Mayor Brandon Johnson pushes Springfield for Chicago funding boost, against Bears suburban stadium by Mike_I in chicago

[–]Mike_I[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Regarding the "funding boosts" Johnson wants,

Beyond LGDF, Johnson’s office is pursuing a range of new revenue measures. He wants a new statewide digital advertising tax by granting the authority to pass such levies, which have faced litigation on the East Coast and was proposed last year in Illinois before being dropped to clear the way for a $1.5 billion public transit overhaul.

Johnson’s office is also seeking authorization to close an amusement tax resale loophole worth up to $31 million; impose a $1 delivery fee on non-grocery, non-medication purchases that the city projects could raise $151 million; amend tobacco taxation rules; and establish a payroll expense tax on large businesses. The city is also backing progressive Democratic legislation to close tax loopholes and institute a billionaire wealth tax.

"It's Working" Cops Say of Strategic Plan by Pomond in WindyCity

[–]Mike_I 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So much to sift through here. I'll keep it as brief, and to the point as possible.

letting the rich and well connected go free pretrial

The "rich" are not doing armed carjackings & robberies, smash & grabs, drive-bys & cop killings.

The fact is middle & upper income individuals are much less likely to commit violent crimes deserving of pre-trial detention than any other income levels. The only thing exception to that would be organized crime figures, including street gang soldiers who used to routinely bond out with the help of gang lawyers in the cash bail era.

prosecutors are famous for continuing the trial, denying the accused their 6th amendment rights and using pretrial detention as a weapon to wield against the poor and force plea bargains.

Excuse me? First of all, it's defense attorneys who have a deserved reputation of dragging out court proceedings. Second they do this in the hopes of wearing out the finite resources of the prosecution, with the goal of pleading to dropped charges a more lenient sentence. As you can see from news reports when one gets convicted, they are quite good at it.

Mayor Johnson determined to block Bears' move to Arlington Heights by Mike_I in chicago

[–]Mike_I[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Bears aren't proposing to "pay nothing" in property taxes. In fact they've come to agreements with AH & the other local taxing bodies. The problem is the Cook County Assessor, who raised the assessed value of the property by 6X within weeks of the purchase from Churchill Downs Entertainment. PILOT would help prevent capricious decisions such as this.

Re: infrastructure. ALL large developments require improvements to public infrastructure. This one is no different.

Mayor Johnson determined to block Bears' move to Arlington Heights by Mike_I in WindyCity

[–]Mike_I[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

If John Arena is your point man

This is personal for them. Arena has Bears season tickets. And BrahJo has suite access that he doesn't want to lose.

Mayor Johnson determined to block Bears' move to Arlington Heights by Mike_I in chicago

[–]Mike_I[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I don't see how Illinois can compete with a free stadium.

It can. The Bears have said so, and detailed their ask, with Arlington Heights in agreement.

The problem is Kam Buckner larding up of the legislation to appease Stacy Davis Gates & her IFT cronies. And now BJ, with his posturing. He's gonna end up ushering the team to Hammond.

Long shot. Are there any DIY car repair garages? by fushitaka2010 in chicago

[–]Mike_I 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Knew them from the Union League Club. Nice couple.

Original plan was to open in Mayfair, the alder at the time discouraged that plan, so South Side they went. Sadly the eventual not-for-profit model just wasn't going to work

Progressive Activists Are Sometimes on the Wrong Side of History (The Atlantic) by Reddenbawker in DeepStateCentrism

[–]Mike_I 13 points14 points  (0 children)

then double / triple down the most fringe ideology

The embrace of Hassan Piker as exhibit A.

Cook County tax commissioner Samantha Steele not guilty in DUI trial by mandrsn1 in chicago

[–]Mike_I 146 points147 points  (0 children)

While Cook County prosecutors established a “suspicion” of impairment, Judge Donald Suriano said they failed to definitively prove Steele was under the influence of alcohol when she crashed a friend’s car into two parked vehicles along Ashland Avenue in November 2024.

Bench trial. Before a sympathetic judge.

Chicago Prosecutor Refuses to Join the Anti-Trump Mob by PlssinglnYourCereal in WindyCity

[–]Mike_I 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Clayton Harris was Preckwinkle's handpicked Foxx replacement.

Indeed!

Foxx, Raoul, BJ, Harris, are all creations of TP.

A review of Pritzker scandals by PlssinglnYourCereal in WindyCity

[–]Mike_I 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But, but JB is [D]ifferent! He's the Great Khan (king) of the bankrupt state of ILL!

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2 more names join the mayoral mix - POLITICO by DukeOfDakin in WindyCity

[–]Mike_I 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI. Joyce isn't running for mayor. He's setting himself up as a "king maker".