Progressive state lawmaker weighs in on Brandon Johnson's first year, Bears stadium

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first year in office, he spent part of last week in Springfield, where he was seeking help and support for Chicago from the General Assembly.

Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), who’s district reaches from the Gold Coast down to Hyde Park and Bronzeville, was one of the legislators who met with Johnson when he was in Springfield and, frankly, he said they meet regularly.

Looking back on the mayor's first year, Buckner said it just proves that being mayor of Chicago is both a wonderful job and a hard one.

“Given being on the downslope of a once-in-a-generation or a once-in-a-centennial pandemic, and then having to deal with the issues of asylum seekers and some of the newer things that have really come to the forefront, the mayor has an extremely tough job,” said Buckner. “But I’ve also been very clear about the fact that we should give him the grace and the space to do that job to the best of his ability.”

Buckner, who played football in college, said he is not a fan of public funding for sports stadiums. He said he and the Mayor did not talk one-on-one recently about any plans for a Chicago Bears new home — but added that they understand each other's positions.

Asked to give the mayor a letter grade on his first year, Buckner refused and said it's the public that has to grade Johnson. His final grade, Buckner said, will be in 2027.

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