Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity (IllinoisGO) today announced the launch of its third web ad, which educates Democratic voters about the financial challenges of cities across Illinois and the importance of lawmakers statewide coming together to find real, long-term solutions to fix these problems. IllinoisGO’s video, part of a larger digital organizing campaign, is airing on digital platforms in suburban Cook County and the Collar Counties.
Cities across the state are struggling with budget deficits, growth of unfunded pension debt, and state cuts to education. State legislators have made local problems worse by cutting funding for education, creating an unequal funding system for teachers’ retirement, and authorizing pension holidays.
Chicago’s situation is particularly acute, with a massive budget deficit and the threat of devastating cuts to its schools without action by Springfield. But the impact of Chicago’s problems does not end at the city’s borders. 600,000 workers commute into the city from the suburbs. In fact, three out of four downtown workers don’t live in Chicago. So the economic health of the state’s largest city affects all of Illinois.
Chicago can come back, if given a fair shake by Springfield. That means a fair school funding formula, an end to double taxation on Chicago residents, and investments in programs that grow our economy and create jobs – like infrastructure and transit.
“Chicago is an anchor for our state. Its economy, culture, and even sports teams are important to Illinoisans everywhere,” said IllinoisGO Chairman Anthony Anderson. “Chicago is facing a massive financial crisis, made worse by bad policies from Springfield. The City can come back, just like it always has, but it needs state lawmakers to step up and do their part.”
I clicked off it after the first 30 seconds. If you can’t tell me what I’m supposed to know in the front end of an ad, you don’t get my attention on the internet.
It’s also missing content, and specifically what reforms the ad is advocating. I’m not sure I’d give it a passing score, but at least it was somewhat positive about Chicago.
The sux, but it seems to want more cash Guessin’ this means higher taxes.. Did TeamBungle approve this message?
- Very Interesting - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:44 pm:
Hmmm…based on this vid, one would think ILGO(P) is working for Rahm, not Rauner. (You can almost hear the eyebrows raising in Madigan’s shop.)
So, is ILGO(P) now moving to the ‘burbs after aiming all their fire in the city with direct mail the last couple weeks? They’ll have to spend a lot of their cash to convince suburbanites to back changing the school funding formula and to help relieve Chicagoans of “double taxation.” The former would run counter to affluent suburban interests and I don’t think they give a darn about the latter.
Just because you not limited to 30 and 60 seconds doesn’t mean you should take more than half your running time to get to the point. So what’s the message? It is too vague.
AC at 1:34 PM hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t say what we need to do to fix the problems facing Chicago. Since there are no specifics as to how to solve the problem I feel the ad was ineffective.
===Chicago’s situation is particularly acute, with a massive budget deficit and the threat of devastating cuts to its schools without action by Springfield.===
===Chicago can come back, if given a fair shake by Springfield.===
As an ad it looks and sounds fairly good.
But for a person who knows that many of the policies that got Chicago in trouble were passed in Springfield at the specific request of the city it fails. For example, requesting a ‘pension holiday’ is not a good way to fund a pension system.
The ad also fails to mention that Chicago residents have the lowest property tax rates in Cook County at 6.81% for 2014. Most residents in the county have a property tax rate in the 10% to 13% range and some have a rate of over 30%. A substantial increase in the property tax rate for Chicago residents looks to me to be a variable alternative solution to the cities financial problems.
It’s City of the Big Shoulders, not broad shoulders, if you’re quoting Sandburg.
I have no idea what the purpose of that opus was. The call to action is to go to the website so they can grab your information for later use, but I have no idea as to why you would.
As one of the 600,000 the ad references, I’m not sure why I am the problem. My monthly train ticket has gone up 50% in the last 4 years and will continue to grow, I pay $4 per day to ride the CTA, I pay City sales tax for every meal I buy. And Chicago is moving jobs from my burbs to the City all the time. Is this a commercial for a head tax?
I thought the IL GOP already gave their opinion on the “fair school funding formula, an end to double taxation on Chicago residents” argument and came to the conclusion that Chicago already receives more than its fair share in school funding:
The ad does not propose any solutions. The add does not even look at the obvious solutions such as changing Illinois income tax to a progressive rather than the current flat (read that de-facto regressive)rate. I realize that likely involves amending the Illinois constitution but the public debate should start there.
== one would think ILGO(P) is working for Rahm, not Rauner ==
Yep. And you can say the same thing about the mail I’ve been getting from them, which spends a lot of text bashing my senator and rep for not bailing out CPS…at least I think that’s what the direct mail is trying to do. Lot’s of “balance the budget” and “fund the schools” platitudes.
