[remote or in-person] Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Chicago City Council

Housing

Politics

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024
1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. CDT

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Daniel Wolk

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Live reporting by Amanda Dee

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner of the First District George Cardenas introduces the Circuit Breaker Legislation Proposal, which "links property taxes to a person's ability to pay."

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter

👋 I'll be live-tweeting Chicago City Council's Committee on Housing & Real Estate at 1 p.m. for @CHIdocumenters #ChiDocumenters 🧵

12:56 PM Sep 11, 2024 CDT

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 2/30

The agenda can be found here: A link to join the live meeting is here: …storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm… chicityclerk.com/committee-hous…

…storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm… chicityclerk.com/committee-hous…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 3/30

The committee is made up of the alderpersons listed here: chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Legislative-Bo…

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Legislative-Bo…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 4/30

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) chairs the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate. 11 other members of the committee are present.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 5/30

Public comment is made by Dee Perkins, who ran for 5th ward alderperson in 2023, on the appointment of two new Chicago Housing Authority commissioners and its recent controversy. blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/19/aft…

blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/19/aft…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 6/30

Five public commenters generally frustrated about lack of housing, especially for Black Chicagoans, and the council's handling of budget. Twenty written comments also submitted.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 7/30

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner of the First District George Cardenas introduces the Circuit Breaker Legislation Proposal, which "links property taxes to a person's ability to pay."

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 8/30

The proposal would give homeowners a property tax credit for taxes that exceed a threshold of their income. Renters can claim a credit as well.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 9/30

Analyst Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy Brakeyshia Samms says Illinois has above average taxes for working class people. Circuit breakers, like the ones in other Midwest states such as Michigan and Minnesota, could help address this. Report: itep.org/property-tax-a…

itep.org/property-tax-a…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 10/30

Ald. Jessica Fuentes (26th) asks the board about the design of application, budget for outreach, how income will be defined and the involvement of state legislators.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 11/30

In the current stage, Cook County Board of Review reps say they are looking to the platform in Minnesota and Michigan as models. They also say they have support across levels of government and from community groups.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 12/30

Daniel La Spata (1st) asks the board about the eligibility threshold (at this point set at the state's median income of $75-78k) to ensure they're targeting relief appropriately. The board says that will be part of the bill development process.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 13/30

Maria Hadden (49th) asks the board about the state's former tax breaker program in effect until about a decade ago and which served seniors. In response to Hadden's question about potential agencies responsible for sending credits, the board mentioned the possibility of Revenue.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 14/30

Gilbert Villegas' (36th) asks how credits will be funded, and the board points to a constitutional amendment that would increase taxes for millionaires -- an advisory ballot question this November: . ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Incom…

ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Incom…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 15/30

Multiple alders brought up concerns about the process of administering the renters' credits.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 16/30

Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) emphasized the need to ensure access for the senior population, especially when it comes to the ease of applying for credits and the definition of income. The board suggested "adjusted gross income," which includes income beyond earned income.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 17/30

Alds. Sigcho-Lopez and Hadden also brought up the possibility of using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for credits.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 18/30

Overall, Council Chamber was filled with excitement about this proposal. Almost all alders who spoke expressed support of the property tax breakers.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 19/30

During call to approve Juliana Gonzalez-Crussi, delegate commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority, David Moore (17th) said he could not support the appointments until both delegates spoke to Central Advisory Council members, the resident leadership of the CHA.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 20/30

Fuentes proposed compromise: delegates would meet with Central Advisory Council members before next City Council meeting. Motion approved. mycac.org

mycac.org

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 21/30

Motion to appoint Brian "Jawanza" Malone also approved with previous contingency in mind. Many alders commended the choice of the two delegates.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 22/30

Motion approved for city to access property for environmental testing southwest of intersection of Schroud property site, E Avenue O at S 126th St. cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/curs…

cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/curs…

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 23/30

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) proposed to designate North Milwaukee Ave, from N Wisner Ave to N Kedzie Ave, a “Low Affordability Community,” reducing assessment value (and property taxes) for affordable rental housing construction or rehabilitation there. ilga.gov/legislation/il…

ilga.gov/legislation/il…

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Council approved Ramirez-Rosa's motion.

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Motion for financial restructuring and sale transfer, adding City Vacant Lots transfer, of 1251 S Sawyer Avenue, 1214-1232 S Kedzie Ave and 1242-1256 S Kedzie Ave, previously held by Heartland housing, to Chicago House and Social Service Agency approved.

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Approved: Motions for restructuring of city loans for the following senior suites: 13550 S Avenue O., 3656 W Huron St., 2345-2561 E 67th St. and 5400 N Northwest Hwy.

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Department of Housing recommends amendment to Municipal Code Chapter 2-44 providing loan restructuring (or modification) authority to Commissioner of Housing. Recommendation passed by council.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 28/30

Ald. Peter Chico (10th) defers agenda item 13 for more time to plan about the vacant land use with stakeholders.

Amanda Dee Bot @spkyghostwriter 29/30

Approved: Sale of city-owned properties in 20th Ward (listed below and on agenda) under ChiBlockBuilder platform. chiblockbuilder.com

chiblockbuilder.com

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Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting ends at 4:39 p.m. Find more information through Daniel Wolk’s notes for @chidocumenters: chicago.documenters.org/meetings/?alt=…

chicago.documenters.org/meetings/?alt=…

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.