Emanuel doesn't rule out another property tax hike if re-elected

2018年4月27日星期五

Emanuel doesn't rule out another property tax hike if re-elected

Topspin

As he runs for a third term, Mayor Rahm Emanuel continues to blame the city's ongoing financial problems on the situation he inherited and declined in an upcoming radio interview to rule out another property tax hike if re-elected.

In an interview with WLS-AM's Bill Cameron that will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on the "Connected to Chicago" program, the mayor as usual didn't name predecessor Richard M. Daley. But Emanuel talked about having to raise taxes to cover decisions made before he took office in 2011.

Emanuel demurred when asked whether he would at least take another property tax increase off the table to deal with unfunded pension obligations.

"Here's how I look at this, is we have done a lot on property taxes," he said. "For our teachers we've done it, our police officers and our firefighters. And the good news is, the city stepped up. I make no bones, and I want to repeat: I fixed a problem … that I inherited as the mayor.

"I didn't spend 10 years not contributing to the teachers pension at all and asking for a holiday," he said. "We fixed it.

"We have to be honest with ourselves about the responsibility," he added. "So we're going to be honest with people, talk about what we're going to need to do, solve this problem collectively."

The notoriously political Emanuel also declined to discuss who his political base is in the re-election run, beyond "broad support" from "people who want to be part of a city that's building a bright future."

"It's like sitting around like you're a political operative. I'm not," he added. "I'm the mayor of the city. My base is the city of Chicago and its future."

What's on tap

*Mayor Emanuel gives a business speech, announcing business license changes and a plan to allow sidewalk cafes year-round.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events.

*Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker will make campaign stops in Springfield, Decatur and Staunton.

*The Illinois House is in session ahead of taking next week off. The Senate is back at the Capitol on Tuesday.

From the notebook

*Zalewski replacement hopefuls can line up Friday: Emanuel has set a five-person panel to consider applicants to finish retiring Southwest Side Ald. Michael Zalewski's City Council term, with a Springfield ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan still the favorite to get the nod.

Among those who will be vetting 23rd Ward hopefuls and forwarding a recommendation to the mayor: Emanuel ally Ald. Michelle Harris, 8th; James Sweeney, president of the Operating Engineers Local 150 union that has been a top contributor to Emanuel's re-election campaign; and Al Cacciottolo, Zalewski's ward Streets and Sanitation superintendent.

Also serving will be the Rev. John Noga, pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet Church in the bungalow belt Garfield Ridge neighborhood on the western edge of the ward, as well as Alejandrina Cerna, owner of the My Zmall World child care center in Garfield Ridge.

Zalewski is stepping down at the end of May. State Rep. Silvana Tabares, a two-term Democrat from Garfield Ridge, is expected to apply to serve till the term ends in May 2019.

She would have a leg up on running for election in February, especially with the help of the Madigan organization in the majority-Latino ward. Tabares was elected in the March primary to serve on the Democratic State Central Committee from the 3rd Congressional District, along with Madigan.

Applications to complete the term will be accepted online from Friday through May 4. The panel will narrow the candidates to "a small group of applicants," whom Emanuel will interview. Then he'll make a decision in time for the full City Council to vote on his pick June 27, according to the mayor's office.

Paul Villarreal Jr., who tried to run for 23rd Ward alderman in 2015 but was removed from the ballot in a petition challenge, has said he will run in 2019 but won't apply to complete Zalewski's term because he feels the fix is in for Tabares. (John Byrne)

*Rauner returns: Gov. Rauner was back out after his nearly two-week trade trip to Europe, but he was mum on details of what he accomplished.

"I do want to make a lot of announcements but they'll be coming over the next few weeks," the governor told reporters. "We have several really exciting announcements, new factories, new economic growth in the state from the trip" but they currently were "in various stages of commitment and signing agreements and whatnot."

Asked by a reporter how he could sell Illinois to overseas investment after repeatedly saying the state was in a "death spiral," Rauner said, "We sell all the advantages we have to sell — people, location, transportation, education, agriculture, heart of manufacturing, heart of American economy in the Midwest."

Asked if Illinois was in a "death spiral," Rauner declined to use the term but said Illinois has been "uncompetitive on our regulation and taxes for decades," which has stunted the state's economic growth. (Rick Pearson)

*AFSCME still wants a contract: Members of the largest state employee union took their fight with Rauner to the statehouse, demanding pay raises promised in their expired contract.

Dressed in matching green T-shirts, scores of employees with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees packed into the Capitol rotunda, chanting and waving protest signs. Speaking to the crowd, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch called on the governor to "end the war on your own workers."

"We are not pawns in a political game," Lynch said. "We are people out there every day doing a job for the citizens of this state."

AFSCME workers have gone without an employment contract since 2015, and the union wants Rauner to pay so-called step increases. The Illinois Labor Relations Board decided the wage hikes didn't need to go out while the contract negotiations were taking place, a matter the union took to the state's Appellate Court and won.

The Illinois Supreme Court decided last month not to hear the Rauner administration's appeal, finalizing that decision.

Rauner spokeswoman Rachel Bold did not address questions about whether the governor would authorize the step increases and when. She instead noted the Appellate Court directed the Illinois Labor Relations Board to find a solution, "not union leadership."

Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza said continuing to withhold the money is "illegal" and "immoral," saying her office is prepared to make the payments once the Rauner administration gives clearance. (Bill Lukitsch)

*How they voted: Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth both voted against Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump's next secretary of state.

A half-dozen Democrats joined Republicans to confirm him.

"Since joining Donald Trump's cabinet, Director Pompeo has failed to demonstrate any desire to curb Donald Trump's rash and reckless tendencies," Duckworth said in a statement.

*Shimkus calls Pruitt controversies a "distraction": Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Downstate Collinsville opened a hearing featuring Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt with some compliments about his work so far.

Then Shimkus acknowledged some of the controversies following Pruitt.

"It is no secret that there have been many stories in the press about the management and operations of the agency, and your dealings with potentially regulated sectors," Shimkus said in his opening. "I consider much of this narrative to be a distraction, but one this committee cannot ignore. I look forward to hearing your side of the story on the rumors and allegations you're facing."

*Quick spin: The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform named Mary Miro as its new executive director. She replaces Sarah Brune, who has taken a job with Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago.

*On the "Sunday Spin": Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests are Tom Bowen, principal at New Chicago Consulting and senior advisor at Mac Strategies Group; Democratic state Rep. Chris Welch of Hillside; and Democratic Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN-AM 720.

What we're writing

*Rauner rips third-party conservative challenger as "Madigan pawn," gets called "lying liar who lies" in return.

*Emanuel launches municipal ID for immigrants in this country illegally, others.

*People with opioid prescriptions could get medical marijuana instead under Illinois Senate plan.

*Two Cook County branch courthouses could close in budget cuts that followed pop tax repeal.

*Chicago to test-drive new "dockless" bike-share program starting next week.

*Emanuel administration wants to allow year-round sidewalk cafes in Chicago.

*Sheriff seeks sanctions against indicted Backpage owners, alleging their suit was "fraud on the court."

What we're reading

*As Ford phases out most cars, Chicago plant will produce a new SUV.

*"We did not sign up to work at a strip club": Former servers allege sexual harassment at Twin Peaks "breastaurant" in Orland Park.

*Man who was charged after 340 pounds of pot were found in his McHenry County mansion gets 10 years in plea deal.