While preaching to the choir... A City Charter makes sense - but it would need someone to push this forward. It appears - and I could be wrong - that to do that, those in power would need to give up some power/control. It's like asking congress to create a term limits bill. Who is going to shoot themselves in the foot. The other question - where will Chicago be in 20 years (or any point in the future?) There is great potential - but I can't think of a mayor in the past decades that really had a vision for Chicago. (Beyond a bluster of words) Johnson has said things - not particularly well - but has not had any plans to move forward. Consider the budget mess, thinking the State would bail out the city, people would allow taxes to rise, etc. We are going to gold coat all the buildngs in downtown. Great. How are you going to do it? There are many who are in favor of this and will support it. Who? and round and round such things go until it sputters out.
There is unprecedented support for a city charter among sitting lawmakers, including the first piece of state legislation enabling a Chicago charter process in 100 years and 23 of 50 sitting aldermen signing pro-charter resolutions/ordinances, which has never happened. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/28/column-chicago-city-charter-reform-greising/
I doubt that a charter would make much difference. Here in Spokane the city government was '"reformed" in the 1990s, adding a charter. Nothing changed. The council is still meaningless, with only three districts for a city of 300K. The council still drives out the occasional elected maverick, then appoints a more orthodox replacement.
Pieces of paper don't limit bad rulers. There's always a loophole.
A charter is not a silver bullet. It will not raise the dead. And there are bad charters. But we cannot achieve an effective, accountable, trustworthy big city government in the long term without one.
Great piece, Micky! Do you know if Johnson the only mayor to add such a candidate-specific requirement like he did for Quezada?
Austin - I've learned so much from your media appearances, articles, social media posts and now, The Last Ward. Many of us have long accepted politics here will always be corrupt. Thank you for showing us how, with enough public education & outreach, voters can finally demand governance that is good for our beloved city and state.
While preaching to the choir... A City Charter makes sense - but it would need someone to push this forward. It appears - and I could be wrong - that to do that, those in power would need to give up some power/control. It's like asking congress to create a term limits bill. Who is going to shoot themselves in the foot. The other question - where will Chicago be in 20 years (or any point in the future?) There is great potential - but I can't think of a mayor in the past decades that really had a vision for Chicago. (Beyond a bluster of words) Johnson has said things - not particularly well - but has not had any plans to move forward. Consider the budget mess, thinking the State would bail out the city, people would allow taxes to rise, etc. We are going to gold coat all the buildngs in downtown. Great. How are you going to do it? There are many who are in favor of this and will support it. Who? and round and round such things go until it sputters out.
There is unprecedented support for a city charter among sitting lawmakers, including the first piece of state legislation enabling a Chicago charter process in 100 years and 23 of 50 sitting aldermen signing pro-charter resolutions/ordinances, which has never happened. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/28/column-chicago-city-charter-reform-greising/
Well that adds some hope.
I doubt that a charter would make much difference. Here in Spokane the city government was '"reformed" in the 1990s, adding a charter. Nothing changed. The council is still meaningless, with only three districts for a city of 300K. The council still drives out the occasional elected maverick, then appoints a more orthodox replacement.
Pieces of paper don't limit bad rulers. There's always a loophole.
A charter is not a silver bullet. It will not raise the dead. And there are bad charters. But we cannot achieve an effective, accountable, trustworthy big city government in the long term without one.
Great piece, Micky! Do you know if Johnson the only mayor to add such a candidate-specific requirement like he did for Quezada?
Austin - I've learned so much from your media appearances, articles, social media posts and now, The Last Ward. Many of us have long accepted politics here will always be corrupt. Thank you for showing us how, with enough public education & outreach, voters can finally demand governance that is good for our beloved city and state.
Now I don’t need to wait for you to appear on the rascals. You and eric are the only ones worth listening to.
most corrupt city in America.