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Chicago Sun-Times: A progressive income tax for Illinois is anything but “moral”
The Sun-Times’ Feb. 11 editorial, ”A moral argument for the rich in Illinois paying a fairer share“ gets one thing right: It’s morally imperative to protect the middle class.
Unfortunately, a progressive income tax will do the exact opposite.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Obama Presidential Center Faces Court Ruling Tuesday
A federal judge could decide Tuesday whether or not to toss a lawsuit challenging the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. The suit, brought by the nonprofit group Protect Our Parks against the city and the Chicago Park District, argues the 19.3 acres of federally protected public park space cannot be legally transferred to a private entity. The Chicago Plan Commission and City Council approved zoning and traffic changes to clear the way for the project last October, but it still faces a slew of federal reviews in addition to the lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey is scheduled to issue a ruling Tuesday on whether or not the plaintiffs have standing to proceed with the case in federal court. A protracted lawsuit could significantly delay the construction of the center, if not halt it outright.
The Southern: More, better funding for mental health services proposed by state legislators
An Illinois advocacy group is pushing legislation it says would bring $50 million in new money to state mental health services over the next four years.
According to the Illinois Coalition for Better Mental Health Care, more than 2.5 million Illinoisans have a mental health condition.
Chicago Sun-Times: Rahm’s agency heads could outlast him thanks to golden parachute contracts
Rahm Emanuel’s mayoral reign ends in May, but thanks to contracts he’s extended to many key agency heads, whoever replaces Emanuel will be stuck with them for years to come — or pay handsomely for the privilege of making new appointments.
A clean sweep of the heads of the Chicago Park District, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Housing Authority would cost taxpayers at least $820,000 in golden parachute salaries — and more for benefits — in addition to the salaries for the new appointees. That’s according to an analysis of those contracts by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Crain's Chicago Business: It's time to modernize the assessor's office
The world’s leading institutional investors view the commercial assessment system in Cook County as full of risk and uncertainty. The globalizing real estate market is deterred by the idiosyncrasies and opacity of our system.
Northwest Herald: Our View: Time for Gasser to resign
We join the members of the public and the Algonquin Township Board calling for Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser to resign.
The chaos Gasser has brought to the township highway department in less than two years in office is staggering. From his first day in office, when he fired union employees without cause, to the events of the past week, Gasser has demonstrated that he prioritizes his personal agenda ahead of the public interest.
Peoria Journal-Star: Pekin business leaders, workers see minimum wage increase as negative development
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s optimism over the Illinois General Assembly approving a raise to the state’s minimum wage didn’t appear to extend to Pekin’s business community.
The Lifting Up Illinois Families Act passed the Illinois House last week and awaits the governor’s signature. It calls for incremental increases to the minimum wage, culminating in a $15 hourly rate by 2025 for workers 18 and older. Those under 18 would make $13 an hour by that time.
State Journal-Register: Want to own a vacant lot in Springfield? They’re going for $500
When Madeline Huffman bought her house eight years ago, she knew she wanted the two lots next door that had condemned houses on them. Her small house on the 800 block of North 12th Street can be small for her, her son, his girlfriend and all of their rescue animals: six dogs, two cats and a Macaw named Buddy who knows naughty words.
She could fence in the lots, she thought, giving her dogs — Scout, Josie, brothers Duke and Peewee, Bulldozer and queen bee Chloe — room to roam. Also, once she left the house to the kids, they could put up a garage.