MoveOn has awarded the CivicLab a $1,000 Opportunity Fund grant to support the TIF IlluminationProject’s online petition drive aimed at getting the $1.7 billion in property tax funds that were in TIF accounts on January 1, 2013 distributed to the units of government that should’ve received those funds in the first place. Over 3,000 people have signed in three weeks! Thanks, MoveOn!
Author Archives: Tom Tresser
Tom Took On Cubs At 2013 Bughouse Square Debate
I was in the featured debate at the 2013 Bughouse Square Debate on Saturday, July 27 in front of the Newberry Library. The topic was “Should The City Subsidize The Cubs To Keep Them In Chicago?” My position was “NO WAY, NO HOW” side. On the other side was Lester Munson, reporter for ESPN. The event was moderated by Chicago’s great natural resource, Rick Kogan.
Listen to the debate and the Q&A session (34 minutes).
Here are my notes for the debate. Use them if you have to argue against subsidizing sports facilities or other private enterprise using public dollars…
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2012 TIF Totals Crowdsourced
Thanks to eight volunteers The TIF Illumination Project has analyzed all 154 of Chicago ‘s 154 2012 TIF Annual Reports. We determined that at the end of 2012 these TIFs had a combined fund balance of $1.7 billion. See this page for the rest of our findings.
Tom “Live From The Heartland Cafe”
Watch this 26 minute interview with CivicLab co-founder Tom Tresser, from the July 13 edition of “Live From The Heartland Cafe.” He breaks down TIFs and The TIF Illumination Project.
Logan Square TIF Forum
Neighbors from Logan Square want to know what TIFs are doing to their community. Even though we were supposed to be on summer break after doing 12 Wards in four months – we couldn’t say no. So – join us on July 18 at Haas Park at 6:30pm when we talk TIFs in Logan Square. Details and RSVP at Facebook, http://tinyurl.com/
Chicago IS Rising!
The volunteers of the CivicLab’s TIF Illumination Project are honored to be profiled in the July 22 issue of The Nation in a cover story feature entitled, “Chicago Rising.” The author attended the 4th Ward TIF Illumination on May 13. You can see all the presentations made at all 12 Ward Illuminations here – http://tifreports.com/tif-town-meetings.
49th Ward Illuminated!
It was a packed house at the Loyola Park field house on July 1. Despite a beautifully balmy summer night, over 100 people came to see the TIFs of the 49th Ward Illuminated.
Thanks to Don Gordon and the other organizers for pulling off a great meeting.
Here is the presentation. The audio is 55 minutes long.
Time To Illuminate The 49th! *Note Revised Date*
We’re heading north on July 1 to Illuminate the four TIFs in the 49th ward. Details and RSVP via Facebook @ http://tinyurl.com/
A special TIF treat – Chicago Reader political reporters Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke will be featured speakers. Ben got us started in the TIF biz! CivicLab co-founder Tom Tresser produced a meeting on TIFs in Lincoln Park back in 2008 where Ben broke it all down. No, Ben won’t be appearing with former Mayor Daley. It’s just a great picture!
11th and 12th Wards Illuminated!
It was a packed house at the McKinley Park Library for the 11th and 12th Ward Illumination. The TIF Illumination Project lit up the 16 TIFs inside those two wards. See the presentation and listen to the audio (59 minutes). If you find this work valuable, please make a non-deductible investment via WePay. Who else is telling you how TIFs are impacting Chicago on a ward-by-ward basis? Read coverage from Progress Illinois.
11th Ward TIF Illumination Preview
Check out this ten minute interview from Outside The Loop radio to get an overview of TIFs and a sneak preview of the 11th Ward TIF Illumination coming up on June 5.