US EditionKieran McKenzie Calls for Review of City Hall Employment Practices After Windsor Mayor's Wife Hired
- The U.S. Department of Justice began investigating Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's hiring practices over allegations of race-based favoritism in May 2025.
- The probe followed remarks by Johnson emphasizing placing key Black officials in power, raising concerns about possible violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Analysis by WTTW showed that nearly 47% of Johnson's appointees in important city roles are Black, compared to Chicago's 2020 Black population share of approximately 29%, with women holding more than half of appointments.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon indicated that evidence suggests race may have played a role in hiring decisions, leading to an investigation into whether discriminatory practices are occurring systematically.
- The investigation has sparked debate over diversity and fairness in city hiring, with aldermen and critics divided on whether Johnson's approach unfairly excludes other groups or reflects city demographics.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Kieran McKenzie calls for review of city hall employment practices after Windsor mayor's wife hired
Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie is calling for a review of hiring and firing practices at city hall after the controversial recruitment of Mayor Drew Dilkens’ wife over hundreds of other applicants.
Chicago alderman slams mayor's hiring practices as 'giant leap in the wrong direction' amid DOJ probe
The DOJ is probing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's hiring practices amid claims of racial bias, and Alderman Raymond Lopez and others expressed concerns over city employment fairness.
Make It Make Sense: DOJ probes City Hall
DOJ probes Johnson admin The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration for allegedly making hiring decisions “solely on the basis of race.” The federal civil rights probe, launched under Attorney General Pam Bondi, came after Johnson highlighted key Black officials in his cabinet at a May 18 event. “The deputy […] The post DOJ investigates ”racist” hiring practices at City Hall appeared first on Chi…
Federal probe launched into Chicago mayor's hiring practices
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing a federal investigation regarding allegations of racial bias in hiring practices. The Justice Department is examining whether Johnson's administration violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allegedly prioritizing Black candidates for top positions at City Hall.Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has indicated that there is "reasonable cause" to believe that hiring decisions were influenced by race…
Mayor Brandon Johnson urges ‘expediency’ in addressing CTA fiscal cliff – Chicago Tribune/Yahoo
The mayor visited the statehouse in late April with a modest wish list that did not include the CTA funding piece among his four priorities “because it’s on the priority list of the entire state of Illinois.” That’s even as the ramifications of the governance changes being discussed would uniquely affect the mayor’s office.
Analysis Finds Nearly Half Of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's Appointees Are Black Amid DOJ Probe
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Last week, we reported that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the hiring practices of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The investigation appears to be prompted by a single conversation in which the mayor boasted about the diversity during a sit-down with Bishop Byron Brazier of the Apostolic Church of God. “There are some detractors that will push back on me and say, …
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