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I recently had a conversation with an African American septuagenarian who was an avid supporter of Brandon Johnson during the 2023 runoff election. When the choice came down to Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson, I publicly stated that Paul Vallas was the better candidate. (Click here for my original argument.) The septuagenarian strongly criticized me for not supporting the Black candidate.
During the final days of the campaign, Brandon Johnson frequently highlighted disinvestment as the root cause of the issues plaguing Black Chicago. According to him, disinvestment is the reason for pharmacy deserts, grocery deserts, and the lack of adequate housing. In his speeches and now as mayor, Brandon Johnson has thoroughly analyzed these challenges and concluded that the business community has systematically withdrawn financial investments from the most socioeconomically challenged areas of Chicago.
The proposed solution seems straightforward: businesses need to return to the West and South Sides of Chicago to spark a renaissance of jobs, commerce, and tax revenue. Johnson attributes this disinvestment to racist policies that have abandoned Black communities. While I agree that disinvestment has occurred, I believe the mayor has misidentified the sequence of events.
Disinvestment in Black Chicago is real, but it is the effect, not the cause. And what is the cause? I submit that the answer is crime. Smash-and-grab thefts, robberies, retail theft, and a general lack of accountability have eroded business confidence in these areas.
Businesses exist to make money. When they can't turn a profit or operate safely, they close. This is a straightforward principle that anyone can understand. How long would you work at a job if you weren’t being paid? Not long, I imagine. Similarly, businesses will not continue to operate in areas where theft and violence make profitability impossible.
This is why I am encouraged by the approach of Cook County’s new State’s Attorney, Eileen O’Neill Burke. One of her first actions was lowering the threshold for felony retail theft from $1,000—set by her predecessor, Kim Foxx—to $300, effective immediately. The Chicago business community has already expressed support for this change, and I believe it is a step in the right direction.
However, the usual critics are quick to play the race card, accusing this policy of targeting “Black and Brown” people. This argument is flawed. The policy targets criminals, regardless of race. To suggest otherwise implies that only “Black and Brown” people commit crimes, which is both false and offensive.
If Mayor Brandon Johnson truly wants to see investment return to Black Chicago, he must prioritize public safety and support policies that restore law and order. Without safety and stability, no business will risk investing in these areas, no matter how many speeches are made about disinvestment.
Anything short of supporting these necessary changes is another reason why Chicagoans will eagerly await the opportunity to vote for Johnson’s replacement.