On Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed a yearly inflation raise for the mayor’s office capped at 5%. According to Fox News, Lightfoot’s compensation, which is currently $209,915, will increase to $216,210 on May 22, 2023. With the caveat that the mayor could choose not to receive the raise, the proposal would permit a 5% annual pay increase for the mayor.

The hike was suggested as Lightfoot deals with a barrage of vehement criticism for how she manages violent crime in her city, which has increased 37% since 2021. Vehicle thefts have increased by 74% compared to the same period in 2021.

Several significant businesses have left the city due to increased crime and homelessness. On October 10, Tyson Foods declared its departure from Chicago, opting instead for Arkansas. Chris Kempczinski, the CEO of McDonald’s, similarly disparaged the city in a speech he gave in September. Kempczinski explained, “We have violent crime that’s happening in our restaurants… we’re seeing homelessness issues in our restaurants. We’re having drug overdoses that are happening in our restaurants. So we see in our restaurants, every single day, what’s happening in society at large.”