2023 Chicago Mayoral/Aldermanic Elections

[k120]

2.I'm not sure how Paul Vallas fits this definition of a neoliberal. To my neoliberal thinking (using the defintion you provided) he's simply a centrist mostly 'good government' capable but not perfect administrator of large government institutions who sometimes has an unfortunate habit of using (false) right wing memes when campaigning.

NUPES Enjoyer's definition certainly applies to Vallas, at least on the issue of education. His whole career has been about turning public school systems into competitive markets.

[Benjamin Frank]

2.I'm not sure how Paul Vallas fits this definition of a neoliberal. To my neoliberal thinking (using the defintion you provided) he's simply a centrist mostly 'good government' capable but not perfect administrator of large government institutions who sometimes has an unfortunate habit of using (false) right wing memes when campaigning.

NUPES Enjoyer's definition certainly applies to Vallas, at least on the issue of education. His whole career has been about turning public school systems into competitive markets.

Well, he introduced choice into public schools. I work for a non profit private school (on leave) and I think the whole 'neighborhood school' stuff from the teacher's union is B.S that's nothing more than to simplify teaching that ultimately essentially standardizes it. The benefit of 'neighborhood schools' is for the teachers and not for the students.

Whether Vallas did that primarily to 'introduce competition' or because he recognized that one size doesn't fit all students is another matter.

[warandwar]

2.I'm not sure how Paul Vallas fits this definition of a neoliberal. To my neoliberal thinking (using the defintion you provided) he's simply a centrist mostly 'good government' capable but not perfect administrator of large government institutions who sometimes has an unfortunate habit of using (false) right wing memes when campaigning.

NUPES Enjoyer's definition certainly applies to Vallas, at least on the issue of education. His whole career has been about turning public school systems into competitive markets.

Well, he introduced choice into public schools. I work for a non profit private school (on leave) and I think the whole 'neighborhood school' stuff from the teacher's union is B.S that's nothing more than to simplify teaching that ultimately essentially standardizes it. The benefit of 'neighborhood schools' is for the teachers and not for the students.

Whether Vallas did that primarily to 'introduce competition' or because he recognized that one size doesn't fit all students is another matter.

Closing schools would seem to me to be a way to reduce choice. The systems he designed are incredibly unstable - short term teachers, charters closing, etc. If chicago parents trusted his record in education, i think we'd have seen a different outcome.

https://twitter.com/KoffieKakeKi/status/1632790046628626437?t=G4ogSsvKqcaSRXTZoE...

I've heard this book is great.

Some socialists like to think of administrators as evil magicians casting ideological spells. But if anything, the 70s on shows apolitical administrators are perfectly capable of seeing privatization sprees as the neutral sensible way out.

The historian Greta Krippner argues that neoliberalization wasn’t an “ideological coup” in the sense that the ideology of monetarism won over the state’s economists. Rather, financial deregulation was an ad-hoc strategy based on the state’s economists’ unwillingness to take sides among the demands of conflicting groups, opting out of the class struggle for the “neutral” market as the easiest choice to sell.

[Benjamin Frank]

2.I'm not sure how Paul Vallas fits this definition of a neoliberal. To my neoliberal thinking (using the defintion you provided) he's simply a centrist mostly 'good government' capable but not perfect administrator of large government institutions who sometimes has an unfortunate habit of using (false) right wing memes when campaigning.

NUPES Enjoyer's definition certainly applies to Vallas, at least on the issue of education. His whole career has been about turning public school systems into competitive markets.

Well, he introduced choice into public schools. I work for a non profit private school (on leave) and I think the whole 'neighborhood school' stuff from the teacher's union is B.S that's nothing more than to simplify teaching that ultimately essentially standardizes it. The benefit of 'neighborhood schools' is for the teachers and not for the students.

Whether Vallas did that primarily to 'introduce competition' or because he recognized that one size doesn't fit all students is another matter.

Closing schools would seem to me to be a way to reduce choice. The systems he designed are incredibly unstable - short term teachers, charters closing, etc. If chicago parents trusted his record in education, i think we'd have seen a different outcome.

https://twitter.com/KoffieKakeKi/status/1632790046628626437?t=G4ogSsvKqcaSRXTZoE...
I've heard this book is great.

