Thursday, October 31, 2024

Mayor says property tax hike is the answer

Presented by Amazon: Shia Kapos' must-read rundown of political news in the Land of Lincoln
Oct 31, 2024 View in browser
 
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By Shia Kapos

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Happy Halloween, Illinois. Save some chocolate candy for me.

TOP TALKER

Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils his proposed 2025 budget during a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils his proposed 2025 budget during a City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

NO MINCING WORDS: Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed a property tax hike that would generate a hefty $300 million but also allow the city to avoid layoffs or furloughs in order to plug a nearly $1 billion deficit.

“This is tough. It’s something I grappled with for weeks. We didn’t make this decision lightly,” he told the Chicago City Council on Wednesday. The mayor had campaigned on not raising property taxes, but the financial circumstances forced him to change course.

Who will feel it most: Homeowners, landlords and anyone who owns a building.

Hitting the wallet: Owners of a $250,000 home would see a $222 increase to their tax bill, according to a mayor’s office. Owners of a $360,000 home would see an increase of $345, and a $500,000 home would see a $481 increase.

Landing with a thud: Some City Council members say their constituents aren’t in a position to take on more taxes. “A property tax increase in our community is not something we can afford,” Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, a close ally of the mayor, said to reporters’ surprise.

More details: Along with a property tax hike, the mayor wants to use tax increment financing and an increase on alcohol sales to help the city make ends meet.

RELATED

Negotiating tactic? A dozen aldermen called attention to the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, urging the mayor to reconsider bringing it back.

Pay hikes: “The proposed budget shows Mayor Johnson is rejecting a 4.1 percent pay hike, along with Alds. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and Byron Sigcho Lopez. Meanwhile, City Clerk, City Treasurer and remaining 48 alderpersons all plan to accept the automatic raise,” via WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg.

From Crain’s: “Johnson stands little chance of finding 26 votes on the budget with his closest allies working against it,” by Justin Laurence.

From the Block Club: “Johnson’s budget recommendations will now be vetted by alderpeople through a series of departmental meetings over the next few weeks. The City Council must pass a balanced budget by the end of the year, as required by state law,” by Quinn Myers.

From the Tribune: “In keeping with his messaging on racial equity, Johnson repeatedly highlighted the struggles of Black Chicagoans ... while touting his $1.25 billion bond plan that includes investments in affordable housing. 'We’re going to keep building,’” by Alice Yin, A.D. Quig and Jake Sheridan.

From the Sun-Times: Johnson summarily dismissed the idea of asking his allies in organized labor to swallow a pay cut by taking unpaid furlough days, by Fran Spielman

From WBEZ: “Overall, roughly 18 percent of Chicago’s $17.3 billion budget would be spent on “public safety” departments including police, fire, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the Chicago Police Board, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, the Office of Public Safety Administration, and COPA,” by Mariah Woelfel and Tessa Weinberg

The Triibe: “Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) said [council members] have to figure out places to make additional cuts to avoid a $300 million property tax hike. She chairs the City Council’s finance committee,” by Corli Jay and Tonia Hill.

More takes from ABC 7, NBC 5 and WGN 9

The full budget report is here.

The mayor’s prepared remarks are here.

THE BUZZ

— NEW THIS MORNING: Former Dunbar Career Academy student sues Chicago Board of Ed, alleging it failed to protect him from sexual abuse by security guard, by the Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson

NEW DRAMA: Rev. Mitchell “Ikenna” Johnson, who was just appointed as head of the Chicago School Board, is under fire for his social media posts about the war in the Middle East.

Gov. JB Pritzker questioned the vetting process t hat saw Johnson get to the top job. “Vetting is vitally important. That doesn’t seem to have occurred here,” Pritzker said at a news conference coincidentally focused on a new state program called “Help Stop Hate.” It's a service that provides support and resources to people and communities affected by hate.

A call to step down: A letter from 30 City Council members to the mayor calls for Johnson to step down after making “deeply offensive and antisemitic comments, calling into doubt his ability to fairly represent Jewish students and families in Chicago Public Schools,” according to the letter organized by Ald. Debra Silverstein, the council’s lone Jewish member. Read it here. (Ald. Jim Gardiner signed, too.)

Ald. Matt Martin issued his own statement: “Rev. Johnson's antisemitic comments, his disbarment in Ohio, and the lien placed on his home for nonpayment of child support call into question his rapid appointment and capacity to lead.”

And Ald. Maria Hadden said the mayor “ignored” a letter she organized that had 41 council members asking that appointees come before City Council “to give us and the public adequate opportunity to learn more about the people selected to lead the third largest school district in the country.”

The response: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Johnson has since apologized and will “sit down with Jewish leaders in the city of Chicago and beyond to begin to work toward restoration and healing.” The reverend said he would not resign but was “deeply sorry,” according to the Sun-Times.

RELATED

Illinois launches ‘Help Stop Hate’ program as hate crime reports surge, by the Daily Herald’s Charles Keeshan

5 Transit Board appointees advance, but some on the City Council bristle at another pastor with no transit experience, by Block Club’s Mack Liederman

If you are Mitchell “Ikenna” Johnson, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@politico.com

WHERE'S JB

In Robbins at 11 a.m. to mark the completion of the first phase of the Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project and kickoff of the second, final phase of work to help address overbank flooding through a new stormwater park and pond

WHERE's BRANDON

No official public events

Where's Toni

In Robbins at 11 a.m. with the governor. Watch here.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email: skapos@politico.com

 

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CAMPAIGN MODE

— Closing messages: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will both be making their pitches to Wisconsin voters on Friday. Harris will be in Appleton, and Trump will be in Milwaukee. Are you going to either event? Please let me know: skapos@politico.com.

