Democrats convene here amid destruction more comprehensive, deadly and intractable than that of 1871. The Great Fire hardly interrupted the city’s ascent. Today, however, Chicago suffers from the “blue model” of urban politics: government of, by and for government employee unions. Chicago is the nation’s warning.
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The Washington Post: Democrats, welcome to Chicago. Behold what progressivism hath wrought.
The 28,000-member Chicago Teachers Union’s money and organization made Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer, mayor. The CTU’s political machine is as mighty as Mayor Richard J. Daley’s was, 1955-1976. The CTU, like the city council’s socialist caucus, has praised recent Venezuelan regimes, and echoed pro-Hamas supporters’ calls for an Israeli cease-fire. The CTU’s head, Stacy Davis Gates, sends her son to private school, as did 30.5 percent of Chicago’s public school teachers, 2018-2022.
The Wall Street Journal: The Chicago Model for Democrats
Welcome to Chicago, esteemed delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and please look around while you’re here, but maybe not too long after dark. The city hasn’t had a Republican mayor in nearly a century, making it a showcase for progressive governance. So how do Democrats explain its high crime, fiscal woes, and failing public schools?
These problems are interrelated, but start with the crime rate, which would spook Al Capone. Chicago led the U.S. in homicides for the 12th year in a row in 2023, and this year violent crime is at a six-year high. Changes to the city’s policing strategies, including engaging in fewer foot chases, have contributed to a rise in petty crimes and a growing sense of disorder.
The Chicago Tribune: The DNC kicks off today. Here’s what to expect — including who is speaking.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison will gavel-in the party’s national convention on Monday — the first political convention to be held in Chicago in 28 years.
Overall, the way to think about each day’s activities at the DNC is to divide it between days and nights. During the day, it’s time for business. At night, it’s time for showbusiness.
The Daily Herald: Large protests expected at DNC, and these suburban activists will be there
Along with an unprecedented nomination, the Democratic National Convention is expected to break new ground this week with a flood of protesters from across the nation coming to Chicago.
Among those rallying on issues ranging from the Israel/Hamas war to abortion and universal health care will be numerous local stakeholders.