Chicago’s City Council has exhibited a newfound assertiveness during the first half of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, but calls for further empowerment are gaining traction.
One of the mayor’s vocal critics, Southwest Side Alderman Marty Quinn, is advocating for a significant change in how the city approaches borrowing.
Quinn proposes raising the voting threshold needed to approve city borrowing from a simple majority of 26 votes to a two-thirds majority of 34 votes.
This shift would enable a minority coalition of 17 members to block future borrowing, a move that Quinn argues is necessary to prevent the city from incurring excessive debt that could burden future generations.
Quinn has expressed concerns regarding the current administration’s inclination to take on more debt without adequate consideration for the financial implications.
He stated, “This administration wants to take on more and more debt and strap future generations of Chicagoans with the bill,” highlighting his disdain for the city’s financial management.
The alderman believes that the City Council has historically acted as a rubber stamp for decisions made in the mayor’s office and sees this proposal as an opportunity for the council to increase its power and independence.
Quinn asserted, “It’s time for the City Council to take more power. Be more co-equal. Force the mayor to interact with the entire City Council.”
He is optimistic about his support, indicating he has around 19 soft votes in the Finance Committee and potentially 23 or 24 soft votes among the full City Council.
Quinn hopes to capitalize on Mayor Johnson’s relative weakness in public opinion, where some polls show him struggling.
He suggested that fellow aldermen who would oppose the higher threshold would find it challenging to justify their votes given the mayor’s unpopularity, particularly regarding issues tied to city finance.
However, Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Johnson, contends that raising the borrowing threshold could lead to substantial gridlock and delays that would hinder essential infrastructure projects.
Lee warned that allowing 17 members to block bond ordinances could allow political maneuvering to interfere with crucial investments in roads, bridges, and other aging infrastructure.
He remarked, “Who knows what interests a superminority might have? You don’t want to create an opportunity for a superminority to play politics with critical infrastructure that keeps the city going.”
Lee pointed out that a two-thirds majority is already required for borrowing decisions at the Chicago Board of Education, indicating that issues with requiring supermajority votes for budget items have been observed elsewhere.
Mayor Johnson faced challenges in his relationships with the City Council, culminating in a narrow victory for an $830 million general obligation bond issue that included a controversial back-loaded repayment schedule.
The mayor had to use his tiebreaking vote to overcome a deadlock.
This situation reflects Johnson’s continuing struggle, having lost significant votes and faced a budget stalemate over property tax increases that were shot down unanimously.
Alderman Bill Conway, who nearly blocked the aforementioned bond issue, supports Quinn’s proposed borrowing threshold, stating, “We’ve made some reckless decisions on bond issuances with very slim support.
I’m very concerned about the fiscal future of Chicago, and therefore we need to be responsibly vigilant as a City Council as we look at these issuances.”
Conway openly acknowledged that a heightened threshold would limit the mayor’s borrowing power.
He views it as a necessary constraint given the controversies surrounding recent bond issues and the management of significant funds.
Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson highlighted that a two-thirds requirement would have both positive and negative implications.
He cautioned against making it excessively difficult for the city to issue bonds that are critically necessary while acknowledging that a higher threshold could promote broader consensus on potentially contentious issues.
As discussions continue, the debate over borrowing practices and fiscal responsibility in Chicago is likely to intensify, with the City Council seeking to redefine its role in governance.
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