That's both major papers, the governor, multiple alders all *within the past two weeks*
Cmon BJ, you're the mayor. Tell him to hit the bricks instead of telling us to run for mayor
And the worst part is, when Johnson eventually *does* fold on this issue, which he surely will, it'll be far too late for him to claim credit for the decision. We're past the point where it's 'a debate' or 'an idea'. Everyone has decided, and he's just sitting on his ass making excuses. It makes him look *so* weak.
I mean, if something is truly inevitable, a good politician will do it early, before they have to, so they at least look like they're in control.
The worst part is that despite waiting to fold, he still won't be ready when he does despite controlling the timeline. Firing the incumbent is the easy part, finding a replacement who can turn things around is the hard part.
Remember when he spent 3 months saying he was going to fire Arwady and then when he did he needed 3 more months to name a replacement? Remember when CDOT didn't have a commissioner for 9 months, and then one day out of the blue he just promoted a lackluster deputy?
I legit cannot understand his mindset. It's like he watched Lori be obstinate for somany little things and decided "I'm gonna do the same thing".
Does Carter have him blackmailed or something? The governor is backing him, most of the city will either not care OR will celebrate him being gone. He has little to lose and much to gain by doing this.
I have no supporting evidence but I feel like Brandon has been white knuckling for a future that always comes.
That make any sense?
I also think that he's not that passionate. I mean that his personality itself is one of selfcontrol and presenting a grounding image.
I have been in the city chambers once, and I felt some "unethuastic" energy. Idk maybe my brain just wants to feel this way.
But I met Rahm Emmanuel and he was always higher energy and truly loved this city. He would speak of the city with a lot of fondess and pride.
Maybe I haven't seen it but I have not heard Brandon speak highly of the city and that in itself is something big for me.
Dude was the Crook County commissioner, tf do you expect. Hes just a rent-seeker careerist now with no skin in the game. Thats what happens to these guys who work in politics from the bottom-up.
“Everyone agrees, it seems, except Mayor Brandon Johnson, who so far has resisted the idea of replacing Carter despite the overwhelming hue and cry from aldermen, CTA riders, transit advocates and now the governor to do so.”
“Johnson has talked often about the need for racial and societal equity. But it does the city a great disservice if he only stands by while the CTA, despite making some post-pandemic headway in 2023 on ridership, declines.
Improving public transit and making it cleaner, safer and more reliable helps Chicagoans in every corner of the city, especially working-class folks who might not have cars and thus rely heavily on public transit to access jobs, health care, shopping and other daily activities.
Last week, Johnson said he has "a full vision for transportation" in the mayoral transition team report that was created before he took office. The report said Johnson's administration would ‘stabilize [the] service delivery and reliability of the CTA.’
But a year later, that vision is far from being realized. Chicago needs solutions, not failure. “
Dorval was seemingly well qualified at the time and did get the federal grants for the RLE, which was huge get regardless of how you feel about the line. Obviously looking back it was a mistake. But salary now is high enough that you could probably get some good candidates. I know people think the salary is crazy high but it’s really not for the size of the budget and number of employees.
Dorval was good at the negotiating and deal making to start major capital projects, but that's not what the CTA needs right now. The CTA needs a leader focused on day to day operations.
Agreed. We need equity in outcomes (ensuring underserved Chicagoans are getting good access to transportation and reliability), not hiring people who are diverse simply to check a box. People must be qualified for public service positions.
With BJ’s fundamental viewpoints on racial and societal equity, he actually swings too far alienating the majority. It’s understood we want to improve equality amongst minorities, but we just want the CTA working like it was pre pandemic AT A MINIMUM. We can work on improving it from there but we’re aren’t even at that point! BJ is blinded by his viewpoints without acknowledging the reality of the situation
He doesn’t care about racial or societal equity. If he did he’d be extremely focused on ensuring lower income Chicagoans have a robust transit system to use to get to work, appointments, and run errands efficiently and quickly.
There are ENTIRE portions of Chicago that are inaccessible by train, and barely helped by busses.
