Buckner Responds to Trump Lies about Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, responded to Donald Trump’s lies about Chicago’s iconic business corridor, the “Magnificent Mile:”

“As usual, Donald Trump is spewing wild criticisms of Chicago to try and distract from the damning failures he can’t seem to avoid. With lower crime rates, lower vacancy rates, higher consumer traffic and new business investments pouring in, the Mag Mile has more than rebounded from COVID-era challenges. I’m sure it’s too much to ask for the president to get his facts straight, but he should at least learn the name of the neighborhood he’s attacking before he comes after our city again.”

Buckner passed legislation in recent years that drove economic growth in Chicago while reducing instances of crime, and the benefits of these achievements are clear in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Last year, Buckner worked with the Magnificent Mile Association to pass a measure to enable the creation of business improvement districts that spur economic growth in communities across Chicago—including in the Magnificent Mile. The districts established new pathways for businesses to thrive by taking control of measures to enhance safety, sanitation and other services that encourage investment.

Prior to that, he also spearheaded bipartisan efforts to crack down on retail crime by working with the Attorney General and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association to address smash-and-grab thefts from small businesses and target the organizers of retail crime gangs.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done in Springfield to help build a stronger, safer and more prosperous future for our community and our city,” Buckner said. “We have a federal government unwilling to do the work, but that’s fine, we can do it ourselves.”