Gets to the heart of the matter.

“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city,” Johnson said on social media. “However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”

What a blather.

Trib:

Johnson’s condemnation of violence felt like an obligatory preamble hoping to ward off criticism. The statement’s real rhetorical energy came only at the end: Johnson and his fledgling transition team apparently saw the weekend violence downtown as a chance to offer a sociological admonishment to those who were frightened.

There’s more of that coming down the pike from this masterful double-talker.

No criticizing the kids, the mayor-elect says, even if you ran hard and fast at the sound of gunshots or decided to check out of…

Front page hard copy lede caught a reader’s eye:

Within seconds of stepping onstage to declare his triumph in the Chicago mayoral race, Brandon Johnson extended an olive branch.

To Vallas? Wow.

After briefly marveling at his improbable political rise, the newly minted mayor-elect said his first order of business was delivering a message to those who’d voted for his opponent, Paul Vallas.

Being the first winner ever to do such a thing?

Ask yourself that.

And then ask why he wouldn’t say that.