Chicago Press Conference on TIFs and Public Asset Sales

Let's get more transparancy in public finances

A coalition of community groups, progressive Chicago aldermen and labor unions held a City Hall news conference Monday; demanding greater accountability and transparency in city finances because cuts to essential government services are devastating neighborhoods.

 “We need a full accounting of Chicago’s finances, and so far that has not been forthcoming,” said Maria Diaz of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.

Those concerns are shared by other groups, such as such Action Now. “Let’s have a meaningful conversation on the budget so that everyone understands,” explained Denise Dixon, the group’s executive director.

“This much we know: Potholes have left Chicago’s roads in terrible shape. Snow removal last winter was the worse in recent memory. Police protection is suffering and social services are hurting. How will more service cuts help this picture,” Dixon asked.

In the meantime, cuts are unfolding against a backdrop of troubling facts. A wave of youth violent crime (claiming 33 lives) grows worse amid a hiring freeze at Chicago’s Police Department.  Taxpayer’s are upset about poor delivery of essential services, such snow removal and infrastructure. Chicago’s Transportation Commissioner has said there’s no money for a major street resurfacing program to deal with potholes.

Residents are frustrated because they do not know how funds—generated from the sale of public assets such as parking meters—have been allocated.

"The City Council needs to take on a bigger role in finding solutions to Chicago's budget crises," said Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward) . "We are already in an economic crises and the public wants us to get more involved. That's why they elected us."

Even before these drastic cuts, Chicago neighborhoods were feeling the impact of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Here are the sobering facts:  15,398 properties across Illinois (the bulk in Chicago) received foreclosure filings in March 2009, up 79 percent from a year ago. Unemployment in Chicago soared to 9 percent last month, and it’s historically one third higher in the African-American and Latino neighborhoods.

Tom Balanoff, President of the Illinois State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) said a meaningful economic recovery in Chicago cannot take place without first solving the budget crises. “This is an important moment in Chicago’s history. It’s time to give residents a full accounting of Chicago’s finances, down to the last dime. That’s the first step toward an economic recovery,” he said.