By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Leaders who met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had only good things to say about the mayor’s visit to Springfield this week.

How much of what the mayor asks for is he really going to get for Illinois’ largest city?

“He’ll get some of it,” said State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “As he begins to target and tailor what his ask is, those of us who represent the city of Chicago are going to be helpful in that space. We heard some overtures of what he was thinking about, but there wasn’t this huge ask that people have been anticipating yet.”

Buckner may have been referring to the mayor’s comments in Chicago that the state “owed” Chicago Public Schools $1 billion. In fact, Johnson’s tone was subdued, compared to what he was saying before heading Downstate.

“We talked about three issues we can agree on,” said State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “Replacement of lead pipes, increased funding for law enforcement and also for domestic violence.”

Rezin then said she did not agree with the $1 billion CPS statement.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].