Lori Lightfoot's many missteps: How the 'Dancing Mayor' finally pissed off Chicago
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for re-election on Tuesday, February 28. Her defeat ended her run as the first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve in the position in the city. The Democrat reportedly did not get enough votes in the nine-person race to move on to an April 4 runoff election. Lightfoot is also the first incumbent elected Chicago mayor to lose a re-election since 1983.
Over several years, Lighfoot has faced sharp criticism for her controversial actions and remarks. She has been involved in several controversies that made citizens hope she is removed from her position. From dancing in the streets to racking up unpaid speeding tickets, here is a look at Lighfoot's many missteps.
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When Lori Lighfoot allegedly tried to recruit students to help her win
In January, Lightfoot found herself in the middle of a controversy after the Chicago Public Schools inspector general investigated claims that the Democrat asked Chicago public school teachers to recruit students to volunteer on her campaign for school credit. At the time, the Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General confirmed to NBC News that it had “opened an investigation into this matter and we are currently gathering information to determine which, if any, policies have been violated."
The probe came after a deputy campaign manager sent an email to public school teachers urging them to get students to volunteer for Lightfoot’s campaign in an “externship program." The email reportedly said students could earn class credit in the process. "We’re simply looking for enthusiastic, curious and hard-working young people eager to help Mayor Lightfoot win this spring,” the aide said in the email obtained by WTTW News. Lightfoot's move left authorities and netizens seething.
When Lori Lightfoot danced as crime soared
Lightfoot was slammed as being "tone-deaf" and irresponsible after a video of her dancing on the streets of Chicago went viral. The incident, that took place at a Lunar New Year parade, came at a time when the city's crime rates were soaring. "She's pretty tone-deaf, but she knows, too, it's going to be a Democratic winner [in Chicago's mayoral primary] and she thinks she'll be the one," 'Fox & Friends' host Brian Kilmeade said at the time, according to Fox News.
Lighfoot was also slammed by 'Fox & Friends Weekend' host Rachel Campos-Duffy. "My daughter lived in Chicago for many years. She lost two classmates to crime during the time that she was there," she reportedly said, pointing out how there were several reports of tamale vendors being robbed at gunpoint while they sold their food.
When Lori Lighfoot was slammed for misleading citizens over declining police numbers
Lightfoot was recently slammed for maintaining that thanks to the huge number of cops in The Windy City people were safe, when in reality Chicago's police force had declined by 19% since she took office in May 2019, according to Fox News. "Everyone in our city deserves to be safe because they are safe," she said.
"What have we done? We've worked on making sure that we take more handguns and illegal guns off the street. We've worked on making sure that we provide more police, particularly in areas of the city that are suffering most," she added.
Retired Chicago police Lieutenant John Garrido was quick to blast Lightfoot, reportedly saying, "She's right that we all deserve to be safe, but the problem is that we're not safe because of her failed administration. The amount of officers that are working in the patrol division is almost half of what are actually detailed out into units now, and it just shows that she, along with her superintendent, have no idea what they're doing." According to Chicago's Office of Inspector General (OIG), 7,660 sworn officers were assigned to Chicago's 22 police districts before Lightfoot took office. The numbers declined to around 6,202 as of February.
When Lori Lightfoot played race, gender cards before election
Ahead of this week's election, Lightfoot was ripped for saying critics do not want to see “a Black woman” in leadership. “I am a black woman — let’s not forget,” Lightfoot told the New Yorker, adding, “Certain folks, frankly, don’t support us in leadership roles.” Critics slammed Lightfoot for her remarks, after the city recorded 695 homicides in 2022 and more than 800 in 2021, according to the New York Post.
“I think Lori’s time is up,” Chicago radio host Ray Stevens told 'Fox & Friends First'. Stevens added, “Chicago has a rampant crime problem, and not only is it in Chicago, but it has reached the collar counties. I don’t think it comes down to race. There are people living in these communities that just want to be safe.”
Echoing Stevens' comments, Fox News contributor Joe Concha said Lightfoot's remarks pulled “the race card from the bottom of the deck.” “Crime has completely gone out of control under her watch, and she seems to have no solutions around it,” he said, adding, “This is what happens. Elections have consequences, Lori Lightfoot will be gone.”
When Lori Lightfoot's official SUVs rack up eight unpaid speeding tickets
In July 2022, Lightfoot's motorcade has been busted for several speeding and traffic offenses, but none of the fines, totaling $658, had been paid. The lawmaker pushed for harsher punishments for drivers who were caught speeding. Since February 2020, Lightfoot's SUVs had been involved in at least eight incidents.
Footage accessed and uncovered by CWB Chicago showed various incidents involving her vehicles. One video showed two Ford Expedition SUVs racing through a set of red lights. Traffic cameras were seen flashing in their wake. Another video showed a black Chevy SUV making a left turn at a red light at a large intersection. It was unclear if Lightfoot was in the SUVs at the time of the incidents.
Lightfoot took over in May 2019 and pushed to lower the 'buffer zone' threshold that speed cameras allowed before issuing a citation. While it was 10mph, in 2021 Lightfoot ordered that it be reduced to 6mph. "No one likes speed cameras. I get it," she said, according to the Daily Mail, adding, "But this is life or death that we're talking about here, and we've got to step up as a city and address this." She has also highlighted the threat speeding vehicles posed to children near schools.
Yet in February 2020, one of Lightfoot's vehicles drove past Jones College Prep at 39mph, following which a warning was issued. Again in January 2021, her SUV reportedly drove through a red light at 5.45 am. Her two SUVs sped past Samuel Gompers Park at 39mph, leading to another speed warning. Her motorcade passed Orr Academy High School at 43mph in July of the same year. A speed camera ticket that was issued at the time and is now at $244, remained unpaid.
When Lori Lightfoot was slammed for wishing 'joyous Kwanzaa'
In December 2021, Lightfoot and her wife, Amy Eshleman, were slammed after they shared a video wishing people a “joyous Kwanzaa”. The Twitter video message was captioned, "The seven principles of Kwanzaa are as important as ever and should be a guide for all of us. Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate."
In the video, Lightfoot said, "Joyous Kwanzaa, Chicago! The seven principles of Kwanzaa guide us to unity and cooperation as we work to uplift and protect our neighbors." Eshleman also stated in the video, “As you light the candles and gather in unity, we hope your holiday is filled with rejoicing and happiness.”
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are as important as ever and should be a guide for all of us.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) December 26, 2021
Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate. 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/kb0EtBwDMY
Her tweet failed to impress social media users as the festival was founded by Black nationalist Dr Maulana Karenga, who was later convicted of torturing two women.
Other controversies involving Lori Lightfoot
That's not all. Lightfoot's other controversies also included the time when she sparked a major row after saying she would only do interviews with reporters of color in May 2021. The move even led to Daily Caller journalist Thomas Catenacci, who is White, filing a lawsuit. In July 2019, Lightfoot was caught calling a police union official a "clown."
In April 2022, Lightfoot was slammed for saying carjackers feel "unloved" after Kwame Amoaku was brutally attacked by a group of carjackers outside his home. The attack left him in intensive care. "There are too many young people in this room that feel unloved, and we need to change that if we are going to change the trajectory of their lives," Lightfoot said at the Harold Washington Library at the time, while addressing the city's crime wave.
In July 2020, Lightfoot ordered the removal of a controversial Christopher Columbus statue from the city's Grant Park after clashes between police and protesters. She ordered the removal even though she had opposed the move in the past, stating it would erase the history of Columbus.