Chicago City Wire

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson on may 15 signed his first executive orders as Mayor of Chicago.  

Mayor Johnson’s first executive orders elevate efforts in driving youth employment and establish a new Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights; a new Deputy Mayor for Community Safety with a focus on eradicating the root causes of crime and coordinating efforts to invest in young people; and a new Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations.  

“As your Mayor, it’s my duty to take bold, immediate action to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago,” said Mayor Johnson. “My first executive orders as Mayor of Chicago instruct our government to boost youth employment, so all young Chicagoans can reach their potential across our city, in addition to re-organizing the work of the Deputy Mayors to ensure that my cabinet reflects our top priorities for achieving community safety, supporting new arrivals, and protecting and expanding the right to organize. Together, we will collaborate to build a stronger city for all of us.”  

The Executive Order on Community Safety also re-affirms the Mayor's direct supervision of the Police Superintendent, ensuring that the Johnson administration can immediately begin work on the multiple public safety initiatives in Johnson’s “Day One Plan for Public Safety,” including recruiting 200 new detectives; undertaking a full efficiency audit; strengthening enforcement of Red Flag laws; and establishing a CTA violence intervention program, a new missing persons initiative, and a new CPD anti-gun trafficker initiative.  

EO 2023-15 — Boost Youth Employment 

Mayor Johnson’s youth employment executive order instructs the Office of Budget and Management to prepare an analysis of all resources in the City’s FY2023 budget that are available to fund youth employment and enrichment programs, including any state, county, or federal funds. In addition, the executive order instructs the Deputy Mayor of Education and Health and Human Services to lead all city departments and agencies in identifying additional entry-level jobs that would be suitable for young people. The order instructs the Mayor’s Office staff to coordinate year-round youth employment and enrichment activities among City sister agencies and City Departments, including collaboration with companies and non-profit organizations, for summer internships and community service credit opportunities with Chicago Public Schools and college credit opportunities with City Colleges of Chicago. 

EO 2023-16 — Establish a Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights 

Mayor Johnson’s executive order to establish a Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights makes the new role responsible for the coordination and communication between all applicable City departments and officials related to the City’s efforts to support newly arrived and established immigrants, refugees, and migrants. In addition, the order instructs all City department heads to take direction from the Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights to assist with efforts to address immediate needs and long-standing policy and programmatic goals to ensure the efficacy of Chicago’s status as a welcoming and sanctuary city. 

EO 2023-17 — Establish a Deputy Mayor for Community Safety

Mayor Johnson’s executive order to establish a Deputy Mayor for Community Safety calls on the new office to focus on eradicating the root causes of crime and violence and advance a comprehensive, healing-centered approach to community safety. In addition, the order instructs all City departments to work with the Deputy Mayor for Community Safety to achieve this goal.  

EO 2023-18 — Establish a Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations  

Mayor Johnson’s executive order to establish a Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations will allow coordination to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of Chicago, in addition to improving working conditions, advancing new job opportunities for employment, and protecting workers’ rights. 

Original source can be found here.