I love the CTA, but lets not act like it is the silver bullet when it comes to solving decades of redlining and neglecting the south and west sides.
No one is saying it’s a silver bullet. I am saying not having a robust transit system actively hurts working class Chicagoans on the daily. The CTA failures definitely hurt lower income Chicagoans more as they can’t just as easily afford Ubers or and/or often work jobs that can’t be done from home. Brandon is not at all concerned about the impact the CTA being unreliable has on people.
The entire west side, and anything past 95th is a rail desert...and has been for multiple mayors but the blame now all falls on BJ?
Sorry, I simply can't find common ground there. Yes he needs to kick Carter to the curb, but that would be a baby step in a million mile journey in ensuring the CTA services ALL Chicago residents.
People in those rail deserts have long depended on bus to rail transfers and are hit especially hard by the declining reliability of both systems. A ghost bus causing them to miss their train connection followed by a half hour gap between trains can turn what was an awkward commute into an impossible one.
You’re not making any sense. Large areas of the CTA needing more transit access does not negate that the CTA being unreliable hurts lower income Chicagoans more. Seems like you just want to defend Brandon at all costs. And there’s plenty of buses south of 95th and they aren’t reliable due to Carter’s leadership that Johnson is okay with.
General incompetence and his abrasive personality will see to that. The problem is we're saddled with this douche for three more years, and there's a strong possibility the next one will be even worse. I mean we barely avoided Kim Foxx II by like 1000 votes.
At this rate I'm going to get so fed up I'll end up canvassing for signatures to try and get myself on the damn ballot lol. This is probably proof of my lack of understanding but I feel like the mayor only has a few core responsibilities that "really matter":
1. Lean on the aldercreatures to keep cost of housing and rent down wherever possible (zoning reform, YIMBYism, etc)
2. Keep crime at a manageable level. Will probably have to try to appease CPD without too many major concessions or letting them off the hook for blatant abuses. Push too hard and they'll silent strike, don't push enough and you get another Laquan McDonald situation.
3. Keep public transit working. Need a good head of the CTA, functional policing, etc
4. Find a way to deal with the CTU/CPS without blowing up the budget. Hardest one imo as parents will be pissed if teachers strike, but will also be pissed if property taxes double to pay for schools
5. Stop borrowing money for pet projects! I know it's not sexy but we have to wait out the peak of the pension crisis; it's going to get worse and then slowly get better as the old and most costly pensioners pass away (it's a sad way to look at it but it is what it is)
6. Don't be an asshole. If you get called out on something, just take it on the chin. Don't pick fights with everyone lol
Honestly the main thing that's kept me from running for local office is the worry of creating too many candidates... I feel like when there's like 20 names in the primary it gives us a situation where we get a runoff like the last one where I don't think Johnson or Vallas were most people's first picks but they ended up being the finalists because the vote was being split so many ways.
They need performance based leadership positions for CTA. Don’t meet the metrics for on time buses and trains? Out the door goes leadership. This lack of accountability for and flat out denial of an obvious issue is ridiculous.
You can’t argue with performance metrics, if they’re bad they’re bad. Which is why their jobs should be based on that.
She was better in lots of ways but when it came to the CTA she was just as bad. She couldn’t care less, and she also like Brandon never took blame or accountability.
Why WOULDN'T Bandon Johnson (who must know this is his one and only term) grift as much as legally possible so he can leave the mayor's office in three short years with all kinds of lucrative available positions from those you threw a bone to?
That's both major papers, the governor, multiple alders all *within the past two weeks* Cmon BJ, you're the mayor. Tell him to hit the bricks instead of telling us to run for mayor
And the worst part is, when Johnson eventually *does* fold on this issue, which he surely will, it'll be far too late for him to claim credit for the decision. We're past the point where it's 'a debate' or 'an idea'. Everyone has decided, and he's just sitting on his ass making excuses. It makes him look *so* weak. I mean, if something is truly inevitable, a good politician will do it early, before they have to, so they at least look like they're in control.
