Mayor Proposes Bold Congestion Tax to Tackle Chicago’s Traffic Woes!
CITY HALL — In a surprising shift, Mayor Brandon Johnson is stepping back from his previous enthusiasm for a city-run grocery store while keeping the door wide open for a bold idea: introducing New York-style congestion pricing to downtown Chicago. This revelation came during an interview on Tuesday that has the city buzzing.
In a candid conversation, Johnson addressed the ongoing challenges of the 2025 budget process, marked by fierce debates and a defiant City Council. Looking to the future, he outlined ambitious plans for this year, contingent on securing the necessary support from the increasingly vocal council members.
Among his goals for 2025 are expanding a popular youth hiring initiative, increasing affordable housing, and enhancing public health resources—most notably, a new model where mental health professionals will respond to non-violent emergency calls. But the path to realizing Johnson’s vision may be fraught with challenges, especially given the Council’s recent tumult.
During Tuesday’s chat, the mayor brushed off criticisms regarding his handling of last year’s budget, which narrowly passed after weeks of heated discussions. He emphasized the resilience of his administration, stating, “We didn’t lay anybody off, no furloughs, no cuts to services. We stuck to our values, unlike previous administrations.”
Mayor Reconsiders City-Run Grocery Store
Back in September 2023, the Mayor’s Office stirred excitement by announcing plans to consider launching a city-owned grocery store aimed at combating food inequity. For years, numerous neighborhoods on the South and West sides have faced a dire shortage of fresh grocery options, a situation worsened by a wave of supermarket closures.
Johnson acknowledged this long-standing issue, stating, “All Chicagoans deserve access to convenient and affordable healthy grocery options.” If the grocery store initiative had taken off, Chicago would have become the largest city in the nation to manage a grocery store using public funds. However, recent reports indicate that Johnson’s administration missed the chance to apply for a crucial state grant that would have kickstarted the project.
Now, the mayor is shifting focus, expressing intent to collaborate with local grocery stores to open new locations in food deserts, although he did not disclose any specific plans.
“Stakeholders brought this to my attention and expressed their support for a collaborative approach,” Johnson explained. “We’re now looking into ways to partner with businesses that share our vision.”
Is Congestion Pricing Coming to Chicago?
As New York City rolls out its long-anticipated congestion pricing program, which charges fees to drivers in lower Manhattan, the question arises: could Chicago adopt a similar strategy? On Tuesday, Mayor Johnson expressed openness to the idea of exploring congestion pricing in the Loop, particularly targeting drivers who reside outside the city.
“We need to have meaningful discussions on how to tackle congestion and generate revenue from those who benefit from our city without contributing to it,” he stated. His comments were timely, coinciding with a new study revealing that Chicago has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world, with drivers spending an average of 102 hours stuck in traffic during 2024.
Mass Deportations Loom Over Chicago
In a chilling warning, President-elect Donald Trump’s “border czar” has vowed to initiate mass deportations in Chicago and beyond—threatening legal action against Mayor Johnson should he continue to shelter asylum seekers.
“Because of [Johnson’s] actions, we’re going to be arresting a lot more people than our priorities,” he declared at a recent event. This stance raises alarm in a city that has enacted sanctuary laws, ensuring local law enforcement does not collaborate with federal immigration agents.
On Tuesday, Johnson reaffirmed Chicago’s commitment as a “welcoming city” and urged Trump to champion immigration reform, stating, “It’s been over 30 years since we had meaningful immigration policy.”
Stay informed with the latest from City Hall:
