Interesting Read
Over the past month, Mayor Daley's tax increment financing (TIF) system has attracted some much-needed scrutiny. First came the news that the city is forking over $3.8 million to insurance giant Willis Group Holdings to refurbish their swank new Sears Tower headquarters (despite the fact that the company's annual revenue exceeds $2 billion). Then we learned from the Sun-Times that condo owners in Chicago's University Village had benefited from TIF subsidies, only to flip their "affordable housing" for a profit (essentially pocketing those taxpayer dollars). Cook County Clerk David Orr recently summed it up well: "We’re looking at massive abuse. ...TIFs can be a good tool, but this has become a giant slush fund in the city of Chicago.”
While we could write on and on about the "massive abuse" of TIF, we're going to shift the focus slightly today -- to the hoarding of unspent TIF dollars.
Labels: corruption, we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
38 Comments:
I said it before. If there's money left over, you've overtaxed me and I want my change back, you lousy little sawed off dipshit. Shortshanks, you smelly little twirp, you can't steal it or steal it for you friends.
Go fuck yourself for all that you've done to us.
Thanks for the potholes too, asshole.
So where's my fucking contract you little Irish prick mother fucker?
Dats money fur da Lympics. Yuze guys ain't gettin none uh dat. You got dat Jodie? And where da hell is my coffee? Get da hell outa my office and run an git me some coffee.
Dats da lass time I hire from da FBI.
That TIF money will disappear on the day that Mayor ShortShanks is indicted,arrested,or convicted...
Taxpayers are NOT due a refund, SCC.
Taxpayers are due adequate police fire and municipal services, which they are not getting now and will get even less of if layoffs go into effect. Hoarding the money that should rightfully go to these basic city services is nothing short of criminal.
Taxpayers, perhaps you could get off your - ahem - couches, and start calling and writing and agitating for a change in this abysmal situation???
As I understood it. TIFF money by State Law could only be used in the districts that generated it. It's something that was told to me so PLEASE don't jump down my throat. I'm sure if DON DALEY wanted to we could get that pesky law changed to use that cash. Im also POSITIVE it would've been changed in time for his private circus aka 2016 Olympics.
GOD BLESS THE POLICE
THANK YOU FROM THE 8TH DISTRICT
Un-Armed-8th dist-held hostage-city worker.
our money for the contract raise is always there and then some. it is figured in with the police budget every year and with it a raise. if he goes without giving us the raise " contract negitiations" then that money goes where ? anyone, buehler. in his pocket for maggie.
AAH Yes SCC your correct, if government does increases their general fund, it usually results in better services for the it’s people and in some, a reduction in taxes or, but then you wake up and realize your in this city, then reality hits you... this being the most corrupt city government in the country, (or at least running neck and neck), and then there's Shortshanks.... follow the yellow brick road ... I mean the money trail, bet whatever entity stands to "profit" from this will be throwing money where ever the midget says...
Run the city into the ground, run it's infrastructure into the ground, walk all over it's citizens and smile about it... a class act.
FITZY?...FITZY?.....ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION FITZY?!!!!!!
Anonymous said...
FITZY?...FITZY?.....ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION FITZY?!!!!!!
6/10/2009 07:33:00 AM
We hope and pray you will indict this son of a bitch daley soon1
$1.4 Billion!
We're saved!
Now where's that retro ?
city unions need to get together and force da books open,no layoffs until da books are opened, over by dere!lawsuits.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Taxpayers are NOT due a refund, SCC.
Taxpayers are due adequate police fire and municipal services, which they are not getting now and will get even less of if layoffs go into effect. Hoarding the money that should rightfully go to these basic city services is nothing short of criminal.
Taxpayers, perhaps you could get off your - ahem - couches, and start calling and writing and agitating for a change in this abysmal situation???
6/10/2009 06:01:00 AM
As a taxpaying non-cop, I think you guys are doing a good job considering the circumstances. I can't say here in the 16th that we need more of you, but it would be nice if you had cars that ran and M4's. I think you should let the ghetto devolve into chaos and maybe the problem will solve itself; why risk your lives to protect people who choose to be animals? I think concealed carry would go a long way to easing your burden, as would the city's stance on bullshit lawsuits. Shoot at the police? Too bad - no settlement for you.