==The add does not even look at the obvious solutions such as changing Illinois income tax to a progressive rate…==
Or taxing retirement income.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
As previously mentioned by several posters, it would be nice to provide a few specifics or even a hint of specific information as to what solutions they are advocating. It reminds me a bit of the Rauner campaign in which he was intentionally vague in answering questions. He was given the benefit of the doubt and look where we are.
“nixit71, yep go after the oldtimers, who have worked all their lives and paid in for decades. That is the cure!!!”
A common theme I read in the comments here is that IL has artificially low taxes and that it is time for those that have enjoyed these “low” taxes to pay up. Aren’t the retirees those that have enjoyed these “low” taxes for most of their working lives?
It’s sole purpose is to harvest mobile phone numbers. People will sign up for text messages because they can’t figure out what else the ad wants them to do. These will the. Be exploited in the future. Dems just use traditional voter lists which lack mobile numbers.
- horse w/ no name - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:03 pm:
What the heck is the point of this? It says nothing of substance and includes no info that anyone with a 6th grade education and beyond doesn’t already know. Weak sauce.
The attempt to pick the pocket of non-Chicago residents is Unrealistic. The CTU tries, with Rahm, to make us feel pity for their misuse of funds over the years. Its like the CTU threw a party, didn’t invite us, then comes to my house and gives me a bill for the cost of their party! Try raising taxes for the mess you have created!
Don’t tell us that we should pay our share to help you out. You have many avenues to raise funding.
Seems IL GO is intentionally staying away from specifics and heavy content to establish a soft, moderate image and some public credibility for when it really wants to go after folks.
- West Side Willie - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 6:11 pm:
If anyone wants to know what the agenda of IllinoisGO is, just look up who else its 5 ultrawealthy funders contribute to: Rauner, Stand for Children and Rahm. Still wonder what they’re all about?!?! I didn’t think so.
As I have pointed out before, not only are Chicago’s property tax rates low when compared with the rest of Illinois, they are currently less than half of what they were during the 1980’s. The city needs to restore its property tax rates to what they were then, and its financial problems would be solved in both the short and long run. End of story.
What I got out of it, is that 600,000 people would rather spend considerable time and money to commute into the city daily rather than live there, it says more about the quality of life in Chicago than any “come to Indiana” ad ever could.
Oh, and in the last ten seconds, it tells you what they want - investments for infrastructure, likely paid for by the state and/or collar counties, maybe to shorten the commute times for the 600k. Sorry, Chicago, raise your own taxes. Or tax the commuters, they are the ones that have the most to lose from a failed Chitroit. I would chip in for a fifty foot tall wall that would run down Cicero Avenue from to Skokie to Monee, though.
===Or tax the commuters, they are the ones that have the most to lose from a failed Chitroit. I would chip in for a fifty foot tall wall that would run down Cicero Avenue from to Skokie to Monee, though.===
Which is more compelling “Chitroit” or the…not 51 feet, not 49 feet, but that 50 “foot” wall, because we all know, 49 feet is just too short.
A persistent beef I have with Chicago is peeling off hundreds of millions for TIF increment funds, and then crying poor for the tax entities being hardest hit by the lack of revenue growth caused specifically by that action. Last year it was how much? ~$372 million in total increments, and roughly 80% of that would have gone to CPS.
If Rahm won’t help why should the rest pf the state?
- Tom B. - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:23 pm:
I clicked off it after the first 30 seconds. If you can’t tell me what I’m supposed to know in the front end of an ad, you don’t get my attention on the internet.
- Old and Tired - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
It’s missing the “Brought to you by Bruce Rauner and the Illinois GOP” tag line.
- Gooner - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
What a completely meaningless ad.
The Democratic Party could have run an identical ad.
The “solutions” are so vague that they could be anything.
The call to action at the end is so short and buried that nobody will follow it.
It is nice that they are putting ad production people to work but the ad itself will have no impact at all.
- AC - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:34 pm:
It’s also missing content, and specifically what reforms the ad is advocating. I’m not sure I’d give it a passing score, but at least it was somewhat positive about Chicago.
- Anonin' - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
The sux, but it seems to want more cash Guessin’ this means higher taxes.. Did TeamBungle approve this message?
- Very Interesting - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:44 pm:
Hmmm…based on this vid, one would think ILGO(P) is working for Rahm, not Rauner. (You can almost hear the eyebrows raising in Madigan’s shop.)
So, is ILGO(P) now moving to the ‘burbs after aiming all their fire in the city with direct mail the last couple weeks? They’ll have to spend a lot of their cash to convince suburbanites to back changing the school funding formula and to help relieve Chicagoans of “double taxation.” The former would run counter to affluent suburban interests and I don’t think they give a darn about the latter.
- Liberty - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:44 pm:
Just because you not limited to 30 and 60 seconds doesn’t mean you should take more than half your running time to get to the point. So what’s the message? It is too vague.
