Chicago Inspector General plans AI audit, city charter reform | The Chicago Report

Mayor Brandon Johnson has exercised his fourth veto, rejecting a city council ordinance that would rein in mayoral borrowing power.

The measure would have required a 30-vote supermajority to approve new debt, up from the current 26-vote threshold.

Our political reporter Brandon Pope asked the mayor why he's against it in his one-on-one last week.

The motivation behind that decision, I do call into question.

And at a time in which the people of Chicago are calling for investments, for city council to make that, you know, essentially make it a barrier is something that we're not going to stand for.

Although Alderman passed the measure with 32 votes, they are still two votes short to override it.

That leaves the mayor's veto in effect ahead of upcoming budget talks.

Another avenue to dilute mayoral power is under discussion now.

This morning lawmakers held a hearing to discuss what a city charter could mean for Chicago.

Other cities like L.A. and New York already have one.

A city charter provides a framework for governance, laying out defined rules.

Well, right now, Chicago relies on a patchwork of laws and ordinances.

But a commission has to come before the city charter.

The Municipal Home Rule Charter Act would create a pathway for voters to elect 10 members to a commission to create it.

Then that charter could make changes.

State Representative Cam Buckner has been leading this effort, and today he said Chicago needs a new system.

This is not Springfield telling Chicago, this is the type of government you need to have.

What this really is, is giving the people of Chicago an opportunity to have a voice in the process.

We've removed as much of the politics out of it as possible.

We've made sure that this is streamlined, it's above board, it's triangulated in a way that this is the direct voice of the people of Chicago saying what they want their city to look like in the future.

More supporters of a city charter are Chicago mayoral candidate Mike Quigley and the Civic Federation.

Joel Hamernick, the executive director of a more just Chicago, is here to tell us more about this.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has exercised his fourth veto, rejecting a city council ordinance that would rein in mayoral borrowing power.

The measure would have required a 30-vote supermajority to approve new debt, up from the current 26-vote threshold.

Our political reporter Brandon Pope asked the mayor why he's against it in his one-on-one last week.

The motivation behind that decision, I do call into question.

And at a time in which the people of Chicago are calling for investments, for city council to make that, you know, essentially make it a barrier is something that we're not going to stand for.

Although Alderman passed the measure with 32 votes, they are still two votes short to override it.

That leaves the mayor's veto in effect ahead of upcoming budget talks.

Another avenue to dilute mayoral power is under discussion now.

This morning lawmakers held a hearing to discuss what a city charter could mean for Chicago.

Other cities like L.A. and New York already have one.

A city charter provides a framework for governance, laying out defined rules.

Well, right now, Chicago relies on a patchwork of laws and ordinances.

But a commission has to come before the city charter.

The Municipal Home Rule Charter Act would create a pathway for voters to elect 10 members to a commission to create it.

Then that charter could make changes.

State Representative Cam Buckner has been leading this effort, and today he said Chicago needs a new system.

This is not Springfield telling Chicago, this is the type of government you need to have.

What this really is, is giving the people of Chicago an opportunity to have a voice in the process.

We've removed as much of the politics out of it as possible.

We've made sure that this is streamlined, it's above board, it's triangulated in a way that this is the direct voice of the people of Chicago saying what they want their city to look like in the future.

More supporters of a city charter are Chicago mayoral candidate Mike Quigley and the Civic Federation.

Joel Hamernick, the executive director of a more just Chicago, is here to tell us more about this.