank you to the aldermen who voted today for real change, which requires going to bat for one’s vision—not backing down when that vision is no longer convenient.
