Community News

Chicago City Watch and City Budget hearings and reports, closing loopholes This page brought to you by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and HPKCC's website, www.hydepark.org. Join the Conference!

The 2008 deficit is very substantial and talk is of some layoffs, no tax increases, downsizing and perhaps reducing wages and benefits for new employees. The problem beyond the drop in revenues is that so much of property tax revenue goes to pension and bond obligations, which have been increasing steadily since well beyond the downturn. Similar problems are faced by all units of government. Of great concern is the effort to fee everything, even maybe trash dumpsters.

What went up with the 2009 budget passed Nov. 19 2008: not property tax. Parking up .75 to $3 at garages and lots that charge $12 or more. Pkg. tickerts- boot after 2 unpayed tickets year+ due. Residential guest parking permits up from $10 to $16 for 30, but no longer have to pay $1 for online. Amusement tax up 1 percent. Commercial trash bins- ranges from $80 to $780. Maxwell Market vendors fee triples (covers bouncing jacks). Layoffs over 600.
Aldermen Preckwinkle and Hairston opposed the revenue side (because of the dumpster fee) but voted yes on the budget, only Ocasio voting "no". And she and Ald. Hairston voted no on the rush-through of the sale of parking meters and steep price increase.

Mayor Daley said recent budgets provide more affordable housing. How the budget will "strengthen the economy and create more well-paying jobs" is hard to discern. He says it "will invest in new and improved streets, alleys and sidewalks" presumably because it gives the first increase in the aldermanic "menu" budget in five years. The balance act draws on "unexpectedly" higher revenues and $75 million from the Skyway accounts. The Skyway money goes to after-school programs, job training for ex-offenders, Meals on Wheels, home heating assistance and service fairs.

The workforce is the lowest in the Daley years, 35,872 less a few more fired. The non police/fire category is down 4,200 since 1989.

Closing some housing and contractor loopholes

Ald. Hairston with Metropolitan Tenants and African American Family Commission introduce and ordinance blocking landlords who do not keep up property from getting city funds until the problems are corrected.

Hairston worked with CHA head Terry Paterson to have a letter sent to building owners saying they cannot receive the subsidy for Section 8 voucher holders if the building is in violation or arrears.

The "Troubled Building Initiative" would provide that 1 to 4 unit residential buildings that have been foreclosed or are vacant and have deteriorated and threaten public health or safety would be acquired by the NHS Redevelopment Corp. and rehabbed or sold including to owner-occupants.

Ald. Hairston and others have reintroduced legislation requiring city council approval for contracts over $100,000 as a safeguard against continued abuses of the city' set-aside programs.

August 26 2004 preliminary hearing for South Side brings out opposition to Renaissance 2010 schools plan

from Herald coverage, September 1, 2004, by Jeremy Adragna

The Mayor praised the property tax cap passed by the state and overhaul of the city hired trucks program. The budget gap is still large- he proposes to fill it in part with a casino.

Topics raised by residents at South Shore Cultural Center included, as always, specific infrastructure needs (sewers, sidewalks, streets, alleys, lighting), police deployment changes, and this year included much fear and complaint about the evolving schools reform plans, Renaissance 2010 and Mid-South Initiative.

The latter will involve closure of many schools and their reopening as charter or private schools after a period of reorganization--Reavis School in Kenwood is already headed in that direction if it doesn't make substantial progress in 2004-5. Parents from Reavis criticized CPS lack of communication and non-transparency on the program and process, including how to move students to new schools. They said low-income students are not welcomed back to closed schools and LSCs are weakened or dissolved in the process. They asked that the process be halted and a new plan be worked out with parents.

As to police deployment and lack of presence complaints, Daley said a major shakeup at the command level is is underway.

Others asked for equal city services.