Mayor Lori Lightfoot gives farewell speech
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave her farewell address to the city Monday afternoon.
The mayor spoke at the headquarters for the anti-violence group BUILD Chicago.
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Lightfoot was the city's first Black LGBTQ mayor, and said she wants to be remembered most for making the city more equitable.
The mayor said equity is her "north star," and touted achievements including raising the minimum wage, investments in affordable housing and environmental justice, and especially general investment into underserved areas of the South and West sides.
She became emotional as she spoke about planting seeds of hope during her term. She also spoke about the challenges she faced, including the COVID-19 decisions, but said despite the incredible difficulty, some of the "heartbreaking" decisions she had to make saved lives.
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Lightfoot said she is leaving office with the city having a budget surplus, an she remains optimistic about Chicago's future.
Mayor Lightfoot served one term, before she lost her re-election bid to Brandon Johnson.
He will be inaugurated as Chicago's 57th mayor next Monday at Credit Union 1 Arena.
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Despite its dominance as a campaign issue, Lightfoot did not speak much about crime or public safety Monday. She also gave no hints about her future plans once her term is over, only saying that as a private citizen her "work is not done."
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