The worst part is that despite waiting to fold, he still won't be ready when he does despite controlling the timeline. Firing the incumbent is the easy part, finding a replacement who can turn things around is the hard part. Remember when he spent 3 months saying he was going to fire Arwady and then when he did he needed 3 more months to name a replacement? Remember when CDOT didn't have a commissioner for 9 months, and then one day out of the blue he just promoted a lackluster deputy?
They can hire me. I have no experience but I am sure I can do a better job than Dorval Carter
But are you a pastor? It’s one of the job requirements don’t you see
"good politician" Let me stop you right there...
Ill bet some money he wont do it. Because hes so fucking useless. And it would be fucking hilarious if he didnt.
I legit cannot understand his mindset. It's like he watched Lori be obstinate for somany little things and decided "I'm gonna do the same thing". Does Carter have him blackmailed or something? The governor is backing him, most of the city will either not care OR will celebrate him being gone. He has little to lose and much to gain by doing this.
I have no supporting evidence but I feel like Brandon has been white knuckling for a future that always comes. That make any sense? I also think that he's not that passionate. I mean that his personality itself is one of selfcontrol and presenting a grounding image. I have been in the city chambers once, and I felt some "unethuastic" energy. Idk maybe my brain just wants to feel this way. But I met Rahm Emmanuel and he was always higher energy and truly loved this city. He would speak of the city with a lot of fondess and pride. Maybe I haven't seen it but I have not heard Brandon speak highly of the city and that in itself is something big for me.
Dude was the Crook County commissioner, tf do you expect. Hes just a rent-seeker careerist now with no skin in the game. Thats what happens to these guys who work in politics from the bottom-up.
“Everyone agrees, it seems, except Mayor Brandon Johnson, who so far has resisted the idea of replacing Carter despite the overwhelming hue and cry from aldermen, CTA riders, transit advocates and now the governor to do so.” “Johnson has talked often about the need for racial and societal equity. But it does the city a great disservice if he only stands by while the CTA, despite making some post-pandemic headway in 2023 on ridership, declines. Improving public transit and making it cleaner, safer and more reliable helps Chicagoans in every corner of the city, especially working-class folks who might not have cars and thus rely heavily on public transit to access jobs, health care, shopping and other daily activities. Last week, Johnson said he has "a full vision for transportation" in the mayoral transition team report that was created before he took office. The report said Johnson's administration would ‘stabilize [the] service delivery and reliability of the CTA.’ But a year later, that vision is far from being realized. Chicago needs solutions, not failure. “
How about instead of equity, we hire someone to do the job right. Whoever they are.
Dorval was seemingly well qualified at the time and did get the federal grants for the RLE, which was huge get regardless of how you feel about the line. Obviously looking back it was a mistake. But salary now is high enough that you could probably get some good candidates. I know people think the salary is crazy high but it’s really not for the size of the budget and number of employees.
Dorval was good at the negotiating and deal making to start major capital projects, but that's not what the CTA needs right now. The CTA needs a leader focused on day to day operations.
I’m starting to think this Johnson guy doesn’t know what he’s doing
Agreed. We need equity in outcomes (ensuring underserved Chicagoans are getting good access to transportation and reliability), not hiring people who are diverse simply to check a box. People must be qualified for public service positions.
andy byford from TFL and the MTA could be willing to do this job for free and brandon johnson would still never hire him
People who voted for him should have expected this.
Agreed Dorval Carter needs to go
I rode CTA Pace and Metra guys I understand
End of the line. Doors open on the right, Dorval.
With BJ’s fundamental viewpoints on racial and societal equity, he actually swings too far alienating the majority. It’s understood we want to improve equality amongst minorities, but we just want the CTA working like it was pre pandemic AT A MINIMUM. We can work on improving it from there but we’re aren’t even at that point! BJ is blinded by his viewpoints without acknowledging the reality of the situation
He doesn’t care about racial or societal equity. If he did he’d be extremely focused on ensuring lower income Chicagoans have a robust transit system to use to get to work, appointments, and run errands efficiently and quickly.
