A day after lawmakers dropped a plan to regulate cannabis sales, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for a lack of communication in multiple instances during his administration.
During a news conference Tuesday, Pritzker said Johnson “doesn't have good relationships” in Springfield due to a lack of communication during his time in office, and that the mayor's administration fell far short in outreach efforts, including during the city's recent election campaign. Contentious budget negotiations as they try to overcome a $1 billion deficit.
“They don't communicate a lot. They don't seem to have good relationships in Springfield, partly because they don't do the necessary networking. “I've always gotten calls from the mayor… (and) he has my direct number.”
Pritzker told reporters that Johnson has reached out to him “maybe five times” during his nearly two years in office, his most vocal criticism of the mayor since Johnson entered the City Council.
“The lines of communication are open, but people should take advantage of the open line of communication,” he said.
Pritzker then cited concerns about discussions surrounding Chicago's budget negotiations, saying his office had made calls with the mayor's office amid those talks, but the mayor's representatives “did not attend” the meetings.
“Regarding his budget, the last call we received from them was in September,” he said. “By the way, we scheduled calls and then they didn't show up. And then there was a call in December where they didn't ask for anything.”
Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a longtime fixture in Chicago politics, had stronger words for the Johnson administration's handling of budget talks.
“Amazing levels of incompetence from the fifth floor are on full display,” she said on the X programme. “Cooperation requires active participation.”
The criticism comes in the wake of disagreements over a proposed draft law that would regulate products containing hemp, which is used in products such as delta-8 and delta-10 THC, according to the legislation.
Here are five things to know about JB Pritzker, the 43rd Governor of Illinois.
Illinois lawmakers sought to regulate the provisions during a lame-duck session in Springfield, citing safety concerns, but the bill was pulled from the floor amid opposition from several groups and lawmakers, and the Johnson administration was among those who lobbied against the legislation.
Johnson had lobbied against passage of the bill, citing revenue concerns for the city of Chicago. He expressed support for the regulations, but did not want to pass the legislation without a “diversity of voices” and without considering the impacts on businesses, according to a statement issued Monday.
The mayor spoke about opposition to the bill during an interview with NBC 5 political correspondent Mary Ann Ahern on Tuesday.
“There is no conflict,” he said of his position on the issue opposite Pritzker. “We both agree that we should have strict regulations. In fact, during the budget process, we set and led the way on stricter regulations that were not specifically in this legislation.
Johnson said the city's opposition to the bill also included a desire to see municipalities have a greater role in negotiations over implementing regulations and any potential tax revenue generated.
“No one in the state of Illinois wants to see young people harmed by any type of substance, whether it's alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis,” he said. “So because we agree and we are in this together when it comes to regulation, it is now imperative for us in the 104th General Assembly to come together as a country, to come up with real comprehensive regulations to ensure maximum security, but also to make sure that local municipalities will play a role in those Negotiations.”
Some Illinois state lawmakers are pushing for more regulation and taxes on the state's cannabis industry. NBC Chicago's Charlie Wojciechowski reports.
While the measure to regulate the articles could be brought up again when the General Assembly's new session begins, Johnson will face other battles that could further test his relationships with Pritzker and lawmakers. At the top of this list is funding the Chicago Transit Authority as a so-called “fiscal cliff,” when coronavirus relief funds are set to run out in 2026. Officials have warned of massive service cuts of up to 40% to address the funding shortfall.
Johnson could also end up playing a role in negotiations between state officials and the Chicago Bears, who hope to build a new stadium in the city and get “shovels in the ground” by the end of 2025.
