Much of the routine trade and investment between China and America is entirely appropriate and in America’s interest. But inserting the Chinese Communist Party into America’s pay-to-play system and its economic development strategy isn’t just crossing a line. It’s a leap into an abyss of stupidity.
First things first. Whatever laws were broken they need to be held accountable. No excuses. After that it’s worth wondering why no one else would compete for these properties. The inference is that they made a lot of money by doing this. ie they were generating income well beyond the taxes. Probably not. It’s likely these properties are and were absurdly taxed as is most of the real estate in the southern cook county suburbs. Illegal and unacceptable yes. Logical, also yes.