Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of racial bias in his hiring practices.
The accusations suggest that Johnson has been prioritizing black individuals in the hiring process, a claim that the Mayor has vehemently denied.
According to The Post Millennial, a reporter recently confronted Johnson about these allegations. The reporter began by stating, "Real Chicagoans woke up this morning relieved that the Department of Justice is finally investigating your race hustle." The reporter, a native of Chicago's south side, expressed concern over the Mayor's alleged racial favoritism, describing it as "embarrassing and dangerous" to the city.
The reporter further questioned Johnson, asking, "Real Chicagoans want to know: why are you a racist?" Johnson, however, dismissed the question, stating, "I reject the idea, the premise that somehow, that that's a legitimate question."
The reporter continued to press the Mayor, citing the case of businessman Robert Gomez, whose riverfront restaurant license was revoked and given to a black restaurateur. This incident, the reporter suggested, reinforced the belief among Chicagoans that Johnson was racially biased. Johnson once again dismissed the question, stating, "Again, I reject the premise that somehow, that your question has any legitimacy, thank you for your time, sir."
Gomez, who had been operating his restaurant, Beat Kitchen, for three years, had generated approximately $3 million annually. His lease was revoked during the renewal period, and the restaurant remained closed for the entire 2023 season. Gomez expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the lease-award process, stating that he was not given a reason for his lease revocation.
The evaluation committee responsible for the lease-award process stated, "The purpose of the RFP process is to ensure that Chicagoans benefit from a competitive bidding process that takes into account a number of factors. Unfortunately, this applicant was not selected for a renewed concessions agreement based on the assessment by the Evaluation Committee."
The DOJ's investigation into Johnson's hiring practices is based on information suggesting that the Mayor has been making hiring decisions based solely on race. In a letter to Johnson, the DOJ cited a speech the Mayor had given at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, where he highlighted the number of black officials in his administration.
The letter, written by Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon, quoted Johnson's remarks: "Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a Black woman." "Department of planning and development is a Black woman." "Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a Black woman." "Chief operations officer is a Black man." "Budget director is a Black woman." "Senior advisor is a Black man."
Dhillon concluded the letter by stating, "Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above. If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions."
The investigation is ongoing, and the outcome could have significant implications for Johnson's administration and the city of Chicago. The allegations of racial bias in hiring practices have sparked a heated debate among Chicagoans, with many awaiting the results of the DOJ's investigation.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and fairness in all aspects of public service, from hiring practices to lease-award processes.
Login