Feb 14, 2025 - Politics

What we'd buy in a City Hall gift room auction

This week Mayor Brandon Johnson's office released a log and video of gifts he's received since taking office.

Why it matters: The disclosure came only after the city's Inspector General (IG) reported it was denied access to the log and room where the gifts are stored.

In response, the Chicago Board of Ethics this week ruled that Johnson must report all gifts "to the board and to the comptroller, promptly," and make the gift room available for "viewing by members of the public on reasonable terms set by the mayor's office," WTTW reports.

This got us wondering: Why is all this stuff just sitting there?

We used the 21-second video (that the IG says is insufficient) to decide what we'd bid on at a charity auction, if it ever happened.

🏎️ Monica's pick: The NASCAR jumpsuit to look cool while doing weekend chores.
🖼️ Justin's pick: The framed drawing/painting of the mayor towards the end of the video. I'll put it in my garage right next to the 1983 Daley yard sign and the signed Ditka "flipping off the crowd" photo.

👜 Carrie's pick: I'm sure I can find a cool T-shirt in that stack to bid on, unless they're just all plain, pocket Jockey tees. What I don't see in this closet are those designer bags that were in the log. I'd have my paddle ready for those.

What's next: Axios is waiting to hear back from the mayor's office on our request to tour the gift closet.

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