* I’m not a fan of holding press conferences in front of candidates’ homes, but such is life I suppose…
“It’s one set of rules for people like J.B. Pritzker, and another set of rules for the rest of us. J.B. Pritzker is a typical Chicago politician who engages in a con game to benefit himself at the expense of Chicago schoolchildren.” – Former ILGOP Chairman Pat Brady
Today, former ILGOP Chairman Pat Brady held a press conference at J.B. Pritzker’s “uninhabitable” mansion in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood to highlight Pritzker’s property tax scam.
This weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times ran a front-page story detailing how Pritzker is abusing vacancy laws to slash his property tax bill. The billionaire has gotten nearly a quarter million dollars back in property tax breaks and refunds, taking money from Chicago Public Schools and other city services by claiming that a $3.7 million Chicago mansion is “uninhabitable”.
But interior photos from when Pritzker bought the $3.7 million mansion show a luxurious home that is far from uninhabitable.
Click here to see the pics, which were taken in 2007 when Pritzker bought the place. That used to be one seriously nice abode until Pritzker deliberately gutted it and then let it go to seed.
* The Pritzker campaign responded…
Today, the Illinois GOP held a press conference in front of JB Pritzker’s home, in an attempt to highlight the fact that JB appealed his property taxes.
Given that Governor Rauner has failed to pass a budget for two and half years and has few successes to point to in office perhaps they think it a good use of their time to bring attention to a process used by over 50,000 Cook County residents yearly, including Governor Rauner himself.
A memo leaked today revealed how far Rauner and the GOP are willing to go to distract attention from his failures as Governor:
Press conferences at condos Rauner owns at 340 E. Randolph St where his property taxes were appealed 6 times.
Drive by visits to multiple parking spaces Rauner owns at 340 E. Randolph where his property taxes were appealed 16 times.
Meet and greets with the 50,000+ Cook County residents who appeal their property taxes yearly.
HOLD INDEFINITELY: Press conference celebrating the passage of a budget or social service agencies thriving under Governor Rauner’s leadership.
As we’ve discussed before, Rauner’s condo association made those appeals, not Rauner himself.
* But, wait. There’s more. From a rival campaign…
To mitigate the damage from the property tax story, JB’s campaign said:
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/12/oppo-dump-pritzker-hit-on-huge-property-tax-appeal/
It’s worth noting that unlike his neighbors and many residents of Cook county (including Bruce Rauner), JB’s 2015 appeal is the only time he has appealed his taxes since he bought the property in 2006.
· Chris Kennedy has also appealed his property tax assessment for his Kenilworth home to the Board of Review and the Board ruled in his favor. (158 Melrose Avenue)
· In 2012, 2014, and 2015, Rauner appealed his assessment for his Randolph Street Penthouse. (340 E. Randolph Street, 61-PHE)
· In 2012, 2014, and 2015, Rauner appealed his assessment for his Randolph Street condo. (340 E. Randolph Street, #4103)
· In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, Rauner also appealed his assessment for three parking spots (Space P1-28, Space P2-30, Space P2-36)
The problem with that is that Pritzker’s Astor Street LLC which owned the side-by-side mansions also owns a condo and parking spot a block away at 1445 N. State (see links and attachments from Cook County Property Info - show ownership by Astor Street LLC, with a mailing address of Pritzker’s office at 111 S Wacker #4000)
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Property.aspx?mode=details&pin=17031020421123
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Property.aspx?mode=details&pin=17031020421269
Recorder of Deeds records show that Astor Street purchased the condo & parking spot for $385,000 in December 2006.
Assessor and Board of Review records (attached) show that the taxes for the condo and parking spot were appealed in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016.
Therefore, they are being dishonest by bringing up Rauner’s appeals of his condos and parking spots when JB has done it just as often.
In fact, unlike Rauner, who didn’t get reductions, the Assessor and Board of Review reduced the Assessment for Pritzker’s Condo and parking space multiple times.
The Assessor reduced the taxes in 2012 and 2015. The Board of Review reduced the taxes in 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2016.
Even if the appeals were carried out by the Condo Assn - that’s what happened in Rauner’s case, and JB used that as the basis to attack him for this.
Ouch.
* In response, the Pritzker campaign released this statement…
It seems that Bruce Rauner and JB Pritzker were two of the over 50,000 Cook County residents who appeal their property taxes each year.
And, just as an FYI, that raw oppo I posted wasn’t from Team Rauner.
- Red Rider - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
Why that guy don’t even have a tv dang it someone get him one. Who wants to live in that thing!
- Unimpressed - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
So everyone appealed their property taxes? And…
- The Captain - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:20 pm:
For his opponents there’s an upside to making Pritzker play defense for a news cycle or two but this probably has no legs. None of the “rich guy does rich guy things” they tried to use against Rauner in 2014 really landed much less stuck. Very few people remember Rauner threatening to end a woman’s career, and that was more egregious than this stuff.
In order for rich guy attacks to work you need to make them seem out of touch (John Kerry windsurfing) or uncaring (Romney’s 47% quote). This is a game-the-system attack that takes too long to explain how it’s different from the way thousands of homeowners also appeal their property taxes.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
If Pritzker doesn’t decide here, shortly, that he (they as a Crew) needs to own his “own narrative” by being in ads and closing doors on everyone, that Crew will be chasing story after story instead of having others chasing his messaging.
When Pritzker finally goes after Rauner and the clouting of his denied Winnetka-living daughter, and the $250K “donation”… while Rauner starves Chicago schools…
… then I’ll know they’ve had enough.