- Xavier Woods - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
AC at 1:34 PM hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t say what we need to do to fix the problems facing Chicago. Since there are no specifics as to how to solve the problem I feel the ad was ineffective.
- A guy - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:54 pm:
It’s a pass, but as noted here several times, it’s long. It doesn’t drag, but it sure is trying to accomplish too much.
It’s like a finals project in motion graphics for a student at a graphic arts school.
Technically, it’s really a nice piece of work. But, from an effectiveness standpoint, it just doesn’t have enough going for it to keep your attention.
- Hit or Miss - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
===Chicago’s situation is particularly acute, with a massive budget deficit and the threat of devastating cuts to its schools without action by Springfield.===
===Chicago can come back, if given a fair shake by Springfield.===
As an ad it looks and sounds fairly good.
But for a person who knows that many of the policies that got Chicago in trouble were passed in Springfield at the specific request of the city it fails. For example, requesting a ‘pension holiday’ is not a good way to fund a pension system.
The ad also fails to mention that Chicago residents have the lowest property tax rates in Cook County at 6.81% for 2014. Most residents in the county have a property tax rate in the 10% to 13% range and some have a rate of over 30%. A substantial increase in the property tax rate for Chicago residents looks to me to be a variable alternative solution to the cities financial problems.
- The Captain - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:00 pm:
I have been regularly receiving their mail and I still have no idea what their ask is.
- Me too - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:08 pm:
Just a coincidence ilgo is going right now?
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
It’s City of the Big Shoulders, not broad shoulders, if you’re quoting Sandburg.
I have no idea what the purpose of that opus was. The call to action is to go to the website so they can grab your information for later use, but I have no idea as to why you would.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:16 pm:
As one of the 600,000 the ad references, I’m not sure why I am the problem. My monthly train ticket has gone up 50% in the last 4 years and will continue to grow, I pay $4 per day to ride the CTA, I pay City sales tax for every meal I buy. And Chicago is moving jobs from my burbs to the City all the time. Is this a commercial for a head tax?
- anon - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:19 pm:
Those rascally dems should have been better fiscal watchdogs over the past century.
- nixit71 - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:19 pm:
I thought the IL GOP already gave their opinion on the “fair school funding formula, an end to double taxation on Chicago residents” argument and came to the conclusion that Chicago already receives more than its fair share in school funding:
http://www.senategop.state.il.us/Portals/0/Docs/Cost-Shift-FINAL.pdf?timestamp=1409174250732
- UNION MAN - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:23 pm:
I’m looking forward to their Ad on Global Warming next.
- phocion - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:24 pm:
Fail. Vague, weird targeting, no “ask” and no idea really what the heck they’re talking about.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
The ad does not propose any solutions. The add does not even look at the obvious solutions such as changing Illinois income tax to a progressive rather than the current flat (read that de-facto regressive)rate. I realize that likely involves amending the Illinois constitution but the public debate should start there.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
It’s like “Fire Madigan”;
Some feel good just saying it, but it doesn’t mean much and tells less what needs to be done.
Thank goodness this IS only on the web, lol
- TNR - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
== one would think ILGO(P) is working for Rahm, not Rauner ==
Yep. And you can say the same thing about the mail I’ve been getting from them, which spends a lot of text bashing my senator and rep for not bailing out CPS…at least I think that’s what the direct mail is trying to do. Lot’s of “balance the budget” and “fund the schools” platitudes.
- nixit71 - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
==The add does not even look at the obvious solutions such as changing Illinois income tax to a progressive rate…==
Or taxing retirement income.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:33 pm:
As previously mentioned by several posters, it would be nice to provide a few specifics or even a hint of specific information as to what solutions they are advocating. It reminds me a bit of the Rauner campaign in which he was intentionally vague in answering questions. He was given the benefit of the doubt and look where we are.
- 35/Shields - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
It’s kind of like a trophy wife. Pleasant, looks good but doesn’t say much.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Reads like another campaign ad for an election that took place 10 months ago.
You won!
Now govern!
– MrJM
- walker - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:45 pm:
Low-pressure recruitment ad. Not bad at tying the ‘burbs directly to the health of Chicago, and in confirming Chicago can get better.
Nothing not to like here.
Wouldn’t get me to sign up now. But might be setting the stage for stronger later ads.
- anon - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
nixit71, yep go after the oldtimers, who have worked all their lives and paid in for decades. That is the cure!!!
- John A Logan - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- Robert the 1st - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
“nixit71, yep go after the oldtimers, who have worked all their lives and paid in for decades. That is the cure!!!”