As for complaining about where the money goes: I write letters and make phone calls and all of them fall on deaf ears. It doesn't matter who you write to either - state, local, federal - it's all a bunch of bullshit. I remember asking Doherty why in the hell the city auctioned off Midway. He told me that the airport was a net drain on Chicago's finances. I asked him to provide me data, at least truncated, and he never replied. You see, they just make up whatever, then lie about it, and if you catch them, they just clam up. I also asked him why we pay him so much money for a part time job, and why he gave himself such a big raise. he told me that for a part time job, he spends an awful lot of time doing it. What the fuck kind of answer is that, really? This is who we are dealing with, and he's not even as corrupt as most!
As I understood it. TIFF money by State Law could only be used in the districts that generated it.
------
This is true. However, the whole city is covered in TIFs so that creates a huge slush fund of cash which the Mayor is then able to move around like in a street shell game. Aldermen have their TIFs but you better believe that Da Mare has a lot of influence in which developers, construction companies, etc., get contracts. Of course, then these developers donate back to Daley and/or offer corporate donations for things like Buckingham Fountain or the Olympic Bid. In addition, Da Mare gets aldermen to use some of their TIF money to purchase things that would otherwise have to be paid out of the general fund like buildings or improvements to City Colleges, Parks and Schools. Since that money then doesn't have to be spent out of the "on the books" general fund, there is now "on the books" money to spend on various initiatives that will make the Mayor and aldermen look good. Finally, since there is a implied "public good" aspect of TIFs, it is possible for developers to accomplish a land grab of prime city property.
Truly, the "shell game" analogy is a good one. Or, if you prefer, TIF money is the grease that lubricates the Chicago Machine which has an insatiable need for favors and cash to exchange hands quickly.
In the end, TIFs make tax money more flexible according to the machine's interests. In contrast, line item city budgets are more transparent and therefore less preferable when you don't want to have any direct accountability (or if there is something you want to do that is pretty shady).
TIFs can serve a purpose but -SURPRISE- they are grossly abused in Chicago. Springfield has done nothing to enact TIF reform. All of this is very, very bad for your average taxpayer who is being shortchanged on city services like safety & schools. In the end, that is what most people really care about: not getting shot in a drive-by, not having their business held-up and educating their children so they will have a future. Chicago is wealthy enough that basic quality of life things shouldn't be such of a luxury.
There are far, far too many people living in this city and county who always have and always will vote straight democratic. Enough so that I am basically disenfranchised. Those voters don't care how corrupt the democratic candidate may be, he or she will get the vote. This is not a racial issue either, I know many educated, hard working whites, including too many relatives of mine who would not vote for a conservative candidate under any circumstances. It is some sort of mental block. It is what it is.
There is no refund.
Da Mayer has da flu, he needs meds.
Dose are expensive,
right mike masters?
Go over to Chicago Reader and down load the entire TIF story by a REAL investigative reporter. The rest of these people should take lessons from this guy.
Here's an eye opener for all of you.
US Atty Fitzgerald isn't going to do shit to this asinine regime we live under. He'll only screw over the enemies of Shortshanks.
His record shows it.
Stop invoking his name like he's G*d! He's nothing but another political hack trying to keep his job.
Change change change give me my fu#@ing change you thief I hope you watch the olympics from a federal pen.
Projected cost evaluations are factored in each year budgets, this includes raises and retro pay for expired contracts. The cost of increased health care is set to the lowest possible figure to account for loosing this item on contract abratiration.
So Shortshanks has already paid us he just wants to keep our money! And not pay the pension fund what their due!
The TIFs are the real money. All the other stuff, the $40 million truck leasing, the deals for Vanecko et al, are small potatoes. The TIF law provides that money from one TIF can be used in another TIF that is connected physiclly to the first. See a picture emerging? ALL TIFs in Chicago are physically touching the next one, so the money can go wherever Shortshanks wants it to go,and in whose pockets... That's where Pat Fitzgerald should look, unless Daley is indeed his C.I.
18th District Copper
Are you telling us that a multi billion dollar insurance company gets millions for new offices and furniture from the city. But I have to work in filth with crumb ling paint and wash rooms that are un-usable in my city office???
