Hundreds line up at City Hall to meet Mayor Brandon Johnson at open house
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson's message and life story drew several hundred people to wait in line to meet him at a City Hall open house Monday afternoon – just after his inauguration.
Johnson was sworn in at noon, and was whisked soon afterward from the University of Illinois Chicago campus to City Hall with his family in tow. They made a quick beeline up to the fifth floor.
CBS 2 was the only camera there as he exited the sport-utility vehicle and entered his new office.
"It feels pretty nice," Johnson told CBS 2's Chris Tye said as he walked into City Hall.
CBS 2's Tye spoke with the open house attendees about what was on their minds ahead of their meet-and-greet with the new occupant of the fifth-floor office.
Some of the attendees have made it their civic routine to attend the open houses, which go back at least to the administrations of Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Those at the open house wanted to ensure the new administration is off on the right foot – and to ensure their concerns are taken directly to the fifth floor.
Some who met with the mayor one-on-one came with tough, pointed questions. Others wanted a photo op, while others still just wanted to wish him well.
"I want to tell the mayor that I'm proud, I'm happy, and I want to stand by him as he continues this work that we need so badly in the city to keep us all safe," said Wendy Scott, an accountant for Department of Finance.
Scott noted that she is a city employee who used a vacation day to convey that message.
"I wish him the best, because I know he's got a lot of challenges, you know, so you just pray for him – because I'm an ordained deacon – you know, so just pray for him, and wish him well," said Fred Cash, who was the first in line to meet the mayor. "Much success - because I know he's got a lot of work to do."
Some came with questions about crime, others the migrant situation, and others still about the future of urban planning.
"I love this city, and I want to talk to him to see how thinks he's going to make it better - and how urban planners, and anybody else who care deeply about this city, can be a part of that," said Ezra Landman-Feigelson, an urban planning major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Francine Collymore attended the inauguration before the open house and wanted a photo with Johnson.
"Oh, his message to the city - that he's going to work for everyone. He's everyone's Mayor, South Side, West Side, North Side – everybody's included," Collymore said. "He had range of people - different colors – so it's beautiful. It's a beautiful thing."
There were also dignitaries and exiting aldermen moving through City Hall on this major day of transition.
The first time then-Mayor-elect Johnson walked through the doors of City Hall just two days after winning, he was met by raucous applause. That was not the case on Monday.
The mood was celebratory Monday, but make no mistake - this time, Mayor Johnson was on the clock working.
There was also supposed to be a meet-and-greet at Daley Plaza on Monday afternoon – and a huge stage with risers and audiovisual equipment were all set up. There was also a large police presence.
But the Johnson team said it ran out of time, so the event was canceled and the setup was broken down.
On Monday night, following the inauguration and open house, Mayor Johnson appeared a party dubbed the People's Ball. It was held at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum at the University of Illinois Chicago.
"I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart," the mayor told the crowd. "My wife and I – we are so, so humbled to be in this position."
The celebration also featured a performance by Chicago rapper Common, as well as appearances by all the Chicago sports mascots.