I know we have gone over the perilous state of Chicago's finances time and time again here. It's almost impossible not to mention them because they are so interwoven with the current term of Mayor Brandon 'Bear of Little Brains' Johnson himself.
Whatever danger Chicago was creeping towards the precipice of when Johnson initially won his schweet, schweet gig three long years ago, has been immeasurably worsened by the actions of this unabashed tool of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), doing the bidding of his avaricious overlords at the direction of their queen bee, the repellent Stacy Davis Gates.
The Bear was forced to withdraw his proposed $21-a-head 'employment tax' (for 'anti-violence and youth programs' boondoggles, no less) amid withering criticism that, at the rate employers were leaving Chicago, there would soon be no employees to tax.
Of course, math whiz that the mayor is, he still begs to differ.
That aside, the city squeaked by a budget plan that closed one gap, but still faces a massive shortfall, while taxing basically everything but individual toilet flushes.
The Bear, still in a snit, didn't sign the budget - he simply let it happen.
Chicago’s 2026 Budget Takes Effect, Forcing Chicagoans to Pay More for Shopping Bags, Uber Rides, Booze, Online Gaming — But Grocery Tax Eliminated
Chicagoans will get a small break on their grocery bills but be forced to pony up to cover a host of tax and fee hikes that a deeply divided Chicago City Council approved to fill a massive budget shortfall over the objections of Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The $16.6 billion spending plan, which takes effect Thursday, closed a $1.19 billion gap without imposing a per-employee tax on large firms to fund violence prevention and youth employment programs.
The City Council voted 29-19 on Dec. 19 to raise the necessary revenue for the city’s 2026 spending plan, and 30-18 on Dec. 20 to allow the city to spend those funds.
But Johnson, who neither signed nor vetoed the spending plan, allowing it to take effect, has repeatedly warned that the budget is not balanced — with a $163 million deficit — and that the City Council may have to make emergency cuts to make up for revenue that does not materialize.
Just yesterday, Johnson was celebrating the approval of a digital ad tax.
Mayor Brandon Johnson took a victory lap Monday, hours after the General Assembly passed a $56 billion budget that authorizes the Chicago City Council to impose a tax on digital advertisements seen by Chicagoans — finally heeding the mayor’s call for help filling the $1.16 billion projected gap in the city’s 2027 budget with new revenue.
“I have long fought for this kind of progressive revenue, and I am heartened to see it move forward at the state level,” Johnson said at a City Hall news conference. “As the economy continues to shift, and the digital medium becomes more dominant, it is essential that the big tech corporations earning untold billions through targeted advertising are part of the solution as we work to respond to the challenges our residents face on a daily basis.”
More cha-CHING to feed the big, black budget hole.
Last year, Johnson's CTU bosses got themselves a handsome raise out of the struggling city, and on the backs of Chicago residents who found themselves wondering why some of their property taxes had doubled overnight.
FOR THE CHILDREN
...The Chicago Teacher’s Union has reached a contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools that will increase teacher salaries from $1.1 billion to $1.25 billion by the 2027-2028 school year.
The average teacher currently earns $86,439. That salary will jump by nearly one-third to $114,429 by the end of the upcoming contract – a nearly $28,000 raise in four years.
CTU’s House of Delegates approved the union’s tentative contract with Chicago Public Schools on April 2. All union members now vote until April 11 before a final approval by the CPS board.
The contract is estimated to add an additional $1.5 billion to district expenses over four years. The previous contract cost that much over five years. The vast majority of the new cost is teacher pay raises, with expenses on current teacher salaries expected to grow at least $1.1 billion and up to $1.25 billion, depending on future inflation rates.
But then, inexplicably, union bosses were spurned by CTU members when they tried to raise CTU member dues this year so they had more political campaigning cash to play kingmaker with.
The ingrates. Don't they know buying local politicians like the mayor costs money?
Chicagoans just witnessed a watershed moment in the city’s political history.
Chicago educators have dealt a stunning rebuke to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates’ push for an $8.5M dues hike.
“With approximately 80% of schools counted, if current voting trends hold, roughly 60% of members voted against moving forward with this proposal right now,” according to an internal announcement sent to members.
The Bear of Little Brains and Davis Gates, holding his leash, were most affected.
