Lame-duck At a heated city council meeting on Wednesday, a vocal opponent of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot yelled at her, ordering her to “get the hell out of my city.”
During the public comment section of the meeting, journalist William Kelly, an outspoken critic of Lightfoot, lambasted the departing mayor for her bungled leadership, namely her handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
On camera, Kelly is seen ranting, “You shut down our schools, you shut down the churches, you shut down the businesses,” in a video published by Forbes.
That’s the one thing I never expected anyone to do, and you accomplished it,” he remarked. “As a native Chicagoan who grew up on the city’s south side, I never imagined I’d live to see Chicago dragged down to the level you’ve accomplished.
“Shame on you,” Kelly replied. “You will have to continue on that tradition.”
Fox News said Thursday that Kelly, who owns RevDigital, a TV production and event firm, had been an outspoken opponent of Lightfoot for a long time and sued her and the city last year.
Kelly, in his remarks, criticized the mayor for revoking his press credentials and said that she did so as a form of revenge for his criticism of her leadership.
Statement “I feel like this is more like a victim impact statement than a legitimate public comment,” he added. I was born and raised in Chicago and love it with all my heart, but what you’ve done to me is nothing compared to what you’ve done to my city.
Kelly says to Lightfoot, “You are a pandemic,” after hearing his remark (which is not captured on the camera), and then walks away.
Lightfoot, a Democrat elected in 2019, lost a re-election campaign this month at the age of 60.
The city’s homicide rate last year increased by 40% during the mayor’s one time in office, drawing criticism from residents and politicians alike.
Lightfoot and the municipal press corps became bitter enemies, and he restricted FOIA requests for public documents at one time.
In 2021, there were 800 homicides in Chicago, which was the highest number in 25 years.
After failing in her attempt for re-election, she openly clashed with the influential municipal teacher and police unions and blamed racism and sexism.