Chicago city administration rocked by crisis following school reopenings, ongoing police violence
The Democratic Party administration of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is facing a deepening political crisis, with a wave of resignations and departures among her deputies and other city leaders, including the top three figures at Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
On Tuesday morning, a spokeswoman told reporters that Lightfoot would be granting one-on-one interviews “only to Black or Brown journalists.” This move is calculated to shore up support among the identity politics-obsessed upper-middle class constituency of the Democratic Party. By shifting focus to the identities of the journalists making inquiries, Lightfoot is transparently attempting to avoid answering questions about the many scandals besetting her administration, the recent wave of resignations and the release of thousands of leaked emails by city officials.
At least a dozen top people in Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office have resigned or said they’re on their way out since late last year. Several positions have remained unfilled for weeks or months. Observers said it’s important to have capable people filling even lower-profile behind-the-scenes posts in order to keep the city running smoothly.
Departing CPS CEO Janice Jackson has been tied to the district since preschool Can her replacement succeed without such deep Chicago roots? chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Janice Jackson took the helm of the Chicago Public Schools at a time when it was, again, a mess.
Her three predecessors had been pushed out, the latest in scandal, the one before him imprisoned. As an educator who’d worked her way up through her hometown school district, Jackson was tasked with stabilizing and restoring the public’s confidence in the country’s third-largest schools system.
Armed uniquely with a history they sorely lacked experience and valuable relationships as a former CPS student, teacher, principal and administrator plus parent of students Jackson shored up budgets, developed a five-year plan and promoted talent from within to assemble an uber-diverse leadership team loaded with CPS teachers. Principals halted their exodus.