Chicago Journalist William J. Kelly Criticizes Mayor Johnson's Policies, Urges Trump to Halt Federal Funds

Mayor Johnson's Policies Under Fire

• 💡 Chicago-based journalist William J. Kelly expresses deep concern over Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed tax hikes, echoing the Washington Post's warning that they threaten the city's economic growth.
• 💔 Kelly, a native of Chicago's south side, laments the city's current state, describing Mayor Johnson's approach as blaming everything on racism and leading to gross incompetence or corruption.
• 💰 The mayor's focus is criticized for being on his friends and cronies, including lavish spending by CPS employees on taxpayer-funded vacations, which Kelly believes is bankrupting the city.

Escalating Crime and Its Impact

• ⚠️ Kelly highlights the alarming rise in crime, stating that out-of-control crime will inevitably destroy Chicago's economy, business community, and working citizens.
• 🚨 He recounts the horrific incident of a 26-year-old woman being set on fire on the CTA, which Mayor Johnson dismissed as an isolated incident, a statement Kelly finds unimaginably cold-hearted.
• ♿ Another disturbing event mentioned is a woman in a wheelchair being pushed and then raped by a repeat offender on public transportation, underscoring the daily reality of violence.

Call for Federal Intervention and Fiscal Responsibility

• 🚫 Kelly is calling on President Trump to withhold all federal dollars to Chicago and the CTA until a full audit and DOJ investigation into Mayor Johnson's alleged racist behavior are completed.
• 📈 The mayor's proposed tax increases, including on personal property like computers and vehicles, and a per-head tax, are seen as policies that will drive businesses out of the city.
• 🏠 As a business owner himself, Kelly points out Mayor Johnson's lack of business experience, noting he hasn't run a business, doesn't understand employees, and even failed to pay his own water bill, yet seeks to tax residents heavily.
• 📉 The situation is described as an urban death spiral, where people leave due to lack of protection, leading to a shrinking tax base and increased tax burdens on remaining residents.