A common theme I read in the comments here is that IL has artificially low taxes and that it is time for those that have enjoyed these “low” taxes to pay up. Aren’t the retirees those that have enjoyed these “low” taxes for most of their working lives?
- Paul Smyth - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
It’s sole purpose is to harvest mobile phone numbers. People will sign up for text messages because they can’t figure out what else the ad wants them to do. These will the. Be exploited in the future. Dems just use traditional voter lists which lack mobile numbers.
- horse w/ no name - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:03 pm:
What the heck is the point of this? It says nothing of substance and includes no info that anyone with a 6th grade education and beyond doesn’t already know. Weak sauce.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
Do I want to watch this web ad for a minute and a half before I’m trying to watch Born To Run videos on YouTube? No! Fail!
- cover - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
= Do I want to watch this web ad for a minute and a half before I’m trying to watch Born To Run videos on YouTube? No! Fail! =
Personally, I like to watch goalie blooper videos.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:20 pm:
waste of time…and of the money to produce it.
- Tournaround Agenda - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
Where’s my call to action?
- steve schnorf - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
Cities all across the state are not struggling with cuts to education: Chicago Is. Period.
I don’t know if they don’t know that, or if they are careless, or if they are trying to disguise the real issues on schools.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
Nice graphics.
Nice voice.
Pretty pictures.
What was it about?
Didn’t we have an election last year?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 3:52 pm:
A push for more tax money, from the tax payers!
- Tom Joad - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 4:29 pm:
The attempt to pick the pocket of non-Chicago residents is Unrealistic. The CTU tries, with Rahm, to make us feel pity for their misuse of funds over the years. Its like the CTU threw a party, didn’t invite us, then comes to my house and gives me a bill for the cost of their party! Try raising taxes for the mess you have created!
Don’t tell us that we should pay our share to help you out. You have many avenues to raise funding.
- burbanite - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 4:48 pm:
Huh? That is a minute and half I can’t get back.
- Politix - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 4:52 pm:
Way too long. I imagine they’re trying to build up their email list. Won’t work. No one will watch to the end.
- Naylor - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 5:22 pm:
I expected better from Greg Goldner…I bet his Republican donors do too.
- Uppers Grove - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 5:44 pm:
Seems IL GO is intentionally staying away from specifics and heavy content to establish a soft, moderate image and some public credibility for when it really wants to go after folks.
- West Side Willie - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 6:11 pm:
Is it recall time yet ?
- Southsider - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 6:25 pm:
If anyone wants to know what the agenda of IllinoisGO is, just look up who else its 5 ultrawealthy funders contribute to: Rauner, Stand for Children and Rahm. Still wonder what they’re all about?!?! I didn’t think so.
- Andy S. - Tuesday, Aug 25, 15 @ 7:52 pm:
As I have pointed out before, not only are Chicago’s property tax rates low when compared with the rest of Illinois, they are currently less than half of what they were during the 1980’s. The city needs to restore its property tax rates to what they were then, and its financial problems would be solved in both the short and long run. End of story.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 12:21 am:
Vague. It had all of the substance of cotton candy.
- Tom K. - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 1:52 am:
What I got out of it, is that 600,000 people would rather spend considerable time and money to commute into the city daily rather than live there, it says more about the quality of life in Chicago than any “come to Indiana” ad ever could.
Oh, and in the last ten seconds, it tells you what they want - investments for infrastructure, likely paid for by the state and/or collar counties, maybe to shorten the commute times for the 600k. Sorry, Chicago, raise your own taxes. Or tax the commuters, they are the ones that have the most to lose from a failed Chitroit. I would chip in for a fifty foot tall wall that would run down Cicero Avenue from to Skokie to Monee, though.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 6:41 am:
Tom K is one of those wall builders. Brilliant.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 8:03 am:
===Or tax the commuters, they are the ones that have the most to lose from a failed Chitroit. I would chip in for a fifty foot tall wall that would run down Cicero Avenue from to Skokie to Monee, though.===
Which is more compelling “Chitroit” or the…not 51 feet, not 49 feet, but that 50 “foot” wall, because we all know, 49 feet is just too short.
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 9:01 am:
Completely devoid of passion or human interest. If that’s what they were going for, then mission accomplished
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 9:45 am:
Bruce and the republics:
If the only thing you have to offer is “fire Madigan”….you are a bigger failure than Former Governor Pat Quinn.
Please resign.
Jack
- Touré's Latte - Wednesday, Aug 26, 15 @ 10:04 am:
A persistent beef I have with Chicago is peeling off hundreds of millions for TIF increment funds, and then crying poor for the tax entities being hardest hit by the lack of revenue growth caused specifically by that action. Last year it was how much? ~$372 million in total increments, and roughly 80% of that would have gone to CPS.
If Rahm won’t help why should the rest pf the state?