Chicago City Wire

Democratic State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) publicly advocated for rescinding Chicago's offer to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention unless federal money starts to "flow immediately" to fund the city's expensive response to the migrant crisis.

"I realize this is a bold and unprecedented suggestion, but our situation is also unprecedented. And we must act with that in mind. I am excited about the DNC. I am voting for Joe Biden; I believe the future of our democracy depends on it," Buckner wrote in an op-ed published in the Tribune.

Bucker, who made an unsuccessful run for Chicago mayor last year, wrote that he is already working with the Rev. Michael Pfleger of the Faith Community of St. Sabina to "mobilize" people to use the Democratic National Convention as a bargaining chip to secure federal funding to deal with the immigration issue, which is under the federal government's jurisdiction.

He called the DNC an opportunity to "aggressively address one of the most pressing issues on the minds of political insiders and casual observers alike."

"As Democrats prepare to showcase our big, broad, diverse coalition to the world, in this big, broad, diverse city, there is an opportunity to deliver on the promises that are embedded in our platforms. Federal resources need to begin to flow immediately, and the convention should be the impetus to do that," Buckner wrote.

"But, if the federal government cannot adequately deal with the housing issue for tenured Chicagoans and our new arrivals, then Chicago and Illinois should be prepared to rescind the offer to host the DNC."