OK for one thing, property taxes are mostly the county, and license fees are not the city at all.

 

For another, the property taxes that are the city portion have not gone up for a few years.

 

Sticker fees did go up, as I recall, last year or the year before. I thought they were staying put this year though.

 

So, your claim that the city is increasing all these taxes really just isn't accurate.

 

Let me clarify.

 

Maybe it's not accurate, THIS year, or in the technical sense you seem to be married too. But they've raised fees on many things many times over the years. I guess if they call it a "fee" it's not a tax (this being the technical factor you are married too)...but that's the oldest trick in the political playbook. More that just stickers went up in price the last few years, and in essence, while not called tax, it's exactly what it is.

 

Then I guess we have to involve the County, State and whatever else...who can levy fees and taxes on Chicago whether the mayor likes it or not. So the City didn't raise taxes, but the county did, the state did, and whoever else did.

 

That new law Quinn just signed into IL law is going to raise Chicago property taxes whether Chicago likes it or not...so in wake of their abuse of the Chicago pension systems, IL law is imposing Chicago residents pay for their sins. So while Daley didn't raise my property taxes...he forced the state to do it because of their continued abuse of their pensions...so in effect, I blame their entire administration for causing it...and rightly so.

Edited January 4, 201115 yr by Y2HH

Shook hands with Rahm this morning at the California Blue Line stop.

Shook hands with Rahm this morning at the California Blue Line stop.

 

Were you able to wash off the slime?

Shook hands with Rahm this morning at the California Blue Line stop.

 

How was the nub.

How was the nub.

Quite nubby

Well, Carol Mosely-Braun is making quite the fool of herself. I mean, she seemed like kind of a dim bulb anyway, but this tax business is just hilarious. The other candidates reveal their taxes, Braun is asked, and she says (direct quote) "I don't want to". She's hammered for it, so releases... part of her taxes. Its revealed she was late on taxes many times. When further questions are asked, she says these two things, one right after another, and doesn't seem to understand how funny it sounds: "I am all about transparency", and "There will be no more drilling down".

 

She's done for any chance of actually winning, but will still take some of the vote.

 

Well, Carol Mosely-Braun is making quite the fool of herself. I mean, she seemed like kind of a dim bulb anyway, but this tax business is just hilarious. The other candidates reveal their taxes, Braun is asked, and she says (direct quote) "I don't want to". She's hammered for it, so releases... part of her taxes. Its revealed she was late on taxes many times. When further questions are asked, she says these two things, one right after another, and doesn't seem to understand how funny it sounds: "I am all about transparency", and "There will be no more drilling down".

 

She's done for any chance of actually winning, but will still take some of the vote.

 

It goes to show the problem here...that a person like herself could actually run for Mayor and get funding to do so. THEN, she will actually get some people to vote for her, despite all of this.

One of my friends worked for Braun's organic food business before it went under. Braun stopped paying all of her employees. Then recently when she started to think about running for mayor went and paid them.

 

My guess is that stuff like that is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

All things being considered its odd that Braun was the choice over a guy like Davis.

Wow. Even by the standards of Cook County, which makes the City of Chicago and State of Illinois look like models of fiscal discipline, this is amazing.

 

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has, on her county payroll, a full time driver at 94k/year and a cleaning lady at 57k per year. Only, on her budget, they are labeled as "Project Leader" and "Administrative Analyst". The driver apparently drives her to and from work, and to her yoga class, and spends the rest of the day sitting around. The cleaner works off hours as Pappas' personal cleaning lady.

 

When questioned about the payrollees, her response: "I'm keeping them".

 

Now, when Braun was this brazenly stupid, at least in her case, there was no law stating she had to show her taxes. In Pappas' case, she is clearly using taxpayer dollars for her personal benefit. And amazingly, seems to have no issue with that, even when called out publically for it.

 

Note to Illinois AG - time to dust off the laws for improper use of taxpayer funds and start prosecuting.

 

I am so very glad I do not live in Cook County.

un-f***ing-real

This from the county that felt the need to do things like add 2 f***ing points to the sales tax rate and build a new hospital that the whole world said was unnecessary.

 

This is, though, an opportunity for Preckwinkle. So far as the new County Board Prez, she's actually been making some good changes... working with the board to reduce the tax level, getting rid of a bunch of political hires, cutting some budgets, etc. Let's see if she does something on this as well.

 

Oh wait, just saw this too from the linked article. The car she is driven around in is a Dodge Caravan, which is leased for $13,680 a year. That's $1100+ a month, for a f***ing minivan.

 

Oh wait, just saw this too from the linked article. The car she is driven around in is a Dodge Caravan, which is leased for $13,680 a year. That's $1100+ a month, for a f***ing minivan.

 

Friend or family must run the dealership. You can lease a new Mercedes or Porsche for that price.

The race is a foregone conclusion...Rahm won.

This. It's already over.

 

His latest commercial annoys me with his inability to speak in complete sentences. But that's Rahm.

Oh wait, just saw this too from the linked article. The car she is driven around in is a Dodge Caravan, which is leased for $13,680 a year. That's $1100+ a month, for a f***ing minivan.

If her job is driving to and from the office...like every other person that works, why the hell does she even have a company car, let alone the driver? Unless it's in her job description to drive from location to location, why would her position require a car?

If her job is driving to and from the office...like every other person that works, why the hell does she even have a company car, let alone the driver? Unless it's in her job description to drive from location to location, why would her position require a car?

 

Job perk? I don't know how much a treasurer would travel typically.

Oh wait, just saw this too from the linked article. The car she is driven around in is a Dodge Caravan, which is leased for $13,680 a year. That's $1100+ a month, for a f***ing minivan.

Unbelievable.

That number seems too ridiculous on it's face. It makes me think there's something else covered in there. Then again, she also has a $92,000 driver.

I will drive her around for 70,000. Save the tax payers some money.

Well, I sent emails to Preckwinkle's website, and the cook county board president's "Make Cook County More Efficient" page. If enough people do the same, maybe something gets done.

 

Well, I sent emails to Preckwinkle's website, and the cook county board president's "Make Cook County More Efficient" page. If enough people do the same, maybe something gets done.

Good idea.

Oh wait, just saw this too from the linked article. The car she is driven around in is a Dodge Caravan, which is leased for $13,680 a year. That's $1100+ a month, for a f***ing minivan.

This needs to be looked at further. She's probably leasing another one for next to nothing, while letting the taxpayers pay everything on this one.

First mayoral debate will be on WTTW on Monday at 7 PM.

First mayoral debate will be on WTTW on Monday at 7 PM.

 

Mosely Braun was awful. Final nail in the coffin for my potential vote.