By the numbers: Unions lead the way on funding state elections in Illinois: “With no statewide campaigns, Pritzker steps back on donations,” by Capitol News’ Andrew Adams.

State Rep. San Ugaste faces rematch from Dem Linda Robertson in 65th House District, by the Daily Herald’s Rick West

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart challenged by Republican Ben Grum, a public safety professional, by the Daily Herald’s Mick Zawislak

Northwestern employees donated over $660K to Democratic candidates in 2024, by the Daily Northwestern’s Jerry Wu

THE STATEWIDES

— Madigan trial: ComEd execs joked Madigan co-defendant was ‘double agent,’ utility’s former top lawyer testifies: “Mike McClain’s job recommendations weren’t bribes —or even improper, witness says,” by Capitol News’ Hannah Meisel.

Advocates seek additional $60M in State funding for early childhood interventions, by WTTW’s Brandis Friedman and Shelby Hawkins

State, Cook County use similar arguments to defend assault weapon bans, by Capitol News’ Peter Hancock

Illinoisan awarded military honors for ‘selflessness’ after Jan. 28 attack on base, by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki

SPOTLIGHT

— Ummm. What? Nonstop Christmas music is back on 93.9 LITE FM starting Friday, by the Block Club’s Kelly Bauer

TAKING NAMES

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a partner at Mercury Public Affairs, hosted a fundraiser at her Chicago office to help Congresswoman Robin Kelly raise money for her leadership race as vice chair of the Democratic House Caucus. Kelly would be among the only Midwesterners in House leadership if she wins. Bustos was also a lone Midwesterner in senior House leadership during much of her tenure in Congress.

Liberal director Steve Pink made a movie about conservative Adam Kinzinger. What was he thinking? “The Last Republican” screened at film fests in Toronto and Chicago, but it has yet to find distribution for wider release, by Mary Dixon of WBEZ and Esther Bergdahl.

— Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich talks at length with Tucker Carlson. Watch here.

— City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado will receive the 2024 Motorola Solutions Foundation Excellence in Public Service Award in December. It honors non-elected government officials who have made an impact on state and local government services in Illinois. Details about the awards event are here.

 

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MEDIA MATTERS

— COLUMN: Newspapers are under assault and vanishing to our detriment: “Assaults on journalists in the United States are skyrocketing. … The dark and angry demonization of the media in politics, courtesy of Trump and his allies, is a chief instigator,” by the Tribune’s Laura Washington.

Reader Digest

We asked which political costumes you hope to see knocking at your door.

������Michael R. Lieber: “Pete BOO-tigieg, Amy Klo-BOO-char and Austan GHOULS-bee.”

Kam Buckner , the state rep, was spotted channeling former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Pic!

Eli Brottman: “Of course, the next president of the United States, Kamala Harris.”

David Eldridge: “People dressed as the Obamas. Having Abe walk up to the door would also be enjoyable.”

Graham Grady: “Former President Lyndon B. Johnson.”

Henry Haupt: “A political costume honoring Jimmy Carter would be very welcome. The wearer of the costume portraying the humanitarian, centenarian and former president deserves a king-size candy bar.”

Carlton Hull : “Our late Mayor Harold Washington.”

Jim Lyons: “Ed Burke in prison garb.”

John McCabe: “Lar ‘America First’ Daly in his Uncle Sam costume!”

Marilynn Miller : “Barack Obama, of course. His smile melts my 91-year-old heart.”

Josh Mogerman: “I don't think we will be seeing a lot of Paul Simon bow ties this year.”

Joseph Noonan: “Someone dressed as Lori Lightfoot dressed as ‘Rona Destroyer’.”

James Straus: “Paul Powell’s shoe box.” Pic!

Jane Ruby: “A little biased, but definitely my son's ballot box costume! (And very on brand for my job as LWV president.” Pic!

Timothy Thomas: “The Census Cowboy.”

Next question: Which celebrity endorsement made you blink? Email skapos@politico.com

THE NATIONAL TAKE

Wall Street CEOs are betting on Trump. Stocks suggest a Harris win, by POLITICO’s Declan Harty

Mark Cuban is delivering a Harris-Walz message more effectively than the Democratic ticket, by POLITICO’s Victoria Guida

Black turnout is lagging in North Carolina, a warning sign for Harris, by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider

 

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TRANSITIONS

— Joe Clary is now senior counsel at the Reyes Kurson law firm and the affiliated Roosevelt Group public affairs firm. He was chief counsel and parliamentarian to the Illinois Senate president and general counsel for the Cook County Finance Bureau.

— Jeff Leibach has joined Berkeley Research Group ’s Chicago office as managing director. He had co-led Guidehouse’s (formerly Navigant) managed care practice.

EVENTS

— Nov. 14: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, County Commissioner Monica Gordon and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering will be honored at the One Aim Illinois fundraiser, titled: "Stronger Together: Celebrating Over 50 Years of Coalition Building in the Fight to End Gun Violence. Register here.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Donovan Pepper for correctly answering that before Springfield, the first two state capitals were in Kaskaskia and Vandalia.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who was the first Black player to manage a Major League Baseball team? Email skapos@politico.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Humes Funeral Home owner John “Chip” Humes, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Senior Staff Attorney Irma Wilson, Tribune columnist and former White House correspondent Ellen Warren and attorney Edwin Reyes.

-30-

 

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