CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed his disappointment and frustration with the recent decision made by the White House Office of Management and Budget to withhold $2.1 billion in federal funding for public transit improvements in Chicago. This includes funding for the highly anticipated Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project.

In a statement released by his office, Mayor Johnson stated, "Argentina gets $20 billion and the South Side gets nothing. What happened to America First?" He went on to highlight the importance of these projects for the South Side community, which has been waiting for over 50 years for the Red Line Extension.

The mayor emphasized that this project would not only bring much-needed jobs to the area, but also billions in new development. He stressed that this investment is crucial for neighborhoods such as Roseland, Altgeld Gardens, West Pullman, Riverdale, and Woodlawn, where a quarter of residents live below the poverty line.

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Mayor Johnson also criticized President Trump's decision to cut off funding at a time when progress was finally being made. He stated that this is just one example of how the current administration is cutting essential services that working people rely on, from public safety to education to transit.

The Red and Purple Modernization Project has already shown positive results for North Side transit riders with reduced travel times and four new fully-accessible stations. The plan was to continue this work in the coming years by rebuilding additional stations to be fully accessible. These improvements would have benefited over 175,000 daily riders while also boosting economic vitality in surrounding communities.

The mayor made it clear that he will not stand idly by while these cuts are made. He called for immediate reversal of the decision and promised to use all available resources to restore the funding. "Chicagoans have waited far too long to turn back now," he said. "We will fight to ensure that the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project move forward."

The mayor's statement reflects the disappointment and frustration felt by many in the Chicago community. The Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project are seen as crucial for the city's growth and development, and Mayor Johnson is determined to see them through to completion.

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