-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Although reversing the region’s decadeslong economic decline will take years, a marquee corporate name such as Amazon cements the south suburbs’ reputation as a modern logistics hub, and could attract new manufacturing. The e-commerce giant is also having an impact on area wages. The incentives and tax breaks communities often offer to woo Amazon are the subject of debate; Matteson, Markham and University Park reportedly offered a combined $512 million in benefits to Amazon and its property developers.
Everybody needs a side hustle these days, and mine is Ukraine, where I am now.
Summary and audio linked here.
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Summary and audio linked here.
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Audio and summary
LOL, in 2018, the state intercepted some of Harvey’s money and tried to pay it to the pensions. WP covered this intercept. In 2019, Harvey’s non-emergency phone lines were shut off for non-payment of $14,000 in past due bills.
Before long, most suburbs will become Harvey. It starts with neglected infrastructure, then layoffs, then non-payment of bills, and the city stops providing basic services, all to pay the pensions. The crappier suburbs will be the first to slide into insolvency, and it will only get worse from there.
Not sure those suburbs can afford those subsidies, but they gambled that Amazon is their best chance to avoid bankruptcy. If it doesn’t work, they’ll run the white flag up the flagpole and simply surrender. This is what desperation looks like, and despite JB’s proclamation to the contrary, I’m not a carnival barker.
Those suburbs can’t declare bankruptcy without approval from the state. Not going to happen. They can just skip paying non-pension debt instead while the pension intercept law is used to ensure pension money is collected. That’s the true look of desperation in Illinois.
Say what!!!–Matteson, Markham and University Park have $1/2 billion ($512 mil) to offer in subsidies???