The paint is falling off the walls, the electrical outlets have no covers, the windows and the roof leaks, and the toilet are are all covered with plastic bags so you can't use them. And I won't mention the total lack of maintenance and upkeep.
Yes it's the city that works! For everyone but it's citizens and employees.
Fitzy Fitzy Fitzy.....All i read is Fitzy, well let me tell you something....that pussy federal prosecutor isnt gonna do a Godamn thing to that jack-off shortshanks because he can't!!!!! He's not going to get him because if he gets even close Obama will cut his balls off long before anything serious happens so get your head outa your ass and forget about jack-off ever getting indicted!
its not doing nothing, its waiting patiently to be wasted on the olympics!
i keep hearing mike masters name coming up. this guy sounds like a complete dickhead.
Anonymous 6/10/2009 10:47:00 AM nailed it regarding TIFs.
"Go over to Chicago Reader and down load the entire TIF story by a REAL investigative reporter. The rest of these people should take lessons from this guy.
6/10/2009 12:14:00 PM"
You're talking about Ben Joravsky's work, right?
http://www.chicagoreader.com/tifarchive/
"Go over to Chicago Reader and down load the entire TIF story by a REAL investigative reporter. The rest of these people should take lessons from this guy.
6/10/2009 12:14:00 PM"
You're talking about Ben Joravsky's work, right?
http://www.chicagoreader.com/tifarchive/
6/10/2009 09:28:00 PM
Just read the story. Interesting. Why aren't ALL reporters writing like this? Have they all sold their soul like Spielman? If I were a reporter I'd be the biggest pain in the ass possible. They must all be lazy.
Except for Kass.
If I remember the Chicago Reader articles correctly, there is absolutely no accounting or auditing oversight of the TIF monies and the accrued total of unspent TIF monies is not reflected on the city's balance sheet.
Where such huge sums of public money is concerned, no politician should be the sole person controlling how that money is spent with no oversight whatsoever.
Especially Chicago where, graft, no-bid, contracting and jobs-for-favors is an epidemic.
That it goes on without the FBI doing anything about it shows the heirarchy of law enforcement is on the take. I mean what other explaination can there be?
Another example is drugs. There is no way the amount of drugs comming in to this country could get here without people high up in the government allowing it to happen.
If there was the will it could be stopped fast by sealing the borders with the military and reserves and if you are caught with coke, crack, meth or any other society rotting drug you go to a federal tent city prisoon in the middle of the desert.
who is this mike masters you speak of? is he of great importance in this city? sorry, thought i would try out a little "master" piece theater.
If Fitzgerald brings Daley down, drinks are on me.
The town where my summer place is voted, amongst the city reps, to use TIF money from one part of town in another. They were sued and won so I know it can be done. Daley has burke the jerks big law firms looking for loopholes for his schemes 24/7. I wish Vyrdolyak would rat out burke.
Anonymous said...
The town where my summer place is voted, amongst the city reps, to use TIF money from one part of town in another. They were sued and won so I know it can be done. Daley has burke the jerks big law firms looking for loopholes for his schemes 24/7. I wish Vyrdolyak would rat out burke.
6/11/2009 01:43:00 AM
another reason daley and burke are still fast friends! All they do is keep on stealing from "our" money!
I'll take my refund in quarters so that I can feed the meters 24 hrs a day!
daley and shiller and rich developer holsten just got a lawsuite against TIF thrown out due to a technicality - statue of limitations - go to www.fixwilsonyard.organd see suite.
Helen Shiller the ho of the 46th ward and her son Brendan have been suing the CPS for years
guys check out www.fixwilsonyard.org
SCC,
Here's a great read:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16052917/TIF-Program-Overview
Now lets get our Unions,Police and Fire,to come togehter and have a little sit down exploratory conversation with Patrick Collins about a run for Mayor.
TIF's in the 46th ward, Wilson Yard. Daley and Shiller are getting rich off building a new high rise housing project, and Daley's nephew who robbed the pension fund is in on it too. Despite several law suits aginst the project, work goes on. Daley has the courts in his pocket, and the SOB keeps getting away with it.
If Fitz brings down king Richie hell the drinks will be on,and I don.t drink alcohlol!!!!!
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