Chicago Mayor Lightfoot stopped in her tracks when reporter confronts her over 'all the harm you've caused'

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) refused to answer a question from a bold reporter who confronted her about running for re-election despite overseeing "harm" done to Chicago during her mayoral tenure.

What happened?

During a press conference Tuesday, veteran Chicago reporter William J. Kelly confronted Lightfoot for deceptively positing a rosy portrait of Chicago.

"Mayor Lightfoot, every time you have a press conference you say crime is down, the economy is booming —" Kelly began before being cut off by Lightfoot.

"Well that’s not — that’s not true, but get your question, sir," Lightfoot interjected.

"Across the street we had a police officer on duty the victim of a hit and run. We have Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, now referred to as the Mile of Fear. The Water Tower Place has thrown the keys back to the lender, they say they don’t want to be in Chicago any more," Kelly resumed.

That is when he dropped his bomb of a question.

"Real Chicagoans are asking me how could you possibly even consider running for re-election as mayor of the city of Chicago after all the harm you’ve caused," the reporter said.

Lightfoot, however, refused to even address the question and abruptly called for the next question.

"Well, I disagree with you fundamentally, and I don’t think I need to address and dignify your comments one second further," she responded. "Next question!"

'How Can You Possibly Even Consider Running For Re-Election... After All The Harm You've Caused?'www.youtube.com

Just this week, Lightfoot rebuffed critics by claiming that Chicago is on track for "the best economic recovery of any big city in the nation, bar none."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the mayor made those comments at a luncheon as she prepares to launch a bid for re-election.

However, crime is a major problem for the Windy City, and it is the issue about which Chicagoans are most concerned. Under Lightfoot's leadership, Chicago experienced one of the most violent years in decades. Instead of focusing on crime reduction, Lightfoot often points toward firearms as a scapegoat for the city's problem with violence.

Meanwhile, the Sun-Times reported that Lightfoot's public approval rating is below 30%, a dismal figure for any politician hoping to win re-election.

Lightfoot has not officially announced her re-election campaign, but Axios reported the biggest issues in the mayoral race will be how she handled crime, education, and COVID-19 mandates during her first term. If that holds, Lightfoot may well become a one-term mayor.