Latest news with #BrandonJohnson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Editorial: Is centrism in the Democratic Party dead? Let's hope not.
An interesting question has emerged after socialist Zohran Mamdani's primary triumph in the race for New York City mayor. Is the primary electorate simply unreceptive to centrist points of view? In that case, Democrats nationally are likely to spend a good long while in the political wilderness. Or, is this high-profile loss, and others of recent vintage, for the middle lane of the Democratic Party due more to poor centrist standard-bearers (and enigmatic extremists) rather than the actual political positions themselves? There are many, of course, who argue Chicago recently went through its own version of what New York City just experienced. But NYC, given its size and prominence, is generating political shockwaves far exceeding the reaction when Brandon Johnson pulled off his own surprise win in 2023. Establishment Democrats, and NYC's financial elite, rallied around Andrew Cuomo, a polarizing figure who had the benefit of widespread name recognition but also the massive liability of having been forced out of office as New York governor in 2021 because of sexual harassment allegations (which he continues to deny). Cuomo saw this moment, with an incumbent New York mayor crippled by scandal, as his opportunity to resurrect his career, positioning himself as the only seasoned, competent politician in the race able to steer the Big Apple back to normalcy. Trouble was, too many New York City Democrats — particularly young voters who chafe at the city's near-impossible cost of living — weren't interested in preserving the status quo and recoiled at voting for such a scandal-tarred candidate. They wanted change, and the 33-year-old Mamdani, a state assemblyman with little to no managerial experience, promised to address their most pressing concerns. Rent. Food costs. Transit. And perhaps more importantly, he campaigned with verve and creativity, striking even plenty of folks who thought his ideas were impractical as a better leader than the 67-year-old Cuomo, who relied on attack ads funded by the likes of billionaire and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Former Cuomo aide (and now critic) Lis Smith spoke for many observers when she diagnosed Mamdani's win this way: 'If you don't want to lose to a socialist, don't run a fatally flawed candidate like Andrew Cuomo.' We could not have put that better ourselves. But does the NYC establishment's failure to back the right horse mean that the centrist platform on which Cuomo ran is a loser with Democratic voters, too? It's tempting to conclude as such, and far-left voices are trying to sell that story. We think what's happening within the Democratic tent is more nuanced. For example, we've seen politicians on the far left (including Mamdani) seize on the so-called abundance agenda popularized by podcaster Ezra Klein in making their appeals to voters. Klein critiques blue cities and states that have made building projects Democratic politicians enthusiastically support (think high-speed rail and affordable housing) exorbitantly costly and difficult to complete, due to red tape and environmental bells and whistles. There are vast differences in approach to pursuing the abundance agenda. Mamdani and others on the far left place more emphasis on governmental involvement while center-right and center-left voices argue that the private sector should be freed to build more. But the critique itself is a centrist one, and leftists wouldn't be seeking to offer their own version if they didn't tacitly agree with Klein's criticisms. All of this is to say that centrism and pragmatic politics are no means dead in the Democratic Party. What is kaput — or should be — is running tarnished political brands from yesteryear to try to stop younger, fresher, more radical candidates from succeeding. President Donald Trump's return to office notwithstanding, voters yearn for new blood as much as they desire new ideas. They want to see politicians with the energy and creativity to reframe policies and positions that establishment figures have reduced to snooze-worthy buzzwords and make them relevant to a highly restive electorate. Election after election has demonstrated that Americans, both in blue cities and red towns and villages, are unhappy with how things are going, nationally and often locally too. Voters also want to see candidates willing to challenge their own party's orthodoxies. Authenticity — a quality Mamdani seemed to have in abundance — is not optional in today's politics. Yes, we'll allow that it's more difficult to come off as exciting when you're espousing common-sense policy positions and admitting there are limits to what government should or can do to improve people's lives. But it's not impossible. A certain former Chicagoan named Barack Obama demonstrated that it can be done. Following the beating Democrats took at the polls last November, the party has barely started to chart a way forward to be more competitive at the national level. Voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are highly unlikely to find full-throated, Mamdani-style socialism to be a viable alternative to ascendant Trumpism. Centrists need to get in the game. And that means offering up fresh faces willing to take chances. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Universal Horror Unleashed to bring year-round frights to Chicago's River West neighborhood
Get ready for ghosts and ghouls along the Chicago River. United Studios on Thursday announced the first Chicago location of its immersive horror experience "Universal Horror Unleashed," at a now-vacant building across from the new Bally's casino under construction in the River West neighborhood. Universal officials joined Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city leaders Thursday morning to announce the new entertainment venue. "Horror Unleashed is a 114,000-square-foot year-round venue, where guests will encounter bone-chilling scares as they brave their way through a themed immersive area. It's all fear all year, because horror isn't just for Halloween," Universal Destinations & Experiences President Page Thompson said. Slated to open in 2027, the facility will include "terrifying mazes, unforgettable scares, themed bars and unique food and beverage offerings, and a retail space featuring exclusive merchandise," according to a news release from the mayor's office. The mayor's office said the venue will create more than 400 permanent jobs, including operations leaders, merchandise hosts, entertainers, and makeup and prosthetics artists. "This project and redevelopment will also help uplift and revitalize a dynamic neighborhood," Johnson said. "I'm very excited about this announcement, and I have no doubt that fans of this genre will flock to our city for these memorable experiences." City and state officials estimated the project will generate more than $1 billion in economic impact for Illinois. The project will receive tax credits from the state's Economic Development for a Growing Economy program, which provides incentives to encourage companies to create and retain jobs in Illinois.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon Briefing: Universal Studios ‘horror experience' planned near Bally's casino
