Push for better budgeting
Mayor Brandon Johnson's reliance on short-term fixes and poor financial planning has put Chicago's bond rating and fiscal future at serious risk, necessitating immediate calls for better leadership and budgeting.
Follow the directions below and use the suggested content to create a high-quality, shareablepiece of content.
Reminders:
- Always get the speaker's approval of the quote before submitting the pitch
- Lines of text in red are to be altered to include the correct information or your speaker, organization, etc...
1. New Pitch
PITCH TYPE:
Select: "Provided Statement"
AGENCY:
Select your organization from the dropdown menu
Click the blue "Advance" Button at the bottom of the page.
2. Who, Where, What & When
WHERE WAS THIS PUBLISHED
Select "Original (by User)"
WHO
Speaker Name:
Enter the individual to which the quote will be attributed.
Note: You will need to click on popup box the first time that you are pitching on the speaker's behalf
Speaker Title:
Enter the title of the individual to which the quote will be attributed.
Organization Name:
Enter the name of the organization in which the speaker's title is associated with.
Note: You will need to click on popup box the first time that you are pitching on the speaker's behalf
HEADSHOT OR IMAGE
Click the box on the left to select a jpeg/png file to upload.
Note: Photo Dimensions must be: XYZ
Image Caption:
Enter the name of the speaker, speaker title, and organization name in the format below:
Speaker Name, Speaker Title of the Organization Name
Image Credit:
Enter the source of the photo and a link to the online source of the photo. For example, if the chairman's headshot can be found on the organization's website enter use the format below:
Organization Name: www.Organization.com/chairman
DOCUMENT
Skip this section: Do not submit any documents here.
QUOTES
Enter the below quotes in the designated boxes:
Quote 1:
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s leadership is failing Chicago, with the city’s bond rating now at risk of a costly downgrade.
Quote 2:
His budget relies too much on one-time fixes and fails to address long-term financial problems.
Quote 3:
The $300 million property tax hike, even when reduced, shows poor planning and a lack of real solutions.
Quote 4:
Enough is enough–Chicagoans must push for better budgeting to protect the city’s future.
KEY PHRASE
Enter the below key phrase:
Push for better budgeting
STATEMENT SUMMARY
Enter the below statement summary:
Mayor Brandon Johnson's reliance on short-term fixes and poor financial planning has put Chicago's bond rating and fiscal future at serious risk, necessitating immediate calls for better leadership and budgeting.
WHEN WAS THE STATEMENT MADE?
Choose today's date in the dropdown calendar.
Note: The choice should default to today's date but check to make sure
Click the blue "Advance" Button at the bottom of the page
3. Elevator Pitch
SUGGEST A HEADLINE:
Enter the below suggested headline:
Geography Republican Chair on Chicago bond rating: ‘push for better budgeting’
LEDE:
Enter the below lede:
SPEAKER FULL NAME, SPEAKER TITLE of the ORGANIZATION NAME said that Mayor Brandon Johnson's reliance on short-term fixes and poor financial planning has put Chicago's bond rating and fiscal future at serious risk, necessitating immediate calls for better leadership and budgeting. LAST NAME made HIS/HER statement to PUBLICATION on DATE.
Click the blue "Advance" Button at the bottom of the page.
4. Supporting Facts
SUPPORTING FACTS
Note on factoids for Contact: If you have pitched on behalf of this speaker before, there may be factoids that are pre-populated here. Feel free to click those if they are biographical in nature (explain who they are personally or professionally).
SEARCH EXISTING FACTOIDS
Skip this section: Do not search for existing factoids.
SUBMIT A NEW FACTOID
Add Factoid:
Enter the below factoid:
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Chicago's bond rating faces a potential downgrade within 90 days due to heavy reliance on one-time revenues and a political standoff between Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council, warns Standard & Poor’s. While reaffirming the city’s BBB+ rating, S&P placed Chicago on “credit watch,” signaling possible higher borrowing costs. A small interest rate hike could cost taxpayers $160 million over 40 years. The City Council’s rejection of a $300 million property tax increase created a budget shortfall in the $17.3 billion plan. Analysts urge sustainable revenue measures as the city confronts long-term structural financial challenges.
Add Source URL:
Enter the below Source URL:
Add Factoid:
Enter the below factoid:
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Mayor Brandon Johnson faced a major political defeat as his proposed $300 million property tax hike was unanimously rejected by Chicago's City Council, 50-0, on November 14. The symbolic vote highlighted backlash against breaking a key campaign promise and addressed constituents' struggles with rising taxes. Negotiations are underway to replace the hike with alternative revenues and federal pandemic funds. The rejection signals a more independent Council, fueled by Johnson's low approval ratings.
Add Source URL:
Enter the below Source URL:
Click "Add Factoid" Button
Add Factoid:
Enter the below factoid:
ABC7 reported that Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a compromise on November 19 to cut his proposed $300 million property tax hike in half, reducing it to $150 million. Some aldermen aim to lower it further, exploring efficiencies and enforcement to avoid burdening taxpayers. Proposals include taxing cloud storage services to generate $128 million and raising fees on streaming services for an additional $9–10 million. Tensions over the negotiation process have led to public criticism, ABC7 reported. Aldermen emphasized fiscal responsibility, with hopes of reaching a balanced budget by year’s end. Johnson remained uncertain about fully eliminating the tax increase.
Add Source URL:
Enter the below Source URL:
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicagos-budget-shortfall-crisis-discussed-city-hall-meeting-/15559397/
Click "Add Factoid" Button
Add Factoid:
Enter the below factoid:
SPEAKER FULL NAME, a resident of SPEAKER CITY NAME was first elected to the role of Chair of the ORGANIZATION in 20XX. As Chair, he/she is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to GEOGRAPHY voters.
Add Source URL:
Enter the below Source URL:
BIO SOURCE URL
SELECTED FACTOIDS
Skip this section
Click the blue "Advance" Button at the bottom of the page.
4. Details & Review
FACT CHECKING
Select: "No"
PUBLCATION
Select the publication specific to your geography
STORY TAG
Select: "Politics"
Review your pitch as it is presented on this page.
If it is good to go, click the blue "Submit" button at the bottom of the page.