During a press conference Tuesday, veteran Chicago reporter William J. Kelly confronted Lightfoot for providing a Bidenesque view of Chicago.
Kelly began before being cut off by Lightfoot:
“Mayor Lightfoot, every time you have a press conference you say crime is down, the economy is booming —”
Lightfoot interrupted:
“Well that’s not — that’s not true, but get your question, sir.”
Kelly continued:
“Across the street we had a police officer on duty the victim of a hit and run. We have Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, now referred to as the Mile of Fear. The Water Tower Place has thrown the keys back to the lender, they say they don’t want to be in Chicago any more.”
“Real Chicagoans are asking me how could you possibly even consider running for re-election as mayor of the city of Chicago after all the harm you’ve caused.”
Mayor Lightfoot refused to answer the question. She then called for the next question. Gee, I wonder why.
“Well, I disagree with you fundamentally, and I don’t think I need to address and dignify your comments one second further. Next question!”
Just this week, Lightfoot made the claim that Chicago was having the best recovery of any large city in America. That might actually be true, but you have to realize all the large cities are controlled by Democrats as well. So Chicago merely needs to be the best among the worst for her statement to be true.
However, crime is a major problem for the Windy City, and it is the issue about which Chicagoans are most concerned. Under Lightfoot’s leadership, Chicago experienced one of the most violent years in decades. Instead of focusing on crime reduction, Lightfoot often points toward firearms as a scapegoat for the city’s problem with violence.
Meanwhile, the Sun-Times reported that Lightfoot’s public approval rating is below 30%, a dismal figure for any politician hoping to win re-election.
Lightfoot has not officially announced her re-election campaign, but Axios reported the biggest issues in the mayoral race will be how she handled crime, education, and COVID-19 mandates during her first term. If that holds, Lightfoot may well become a one-term mayor.
