9 Comments
User's avatar
Walter Esler's avatar

He will win because his opponent cannot bring himself to offer any changes which will address the concerns of ordinary people in neighborhoods like mine.

Out here, most people went for Chuy. Now they are trying to adjust to Garcia's loss. Going to Selma didn't help Johnson out here. Time is running out. Johnson needs to say something, give people some reason to vote for him.

Expand full comment
Fred Klonsky's avatar

You comment like an observer rather than a participant. Are you sitting this election out? I didn’t vote for Brandon, but I will now. And I will continue to tell the Vallas story.

Expand full comment
Walter Esler's avatar

I never sit an election out. Politics is about making alliances, thereby getting power, and using that power to achieve goals.

The present situation is not satisfactory. Chicago has suffered from decades of misrule. Much of the City's economy has been shipped overseas. The schools don't work. (I should know, it was my job to fix what CPS broke.)

Gun battles are occuring daily, as the gangs fight over what is left. People are upset.

Maybe it's okay in your neighborhood, but it isn't here, and it isn't in most of the City. So politics is about achieving goals. Valles says he is willing to help. He wants my vote, in exchange.

So, I voted for Brandon Johnson because the union endorsed him. Now it's time to hear from Brandon Johnson what he is willing to do to get our support. So far he hasn't offered anything.

I spent my life working for the poor, as you know. I am not an observer, but that doesn't mean I am willing to settle for nothing.

Expand full comment
Fred Klonsky's avatar

My neighborhood? I’ve lived here for since 1975 when most white people fled. I didn’t vote for Brandon and union endorsements mean nothing to me. Vallas wants to help? Please. Chicago doesn’t need any more help from Paul Vallas.

Expand full comment
Walter Esler's avatar

I know Valles is lousy. On the other hand, he has put an offer on the table, school choice. The present situation is unsatisfactory, and what Valles has offered is very little. Why should Valles offer more if he knows Brandon won't tender a bid?

Brandon so far hasn't offered anything. I don't think that's smart.

Expand full comment
Fred Klonsky's avatar

Choice isn’t “on the other hand,” Walter. It’s one of the reasons he’s lousy.

Expand full comment
Walter Esler's avatar

Because there was no choice, my brother had to send his kid out of state. The schools here would not serve a dysgraphic kid.

Expand full comment
Fred Klonsky's avatar

In a fully funded public school system, special needs services should be offered at every school, not just at “choice” schools.

Expand full comment
Walter Esler's avatar

In CPS a kid with dysgraphic is simply written off. They set up a plan, have meetings, etc. then put the kid in a slow stream.

I have dysgraphia too. Once I started working, it simply didn't matter. No one cared about my penmanship. Everything was going to computers.

There has to be room for people who function differently. That's why there is a need for choice, so that each individual can find a way that works for him or her.

Expand full comment