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Over the years I've heard countless explanations from various aldermen of what TIFs are and how they work.
I've heard aldermen Berny Stone and Ed Burke claim that TIFs don't raise property taxes, even though they obviously do. I've heard former alderman Patrick O'Connor say that the operating details of TIFs are just too complicated for ordinary people to understand, so why bother explaining. And I've heard everyone from former alderman Ted Matlack to alderman Pat Levar get lost in the netherworld of tax increment financing until all eyes glazed over.
But yesterday up on the northwest side I heard something unique. Speaking before a group of residents who wanted his opinion about a TIF-funded school proposed for their community, 38th Ward aldermen Tom Allen told something close to the truth. TIFs, he said, are "slush funds" created by raising the property tax.
Why is the city using them to build new schools? someone in the audience asked.
Because it's embarrassing to keep doling them out to developers, he explained. "We've got this little slush fund called the TIFs just sitting there. We [the aldermen] started convincing the [Daley] administration to have to cut loose this money."
Maybe Allen's gearing up to take the bold step of voting against future TIF districts, which require City Council approval.
At the same meeting Allen took a survey, asking his listeners whether they supported putting the Children's Museum in Grant Park.
The audience erupted with a chorus of nos, firing off a barrage of questions and comments: Why put it there? How much stuff are they going to cram in that park? They should put it somewhere that really needs it.
This meeting was being held in the basement of a church near Cicero and Addison, mind you. So Mayor Daley can't accuse these people of being high-rise dwellers who want to keep black children out of their neighborhood.
"When Mayor Daley gets mad at me, will you stick up for me?" asked Allen, strongly suggesting that he planned to vote against the museum.
"Will you stick up for us?" one resident responded.
Ah, Chicago, city of deals.
Wow. Someone help him find his....
You beat that Chocolate Chip Coconate fair and square. He is too reform minded for us. By you winning it keeps the power base in place. It keeps us a white mayor and that is more important than higher service fees and taxs. Great Job. Now you must support the whole democratic ticket. You should call it the Oreo ticket. Me , Dorothy Brown, Eugene Moore and Anita" Jon Burge" Alvarez. keep up the good work and I'll be in the hood come August. Should I use the back door at the Blackthorn restuarant you own?
May 22, 2008 (WATCHDOGS-Sun-Times)
It was like the Red Sea parting when Sheila McGinnis ran for judge six years ago: Everyone else bowed out. She won by default.
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What scared off rivals of the young and inexperienced prosecutor? Maybe this: She's Mayor Daley's cousin.
McGinnis was charged with drunken driving in Tinley Park two weeks ago, when her car crashed into a minivan and she refused sobriety tests. She's now on desk duty. McGinnis' late father, Thomas Kilroe, was a first cousin of the mayor. Her husband -- Brian McGinnis -- is an assistant city building commissioner.
Abdon M. Pallasch
REGISTER TO VOTE
VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
Before every election, compile a list of the Incumbents seeking reelection, from every branch of government, Executive, Legislative and Judicial, and for every contested office, be it city, county, state or federal.
Bring this list with you when you go to vote.
In Primary Elections:
Vote in the Primary of the political party of your choice, preferably that party which has the most Incumbents seeking their party's nomination to be that party's candidate in the General Election.
The goal is to deny Incumbents reelection in the General election, so, if the Incumbent fails to win their party's Primary Election, that Incumbent will not be that party's candidate in the General Election.
If the Incumbent has only 1 challenger, vote for that challenger.
If the Incumbent has 2 or more challengers, then, to maximize the votes for a single challenger, vote according to ballot name position, following these two, simple rules of thumb:
1. If the Incumbent's name is listed FIRST, vote for the Challenger whose name is listed LAST
or
If the Incumbent's name is NOT listed first, vote for the Challenger whose name IS LISTED FIRST.
Denying the Incumbents their party's nomination to run in the General election will ensure that those Incumbents will now be Ex-Incumbents.
In the General Election, if given the opportunity, vote for any candidate who is NOT a member of the Democratic or Republican party.
Breaking the stranglehold these two party's have on our governments is the only means of returning democracy to Our Democracy, Of the
People, By the People and For the People.
Anything less is, and has been, proven to be futile.
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
He needs to fight Daley more.
NO MORE PROPERTY TAXES!!!!
interesting
I'd like to learn more about Loeff
here's everything I know about him so far
thanks in advance
Loeff, Scott
6933 N. Kedzie Ave. #816
(Stone's next door neighbor)
Occupation: Attorney
Employer: City of Chicago
Loeff,Scott
Asst Commissioner
Dept Of Buildings
$102,744/yr
hired 05/04/89
to the Democratic Club of the 50th Ward
Bernard L. Stone, Chairman
$25.00 11/30/2007
$25.00 11/9/2007
$50.00 10/17/2007
$50.00 10/1/2007
$50.00 9/19/2007
$100.00 9/7/2007
$200.00 8/23/2007
$175.00 9/8/2006
$300.00 8/9/2006
$50.00 8/9/2006
$350.00 5/25/2005
$200.00 5/2/2005
$200.00 4/12/2005
$125.00 3/8/2005
$60.00 6/8/2004
$175.00 5/18/2004
$175.00 5/4/2004
$300.00 4/27/2004
$500.00 5/6/2003
$175.00 4/22/2003
$200.00 5/30/2002
$175.00 5/10/2002
$175.00 4/23/2002
$100.00 4/17/2002
$75.00 5/17/2001
$300.00 5/1/2001
$175.00 4/18/2001
$100.00 4/9/2001
$125.00 5/16/2000
$300.00 5/9/2000
$175.00 5/4/2000
Loeff appears on the City clout list
Scott was promoted from Personnel Specialist after Dennis J. Morrissey was elected judge of the Circuit Court.
Scott Loeff worked closely with Timothy McCarthy (11th Ward, convicted with Sorich) while he was employed at DOA.
Scott received the Osterman Award for outstanding public service. He was active in a group that sponsored camping trips for children afflicted by Tourette's Syndrome as well.
Don't underestimate him if you're involved in an employment situation.
VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
Before every election, compile a list of the Incumbents seeking reelection, from every branch of government, Executive, Legislative and Judicial, and for every contested office, be it city, county, state or federal.
Bring this list with you when you go to vote.
In Primary Elections:
Vote in the Primary of the political party of your choice, preferably that party which has the most Incumbents seeking their party's nomination to be that party's candidate in the General Election.
The goal is to deny Incumbents reelection in the General election, so, if the Incumbent fails to win their party's Primary Election, that Incumbent will not be that party's candidate in the General Election.
If the Incumbent has only 1 challenger, vote for that challenger.
If the Incumbent has 2 or more challengers, then, to maximize the votes for a single challenger, vote according to ballot name position, following these two, simple rules of thumb:
1. If the Incumbent's name is listed FIRST, vote for the Challenger whose name is listed LAST
or
If the Incumbent's name is NOT listed first, vote for the Challenger whose name IS LISTED FIRST.
Denying the Incumbents their party's nomination to run in the General election will ensure that those Incumbents will now be Ex-Incumbents.
In the General Election, if given the opportunity, vote for any candidate who is NOT a member of the Democratic or Republican party.
Breaking the stranglehold these two party's have on our governments is the only means of returning democracy to Our Democracy, Of the
People, By the People and For the People.
Anything less is, and has been, proven to be futile.
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT