When lukewarm applause followed Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget address Wednesday, it was clear what had sucked the enthusiasm from City Council chambers. The foundation of Johnson’s $17.3 billion spending plan: a $300 million property tax increase.

In the 17 short months since his inauguration as Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson has transformed his bold vision for the city’s future and a narrow electoral win into a legacy of — well, not much.

Dozens of aldermen called for a special meeting to vote down the mayor's proposed $300 million property tax increase.

One day before City Council plans to say no to his $300 million property tax hike, Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly walked away from his proposal.

The mayor is open to a “plethora of ideas” so long as they don’t compromise his core values of “investing in people” through summer jobs, community safety, behavioral health and affordable housing but also avoiding layoffs and furlough days and continuing to make additional payments on

Mayor Brandon Johnson is vowing to work with City Council members who are dead set on lowering or eliminating the property tax increase he has proposed.