News

Aldermen Attend 33rd Ward Illumination, Sign Check!

SRO-Aug_8It 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.

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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.

Be With Us At The CivicLab

Erica's_post Thanks to organizer Erica Sagrans for posting this to  Facebook! We are in the process of re-designing the space so it will be fun and super friendly and useful to be at. Please stop by at 114 N. Aberdeen to see what we have planned for the CivicLab!

  • Rent a desk or a “floating” space with us!
  • Teach a class or workshop here!
  • Hold a meeting or retreat here!
  • Produce a special event here!

Contact us at info@civiclab.us.

 

Why TIFs Hurt Us

At least ONE of the major reasons. Because the state’s contribution to public education is so shockingly low, school districts in Illinois rely heavily on local property taxes to fund their schools. So, anything that diverts property taxes from public schools places a burden on an already under-funded public education system. Likewise, if you live in a town or city where the property tax revenues are high, your school system will be better off. From “Illinois Kids Count 2013.”

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Sign the petition aimed at Mayor Emanuel – “Empty the TIF accounts!“

Mr. Mayor, Empty The TIFs

From a press conference held outside the State of Illinois Building on August 2, 2013. The Chicago Teachers Union and the RAISE your Hand Coalition of concerned public school parents delivered a letter to Attorney General Lisa Madigan asking her to get the true story of where our $1.7 billion in TIF funds are being held.

Join with over 3,000 people who have signed this online petition to the mayor from The TIF Illumination Project demanding that the TIF accounts be emptied and all property taxes turned over to the units of government that should’ve gotten those dollars in the first place.

MoveOn Supports Petition Campaign!

MoveOn-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!

We Have A Home! Do YOU Need One?

114 Aberdeen-cropped The CivicLab has a home!

We are so excited to announce that as of July 1, 2013 we have moved into the first floor of an 1870’s firehouse at 114 N. Aberdeen in the West Loop!

We are seeking people and organizations to co-work with us, that is, to rent space at the CivicLab and to hang with us when you need a place to work and meet.

We are also seeking people to teach classes and workshops on a broad range of civic and science topics. See our main page on this website for full details.

WE NEED STUFF! If you have furniture, computer gear, book shelves, tools and other items that would help us get started – PLEASE DROP THEM OFF ON SATURDAY, JULY 20, between 10am and 7pm. For more information, please call 312-857-6485 or email info@civiclab.us

Please drop by any week day from 10am to 6pm!