From Chicago Sun-Times · · 1m 50s
Mayor Johnson budget seeks to reopen city mental health clinic next year
Chicago mayor plans to reopen mental health clinic using social media tax funds by 2027.
In brief
Chicago mayor plans to reopen mental health clinic using social media tax funds by 2027. Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson will reopen a city mental health clinic in 2027 using $5 million from social media tax funds to create permanent funding for crisis mental health services. Originally reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
Mayor Johnson's 2027 budget
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson plans to reopen a community mental health clinic in 2027 using city funds.
Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement program
The program dispatches mental health teams to certain 911 calls and has expanded hours to 10 p.m.
Social media tax funding
The city collects 50 cents per user after the first 100,000 users for the social media tax.
Funds collected from tax
The city has collected more than $49.2 million from social media companies by year's end.
Funds held in escrow
The city's social media tax funds are held in escrow pending litigation on the tax.
Johnson's confidence in tax
Johnson says the city will win the litigation and have permanent revenue for mental health services.
Past clinic closures
The city closed 14 mental health clinics between 1989 and 2012, leaving only five by 2016.
Recent clinic reopenings
The city reopened mental health clinics in Pilsen and Roseland in recent years.
2025 mental health funding
The city allocated about $12.2 million for mental health clinics in 2025.
Federal funds for program
The program received $5.2 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Johnson's motivation
Johnson says previous administrations shut down mental health services, so he wants to reverse that trend.
CARE program expansion
The program expanded hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in recent years.
The main idea
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson will reopen a city mental health clinic in 2027 using $5 million from social media tax funds to create permanent funding for crisis mental health services.
