It Would Be Foolish to Ignore What Just Happened in Chicago

NYT OPINION: It Would Be Foolish to Ignore What Just Happened in Chicago
By Gail Collins and Bret Stephens
Section: Opinion
Source: New York Times
Published Date: March 6, 2023 at 02:00AM

Democratic candidates everywhere should be paying attention to the miserable showing of Lori Lightfoot in the mayoral primary.

Bret Stephens: Gail, the biggest political news from last week was the resounding defeat of the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, in the primary. Your thoughts on her political downfall?

Gail Collins: Well, running Chicago is a very tough job in the best of times, and Mayor Lightfoot was stuck doing it in the pandemic era.

Bret: Hmmm …

Gail: OK, that was my best shot at defending her. She was a huge disappointment — in a place like Chicago, you expect the mayor to get into a lot of fights, but she seemed to pick a new one every hour.

If you’ve got a city beset by crime and economic problems, any incumbent mayor would need a great plan and a whole lot of emotional connection to the average voter to deserve another term. None of that there.

What’s your opinion?

Bret: Every thriving city needs to get two basic things right: It has to be safe for people and safe for commerce. Under Lightfoot, homicides, carjackings and shoplifting skyrocketed, and businesses fled the city. Nearly a third of Michigan Avenue’s retail space is vacant. Boeing decided to move its headquarters out of the city. When the McDonald’s C.E.O. complained about crime, Lightfoot scolded him. So I’m glad Chicago voters had the good sense to give her the boot. I just hope they also have the good sense to go with the centrist Paul Vallas in the runoff election instead of his opponent, Brandon Johnson, who may be even further to the left than Lightweight — er, Lightfoot.

Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/06/opinion/chicago-crime-democrats-masks.html