‘You’re a pandemic’: Journalist William Kelly tells Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to ‘get the hell out of my city’
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was heavily criticized by local journalist William Kelly for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for the alleged rise of crimes during a contentious city council meeting. The criticism came just weeks after Lightfoot lost her bid for re-election.
"You shut down our schools, you shut down the churches, you shut down the businesses," Kelly began. "You did the one thing that I thought could never happen. As someone who was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I never thought in my life that I would ever see the city of Chicago brought down so low as you have managed to bring it down," reported Daily Mail.
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Who is William Kelly?
Kelly is a local journalist, who runs a TV production and event company. He shares a history of berating Lightwood and even sued her last year over her policies. During the council meeting earlier this week, Kelly said, "I hope that, after today's city council meeting, you will pack your suitcase and get the hell out of my city," Kelly railed. "Shame on you," he continued. "That is a legacy that you are going to have to carry."
Wish me luck on Tucker tonight! With the Chicago River still green for St. Patrick's Day!! pic.twitter.com/5ffIRwMUZ9
— Reporter William J. Kelly #thatreporter (@Williamjkelly) March 17, 2023
Kelly even highlighted how the mayor revoked his press credentials as an act of retribution for his criticism and called her out saying, "I feel like this is more like a victim impact statement than an actual public comment," he said. "What you've done to me is nothing compared to what you've done to my city, the city of Chicago, the city that I was born and raised in, the city that I love with all my heart. 'You are a pandemic!'" Lightfoot did not respond to any of Kelly's criticisms and the latter simply walked out of the meeting.
Highest crime rate in the past 25 years
Moreover, Lightfoot was elected in 2019 and during her tenure faced sharp criticism for her controversial actions and remarks. She is also the first black woman and the first openly gay person to lead the city. The mayor racked several criticisms over handling crime in the city, which subsequently increased by 40 percent last year alone. The city encountered 800 murders in 2021, the highest crime rate it has seen in the past 25 years.
She also faced controversy over limiting Freedom of Information access to public records and for allegedly cutting the budget of police departments, a movement that prompted many officers to quit, giving rise to violent crimes. After which she opted to "refund the police" and hire more officers, but this move did not bring any significant change in the spiking crime.