Chicago City Council meetings have become increasingly challenging for Mayor Brandon Johnson (D).
In early December, Johnson faced angry residents who criticized his administration’s staggering $574.5 million expenditure on migrant shelters while the city struggles with a $1 billion budget shortfall.
Residents issued a strong warning to the Democratic Party last year. In October, resident Jessica Jackson delivered a scathing critique at a City Council meeting, condemning the party’s decades of failures in Chicago.
On Friday, Johnson canceled the already delayed vote on the 2025 budget and abruptly left the room as residents expressed their outrage over his leadership.
As he exited, a frustrated resident shouted, “You are disgusting!” Another exclaimed, “Is no one paying attention? Is no one paying attention?”
Chicago Mayor cancels meeting and runs out of the room #ChicagoRed pic.twitter.com/ICR5RfsU6a
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) December 13, 2024
NBC Chicago reports:
Sources close to aldermen told NBC Chicago the vote was called off early Friday morning, and would likely be moved to next Wednesday. They delay comes as reports say Johnson was short on votes for the latest proposal. Johnson would need 26 votes for the budget to pass.
During Friday’s city council meeting, Ald. Jason Irvin called for a motion to recess the vote until 1 p.m. Monday, which passed 32 to 16. But the move caused shouting and chaos, NBC 5 reporters at City Hall said, with some aldermen disputing rules that would allow the recessed vote.