Some socialists like to think of administrators as evil magicians casting ideological spells. But if anything, the 70s on shows apolitical administrators are perfectly capable of seeing privatization sprees as the neutral sensible way out.

The historian Greta Krippner argues that neoliberalization wasn’t an “ideological coup” in the sense that the ideology of monetarism won over the state’s economists. Rather, financial deregulation was an ad-hoc strategy based on the state’s economists’ unwillingness to take sides among the demands of conflicting groups, opting out of the class struggle for the “neutral” market as the easiest choice to sell.

Or closing schools could be due to parents and students abondoning failed 'neighborhood schools.'

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

So yeah, how bout that Mayoral race?

[brucejoel99]

For those interested, Chicago just witnessed the narrowest budget vote in the City Council since the 80s — Lightfoot's budget only passed 29-21, with six aldermen dissenting from the left and 15 from the right. One DSA-affiliated council member and another generally associated with the city's left voted for the budget; if they and a couple other conservatives voted against, the budget fails.

Lightfoot will be a one term mayor.

Like there’s anyone who could garner the support to win in Chicago. She’s got major incumbency and name recognition advantages very useful in this cash-strapped pandemic environment.

The election's not until 2023, so it certainly won't be in a pandemic environment. The most obvious left-of-center candidate is Brandon Johnson, who'd certainly draw at least some union backing, and who has a decent amount of name recognition (county commissioner with a regular radio show). The right will almost certainly have someone with a ton of cash too (Paul Vallas?). And then there's Willie Wilson.

Lightfoot is a weak, weak mayor with no natural base of support and she's gonna draw a handful of very well-funded challengers.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

For those interested, Chicago just witnessed the narrowest budget vote in the City Council since the 80s — Lightfoot's budget only passed 29-21, with six aldermen dissenting from the left and 15 from the right. One DSA-affiliated council member and another generally associated with the city's left voted for the budget; if they and a couple other conservatives voted against, the budget fails.

Lightfoot will be a one term mayor.

Like there’s anyone who could garner the support to win in Chicago. She’s got major incumbency and name recognition advantages very useful in this cash-strapped pandemic environment.

The election's not until 2023, so it certainly won't be in a pandemic environment. The most obvious left-of-center candidate is Brandon Johnson, who'd certainly draw at least some union backing, and who has a decent amount of name recognition (county commissioner with a regular radio show). The right will almost certainly have someone with a ton of cash too (Paul Vallas?). And then there's Willie Wilson.

Lightfoot is a weak, weak mayor with no natural base of support and she's gonna draw a handful of very well-funded challengers.

Just impressive, really.

[wbrocks67]

A few more votes are in, Johnson up to +3.0% (51.5 - 48.5)

[Antonio the Sixth]

1.It wasn't too long, that's an interesting if rather narrow definition. You, or Foucault, is certainly correct that economists have sought to broaden out how much economic concepts (primarily micro economic concepts) apply to areas that aren't generally thought of as 'the market.' This is much of the foundation of both behavioral economics and game theory (though game theory is also used by many non economists.) I certainly qualify as a neo liberal under that definition in that explaining situations through an economic lens is much of what I do and much of what I taught. My high school course name was 'concepts in economics' and not  'economics' precisely because of this, although I primarily geared it to combining teaching history through an economics lens.

Of course, economic concepts are just one framework to explain an indivdiuals actions and group dynamics and it needs to be emphasized that other rational explanations can exist as well.

However, for instance, I've said here several times that as much as I dislike some of the rules here, that I agree that rules are needed because non moderated or loosely moderated boards (like on news sites) are exactly like George Akerlof described in his paper 'the Market for Lemons': the bad commenters chase away the good commenters because the good commenters recognize that it isn't worth their time to post on a board where the other comments are all partisan or otherwise extreme nonsense.

Similarly, I have read this book, and although it wasn't perfect, I've recommended it to people: The Romantic Economist: A Story of Love and Market Forces
https://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Economist-Story-Market-Forces/dp/1476730415

There is also this book that came out around the same time:
The Love Market: What You Need To Know About How We Date, Mate and Marry
https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Market-What-About-Marry/dp/144341056X

I don't disagree that examining other aspects of social life through an economic lens can be interesting and instructive. I agree it can produce a lot of interesting insights. My issue is when this economic framework starts to become normative, when it's seen as the Correct framework and others are dismissed as a result. This can be stated explicitly, but most often it happens implicitly, with the unspoken assumption that market-based thinking is the default and that deviations from it have to be actively justified. This is an issue I keep running into every time I try to discuss major policy issues in almost every domain.

