Mayor Johnson invited lots of of Chicago youth to debate 2024 metropolis finances

In a brand new transfer for Chicago’s finances course of, Mayor Brandon Johnson put out a name to town’s younger folks: He wished to listen to what their priorities for spending are.

They responded in pressure. Inside per week of the announcement, pre-registration for a youth roundtable was full. About 350 teenagers and younger folks confirmed up for the occasion on Tuesday, keen to speak about points starting from environmental justice and public well being to training and reasonably priced housing.

Johnson advised the youth, ages 13 to 24, to not maintain again on their opinions. Their enter will inform a report laying out finances priorities, he stated. 

“Some folks will attempt to write you off and say you don’t know sufficient since you’re not grown. Quite the opposite, I feel chances are you’ll know extra,” he stated. “Your distinctive voices and views and lived experiences have the ability to open our eyes to one thing we didn’t see earlier than.”

The occasion was a new addition to town’s typical finances course of, which incorporates public hearings, forward of the mayor releasing a proposal to the Metropolis Council by Oct. 15.   

It was Christa Lawson’s first time collaborating in an occasion like this. She’s 14 years previous. Her precedence? Group security and psychological well being.

“(There’s) an absence of psychological well being sources and an absence of individuals with the ability to really feel susceptible of their neighborhood and have the ability to speak to somebody,” she stated. 

Religion Townsell of North Lawndale, an intern for the mayor’s workplace, helped put the roundtable collectively. Previously, she stated, she had attended a suggestions occasion on town finances, however the jargon tossed round made it laborious to grasp what was happening. 

Townsell identified the variety among the many viewers, not solely by way of race, but in addition by way of the faculties that the individuals attend — not simply selective enrollment faculties, however neighborhood faculties, too. 

“I really feel actually, actually inspired,” Townsell stated. “So many individuals care in regards to the metropolis and it reveals that younger folks actually do have a voice.” 

On the roundtable, within the Winter Backyard at Harold Washington Library, teenagers and younger adults sat at tables marked with matters: public well being and psychological well being; reasonably priced housing and homelessness; environmental justice and infrastructure; neighborhood and group growth; and group security. Volunteers at every desk took notes and helped transfer the dialog alongside, asking younger folks what concepts that they had for funding.

After about 25 minutes, the younger folks switched tables for one more dialogue. Contributors might additionally fill out surveys. On the finish of the occasion, 5 individuals over the age of 16 had been randomly chosen to win Lollapalooza passes.

Although Chicago faculties weren’t on the official record of matters, many younger folks advised Chalkbeat that training steadily got here up of their discussions. 

Jayla Anderson-Westbrook, 15, stated she felt excited to share the adjustments she desires carried out — together with extra providers in faculties to assist psychological well being. 

“We talked about getting social employees and psychologists to colleges — public faculties, not simply personal faculties — that seem like us and that might join with us,” Anderson-Westbrook stated.  

The biggest income supply for the Chicago Public Colleges’ finances comes from metropolis taxpayers. However late final month the varsity board already permitted a flat $9.4 billion for the upcoming 2023-24 faculty yr. 

Town’s finances covers a bunch of providers — not solely public faculties but in addition libraries, public well being, and policing. In contrast to Chicago Public Colleges, town finances operates on a calendar yr and should be permitted by the top of the yr. Sometimes, Metropolis Council votes on it earlier than Thanksgiving.

As Johnson plans his finances proposal, participant Aujane Williams, 17 of Roseland, had a message for the mayor: “Don’t neglect in regards to the little folks.”