Tough Grades for Mayor Brandon Johnson's First Year

After the City Cast Chicago podcast talked with Mayor Brandon Johnson last week, we gave him about a C- grade on his first year in office.

You were a lot harsher

The main reasons for low marks? Concerns about crime, transit, migrants, transparency, and overall leadership. Here’s what you said about his performance.

Grade F

Colette W.: “He bumbles along and ‘reacts’ versus instituting proactive policies regarding crime, especially in high-tourist areas and city central neighborhoods.”

Grade D

Hannah F.: “Failure to accomplish anything of note, while serious issues continue to get worse. The state of public transit is my biggest concern, and he’s been atrocious in my opinion.”

Sten T.: “As someone who voted for and knocked doors for [Johnson], I want to know who he’s listening to because it’s not the people who showed up for him a year ago.”

Grade C

Hilary M.: “I think he has focused on less urgent matters and allowed himself to be manipulated (e.g. the ridiculous request for a new [Bears] stadium).”

Matt M.: “I think overall there have been some progressive wins that were promised, but some administrative bumbling that has been disappointing.”

Grade B

Viral M.: “Ending tipped minimum wage … passed a huge housing bond deal to wean us off TIFs … took cops out of schools … reopened the Department of Environment … I think he needs to be better about communications and transparency in general, but he’s following through on a lot of the things he said he’d do.”