Mayor Brandon Johnson 'humbled and honored' as he takes office

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson's inauguration ceremony was packed Monday and his speech was rousing – but now, the real work begins.

As CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reported, the mayor stressed collaboration during the speech.

The uplifting multicultural and interfaith ceremony was held at the Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave. Among those in the crowd were Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias; U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García; U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois); Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle; and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

In the ceremony full of song, dance, and prayer, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot handed over the reins of the city.

"Welcome to the peaceful transfer of power!" Lightfoot said as she did so.

Afterward, with the strike of a gavel and an oath of office, Mayor Johnson took over as the city's 57th mayor.

Mayor Johnson told the cheering crowd he was humbled to be on the stage. He also acknowledged Mayor Lightfoot's history-making term as Chicago's first openly gay, Black female mayor.

"In doing so, she broadened the imagination of so many young people across this city – including my daughter," Johnson said. "Lori, I am grateful to you for your service and your sacrifice."

But unlike Lightfoot, who pledged to end City Hall corruption and then turned and stared down the alderpersons during her inauguration speech, Johnson turned around and applauded them.

"I won't ever question your motives or commitment, and I'll always do my part to find common ground," Johnson said.

He also applauded City Clerk Anna Valencia and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, saying "the people of Chicago are counting on us to work together, to collaborate to make their lives better every day."

Repeatedly using the phrase "the soul of Chicago," Johnson touched on the city's history; from Black explorer Jean Baptiste Point DuSable establishing a trading post at the mouth of the Chicago River, becoming the city's first non-indigenous settler, to Chicago's role in the Underground Railroad, the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South, and its role in the national labor movement.

"That soul is what strikes me today," Johnson said. "I'm marveling not just at the peaceful transfer of power, or the miracle of American democracy, or the grand tradition of Chicago elections. It is how much we all share. I'm struck by how much work it took to bring us to this moment; how many decades of slow, grinding process."

Johnson paid tribute to his mentor, the late former Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, saying she "modeled true social justice unionism; and helped lead the multi-racial, multi-cultural, working-class movement that organized its way to this moment. The same labor movement that raised wages, established the 40-hour work week, and built the middle class in this city," he said.

The new mayor touched on the struggles many Chicagoans faced – including crime, affordable housing, and unreliable transportation – but offered no specifics, yet, on how he plans to accomplish his campaign promises.

"We have a structural deficit, and we have to invest in people – and we have to do that without breaking the backs of working people with fines, fees, and property taxes," Johnson said.

Johnson talked about the need to make Chicago safer and more equitable – all things on which he campaigned. 

"Too many Chicagoans, though, fear for their safety when they walk down the streets to get groceries, or drive to the gas station. Let's create a safer Chicago," Johnson said. "We'll do it together by investing in people, in housing, in mental health, in youth jobs, in higher wages, and real economic development in every community. We'll do it by supporting law enforcement – especially those who are serving on the front lines."

He called for reopening city mental health clinics that were closed more than a decade ago by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and voiced support for the so-called "treatment not trauma" proposal to have trained social workers and medical specialists respond to 911 calls on nonviolent mental health crises, rather than police officers.

"Let's get this right for future generations," Johnson said.

Johnson also called for fixing the city's public transportation system, not only to make the city safer and more livable for everyone, but to improve the city's economy.

"We can secure safety and convenience for cyclists, while making significant investments in the reliability, the safety, and the connectivity of our buses and trains in every single neighborhood," he said.

Saying "we have no time to spare" to address the city's struggles with crime before the traditional summer spike in violence, Johnson also said it's up to the entire city, not just police; calling for more resources for summer jobs, and programming for youth between when schools close for the summer and park district programs begin.

"It's not just up to [interim Police Supt.] Fred Waller and his officers, it's up to all of us," Johnson said.

"Our faith leaders, our philanthropic institutions, our business community, violence interrupters, researchers, educators, coaches, counselors; it's going to take all of us. Not one of us can sit down. In order to make a better, stronger, safer Chicago, I'm counting on the entire city to deliver this," he added.

Johnson said creating jobs for teens would be his first priority when Kozlov sat down with him during the campaign.

He also addressed the migrant crisis in his inaugural address.

"We don't want our story to be told that we were unable to house the unhoused, or provide safe harbor for those who are seeking refuge here," Johnson said.

Johnson further paid tribute to Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston, who was murdered outside her Avalon Park home just over a week ago.

Johnson also showed his sense of humor at times – even referring to a campaign trail revelation that he owed the city thousands of dollars in unpaid water bills.

"You can't stop someone with a payment plan from becoming Mayor of the City of Chicago," he said with a laugh.

Johnson never thought he would be on the stage to be inaugurated as mayor, but he said, "Make no mistake about it – it doesn't mean that I'm not prepared."

He also talked about moving forward, together.

"But as we debate and discuss the solutions to these crises, I want to remind us that we have a real conversation – and that conversation is about the soul of Chicago," Johnson said.

Johnson said he is ready to write a new chapter in the city's history book.

"Whether you live in Jefferson Park, or Morgan Park, or McKinley Park, or Gage Park, or in Humboldt Park I'm talking about a revival in the city of Chicago where the soul of Chicago comes alive," Johnson said. "A brand-new Chicago is in front of us."

Immediately after his speech, Mayor Johnson headed to the fifth floor of City Hall – where he signed four executive orders. One of them ordered the Budget Office to look for all available resources to fund employment and enrichment programs for children and teens.

The other executive orders created deputy mayor positions for migrant and immigrant rights, community safety, and labor relations. 

Again, absent from Mayor Johnson's speech were any specific steps or actions he plans to take once the day's celebration is over.

Some elected officials issued tweets of congratulations to Mayor Johnson on Monday.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton released this statement:

"The soul of Chicago. The miracle of democracy. Diversity and collaboration in action. We are here, moving forward together. Congratulations to Mayor Brandon Johnson. It was an honor to be part of today's events that will usher in a new chapter in governance that will continue to move the city and state forward.

"Mayor Johnson acknowledged what makes this world-class city stand above all others; that we are products of the stories of our parents, and now, the author of the stories that will impact our children for generations to come.

"I look forward to working with Mayor Johnson as he works to broaden access to affordable housing, health and mental care services, job training, college scholarships for high school students, preschool for all, and support for the educators and staff that teach and love them, so that our future is bright.

"Mayor Johnson said he is calling on the wisdom of Illinois. Here is to every voice and every story—especially those that have long been unheard—being uplifted so that the people are empowered to build what comes next alongside us, together."

Mayor Johnson will preside over his first full City Council meeting next week.

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