Angry Chicago residents blasted Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $300 million property tax hike as a way to cover costs of dealing with migrants that have flooded the city over the past year.
A heated city council meeting culminated in a unanimous rejection of the plan after locals expressed their fury in vicious outbursts at the mayor in .
The furious residents accused Johnson, who has been branded the country’s ‘most hated mayor,’ of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over the city’s own citizens and resent paying more in property taxes.
In the spring, Johnson unveiled that he was seeking $70 million of taxpayer money to help some 38,000 migrants that have flooded the city.
The $70 million would add to the $150 million already set aside in the 2024 budget for the response to deal with the migrant problem.
At the time, Johnson briefed city council members on plans in April to push through the funds to keep the city’s response to helping migrants afloat.
The money would be used to help feed and house all of the migrants that have been brought to Chicago and its suburbs in the last 18 months.
But now appears tensions have reached boiling point as Johnson now wants an extra $300 million with none of the proceeds seemingly going to Chicagoans.
In a heated Chicago City Council meeting, Mayor Brandon Johnson came under fire from furious residents who have blasted a proposed $300 million property tax hike
Among the most vocal critics was Tyjuan Sims, who confronted Johnson directly, accusing him of neglecting Chicagoans while offering protection to undocumented migrants
Among the most vocal critics was Tyjuan Sims, who confronted Johnson directly, accusing him of neglecting Chicagoans while offering protection to undocumented migrants.
Johnson wants to hike property taxed with less than two months before the city has to pass a new budget.
‘The feds need to address you! The DOJ needs to address you! And hopefully Donald Trump will address you,’ Sims states as his voice bellowed throughout the chamber.
‘You’re gonna protect the undocumented, while you’re gonna allow for the citizens in Chicago to suffer under your, what? Three percent?’
The proposed tax hike would raise homeowners’ property taxes by up to 4 percent and comes as Chicago grapples with a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.
All 50 City Council members have voted against the tax increase.
Johnson has defended the measure, arguing its necessity to avoid layoffs of critical city workers, including police officers and firefighters. But his explanation did little to calm the crowd.
Residents, many sporting MAGA gear, seized the opportunity to express their contempt for Johnson’s policies, which they view as overly lenient towards the city’s ever-growing migrant population.
Another resident, Dennis White, wearing a black MAGA hat, taunted the mayor.
Jessica Jackson, dressed in red, likened Johnson to a ‘schoolyard bully’ and issued a stark warning to the mayor
Another resident, Dennis White, wearing a black MAGA hat, taunted the mayor
All 50 City Council members have voted against the mayor’s $300million tax increase
‘How does it feel that Trump is in office right now?’ White asked as he warned of a shift in city politics.
‘You see, Mayor Brandon Johnson, you underestimate us. You underestimate the black people and underestimate Chicago red.
‘We are a thorn in your side. If you don’t stop what you’re doing, we’re going to take matter into our own hands. Illinois is turning purple. We gonna turn red.
‘You know that Trump had pulled 45 percent of the voter in the state of Illinois, 37 percent in Chicago. That’s the statistic. That means that Illinois is turning purple. We gonna turn red.’
Jessica Jackson, dressed in red, likened Johnson to a ‘schoolyard bully’ and issued a stark warning: ‘Those of us who grew up on the south side and west side of Chicago, we all know at some point that bully gets cornered in an alley and everybody come at him. And he ain’t gonna have nobody to help him. That’s you!
‘So you and the rest of ’em that know what time it is, y’all come on. You leave that loss where he is. He’s a loser! He’s a loser!’
Migrants living at the Chicago Police Department’s 15th District are seen outside the station in September
Since last year, over 38,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have arrived in Chicago by bus from the Texas border. Chicago, which is a sanctuary city has been housing the asylum seekers at police stations, O’Hare International Airport, and city-run shelters
Another resident, Mrs. Lawrence, who was wearing a ‘Make America Godly Again’ shirt, took aim at Johnson’s low approval ratings.
’14 percent rating is what you appear to have, Brandon Johnson,’ she said, referencing a recent poll.
‘What about our real estate? Because, see, we paid for these properties for a purpose and not for you to go touchin’ it with $300 million that you want to syphon out of the citizens’ pockets,’ Lawrence said, criticizing the tax hike.
‘Get rid of the illegals! And that will take your money right back. Start it off with that!’, she yelled.
Although the City Council’s unanimous vote against the tax hike is largely symbolic, it sends a clear message to Johnson as he navigates difficult budget negotiations.
Residents are continuing to voice their disapproval and demanding that city leadership focus on their needs first.
