Category Archives: TIF Town Meeting

Aldermen Attend 33rd Ward Illumination, Sign Check!

It was a packed house at the 33rd Ward TIF Illumination on August 8, 2013! Over 120 people filled the community room at the Christ Lutheran Church in Albany Park to learn the details of the four TIFs in their ward. Aldermen Deb Mell and Ray Colon attended the full meeting and heard from parents and school children on the devastating impacts of the recently announced school cuts on their lives. They Aldermen were asked to pledge to take the $1.7 billion from the TIF accounts and send that money to the units of government that should’ve received those funds in the first place. They did so. Then they were asked to sign a giant check for $850,000,000 – the public’s share of that money. They did so!

The meeting was organized by The Albany Park Neighborhood Council.

Review the presentation by Tom Tresser here.

Add your voice to the demand that the Mayor empty the TIF accounts and put that money to work for the people by signing this petition.

MoveOn Supports CivicLab Online TIF Petition!

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!

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/TIF-meeting-7-18.

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.

TIFs in the 49th Ward from Thomas Tresser

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/TIF-Present-7-1.

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.

The TIFs of the 11th & 12th Wards from Thomas Tresser

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.

Coverage Of 4th Ward Illumination

Despite a Bull’s playoff game 50 people came Room 43 on Monday, May 13 for the 4th Ward Illumination. Read the coverage at Progress Illinois. See the presentation and listen to the audio at SlideShare.