Chicago’s mayor defended injecting millions of dollars into businesses “predominately Black and Latino-owned” to feed undocumented immigrants who recently arrived in the city. He argues that this race-based movement represents the “soul” of the city.
Last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a press release announcing that the Mayor’s Office will help provide food to some 10,000 “asylum seeker new arrivals” (undocumented immigrants brought to the city from other countries). and touted new partnerships with “black businesses” and “brown businesses.” southern border. Over the past eight months, the mayor has worked with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the State of Illinois to scrape together $17.6 million for the project.
“This $17 million investment in these 18 Black and brown small businesses truly captures what I call the soul of Chicago,” Johnson said in his speech. Press conference To announce a partnership. “That’s who we are.”
“In fact, I think it’s very fitting that we are in this great small business,” he continued, “because in this moment of crisis, it is Black people who have stepped up to accommodate the families that are coming in.” Because it’s a small and medium-sized company.”Here. “
John Meyer, chef and owner of BJ’s Market and Bakery, where Johnson held a press conference, said his share of race-based funding helped his business reach its full potential. insisted. “Joining the New Arrivals Program was like a new world for me,” Meyer said. “For the first time in my 31 years in business, I was able to run a restaurant the way it was meant to be run. I learned a lot about myself and my team, and we’re all better because of it. .”
Announcements from the mayor’s office repeatedly drew attention to race as a central element of the partnership. The report claims that “the food pantry convenes a network of BIPOC restaurants and caterers to provide daily hot meals to the growing shelter,” which are “local, minority-owned “This shows a shared commitment to continue to invest in the business.”
Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO of Food Depository, said:He also reiterated the important role that race played in the partnership. “Achieving our mission means feeding everyone in need today, while creating solutions that address the root causes of hunger: poverty, systemic inequality, and structural racism.” “It means providing,” her statement reads in part.
When asked by a reporter when he planned to visit the southern border himself, the mayor turned the conversation back to race. He claimed that in addition to addressing issues regarding the budget and “houseless people,” he is now focused on meeting the needs of Black families. “I’m juggling all of that with my black wife and raising three black kids,” but they have a “schedule,” he said. retorted.
“Can’t you understand that we’ve never had a mayor like me?”
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