Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

By LyLena Estabine

01/23/2025

Published Jan. 23, 2025 Chicago’s 2020 Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance, while well-intentioned, has stifled development. Despite 71% of Chicagoans being in favor of putting additional dwelling units on existing residential lots – higher than the national average – restrictive and inequitable regulations have ensured very few are built.1 Only 44% of pre-approved applications have received...

Chicago Teachers Union demands $543K property tax break on union HQ

By Patrick Andriesen

07/31/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is seeking a $543k property tax cut that would take about $301K from the schools where its members teach. CTU’s also making over $10 billion in contract demands, which would certainly drive up Chicagoans’ tax bills.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, taxes

Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax could hit more than 100 grocery stores

By Dylan Sharkey

03/12/2024

“Bring Chicago Home” would classify more than 100 grocery stores as high-end properties that need to “pay their fair share” if sold. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s rhetoric fails to match his tax hike’s realities.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, real estate transfer tax

2019-2020 Illinois corruption tracker

By Austin Berg

11/11/2019

Government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to research by the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy more than $550 million per year. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved in what appears to be...

Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system

By Amy Korte

07/19/2018

Illinois should take steps toward more accurate and frequent property assessments to ensure the tax burden is distributed as fairly as possible.

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

By Orphe Divounguy

01/06/2018

While effective property tax rates might be on the decline in some communities, census data show Illinois families are seeing a larger share of their household budgets eaten up by property tax bills.

Meet the politicians who stand to get rich off of Chicago’s massive property-tax hike

By Austin Berg

07/09/2016

More scrutiny from property owners means more money in the pockets of certain members of Illinois’ political elite, including House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Corruption Watch

07/05/2016

Headlines in June show why Chicago is considered one of the most corrupt cities in the world.

TAGS: corruption, good government, transparency

Burke saved Trump $11.7M in Chicago property-tax appeal scheme

By Austin Berg

04/30/2016

Donald Trump, Chicago Alderman Edward Burke

Flawed property valuations and the process required to fix them are a cash cow for law firms, including those of House Speaker Mike Madigan, Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.

TAGS: Chicago, Donald Trump, Ed Burke, property taxes

Meet the politicians getting rich off Chicago’s property-tax scheme

By Austin Berg

10/16/2015

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, Ed Burke, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, property taxes

Cook County Assessor

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

Chicago Teachers Union demands $543K property tax break on union HQ

Chicago Mayor Johnson’s real estate tax could hit more than 100 grocery stores

2019-2020 Illinois corruption tracker

Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

Meet the politicians who stand to get rich off of Chicago’s massive property-tax hike

Corruption Watch

Burke saved Trump $11.7M in Chicago property-tax appeal scheme

Meet the politicians getting rich off Chicago’s property-tax scheme

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students