Billionaire governor JB Pritzker considered as potential Biden replacement failed to deliver promised jobs to black residents: study

Billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker failed to deliver jobs promised for black workers in the emerging cannabis and green energy industries, an economic advocacy group said in a scathing report.

Pritzker – considered a potential replacement for President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket – will be hosting the Democratic National Convention on his Chicago turf in August.

“Governor Pritzker wants the DNC to celebrate his leadership of the state. However, it would be an injustice to do so without acknowledging the deteriorating state of affairs for Black communities, especially in Chicago,” said Darius Jones, senior advisor of the National Black Empowerment Action Fund.

The group’s report, called “Equity Delayed, Dreams Denied. How Pritzker Botched Illinois’ Cannabis and Clean Energy Programs,” noted that the black unemployment rate in Illinois is the second highest in the country at 9.4%, and more than double that of white residents.

It’s also more than 50% higher than the overall national black unemployment, the report said.

“The situation in Illinois cannot be blamed on national trends or factors outside the state’s control. It’s a direct result of the failed policies and neglect from the Governor, J.B. Pritkzer,” the report said.

“Governor Pritzker has repeatedly fallen short on his promises to the Black community, particularly in creating wealth and job opportunities in the Green Job and Cannabis sectors, among other areas.”

Pritzker, 59, is a considered a White House contender because of his billionaire net worth as an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, which would ease his ability to reach voters in a short time by potentially self-funding his campaign – should Biden step aside following his debate debacle against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

Pritzker approved the legalization of marijuana for sale and consumption shortly after taking office in 2019 but the report noted that both Illinois and New York, which also legalized marijuana, have suffered from a rocky rollout and lawsuits.

Advocates said New York gave “social equity” or “just involved” applications – those convicted of pot-related offenses before the drug was legalized – first dibs on licenses to open cannabis dispensaries.

“In New York, the very first batch of licenses issued went to those most impacted by
cannabis prohibition, including non-profits serving the formerly incarcerated,” the report said.

But that wasn’t the case in Illinois.

“Today, 55% percent of adult use licenses across the New York supply chain are owned by those included in the state’s social equity program. The state also rejected Illinois’ path of allowing massive corporations in early, instead New York’s retail market is made up of 95% small businesses,” the analysis said.

The report said it wasn’t until November 2022 – more than three years after the first dispensaries were licensed – that first social equity applicants were allowed into the system in Illinois.

Only 1% of licensed dispensaries were black-owned; and just 5% of Cannabis suite executives were African-American during the first years in the program, report said.

The awarding of cannabis licenses to minority applicants has ramped up over the past year, and the state now says black-owned companies make up 27% of the market, after years of delays.

“A small improvement nearly five years after the passage of a law is nothing to be celebrated,” the group said.

Pritzer also approved the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in September of 2021 to generate to curb fossil-fueled pollution and generate clean energy jobs.

But the report argues job production in the green energy sector has been a bust.

As of fall 2023, the state was only getting 10.5% of its energy from renewables, making the act’s 2025 target of 25% “seem far out of reach,” according to the report.

“Whether he is an inept administrator or simply disinterested in delivering for his Black constituents is irrelevant. The result is the same. And the message is clear,” the report said.

“Pritzker is all talk, no game.”

Pritzker’s office had no immediate comment.