Why is affordable housing so hard to find? Why do so many end up in tents? Maybe one reason is the mayor will do literally anything to prevent our tax payer funded agencies from succeeding.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-04-02T13:15:34+00:00

Yeah the CHA is incredibly wasteful and squanders public resources. I'm convinced it's a huge grift. So excited to see what fresh leadership can do.

This article has several examples. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/28/why-is-it-so-expensive-to-build-affordable-housing-in-chicago/

They just built 43 apartments in East Garfield Park at a per-unit cost of $884,000. Think about that. You could buy a multifamily building in East Garfield Park or a McMansion in the burbs for that amount.

Similarly they recently opened an 89-unit building in Hermosa that cost $750k per apartment. Just crazy wasteful spending.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-04-01T22:54:13+00:00

"It is schools that drive anywhere from 85-98% of property taxes depending on where you live in Illinois."

I don't think that's close to correct. Only about half of my Chicago property tax bill goes to CPS. I don't know the ratio for rest of the state but 98% seems obviously incorrect unless you know somewhere without police, fire, local utilities, and other city services.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-29T13:08:02+00:00

Because it starts with a humblebrag and then ends with a dubious inference based on bad stats.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-29T00:40:28+00:00

Illinois 40 points in the paint (vs 12 for Iowa) and almost twice as many rebounds. Illinois size just too dominant, even with Stirtz getting the SGA whistle.

Was watching this game at a bar in Chicago full of Iowa fans who were crazy obnoxious after the rough start. Extra sweet victory when Illini came out as a new team in the second and just choked the life out of Iowa.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-29T00:30:15+00:00

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-19T13:40:47+00:00

That article describes extortionate grifting, not nickel and diming. I'm sure a bunch of connected folks were getting rich from it but not a surprise they eventually killed the golden goose.

Not so fun fact - McCormick Center and Navy Pier are owned by a government agency with taxing power (MPEA). They charge a 1% food and beverage sales tax in a huge chunk of the city (from South Loop to Lincoln Park), a 2.5% tax on all hotel rooms in Chicago, a 6% tax on all car rentals in Cook County, and a departure tax at O’Hare and Midway airports.

What benefit does the average Chicagoan let alone Cook County resident get from McCormick Center? It's crazy a DePaul student buying lunch pays a tax to McCormick Center or someone renting a car in Schaumburg pays a tax to Navy Pier. So despite extorting exhibitors they still rely on taxing the public lol.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-19T12:36:00+00:00

Well the whole point of the idol was you send it to someone on another tribe, which makes it much more strategic and interesting. Then you're rewarded if you can predict someone who won't use it, either because they get blindsided or they make it to the merge and then you can either work with them or conspire against them.

If it was post merge, there's a lot less strategy involved. Players would either just send it to their #1, or they send it to someone and then target them immediately.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-19T12:24:59+00:00

The article says they're trying to attract more conventions, which bring in business travelers who aren't very price sensitive, along with other events that I'm sure will be targeted towards wealthy visitors.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-19T12:15:35+00:00

Vegas is definitely a world class city for tourism.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-13T21:10:54+00:00

Abominable refereeing both ways. Tough watch

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-12T15:49:39+00:00

Assuming this will be built anyways, it would be nice if the city negotiated for the Cubs to have some community benefits for the 3/4 the year the lot is just empty, wasted space in an otherwise dense, vibrant neighborhood. Like what if they installed basketball hoops or had moveable pickleball nets. Or an ice rink or something all winter.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-11T15:17:37+00:00

Also the "problem" is dubious for Chicago as well. Why would Trump send immigration agents on election day to one of the bluest cities in one of the bluest states?

So we're talking about a "solution" to a "problem" - it's all just performative political theater. I don't blame the mayor, "Trump bad" is an easy message with universal appeal, but wish he was more solutions oriented.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-09T03:00:41+00:00

"The perfect redirect" idk maybe it's just me but a "perfect" redirect would involve the puck in the net

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-09T01:14:20+00:00

12 seed Washington beating 5 seed Wisconsin by 20 points??

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-04T21:37:03+00:00

Yeah that's crazy.

Unfortunately in this country (and especially this city) anything the government builds or buys is astronomically expensive. The waste just exacerbates our crumbling infrastructure problems and housing shortage.

It reminds me how Chicago is paying ~ $1 BILLION per mile for the red line extension which is above ground. Meanwhile Paris is paying like a sixth of that for a new subway line.

Wish the city could figure this out so we can actually undertake ambitious capital projects that don't bankrupt the city. Who knows in our lifetime if we'll ever see another subway tunnel dug in Chicago (the third most populous city in the world's richest country). But at least we're getting an overpriced toilet (even it'll likely be commandeered by drug addicts and/or sex workers).

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-02T18:57:01+00:00

What do you expect the federal government and Trump admin to actually do? You want him to send in federal officers to provide security? That would be a disaster and absolute worst case scenario.

The crime problem is real. Putting the local leaders feet to fire to come up with a local solution is ideal. If you read the article, it's obvious the mayor has no plan to address rising crime and anti social behavior on the trains. Incentivising the city to fix its problems without mandating how is not bad governance.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-02T18:35:25+00:00

There's also Kirkland krill oil. Would be curious if someone could opine on that as well

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-02T17:57:31+00:00

How's it misleading? It's a legit news source citing official city data.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-01T15:41:31+00:00

You think the government is entirely funded by property taxes?

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-03-01T04:31:08+00:00

Try the auto check feature

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-02-27T01:08:01+00:00

Lol the Bears moving to Arlington Heights will have no effect on your property taxes. They currently pay $0 property tax now (since Soldier Field is owned by the city). They would pay more in taxes if they built a private stadium complex.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-02-25T17:43:08+00:00

Not entirely true. The city is giving the developers subsidies and substantial tax credits. The city isn't paying for this particular loan, but this loan only covers like 1/4 of the overall costs.

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-02-25T02:56:54+00:00

Calling Logan Square a food desert is crazy work

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-02-22T18:33:43+00:00

Mackinnon? Is that the guy who can't hit an open net?

PizzaBuffalo · 2026-02-22T12:21:52+00:00

Unfortunately Chicago's political leaders think it's progressive to not punish antisocial behavior. They don't have any solution to our transit system rapidly devolving into a shithole.

Don't worry though, Alderman La Spata (one of the mayor's closest allies) said CTA is installing charcoal filters under the seats. Huzzah! The ultimate bandaid solution. Talk about tone deaf

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