Mayor Brandon Johnson‘s plan to raise property taxes in Chicago was resoundingly rejected by the council.
The mayor says the money is needed to fill a huge hole in the budget, yet council members voted against it.
In addition to this setback, several councilors are seeking the return of a gunshot detection system to the city.
“This is something my administration can handle. “I am not intimidated by the voices of individuals who are leaders in the city in their own ways,” Johnson said Thursday.
The city has a $300 million budget deficit.
“I think the vote today represents that the city of Chicago is not going to increase property taxes, but now we have a hole in the budget that has to be resolved,” said Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, councilman for District 35.
Not only was the mayor’s proposal rejected, but several council members asked that technology called Shotspotter, which notified authorities of the location when shots were fired, be reinstated.
“The amendment we made is seeking to reintroduce the gunshot detection system. We want to make sure residents are safe. Just last Tuesday I heard gunshots around my house, the patrols did not arrive, as the councilor of the area I have to be able to take care of my residents. This system is necessary,” said Ward 24 Councilwoman Monique Scott.
Other councilors are not so sure that the gunshot detection system is the solution.
“This is software that doesn’t work. That’s $50 million wasted by the same people who are demanding no property tax increases. We need to look for alternatives,” said Byron Sigcho-Lopéz, councilor for District 25.
