Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faces protests and issues new contractor restrictions

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing local opposition regarding two distinct policy directions. At a town hall on August 15, Southeast Chicago residents protested the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park project on the former U.S. Steel South Works site. Residents expressed concerns over environmental impacts and potential use as a data center, noting the site is built on slag landfill. This follows an executive order from Johnson aimed at strengthening regulations on data centers, including tougher pollution limits and a call for a moratorium on new developments.

Separately, Mayor Johnson signed an executive order targeting city contractors. The order requires companies to disclose their clients, with the intent to disqualify those working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or doing business in Israel. The administration cited the need to hold ‘malignant contractors’ accountable, specifically mentioning technology company Palantir due to its contracts with ICE and involvement in Gaza. Critics argue the order expands city code to allow disqualification based on findings from oversight agencies rather than courtroom adjudications.