Chi’s Lori blames critics

‘Black woman’ bias

Embattled Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was slammed Monday ahead of this week’s election for claiming that critics of her four-year tenure just don’t want to see “a black woman” in leadership.

Lightfoot, 60, the first black woman and first lesbian mayor of the Windy City, told The New Yorker in a new profile that she bristles at her portrayal by the media, even as she has struggled to battle Chicago’s decades-high murder rate.

“I am a black woman — let’s not forget,” she told the magazine. “Certain folks, frankly, don’t support us in leadership roles.”

Critics jumped on Lightfoot’s (inset) comments after the city recorded 695 homicides in 2022 and more than 800 in 2021.

“I think Lori’s time is up,” Chicago radio host Ray Stevens told “Fox & Friends First” Monday. “Chicago has a rampant crime problem, and not only is it in Chicago, but it has reached the collar counties.

“I don’t think it comes down to race,” Stevens added. “There are people living in these communities that just want to be safe.”

Fox News contributor Joe

Concha agreed, saying that Lightfoot’s comments amounted to pulling “the race card from the bottom of the deck.”

“Crime has completely gone out of control under her watch, and she seems to have no solutions around it,” he said. “This is what happens. Elections have consequences, Lori Lightfoot will be gone.”

Lightfoot faces eight other candidates in Tuesday’s election — which, while officially nonpartisan, amounts to a Democratic primary in the deepblue city.

If no candidate cracks 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters advance to an April 4 runoff.

Recent polls indicate that Lightfoot may be on the outside of a runoff looking in, with US Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas seen as most likely to advance.

Lightfoot came under fire this month for telling voters not to show up to the polls if they wanted to cast a vote for Garcia or Vallas over her, later apologizing and saying she had misspoken.

The Chicago mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.