Chicago City Wire

Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas has raised an alarm, proclaiming that the city of Chicago stands on the precipice of a breaking point.

With mounting concerns over various issues plaguing the city, Vallas' warning underscored the urgent need for attention and action. As Chicago grapples with a multitude of challenges ranging from crime rates to economic disparities, his candid assessment shed light on the critical state of affairs.

“Right now, the city of Chicago is at a breaking point,” Vallas said in a recent Crain's Chicago Business report. “Our public agencies are about to fall off a fiscal cliff, the kids in our public schools are falling behind after COVID-19 lockdowns exacerbated learning struggles, our economy is lagging, and businesses are unable to operate in a high-crime, high-tax and high-regulation environment. I will never be someone who sits idly by and complains about these problems. I am always going to work to make things better.”

Vallas has joined the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), a libertarian think-tank, as a policy analyst.

Headquartered in Chicago, the institute has gained recognition for consistently advocating for lower taxes, privatized government-worker pensions and school choice. Notably, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization opposed state-mandated lockdowns, expressing its disagreement with such measures. Despite the widespread support for lockdowns as a means to control the spread of the virus, the organization held a contrasting position, fueling ongoing debates surrounding pandemic response strategies.

The Illinois Policy Institute garnered attention for a significant staffing move within the administration of former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. At the midway point of his term, Rauner made a decision to remove GOP moderates from key positions in his government, instead appointing individuals affiliated with the Illinois Policy Institute as well as loyalists of the organization. The move marked a notable shift in the composition of the governor's team, raising eyebrows and sparking discussions about the influence and alignment between the institute and the state's executive branch.

Vallas' stance on his new part-time role remains undisclosed in terms of compensation. But he lauded IPI as “the strongest taxpayer advocate in the state.” The statement highlighted Vallas' acknowledgment of the organization's dedication to championing the interests of taxpayers.