Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Illinois’ dismal education numbers – especially for minority students – are embarrassing to politicians and officials. But rather than admit there’s a problem with Illinois’ education system, they attack the state’s own standards for being “too high,” instead.
Ted joined Dan and Amy to talk about the free speech controversy brewing in Wilmette due to the city’s refusal to fly a religious freedom flag, the city’s left-wing excesses and the growing culture war, the latest money spent on the illegal immigrant crisis, and more.
Weekly crime statistics from the Chicago Police Department: Report through 4/14/2024.
Chicago Public Schools is failing its students in almost every way. What can be done to save the educational futures of Chicago’s children? Join Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski as he participates in an education roundtable discussion hosted by Seeking Educational Excellence (SEE).
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Everybody is following the Trump reality show but nobody has a clue about the mess at their state and local governments. Check out this editorial by a completely clueless millennial.
http://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/07/17/commentary-philadelphia-still-needs-an-elected-school-board/
For over a decade before I decided to run for public office I attend my city council meetings, park distinct meetings, township meetings, and county board meetings (when I could make those). I often spoke at those meetings, to give the voice of the taxpayer I was usually about the only person in attendance besides the reporters who usually refused to report on what was said. For a decade I was often derided and made sport of by the public officials. I took it as a badge of honor; you should too. I truly wish the folks at Wirepoints luck… Read more »
As with anyone coming in questioning governance and financial stewardship, you’re going to face an uphill battle with any governing body. But you have another big obstacle: Ralph Martire. You see, Ralph and his CTBA have a 15 year head start on you. Martire has been travelling the Illinois countryside for years – from city finance meeting to school district to township to retiree shindig to county farm bureau meeting (yep) to fire fighter conference (double yep) – peddling basically the same damn PowerPoint presentation from 2002 with one overriding theme: The big bad state is your enemy. Illinois doesn’t… Read more »
martire also wttw go to guy. why, whenever there’s a pension /debit story they always trot out martire on –chicago tonight?
It’s especially annoying when they and other media seem impressed when he says “reamortization,” his central plan. They let it go without caring what it means. Martire’s version of it has morphed drastically, by the way. More on that soon.
I’m a supporter of your research. I appreciate what you do and how you make it accessible to people from all walks of life.
My only criticism, for what it’s worth, is the “drop dead” comment. Maybe “in your dreams” or “see you at the next one”, etc. “Drop dead” feels like it’s in the same vain of their name-calling.
You’re right. I struggled with what line to use there. You can guess at the expletives I considered, but “see you at the next one” would have been the right idea.
Mark,
While I don’t know you personally, I think I get it. You are allowed to be human. I have an idea of what you have faced…
We both know the unions will wage a scorched earth war against the taxpayers, and even more unfortunately, against the children of this state yet to be born.
Don’t worry about it. You were restrained.
Outstanding column, Mark. These Illinois politicians are obnoxious in their ignorance and their sheep mentality against new ideas that might offend one of their special interest groups.
I’m extremely pleased with your work and that you keep it objective. You are a service to our community, whereas most Illinois politicians couldn’t understand a balance sheet, let alone effectively run government.
I have communicated with some of Illinois’ pols, and my personal experience is that we truly are scraping the bottom of the barrel. Keep at them, and I second your motion for all them to drop dead.
Illinois politicians are living in a dream world when it comes to credit markets. It’s pretty clear to me that they don’t understand them very well.
Bravo! Thanks to Kimberly Jones and hordes of politicians Democrat and Republican — and those who vote for them and won’t hold them accountable– the end of Illinois as a functioning government and state is near. Hope she is proud. Wirepoints is doing the work that the MSM hasn’t done in decades.