BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON UNVEILS HIS FIRST BUDGET PROPOSAL TODAY.

A 16.6 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN FOR 2024.

THE PLAN ELIMINATES 538 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL.

AND PRIORITIZES NEW INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES OR FEES.

>> I WAS ELECTED TO END THIS GOVERNMENT'S ADDICTION TO THE REGRESSIVE TAXATION THAT IS PUSHED WORKING FAMILIES TO THE BRINK.

>> AND THAT BEGINS TODAY.

>> WTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON JOHNSON'S FIRST BUDGET.

SO AS WE MENTIONED, HEATHER, HE HAD TO CLOSE A 538 MILLION DOLLARS GAP TO MAKE GOOD ON PROMISES TO INVEST IN WORKING CLASS CHICAGOANS.

DID HE PULL THIS OFF?

WELL, HE HAD SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS SEEKING TO TAMP DOWN EXPECTATIONS THAT HE COULD MEET THOSE SKY-HIGH PROMISES.

AND TODAY HE CAST THIS BUDGET AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON THOSE PROMISES US SAYING THERE'D BE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN 2 NEW MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS IN EXISTING CITY FACILITY AND TO EXPAND THE CITY'S ALTERNATE 9-1-1.

RESPONSE WHICH SENDS COUNSELORS AND ADDICTION SPECIALIST TO THOSE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

HE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO AND THE CITY'S RESOURCES ARE LIMITED BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, INCLUDING THE PENSION CRISIS NOW, HE ALSO PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DOES HE WANT TO CHANGE?

WELL, HE WANTS TO TAKE NEARLY 400 OF THE DEPARTMENT'S NEARLY 11,700 SWORN POSITIONS AND TURN THEM INTO CIVILIAN POSITIONS.

SO THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE POLICE POWERS.

THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A BADGE OR BE ABLE TO ARREST PEOPLE.

HE SAYS THAT WILL FREE UP OFFICERS TO GET ON THE STREET, NOT HAVE TO DO IT MINISTRY DO MOST OR OTHER THINGS AND GIVE TAXPAYERS MORE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK.

KNOW WHAT HE DIDN'T DO TODAY WAS ELIMINATED ANY OF DEPARTMENT'S MORE THAN 1700 CAN SEE IS AND THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET SET TO RISE TO 1.9 9 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2024.

UP FROM 1.0, 9, 4 BILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR TO NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS.

HE SPENT MUCH OF HIS ADDRESS TODAY SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO BLACK CHICAGOANS.

TELL US WHY.

WELL, IT'S CLEAR THAT HE SEES THE DECISIONS MADE BY HIS PREDECESSORS GOING BACK A GENERATION IS FALLING HARDEST ON BLACK CHICAGOANS.

AND HE SAYS THAT THATS THE REASON THAT THERE'S BEEN AN EXODUS OF BLACK CHICAGOANS AND WHY THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO UNHOUSED ARE UNEMPLOYED OR TO SUFFER FROM ILLNESS OR EVEN MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND HE SAYS THAT HIS JOB IS TO START REVERSING THAT.

IT ALSO COMES AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

THE CITY A SCRAMBLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE AND FOOD FOR NEARLY 18,000 PEOPLE.

ALL HERE IN CHICAGO LEGALLY, BUT NOT NECESSARILY CHICAGOANS.

AND THAT HAS RANKLED MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SEEN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SUFFER UNDER DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND THEY WANT TO WHERE'S OURS.

JOHNSON TODAY ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO ENDORSE A SPENDING PLAN THAT ESSENTIALLY ASKS THE CITY TO GET BEHIND HIM AND BELIEVE THAT THE CITY CAN DO BOTH.

JUST NOT ALL AT ONCE.

AND THAT DIVISION IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST SPOKE LAST WEEK HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD A SHARON.

THANK YOU SO