“The fact that CTU members rejected a PROGRESSIVE dues hike is quite remarkable.“ – Rich Miller, CapitolFax
“Wow!“ – Mary Ann Ahern, NBC 5
“Huge news. Serious questions remain about how the Chicago Teachers Union can raise millions to fund candidates in 21 school board districts, re-elect Mayor Brandon Johnson, and defend its 20-some hard allies on the City Council.“ – Political consultant Frank Calabrese
“Potentially a very big deal. CTU already faces an uphill battle for the school board and to re-elect Mayor Brandon Johnson. If they’re not able to raise more money, they’re in much deeper trouble.“ – Greg Pratt, Chicago Tribune
So it should come as no surprise to anyone, I guess, that the two biggest spendthrifts in a city brought to its knees by *checks notes* THEM should decide to salve their wounds by doing what comes naturally - accomplishing absolutely nothing the flashiest, most expensive way possible.
They took forty three of their best friends with them on a Roman holiday, many of them on the city's dime.
Mayor Brandon Johnson will travel to Rome later this month for his first visit with Pope Leo XIV, the mayor’s office told the Sun-Times.
“I’m just elated that the Pope is from Chicago,” Johnson said in a statement released by his office. “I think we’re going to talk about the values we share — protecting voting rights, protecting immigrant rights, and protecting workers’ rights. He’s been very clear and consistent on those issues, and I’m looking forward to that conversation.”
The mayor’s office said World Business Chicago, the city’s economic development organization, will pay for the trip. Johnson will be in Rome and Vatican City from May 26-30, the mayor’s office said, and the meeting with the pope is scheduled for May 28.
WE'RE OFF TO SEE POPE LEO!
THE WONDERFUL VICAR OF ROME!
The Opiate of the Masses ... thought communists were anti-religion ... Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates is joining Mayor Brandon Johnson on his trip to Rome this week ... HiHo https://t.co/vH1cs9UJzi pic.twitter.com/CQCtZHGngR
— SubX.News® (@SubxNews) May 28, 2026
Davis Gates has been insisting 'the house is on fire' when it comes to funding for Chicago Public Schools, but she and her mayoral pool boy will instead have been in Rome during the critical close of the legislative session.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates is joining Mayor Brandon Johnson on his trip to Italy this week.
— Austin Berg (@Austin__Berg) May 28, 2026
Notably, both Gates and Johnson have been berating other public officials for weeks to fight for more Chicago Public Schools funding from Springfield.
“The house… https://t.co/bBhaqaDLH7 pic.twitter.com/aeDV9x3qni
...Notably, both Gates and Johnson have been berating other public officials for weeks to fight for more Chicago Public Schools funding from Springfield.
“The house is on fire,” Gates told the school board two weeks ago. “You get water.”
With Springfield’s legislative session ending May 31, Gates and Johnson have elected to spend time 5,000 miles away from the Capitol.
I guess being in Ghana and using 'fire' in her rhetoric would have been a continent too far.
Rome is undoubtedly more fun anyway for the ardent foe of Catholic and private schools.
Wait. Why was she there again?
The puppeteer and her puppet. Stacey is the actual mayor. Time to wake up lol
— Carlitos (@CHItownHustla15) May 28, 2026
The Bear got his meeting with the other 'Chicago boy,' and his moment in the sun afterward to wax poetic about the horrors of slavery, reparations, and immigration, all with a healthy dose of TDS topping.
The Bear wandered around Rome with that city's mayor.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Rome today, May 28, 2026, meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican as part of a 45-member delegation discussing immigration, poverty, and international affairs.
— Chicago Flips Red (@FlipChicagoRed) May 28, 2026
The trip runs May 26–30 — and while Chicago taxpayers continue dealing with crime,… pic.twitter.com/3VHr1AcGDC
...The trip runs May 26–30 — and while Chicago taxpayers continue dealing with crime, teen takeovers, rising taxes, struggling businesses, and public safety concerns back home, Chicago Flips Red was very surprised to see who ended up on the guest list for this taxpayer-funded trip to Rome, Italy.
Oh, look - another complainer is just jealous.
45 members?! WTAF - our city is burning and he's on a luxury vacation expressing platitudes and handing out CTU shirts. 🤬
— Save Our Republic 🇺🇸 (@Saveourrepubli3) May 28, 2026
Even the mayor has to get away every now and then.
The ages of the victims range from 18 to 44, according to Chicago police. https://t.co/OnM7ZVXikB
— CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) May 30, 2026
Because the weekend song never changes in Chicago.
The final numbers are in ...!!
— Charlie T ☘️ (@Charlie1691) June 2, 2026
For the 31 days in the month of May 2026 in the peaceful and merciful city of Chicago, 28 human beings were shot to death on its streets and 148 were shot and wounded.
70% of victims were Black; 24% Hispanic; 6% of victims are White.
Of the known…
The city was still broke and still shot up when the Bear got back after spending time in Italy with his friends.
And he looks good in European luxury suits and shoes, you know?
Oh. He knows.
Now.
Back to la dolce vita of ignoring business.
