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Mayor Johnson at 6 Months: Political Analysts Talk His Wins and Challenges

At the six-month mark of Brandon Johnson’s tenure as Chicago Mayor, the City Council approved his $16.6 billion budget with hardly any real opposition. The fact that Johnson’s spending plan, approved by a 41-8 vote, allowed him to adhere to his critical promises on the campaign trail is a significant first victory for Chicago’s 57th […]
The post Mayor Johnson at 6 Months: Political Analysts Talk His Wins and Challenges first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

November 17, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

Political analysts Ameshia Cross (L) and Ted Williams III (R) weigh in on Mayor Brandon Johnson's tenure, six months in

At the six-month mark of Brandon Johnson’s tenure as Chicago Mayor, the City Council approved his $16.6 billion budget with hardly any real opposition.

The fact that Johnson’s spending plan, approved by a 41-8 vote, allowed him to adhere to his critical promises on the campaign trail is a significant first victory for Chicago’s 57th mayor.

His budget, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, accomplishes the following:

Bolsters mental health services on several fronts, including the city’s crisis response as part of his “treatment, not trauma” approach to public safety
Allocates funds to help the formerly incarcerated find jobs and other assistance
Expands the city’s youth jobs program
Invests in environmental justice
Provides for the formation of a committee to explore reparations for Black Chicagoans
Earmarks grants for struggling homeowners looking to make repairs

He and his administration accomplished this and more while eliminating a projected $538 million shortfall and refraining from raising property taxes.

While the spending plan’s passage is a resounding win for Johnson, he still has to contend with the crisis of newly-arrived men, women and children from the southern border – a politically-manufactured event beyond his control that has brought approximately 24,000 people seeking asylum to the city. While his budget provides $150 million to support new arrivals, it isn’t enough, as Johnson has asked state and federal officials for financial help.

Moreover, how he handles this crisis will be heavily scrutinized, especially by members of the African-American community, who believe city leaders have prioritized the needs of the migrant community above their own.

Though it’s early, Mayor Johnson’s effectiveness in handling the new arrivals could determine the success of his tenure. While the passage of his first spending plan is notable, it’s an early chapter in a story yet to be completely written.

The Chicago Defender recently spoke with political analysts Ameshia Cross and Ted Williams III about how Mayor Johnson’s tenure is going so far.

Cross, a Chicago-born political commentator and democratic strategist for national, state and local campaigns, and Williams III, a performing artist, educator and Chairman of the Social Sciences Department at Kennedy-King College, talk about their impressions of Johnson’s campaign, his policies and the strides he’s made since his May 15 inauguration.

This article is Part 1 of our conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2.

General Impressions of Mayor Johnson’s Tenure as Mayor, Six Months In

Ameshia Cross: Looking at his strategy, not only in terms of running but also on the issues he was elevating things previous administrations did not, particularly around equity. That was one of his major policy areas: equity and affordable housing. Equity in budgeting, ensuring that all of Chicago was taken care of and not just the glistening parts of the downtown area. Equity in education that is focused on improving our public school system. In particular, students of color, students from low-income backgrounds and those from immigrant families having access to opportunity. It is very important to note his ideology on mental health. He came in putting a shining star on mental health and mental health issues and access, access that takes care of those who may be suffering.

We hear a lot of people talk about mental health. We don’t see a lot of public budgeting going towards it. And as announced in his most recent spending plan, mental health is something that he has put money where his mouth is. It’s not just rhetoric.

Within a very short amount of time, Mayor Johnson has been able to establish himself, not only in terms of a progressive vein but also in making sure his people are taken care of. And when I say his people, I mean the people of Chicago — the people who have had historic divestment. – Ameshia Cross

Ted Williams III: We have to be very careful about evaluating political leaders too quickly. Many of the challenges that we face, poverty, crime, homelessness, all those sorts of things, they’re generational problems. They are somewhat intractable. You won’t see a lot of movement on them. And so we live in a very short-sighted society, at times, a microwave culture. We’re looking for things to change immediately, which doesn’t happen that way. In politics, perception is reality. In terms of perception, he has a little bit of a way to go. In terms of actual, practical policy and movement, he has really made some significant strides.

Significant Strides Mayor Johnson Has Made

Williams III: When we talk about being a progressive mayor, he had large items in his campaign that people are looking to see happen. But there are a few significant promises that have moved forward.

He re-established a Department of Environment that was closed by Rahm Emanuel. When it comes to education, he extended the paid parental leave policy for CPS employees to 12 weeks, which lines them up with the city of Chicago employees, which was significant for CPS employees. He also has established a deputy mayor of labor relations. He established a deputy of homelessness position and a similar position to deal with the migrant crisis.

The “Bring Chicago Home” property tax transfer that will lower property taxes for everyone else but increase them for those who are buying properties that are over a million dollars. That money will go directly to fighting homelessness in the city, which I think is very important. There’s also this effort to commemorate, in a sad way, the legacy of Jon Burge. He has secured $6.8 million for the construction of this commemoration of the torturing of Black men in the city of Chicago. I think it is important to tell these stories.

Last but not least, I would say that this “treatment, not trauma initiative,” that he had promised has moved forward, so we can expand mental health services rather than just dealing with crime from the symptom perception.

Mayor Johnson’s Effectiveness in Addressing Public Safety

Cross: It’s tough in a city like Chicago, which is the “City of Broad Shoulders” but has also been known as the most segregated city in America. It has a lot of different cultures but also a lot of historical divestment, particularly in communities of color. The Black community has felt this the hardest. He walked into an administration with lofty goals, but he was never going to be a complete savior for the city.

I think that anyone who puts a spotlight on the Mayor’s Office as one that can, within one administration, be able to solve all of the historic and multi-generational problems as they relate to systemic racism and systemic inequality across the city, that’s a heavy cross to bear.

Within a very short amount of time, Mayor Johnson has been able to establish himself, not only in terms of a progressive vein but also in making sure his people are taken care of. And when I say his people, I mean the people of Chicago — the people who have had historic divestment.

I would argue that his passing the most progressive paid-time-off legislation the country has ever seen is huge. If you’re someone who has worked in a small business, or if you’re someone who was one of those essential workers, as we deemed them, during the pandemic, many of those people did not have time off. To be able to maintain that level of having that benefit matters. And for many people of color, specifically Black people who are working hard to keep our economy going every day, paid time off was something they could have only dreamed of. Being able to have that, at this stage, really matters.

These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

The post Mayor Johnson at 6 Months: Political Analysts Talk His Wins and Challenges appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post Mayor Johnson at 6 Months: Political Analysts Talk His Wins and Challenges first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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