Chicago City Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday told reporters that he's not happy with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's new plan to address the ongoing migrant crisis without building new tent encampments or other shelter spaces going forward due to untenable costs. 

Last month, Pritzker pulled state funding for a migrant tent encampment that was being established on contaminated industrial ground in the Brighton Park neighborhood. A second migrant tent city site in Morgan Park selected by City Hall also was found to be on contaminated land and was halted.

As of Dec. 22, City Hall decided no further shelter beds would be added.

According to Politico, Johnson privately met with small groups of aldermen to outline City Hall's new plan to rely on churches and volunteers to provide shelter for asylum seekers unable to find beds in existing city shelters.

A copy of the private briefing published by Politico the Johnson administration plans to create a citywide volunteer program to provide housing for refugees. So far, 34,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago, and 14,449 people are in Chicago shelters.

As of Friday, there was a need for 216 single beds needed for asylum seekers. Last week, 1.105 people were placed in shelters, and 7,842 people had received a 60-day move out notice.

When asked about the plan, Gov. Pritzker said he was "deeply concerned" and expressed hope that "at least the plan I read this morning … is not one that [City Hall] will end up carrying out."

Pritzker also claimed the Johnson administration has not told state officials where they would like the state's funding help to help build new shelters.

"We can’t help if they don’t identify those locations. And we need to make sure that we’re not ending shelter capacity, as the city is now planning to do at the end of winter," Pritzker said at a Monday news conference.

"If you think this problem is going to end when the temperature warms up, it’s not. We still need shelter for people. So I’m deeply concerned and I’m hoping that at least the plan that I read this morning actually in your column is not one that they will end up carrying out."

The governor's comments didn't sit well with Chicago Alderman Ray Lopez, a Johnson opponent who is running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia in the March primary election.

"I’m having flashbacks from the 2020 rioting & looting when @GovPritzker refused to send in the @ILNationalGuard to protect Chicagoans because he hadn’t heard from Lori Lightfoot. The “kiss the ring” politics can kiss my ass when the safety of the public is involved. #Shameful," Lopez wrote on social media.