How Do We Build A Chicago For The Future?
Currently, Mayor Johnson and the City’s alderman are attempting to pass a budget for Chicago. But it’s all the same. Tax raises, budget cuts, all while avoiding one of the city’s primary issues - the lack of a vision for Chicago’s future. One where all of its citizens are provided economic opportunities, access to quality healthcare, education, and a safe city where gun violence is drastically reduced.
Sounds like a pipe dream but is it possible? Like Kevin Garnett said, anything is possible. Hell, our country just voted for a twice-impeached, 34X convicted felon to his SECOND term as President.
So why not Chicago? Why can’t we turn it around? We can, but it will take a lot of political courage, as well as a shared vision of Chicago’s future.
So where do we begin?
Let’s start by address the budget. Currently, the city faces roughly a $1billion shortfall for it’s 2025 budget. The city’s budget has grown 58% since to 2019, ballooning up to $6billion. Through certain proposals including raising property taxes, budget cuts, and other revenue, Mayor Johnson has identified roughly $330 million for 2025’s budget. But what are some other some options for the city to consider, some aimed at raising revenue, while others are aimed at improving civilian and pedestrian safety:
Congestion Pricing, similar to NYC
Tolls on LSD and Interstates around the city
Speed Cameras
Red-Light Cameras
Stop Sign Cameras
Increase the Hotel & Tourism Tax by 0.5% - 1.5%
Ban Right On Red Turn
Registration Costs based on Vehicle Weight
Investment Federal Money in expanding public transportation, especially to neighborhoods that are currently underserved by public transportation
There are tons of other opportunities for the city to look at raising money in a pinch. But these methods, while raising funds to help address the budget crisis, potentially even creating budget surplus, while transforming how Chicago operates.
We could get more vehicles off the road, make the roads and our neighborhoods safer, priortizing pedestrians over vehicles, which is what we should be doing all along.
We can use the revenue streams to help fund education, police budgets, and the basic income program for low income residents of the City. All of these are in danger of having funds slashed as the mayor tries to get the 2025 budget approved.
We will dive further into each topic in further articles, and how each one can provide for a better and safer Chicago.