Mayor Brandon Johnson is asking businesses to offer up new violent crime response tools just as his administration ends the ShotSpotter police technology deal, and the controversial outgoing vendor intends to throw its hat in the ring to continue operating in Chicago.

The embattled Chicago Public Schools chief came to his own defense today for the first time since reports surfaced that the mayor had asked him to resign, bringing the public showdown to a boiling point.

Mayor Brandon Johnson asked Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to resign on Wednesday, but Martinez declined, according to published reports and at least one source familiar with internal discussions.