Lightfoot says she’s still optimistic
Friday, Nov 15, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A.D. Quig in Crain’s…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot came away without her two big asks from the veto session in Springfield: a change to the real estate transfer tax and a restructuring of a Chicago casino tax rates to attract an operator.
“I wouldn’t say that we struck out. We actually came quite close,” Lightfoot said at a news conference today. “But in a very compressed period of the veto session, there were a lot of people who raised a lot of concerns back from the spring that weren’t able to be accommodated in a very short period of time. So I feel optimistic given how far we came in a short period of time to get this right, and we’ll be back at it in January, and I feel optimistic we’ll get it over the threshold at that point.”
Lightfoot traveled to Springfield Nov. 12 to lobby legislators. She said side issues derailed approval, but “people are grateful and thankful that a mayor of Chicago” visited in person instead of lobbying by phone or sending staff.
“You gotta take the long view about Springfield. I’m new to a lot of the people that are down there. We are working on building relationships and we’ll continue to do that,” she said.
Somebody told me today you have to be prepared for Springfield because Springfield is prepared for you. I don’t think she was fully prepared, but give her credit for that response. She didn’t do the Rauner/Tribune thing of lashing out at individuals or blaming some dark conspiracies. Those remarks were mostly spot-on and upbeat. She has another shot in the spring and she may actually succeed this time.
* Greg Hinz mentioned the side issues yesterday…
(A)s often happens with gambling bills, some lawmakers wanted other things included to help their districts. In particular, south suburban lawmakers wanted a new gambling facility located in a predominantly minority area, and some DuPage County representatives wanted money for health services there.
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- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
Good tone, good tenor, even some honesty with humility.
This is the best she’s done over the past few weeks on things.
Hopefully this type of thoughtfulness continues.
- Wow - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:10 pm:
Accommodate in a “short period of time”??? Who is she kidding. What was she doing in June,July, August, September and October?? Geez
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:16 pm:
Definitely hoping she has success this coming spring, and that she takes time to reflect and improve. It’s her rookie year, so time to learn.
- don the legend - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:29 pm:
==there were a lot of people who raised a lot of concerns back from the spring that weren’t able to be accommodated in a very short period of time.==
The Mayor says…back from the Spring… to November. That’s a little longer than “a very short period of time”.
- James - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:44 pm:
It may be hard next year for the Mayor to win the requested votes for a Chicago casino. Not only would there be special treatment for Chicago, there is a GOP that isn’t inclined to help Chicago, without something in it for them, and there are Democrats from districts with brand new casinos starting up, along with Rivers Casino ownership, which won’t appreciate competition from Chicago. The casino cleanup bill was the best opportunity to win support for the special Chicago rules, but that train has departed.
- Bruce (no not him) - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:45 pm:
So i may have missed it, but have they even tried to get a casino operator?
- Sue - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 3:50 pm:
If the Mayor was willing to put a casino where it belongs (downtown) to maximize revenue and tourist traffic, she would have the support she needed. Lightfoot is too focused on progressive BS not City finances. It’s the taxpayers who will suffer when the missing casino revenue needs to be replaced with a property tax increase
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 15, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
At least MLL seems willing to learn. Rauner refused to learn and turned in probably the worst financial performance in state history.