Chicago residents are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s claims that the city is safe, pointing to his continued use of a taxpayer-funded security detail as evidence of a disconnect between his rhetoric and reality. The mayor reportedly employs a security detail of more than 150 Chicago police officers, costing taxpayers over $23 million annually. The controversy has sparked heated debates about public safety, fiscal responsibility, and leadership accountability in a city grappling with persistent crime challenges.
Background: Johnson’s Safety Claims
Mayor Johnson has repeatedly stated that Chicago is a safe city, citing selective crime statistics and emphasizing community-based initiatives to curb violence. In public addresses, he has highlighted declines in certain categories of crime, such as homicides, which dropped by approximately 10% from 2022 to 2024, according to Chicago Police Department data. However, critics argue that these claims gloss over the broader picture, as violent crime rates, including robberies and carjackings, remain high in many neighborhoods. For instance, the Chicago Police Department reported over 7,000 violent crimes in 2024, a figure that continues to alarm residents.
Johnson’s assertions of a safe city have drawn scrutiny, particularly because he maintains a robust personal security detail funded by taxpayer dollars. The detail, which includes Chicago Police Department officers assigned to protect the mayor, is estimated to cost the city millions annually, though exact figures are often opaque due to limited transparency in municipal budgeting.
Public Outcry: A Call for Consistency
Residents, community activists, and local watchdog groups have seized on the apparent contradiction between Johnson’s safety claims and his reliance on a security detail. At recent town hall meetings and on social media platforms like X, Chicagoans have demanded that the mayor forgo his security team if he genuinely believes the city is safe. “If Chicago is so safe, why does the mayor need a small army to protect him?” one X user posted, echoing a sentiment shared by many.
The criticism gained traction after a series of high-profile incidents in 2025, including a string of armed robberies in neighborhoods like Englewood and Austin, where residents report feeling unsafe walking in their own communities. Community organizer Maria Torres, a vocal critic of Johnson’s administration, stated at a recent rally, “The mayor can’t have it both ways. Either the city is safe, and he doesn’t need a security detail, or it