2.I'm not sure how Paul Vallas fits this definition of a neoliberal. To my neoliberal thinking (using the defintion you provided) he's simply a centrist mostly 'good government' capable but not perfect administrator of large government institutions who sometimes has an unfortunate habit of using (false) right wing memes when campaigning.

As was noted, his education policy is quintessentially neoliberal. The idea that public utilities are best left to the mercy of market forces is a typical neoliberal assumption, and like many such assumptions it has very little data to back it up but is taken at face value all the same. Of course, market forces are fundamentally antitethical to the notion of a universal, collective public utility, which is what school should be. School privatization means that schools become a business like another (even if, hopefully, a highly regulated one) which introduces all sorts of incentives that are detrimental to school's role as a nation-building and citizenship-forming institution.

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

For those interested, Chicago just witnessed the narrowest budget vote in the City Council since the 80s — Lightfoot's budget only passed 29-21, with six aldermen dissenting from the left and 15 from the right. One DSA-affiliated council member and another generally associated with the city's left voted for the budget; if they and a couple other conservatives voted against, the budget fails.

Lightfoot will be a one term mayor.

Like there’s anyone who could garner the support to win in Chicago. She’s got major incumbency and name recognition advantages very useful in this cash-strapped pandemic environment.

The election's not until 2023, so it certainly won't be in a pandemic environment. The most obvious left-of-center candidate is Brandon Johnson, who'd certainly draw at least some union backing, and who has a decent amount of name recognition (county commissioner with a regular radio show). The right will almost certainly have someone with a ton of cash too (Paul Vallas?). And then there's Willie Wilson.

Lightfoot is a weak, weak mayor with no natural base of support and she's gonna draw a handful of very well-funded challengers.

This is at the same level as Ferguson's 2019 Biden/Harris prediction.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Also, just as a data-point I'd like to put out there, Chicago by almost every source I can find actually has one of the highest rates of officers per capita in the country. Almost twice that of Los Angeles and somewhat higher than New York which puts Vallas' (and his supporters) platform of 'throw police at it' even more senseless.

Very, very satisfied that Johnson won and hope that he's actually able to enact most of his policies and proposals surrounding housing, social work and community mental health expansion which he was extremely consistent on throughout the campaign.

[wbrocks67]

More votes in, Johnson lead up to 3.4% (51.7 - 48.3)

[TwinGeeks99]

More votes in, Johnson lead up to 3.4% (51.7 - 48.3)

He's matched Harold Washington's share of the vote from 40 years ago.

[wbrocks67]

And now we're up to Johnson +4.2%. 52.1 - 47.9. Really wasn't all that close in the end. Vallas - as seen thru most of the polls, did have a clear ceiling of mid to high 40s

[South Dakota Democrat]

Another drop of votes and Johnson went up another quarter of a percent.

Also, these GOP tears are SALTY... and tasty.   Glad y'all are claiming your mans though, we don't want him.

I am sad. I love Chicago. I was there last weekend. This sort’ve seems like a now or never point to save it but I guess the people of Chicago want to be Detroit.

Sort've?  Are we just making up contractions now?

[South Dakota Democrat]

Fascinated by the takes that Chicago is doomed because they voted for a new mayor. Even if his policies were destined to be destructive, how often do big city mayors (or any executives, really) actually get their entire platform enacted? If I didn't know better, I'd think that people can only imagine cities in perpetual states of collapse.

Crime has risen dramatically in several cities since the 2020 George Floyd protests. The logically thing would be increase police presense and crack down on crime like shop lifting and car break ins.

Johnson wants to do the opposite. In fact, he wants to push policies that made it so bad on the west coast.

Even if Johnson doesn't make it worst (which is a big IF), it will not get better. With Vallas, you had a small chance it would get better.

So guess what? People will contiune not to feel safe and move out the city.