They’re smart, they’ll figure it out I guess(?)
- Anon0091 - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
Willy, you don’t think “owning the narrative” and being in ads is going to stop team Rauner and his rivals, do you? And wait, wasn’t he in the first one thinking big?
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
===Very few people remember Rauner threatening to end a woman’s career, and that was more egregious than this stuff.===
True, but this is a Democratic primary.
- Ok - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
Appealing your taxes is supposed to be a huge oppo dump? Apparently, the illinois GOP has too much time on there hands.
Rich,
just because Rauner claims someone else appealed his property taxes does not mean it is True. Even so they would have to get Rauners signature or inform him of it to do so.
- walker - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
Is Brady all of a sudden an ILGOP player again? He’s certainly got more bark and bite than Schneider.
- Soo - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
Pritzker’s defense is he is just like Bruce Rauner? He knows he has to win the primary, right?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
===you don’t think “owning the narrative” and being in ads is going to stop team Rauner and his rivals, do you?===
The monetary advantage Pritzker has can swamp a great deal of these oppo dumps that try to frame a narrative.
I’ve seen this movie before, starring a made up costume-wearing “normal guy” from Winnetka.
Rauner owned the narratives, swamped and starved his primary opponents, then made it about a failing sitting governor.
Pritzker, his Crew I guess too, hasn’t seen the movie. I give Pritzker major props, he’s the lone candidate that will almost reflexively, that will repeat “Bruce Rauner fails” at every turn. Rauner then used his resources to go from >1% name ID to swamping all his primary challengers, including that all 3 had statewide candidate experience.
It’s not about making anyone yield, it’s all about using advantages that make others chase.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
Seems to be a basic rule of attacking an opponent that you not have done the same thing you are attacking them for.
- A Jack - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
The only thing I am curious about is why he didn’t just tear it down. Then he would only been paying taxes on an empty lot. If he didn’t like his neighbors he could have planted trees.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
===Is Brady all of a sudden an ILGOP player again? He’s certainly got more bark and bite than Schneider.===
Meh.
“Pat Brady’s a $&@%. I didn’t know until Brady embarrassingly stood in front of a house like a cheap carnival barker it was Rauner all along”
Brady is the living embodiment right now of what a line person prop, a “Quinnochio” whose costume is Brady’s vanishing personal integrity, given Rauner’s 3 tax exemptions and the clouting of a denied Rauner daughter into Payton Prep.
- Daniel Biss - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
We’re watching two billionaires fight over who avoided paying their fair share the most. Maybe, we need a different choice next year.
- RNUG - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Appealing property taxes is just part of the game you play with the government; everybody who has a clue does it.
Non-story
- Anonish - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:20 pm:
Not sure it matters much, but Rauner could have opted out of being a part of his condo association’s appeals, whether to file an appeal separately or not appeal at all.
Being a part of the association appeal gets him the benefits and he gets to hold up his hands and say “it wasn’t my decision to appeal”
- Anonymous - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
==Appealing property taxes is just part of the game you play with the government; everybody who has a clue does it.
Non-story==
Buying a neighboring multi million dollar property and intentionally letting it go to **** in order to game the system for your main residence is not something “everybody does”
- Anonymous - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
Since 2015, it’s been political nonsense here, political nonsense there.
Daily - as Illinois crumbles.
The next governor will be the one who shows that he takes our situation as seriously as we do and relieves us from this gutter politics.
So if you want Rauner to lose, Democrats. Show voters that there is no room for this political nonsense. We’re all sick of this.
Nominate differently. Run like our future is at stake. STOP THIS!
Or you’ll give Rauner nothing but ammunition and lose by playing his game.
- VanillaMan - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:40 pm:
438 was me.
I used naughty words and I couln’t post
FIXED
- Chicagonk - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 4:41 pm:
People are tired of playing the property tax game. Sure I got a little reduction in my assessed value after my building hired a law firm to file our appeal, but wouldn’t it be better if Berrios and crew got it right the first time? Until this racket goes away, the property tax appeal controversies will always make for a good story.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 5:18 pm:
Rich people problems. Bruce can relate.
You know how many peasants try to cross the moat to gain access to his Central Park West penthouse building every day?
https://capitolfax.com/2013/11/25/rauners-money/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prasada
- Ok - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 7:03 pm:
All Pritzker has to do is spin this to the need for school funding reform and the need for lower property taxes which he will fight for. He can use this to work for him and not against him.
#oppodumpfail
- wordslinger - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 7:08 pm:
–* I’m not a fan of holding press conferences in front of candidates’ homes, but such is life I suppose…–
Pritzker could take a video producer and fly around to Rauner’s various cribs around the country to inquire if the governor’s Constitutionally mandated balanced budget proposal is inside.
H
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 15, 17 @ 7:41 pm:
Pritzker Crew… JB…
You bailed out Diana Rauner with $5 million for The Ounce and you guys are letting… Pat Brady… let me repeat that… Pat Brady… look like a cheap carny barker outside JB’s house go without a proportional response that goes after Bruve Rauner?
Y’all need to realize something quite quick. The sobering realization is every time you let the Pat Bradys that Bruce Rauner trots out to gin up the oppo on y’all, and you guys fo nothing responsive, proportionally, given the resources y’all have… Rauner wins the day enough to keep up these antics.
You can go two pronged.
The Superstars feel, or know, you “won’t”
(Sigh, sits back, closes eyes, then sits up)
You’ve seen how Rauner operates, make them either think twice, or make every oppo drop start to hurt… them too
Do the work.
Oswego Willy