New CTA President

[Elkmn]

On 5/20/2026 at 2:36 AM, YoungBusLover said:

Brandon Johnson and Governor Pritzker are the equivalent to Beavis and Butthead with there ideologies of how to operate there respective roles in government.  

🤣🤣🤣

the thing is that pritzker HATES johnson, and pritzker has done some cool things like NITA and the BUILD act. The most notable thing Johnson's done is poll in the single digits, and get the entire council to turn against him! But that's enough politics from me (nope! no it isn't!)

Why does johnson want to replace Leerhsen!? She's a reformer, and seems to be the first one to actually care about the job, and not use it as a stepping stone for cushier bureaucrat offices (looking at you, claypool!). She's had her issues (the crime spike last winter), but that wasn't necessarily her fault. She's got the experience, and has overseen incremental, but well appreciated improvements (10-minute network, bus expansion).

All this leads me to believe Johnson is being paid off by AIPAC (Association of Important Pastors Advocating for jobs at the CTA)!

[Busjack]

16 hours ago, Elkmn said:

🤣🤣🤣

the thing is that pritzker HATES johnson, and pritzker has done some cool things like NITA and the BUILD act. The most notable thing Johnson's done is poll in the single digits, and get the entire council to turn against him! But that's enough politics from me (nope! no it isn't!)

Why does johnson want to replace Leerhsen!? She's a reformer, and seems to be the first one to actually care about the job, and not use it as a stepping stone for cushier bureaucrat offices (looking at you, claypool!). She's had her issues (the crime spike last winter), but that wasn't necessarily her fault. She's got the experience, and has overseen incremental, but well appreciated improvements (10-minute network, bus expansion).

All this leads me to believe Johnson is being paid off by AIPAC (Association of Important Pastors Advocating for jobs at the CTA)!

There is some of that, but the article said Leerhsen would be o.k. as a permanent president. The hypocrisy consists of:

• [If you read up] Johnson first tried to get a lackey appointed,  and when the CT Board didn't go along,  one of his aldercreature allies ripped into the board for saying that a search was necessary.
• As the Tribune later pointed out,  this was a last gasp at trying to exert power before the NITA Act becomes effective, but it's too late. The Act takes effect June 1 and the boards will be reconstituted September 1, so any appointment would necessarily be temporary.  Nobody from the outside is going to apply for a job, to be deposed in 3 months. 

 

[MetroShadow]

3 hours ago, Busjack said:

Nobody from the outside is going to apply for a job, to be deposed in 3 months. 

 

I'd take it, if the price was right...🥸

[Sam92]

On 5/19/2026 at 11:15 PM, Busjack said:

Reading this Tribune article, how dumb is Brandon Johnson, really?

Dumb enough to think all Blue Lines need to go to Forest Park cause "West Side is underserved otherwise"

11 hours ago, Elkmn said:

🤣🤣🤣

 

Why does johnson want to replace Leerhsen!? She's a reformer, and seems to be the first one to actually care about the job, and not use it as a stepping stone for cushier bureaucrat offices (looking at you, claypool!). She's had her issues (the crime spike last winter), but that wasn't necessarily her fault. She's got the experience, and has overseen incremental, but well appreciated improvements (10-minute network, bus expansion).

 

It's the old Chicago politicians habit of "maybe if I try this it'll get me more votes" (just as dumb as the guy that tried to keep the SW expresses after the orange Line reopened. And that's how money gets wasted of course which brings up (see below)

10 hours ago, Busjack said:

There is some of that, but the article said Leerhsen would be o.k. as a permanent president. The hypocrisy consists of:

[If you read up] Johnson first tried to get a lackey appointed,  and when the CT Board didn't go along,  one of his aldercreature allies ripped into the board for saying that a search was necessary.

As the Tribune later pointed out,  this was a last gasp at trying to exert power before the NITA Act becomes effective, but it's too late. The Act takes effect June 1 and the boards will be reconstituted September 1, so any appointment would necessarily be temporary.  Nobody from the outside is going to apply for a job, to be deposed in 3 months. 

 

So on top of restructuring things to better serve the area more cost-efficiently do you think this will put an end to or at least slow down irresponsible political interference? 

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Sam92 said:

Dumb enough to think all Blue Lines need to go to Forest Park cause "West Side is underserved otherwise"

It's the old Chicago politicians habit of "maybe if I try this it'll get me more votes" (just as dumb as the guy that tried to keep the SW expresses after the orange Line reopened. And that's how money gets wasted of course which brings up (see below)

So on top of restructuring things to better serve the area more cost-efficiently do you think this will put an end to or at least slow down irresponsible political interference? 

●Para. 1 I'm sure that's tangential. The decision has to be made by rail ops.

●Para. 3. The law gives the Governor more power, but there's still the potential for feuding among the Governor, mayor, and county board president.