Chicago’s mounting fiscal pressures and public safety concerns were front and center on Chicago’s Morning Answer as guest host Chris Krok spoke with Mark Glennon, founder of Wirepoints. The discussion ranged from a recently approved Chicago Public Schools tax increase to broader warnings about crime, budgeting, and government accountability in Illinois and beyond.
Glennon reacted sharply to reports that the Chicago Board of Education approved a maximum allowable property tax increase during a lightly attended meeting, a move first highlighted by Fox 32. He said the comments made by board members underscored what he described as a deeply flawed mindset, particularly statements suggesting the district is “not in a position to say no to money.” Glennon argued that such thinking has driven per-pupil spending in Chicago to roughly $33,000 annually, a figure far above national norms, without delivering commensurate improvements in student outcomes.
He said repeated assurances that tax increases are minimal or equivalent to the cost of a fast-food meal trivialize the cumulative burden on homeowners and renters, many of whom have faced years of rising property taxes. In Glennon’s view, the issue is not a lack of funding but a lack of competent financial management and accountability, with Springfield ultimately bearing responsibility for allowing the city’s governance problems to persist.
Public safety concerns also loomed large as Chicago prepares to host major New Year’s Eve events, including national television coverage. Glennon said he would personally avoid downtown celebrations, noting that while crime rates have improved modestly, the city remains too dangerous to justify the risk. He said restoring safety is essential to Chicago’s long-term revival and that residents’ reluctance to attend major events reflects a broader erosion of confidence in city leadership.
The conversation turned to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s response to criticism from the Washington Post editorial board, which urged Chicago to pursue structural budget reforms, rein in borrowing, and confront pension liabilities. Glennon said Johnson’s claim that such criticism poses a threat to democracy was emblematic of a refusal to engage with fiscal reality. He argued that the editorial simply echoed warnings long raised by local analysts about stagnant growth, uncontrolled spending, and underfunded pensions.
Glennon emphasized that Chicago’s pension obligations remain a heavy drag on the city and state, consuming a significant share of public budgets and limiting competitiveness. Temporary relief from strong stock market performance, he said, has masked rather than solved the problem. He likened claims of stability to complacency in the face of long-term decline.
Krok also asked Glennon about the lack of national media coverage of massive fraud investigations in Minnesota, a topic Glennon said illustrates a broader failure of legacy media. He argued that major outlets often ignore stories that reflect poorly on Democratic leadership, leaving large portions of the public unaware of scandals involving billions of dollars in public funds. Glennon warned that Illinois should not assume it is immune from similar issues, pointing to past unemployment insurance fraud and the largely unexamined role of hundreds of nonprofits receiving state funding.
Looking ahead, Glennon said he believes the scope of the Minnesota fraud revelations will ultimately derail Governor Tim Walz’s political ambitions, despite efforts by state officials to minimize or deflect responsibility. He suggested that as more details emerge, it will become increasingly difficult to deny that political considerations outweighed oversight and accountability.
Glennon concluded by warning that Chicago and Illinois face parallel risks if structural problems continue to be ignored. Without serious reforms, he said, rising taxes, persistent crime, and opaque spending will continue to undermine public trust and drive residents and businesses away, leaving the city’s financial challenges even harder to solve.