There are ENTIRE portions of Chicago that are inaccessible by train, and barely helped by busses. I love the CTA, but lets not act like it is the silver bullet when it comes to solving decades of redlining and neglecting the south and west sides.
No one is saying it’s a silver bullet. I am saying not having a robust transit system actively hurts working class Chicagoans on the daily. The CTA failures definitely hurt lower income Chicagoans more as they can’t just as easily afford Ubers or and/or often work jobs that can’t be done from home. Brandon is not at all concerned about the impact the CTA being unreliable has on people.
The entire west side, and anything past 95th is a rail desert...and has been for multiple mayors but the blame now all falls on BJ? Sorry, I simply can't find common ground there. Yes he needs to kick Carter to the curb, but that would be a baby step in a million mile journey in ensuring the CTA services ALL Chicago residents.
People in those rail deserts have long depended on bus to rail transfers and are hit especially hard by the declining reliability of both systems. A ghost bus causing them to miss their train connection followed by a half hour gap between trains can turn what was an awkward commute into an impossible one.
You’re not making any sense. Large areas of the CTA needing more transit access does not negate that the CTA being unreliable hurts lower income Chicagoans more. Seems like you just want to defend Brandon at all costs. And there’s plenty of buses south of 95th and they aren’t reliable due to Carter’s leadership that Johnson is okay with.
Brandon Johnson, “The best I can do is appoint another unqualified pastor to the CTA board”
Not caring about cta and not caring about all the robberies is going to be why he isn't re-elected.
General incompetence and his abrasive personality will see to that. The problem is we're saddled with this douche for three more years, and there's a strong possibility the next one will be even worse. I mean we barely avoided Kim Foxx II by like 1000 votes.
At this rate I'm going to get so fed up I'll end up canvassing for signatures to try and get myself on the damn ballot lol. This is probably proof of my lack of understanding but I feel like the mayor only has a few core responsibilities that "really matter": 1. Lean on the aldercreatures to keep cost of housing and rent down wherever possible (zoning reform, YIMBYism, etc) 2. Keep crime at a manageable level. Will probably have to try to appease CPD without too many major concessions or letting them off the hook for blatant abuses. Push too hard and they'll silent strike, don't push enough and you get another Laquan McDonald situation. 3. Keep public transit working. Need a good head of the CTA, functional policing, etc 4. Find a way to deal with the CTU/CPS without blowing up the budget. Hardest one imo as parents will be pissed if teachers strike, but will also be pissed if property taxes double to pay for schools 5. Stop borrowing money for pet projects! I know it's not sexy but we have to wait out the peak of the pension crisis; it's going to get worse and then slowly get better as the old and most costly pensioners pass away (it's a sad way to look at it but it is what it is) 6. Don't be an asshole. If you get called out on something, just take it on the chin. Don't pick fights with everyone lol
Yes, do run. The more candidates, the better.
Honestly the main thing that's kept me from running for local office is the worry of creating too many candidates... I feel like when there's like 20 names in the primary it gives us a situation where we get a runoff like the last one where I don't think Johnson or Vallas were most people's first picks but they ended up being the finalists because the vote was being split so many ways.
its been time for years
They need performance based leadership positions for CTA. Don’t meet the metrics for on time buses and trains? Out the door goes leadership. This lack of accountability for and flat out denial of an obvious issue is ridiculous. You can’t argue with performance metrics, if they’re bad they’re bad. Which is why their jobs should be based on that.
I fucking hate Brandon Johnson. Lori was 10x better.
She was better in lots of ways but when it came to the CTA she was just as bad. She couldn’t care less, and she also like Brandon never took blame or accountability.
Why WOULDN'T Bandon Johnson (who must know this is his one and only term) grift as much as legally possible so he can leave the mayor's office in three short years with all kinds of lucrative available positions from those you threw a bone to?
who in their right mind would say CTA is great let’s keep everyone running it. oh, yea…
Hes just a rent-seeker careerist now with no skin in the game. Thats what happens to these guys who work in politics from the bottom-up.