Good afternoon, Chicago. NBCUniversal will open a horror-themed attraction across from Bally's casino, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced this afternoon in what would be the brand's first entertainment venue in the Midwest. The 'year-round immersive horror experience' will be titled Universal Horror Unleashed and sit in the vacant 114,000-square-foot building at 700 W. Chicago Ave., according to city officials. It is slated to open in 2027 and will receive tax credits from a state program. Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices. Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History In a nearly two-minute video, as well as an in-person kick-off event on Chicago's South Side this morning, JB Pritzker made his third formal pitch to Illinois voters, saying he wanted to 'keep Illinois moving forward' while also presenting himself as a bulwark against President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape America. Read more here. More top news stories: Located at 300 S. Second St., the long-awaited St. Charles outpost of the Austin, Texas-based grocery store fills a space in the downtown that has been empty since 2022: the site of the old Blue Goose Market. Read more here. More top business stories: Without any NCAA playing experience, Noa Essengue is one of the lesser-known names to be selected with a top 15 pick. So why did the Bulls take a swing on him? And what does his future look like in Chicago? Read more here. More top sports stories: On Wednesdays and Fridays, 'Arts on the Move' performers including a dance troupe, musicians and artists, are stationed at stops along the GPTC's Rapid Bus Route along Broadway offering popup performances to uplift riders during their day. Read more here. More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories: The Trump administration's new vaccine advisers endorsed this fall's flu vaccinations for just about every American but threw in a twist: Only use certain shots free of an ingredient antivaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. Read more here. More top stories from around the world:
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Universal plans ‘horror experience' near Chicago casino
NBCUniversal will open a horror-themed attraction across from Bally's Casino, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Thursday afternoon in what would be the brand's first entertainment venue in the Midwest. The 'year-round immersive horror experience' will be titled Universal Horror Unleashed and sit in the vacant 114,000-square-foot building at 700 W. Chicago Ave., according to city officials. It is slated to open in 2027 and will receive tax credits from a state program. Johnson cast the development as one that 'will also uplift and revitalize a dynamic neighborhood.' 'This venue will not only bring growth with new visitors to this community, but it will also create 400 — 400 — permanent jobs for Chicagoans, which ultimately grows our local economy,' Johnson told reporters. 'I'm very excited about this announcement, and I have no doubt that fans of this genre will flock to our city for these memorable experiences.' Johnson's office said the project will offer haunted mazes, themed bars and restaurants as well as a shopping space with special branded merchandise, with construction scheduled to start early next year. The agreement includes incentives from the state's Economic Development for a Growing Economy, which grants annual corporate tax credits to businesses who decide to locate in Illinois. Qualifications depend on job creation and dollars invested, with the credit equal to half of the income tax withholdings of the new employees, or 75% if the project is located in an 'underserved area' in the census tract. More credits are available for covering training costs. City officials said the horror venue is expected to create more than 400 permanent jobs, but deferred questions on its tax incentives to the state. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity did not immediately respond to request for comment. 'Universal's decision to make such a significant investment in Illinois is a testament to the state's unmatched entertainment sector, renowned workforce and strong infrastructure,' Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. 'Universal choosing Illinois didn't happen by accident — we were proud to support this project through our EDGE incentive program, which has helped fortify a positive business climate that draws world-class companies to the state.' The project's announcement follows the first Universal Horror Unleashed opening in Las Vegas this August. Page Thompson, president of New Ventures at Universal Destinations & Experiences, said the project will be one that is 'deeply connected to this city and to our riverfront location' — and also provide 'bone-chilling scares.' 'It's all fear all year, because horror isn't just for Halloween,' Thompson said. 'Chicago is a great location. It's one of the biggest cities in the United States, obviously the third-largest tourism market in the country, and we've done some research and found that Chicago has pretty high affinity for horror concepts.' In 2022, Rhode Island-based Bally's won a heated competition to build Chicago's first casino on the 30-acre Tribune Publishing printing plant site in River West. The $1.7 billion proposal includes an exhibition hall, a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, 10 restaurants and 4,000 gaming positions, making it the largest casino in the state. Earlier this year, Bally's demolished the 43-year-old Freedom Center to begin making way for the casino complex, which is slated to open in September 2026. Bally's Chicago launched a temporary casino at Medinah Temple in September.
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Universal bringing horror venue to Chicago River
A horror venue will open along the Chicago River in 2027. Driving the news: Universal Destinations & Experiences announced Thursday it will build a "year-round immersive horror experience" called Universal Horror Unleashed at 700 W. Chicago Ave. in a vacant 114,000-square-foot building. Zoom in: Universal is promising "terrifying mazes, unforgettable scares, themed bars and unique food and beverage offerings, and a retail space featuring exclusive merchandise" at the new facility, which will be across from the expected Bally's Casino. Officials say the venue will create more than 400 permanent jobs in roles that include operations leaders, merchandise hosts, entertainers called scareactors, and make-up and prosthetics artists. What they're saying:"This is exactly the kind of creative, high-impact investment we're working to attract — one that brings new life to a vacant site, creates hundreds of jobs, and cements Chicago as a must-visit destination for entertainment tourism," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. Between the lines: The project will receive state incentives through the Illinois EDGE program, and state officials predict Horror Unleashed will generate $1 billion in economic impact. "Universal choosing Illinois didn't happen by accident — we were proud to support this project through our EDGE incentive program, which has helped fortify a positive business climate that draws world-class companies to the state," Gov. JB Pritzker said.
