Chicago Alderman Criticizes Mayor's Hiring Practices as 'Giant Leap in the Wrong Direction' Amid DOJ Investigation

The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the City of Chicago’s hiring practices under Mayor Brandon Johnson, raising concerns among local officials about potential race-based discrimination in municipal appointments. The probe comes in response to remarks made by Johnson at the Apostolic Church of God on May 18, where he addressed criticisms that his administration focused disproportionately on hiring Black individuals.

During his address, Mayor Johnson dismissed claims that his policies favor one group, stating, "No, what I’m saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet." He argued that having diverse representation, specifically Black individuals, within his administration ensures inclusivity for all communities throughout Chicago. Johnson cited key members of his team, such as his deputy mayor of business and economic development, a Black woman, as examples of this commitment.

Shortly after Johnson’s comments, Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, informed him of the pending federal investigation. In her correspondence, Dhillon stated, "Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination... If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions."

Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez expressed support for the DOJ’s inquiry, suggesting many Chicagoans share the concern that the city’s hiring practices may not be equitable. "I am glad that they are looking into it. I think it validates the concerns that many Chicagoans have had that Brandon Johnson is a mayor, not for the entire city, but for only one demographic," Lopez said. He added that numerous city employees feel excluded from opportunities for promotion and advancement due to these alleged practices.

Lopez was critical of the direction the city has taken. "This is just one sad step backwards for the City of Chicago to have the mayor articulate so passionately that he prefers to hire one ethnic demographic at the expense of all others. It doesn't make sense to me how, in the 21st century, we've done so much to try to move beyond seeing each other just solely based on race, that we are now taking a giant leap in the wrong direction," he commented.

The alderman also noted that some Black residents and city leaders do not support the mayor's approach, with qualified individuals expressing frustration that their achievements are overshadowed by the perception they were hired primarily because of their race. "There are African Americans who don't like that statement either. There are many well-qualified leaders of departments who put blood, sweat and tears into lifting up Chicago, who now have been trivialized by his comments and are viewed through a lens of they're just here because they're Black," Lopez explained.

In a response to the DOJ’s investigation, Johnson suggested the scrutiny stemmed from fear and resistance to change. "You can tell when someone is fearful is because they act out," he said. "We have a president that is screaming and having tantrums right now because we have an administration that reflects the city of Chicago, but he would much rather have administrations that reflect the country club. Period."

The mayor’s office has not yet issued an official statement in response to the investigation. The Department of Justice has not specified a timeline for its review, but the inquiry is expected to focus on both high-level appointments and broader municipal employment practices.

Reporting for this article includes information provided by Fox News’ Greg Wehner.