An ordinance dramatically increasing minimum paid time off for all workers at Chicago businesses would seem an ideal candidate for much-needed compromise between business and Mayor Brandon Johnson and his progressive City Council allies. But organized labor and its aldermanic pals won’t accept real concessions offered by business representatives and declare victory, as skilled politicians do.
Chicago needs lots more of those as it focuses, rightly, on encouraging investment in neighborhoods neglected for decades. This mandate won’t just discourage growth; it could mean shrinkage. The last thing we need to do is discourage risk-taking and entrepreneurship on the South and West sides. And existing businesses in those neighborhoods, which struggle to pass higher costs onto their customers, don’t need yet another reason to throw in the towel.