Want to know what'll hurt inner city kids the most? When every rich, middle and working class family moves out. Watch what'll happen to inner city schools. There is already a teacher shortage. No pay increase by Johnson will make up for every decent child leaving the city, leaving behind the worst.

Could you have a more melodramatic take?

How am I melodramatic?

Everything you wrote is sensationalist and over the top.

Did I say anything false? Or even unlikely? Everything I said is based on existing treads are they not? Families are leaving Chicago. Schools are getting worst. Crime is getting worst.

You've said "worst" when you mean "worse" a couple of times now.

[Gracile]

Johnson flipped the 36th Ward - which Vallas narrowly led on election night, but the latest mail update puts the totals at Johnson 5,185 - Vallas 5,122 (50.31%-49.69%).

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/poll-chicagoans-support-polices-to-address-the-root-causes-of-crime/

A survey conducted by GQR and Vera Action on the eve of the election found that Chicagoans overwhelming support policies to address the root causes of crime. Six in 10 voters chose prevention compared to four in 10 who back a tough on crime strategy.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/poll-chicagoans-support-polices-to-address-the-root-causes-of-crime/

A survey conducted by GQR and Vera Action on the eve of the election found that Chicagoans overwhelming support policies to address the root causes of crime. Six in 10 voters chose prevention compared to four in 10 who back a tough on crime strategy.

LAW AND ORDER IN DISARRAY

[wbrocks67]

A few more votes counted.

Before:
Johnson: 311,996 (52.05%)
Vallas: 287,389 (47.95%)

Now:
Johnson: 317,178 (52.13%)
Vallas: 291,253 (47.87%)

So up to Johnson +4.3 now. Assume we're getting close to the end.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow, this wasn't even that close. Genuinely impressed by the people of Chicago here. It really goes to show how stupid NYC's politics are by comparison that a clownish right-wing hack like Adams could make it through.

[Suburbia]

Wow, this wasn't even that close. Genuinely impressed by the people of Chicago here. It really goes to show how stupid NYC's politics are by comparison that a clownish right-wing hack like Adams could make it through.

The NYPD and FDNY run NYC's politics, and a lot of NYers don't like crime whatsoever, it's not tolerated there. They feel that the NYPD needs a mayor who has their back while holding them accountable. Adams is a moderate Black Democrat who was raised in the Black church. He is conservative on crime, etc. He's not a defund/ACAB person.

[Intell]

Wow, this wasn't even that close. Genuinely impressed by the people of Chicago here. It really goes to show how stupid NYC's politics are by comparison that a clownish right-wing hack like Adams could make it through.

Adams really isn't a right wing hack, he has some more moderate views of law and justice and some other issues but it's not like in neoliberal doctraine like Vallas was. Also there was a reason why Adams did not get the endorsement of police unions, which normally right-wing hacks do get.

The reason why Adams won, and Johnson did is they both got strong votes from a multi-racial working class coalition. Adams won black voters strongly, and Latino voters as well. Meanwhile, Johnson won black voters strongly as well, and barely lost latino voters. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow, this wasn't even that close. Genuinely impressed by the people of Chicago here. It really goes to show how stupid NYC's politics are by comparison that a clownish right-wing hack like Adams could make it through.

Adams really isn't a right wing hack, he has some more moderate views of law and justice and some other issues but it's not like in neoliberal doctraine like Vallas was. Also there was a reason why Adams did not get the endorsement of police unions, which normally right-wing hacks do get.

The reason why Adams won, and Johnson did is they both got strong votes from a multi-racial working class coalition. Adams won black voters strongly, and Latino voters as well. Meanwhile, Johnson won black voters strongly as well, and barely lost latino voters. 

I realize that they're not 100% analogous, but Adams has spent his first years in office fearmongering about crime in a way indistinguishable from the worst Republican caricatures (and probably helped legitimize Republicans at the local level, leading them to win a bunch of seats they had no business winning) and proposing unworkable and morally repugnant "solutions". Nobody denies that crime is a real issue for large cities, but if overpolicing and overincarceration were the solutions to it, you'd expect America to already be one of the least violent societies in the developed world. And Yet.

[Illiniwek]

Smdh:

https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/shots-fired-in-the-loop-as-hundreds-of-teens-gather/