* Press release…
Community groups call on Attorney General Lisa Madigan to investigate Assessor Berrios and for President Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board to fix our unfair property tax assessment system
Wednesday, June 21, Our Revolution Illinois/Chicago, Action Now, Network 49, Blacks in Green, and other community organizations will call for an investigation and a fix for Cook County’s unfair property tax system which illegally hurts working families and communities of color. We will call on key elected officials to do their job and ensure fairness in the system.
On June 10, the Chicago Tribune detailed how the property tax assessment system benefits wealthy homeowners but penalizes low income and working families. Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios has promised to implement new methods that would be fairer and more efficient but has not made good on those promises.
Our Revolution Illinois/Chicago seeks to continue the mission of Bernie Sanders’ campaign by advocating for essential reforms and supporting a new generation of progressive leaders. Our Revolution Illinois will fight to ensure the political and economic systems of the state are responsive to the needs of working families.
*** UPDATE *** From their letter to AG Madigan…
Dear Attorney General Madigan,
We write to respectfully request that the Illinois Attorney General’s Office launch an investigation into the Cook County Assessor’s Office, specifically to determine whether officials violated state or federal law, including the Civil Rights Act, through the assessment process in Cook County. The Chicago Tribune reported on June 10 that through the assessment process, the Cook County Assessor systematically “created an unequal burden on residents, handing huge financial breaks to homeowners who are well-off while punishing those who have the least, particularly people living in minority communities.” Many working families are already struggling to make ends meet. This only exacerbates their hardship.
It appears the faulty assessment process was implemented knowingly. A fairer, more accurate assessment model was developed by experts for the Assessor’s Office, yet it was discarded with no proper explanation, resulting in the continued practice of over- assessing homes in minority and low-income communities. The Tribune further reports that the Assessor relies heavily on a process called “hand checks” through which staff manually adjust the valuation of homes. This process is ripe for abuse and corruption. It may be used by the Assessor’s office to reward or punish particular property owners for political reasons. Yet no statistics are kept on hand checks, the Tribune reports.
This is particularly troubling given that Assessor Berrios has accepted millions of dollars in political contributions from property tax attorneys. The Tribune found that his three campaign funds “raised more than $5 million since 2009, more than half of which came from property tax attorneys and the businesses associated with them.” Some of these property tax attorneys almost exclusively donate to the Assessor and the Board of
Review. Since 2010, of all political contributions by the real estate law firm Weiss, Dubrock, and Doody, 95% were to Berrios and the Board of Review. Another real estate law firm, Flanagan Bilton, gave 81% of its contributions to Berrios and the Board of Review.
Yet when the Tribune sought documentation explaining how the hand check process works, Assessor Berrios refused, and the matter is currently in court. This begs the question as to what degree “pay-to-play” was involved when wealthy political donors sought reductions in assessments.
The rest is here. Their letter to President Preckwinkle is here.
* Also…
- jim - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:13 pm:
don’t see that happening.
- Puddintaine - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:17 pm:
Best to keep those supporters of his calm.
- Lance Mannion - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
That’s just a subtle way of asking Madigan to investigate Madigan.
Yeah, that’ll happen.
- Anonish - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Fair argument that the job is being poorly or inefficiently done.
Illegally? Not so sure.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
Our Revolution Illinois/Chicago is led by Clem Balanoff, nephew of SEIU President Tom Balanoff. I couldn’t think of a better group to call for the investigation of the Office of Nepotism.
Nepotism overload.
- Rocky Rosi - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
Not going to happen.
- 51st ward - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
I could see this happening, the Dems know they have a problem with Berrios and his antics. His daughter lost her last election and he is much weaker than before. I dont know if they all want to be answering questions about Berrios the Cook Co Dem party Chairman in what could be a big election for them coming up. I think Lisa would have to recuse herself from any probe.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
===the Dems know they have a problem with Berrios===
Well, he’s the county party chairman and his top ally is the state party chairman, so I’m not sure “the Dems” are gonna do anything about it.
- jim - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
Rich is absolutely right on the above point.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
LOL Bernie, Bernie, Bernie!!
Feel the Bern just doesn’t know Illinois!
- JJJJJJJJJJ - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:24 pm:
Is this unrealistic? Yeah.
Did something illegal occur? We don’t know. Maybe not.
Did someone need to at least call for investigations and reform? Absolutely.
Just because this stuff is so entrenched doesn’t mean we should just shrug at it.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
While she is at it she could look into Pritzker’s reduction do to the fact the place was inhabitable, then check out Rahm’s code enforcement and for a finishing touch maybe check into the clout Kennedy used to lower his taxes. Let us all hold our collective breath
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
**Nepotism overload.**
You seem confused about what nepotism is. Our Revolution and SEIU Local 1 (or the SEIU State Council) have nothing to do with each other.
Hell — SEIU endorsed Hillary.
- Ron - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
Berrios is the worst.
- Stewed Prunes - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
@51st Ward:
Berrios allies have lost two major elections; Toni Berrios lost her seat in the General Assembly and Ray Suarez lost his seat in the Chicago City Council.
- Worth It - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
Do people have any idea how much time the Feds have spent at the BOR and Assessors offices? They found stuff on a few employees over the years but nothing to tie to Berrios. If they can’t find anything indictable then AG Madigan certainly will not either.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 1:51 pm:
**If they can’t find anything indictable then AG Madigan certainly will not either.**
Fair enough. They’re also calling on the board to enact reforms over Berrios’ head. So there’s that. Idk if Chuy’s call for testimony tells us anything about that.
- TominChicago - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 2:03 pm:
There are only 2 problems with these demands:
Madigan would not have authority to investigate any criminal activity in the Assessors office and
The assessment system is a matter of state law so there is nothing the county board can do to fix a problem.
Other than that, this is a great idea.
- Lance Mannion - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
–”Do people have any idea how much time the Feds have spent at the BOR and Assessors offices? They found stuff on a few employees over the years but nothing to tie to Berrios. If they can’t find anything indictable then AG Madigan certainly will not either.”–
No. And neither do you.
The Trib’s thorough investigative pieces and the ridiculous response by Berrios prove one thing … there’s something wrong with the assessments process in Cook County. Perhaps it is not criminal but maybe it is. Is it a true civil rights violation as asserted by Chris Kennedy? Again, who knows until someone, like the State’s supposed consumer protection advocate extraordinaire, actually looks into it.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
This will never happen unless…progressive caucus in City Council and Chris Kennedy fall on the sword…even then…a long shot…
- walker - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
Better think of something else to keep the Bern alive in Illinois. Like minimum wage, attacking GOP Congress types, running for office, graduated income tax, universal healthcare, higher education budget. I just don’t see tax assessments as the tie that binds.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 3:31 pm:
@TominChicago
**Madigan would not have authority to investigate any criminal activity in the Assessors office**
I believe she has the power to investigate public corruption no?
- City Zen - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 4:47 pm:
==Our Revolution and SEIU Local 1 (or the SEIU State Council) have nothing to do with each other.==
SEIU (among other unions) funds Revolution Messaging which works hand-in-hand with Our Revolution. I’d wager having a relative as a union president helps a bit.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 5:20 pm:
I’m thinking GAs and governors over the years haven’t been too generous in giving the Illinois Attorney General the power or resources to investigate other politicians.
Maybe they should write Attorney General Sessions and ask him to take a look-see on Civil Rights Act violations. That could make for some low comedy.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 21, 17 @ 10:15 pm:
They have a real backbone and put thought into the letters. They keep going like this Dems will be in for a real headache…