* From ProPublica…
Hi Rich,
I’m the communications manager for ProPublica Illinois and I’m writing with a story we wanted to make sure was on your radar. Today’s story is on our website, and also ran at the Sun-Times. This is part of Mick Dumke’s continuing coverage about the activities of the Illinois Policy Institute, which you may recall has been under heavy criticism for issues of transparency and accountability with the nonprofit’s political operations.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I’ve included a summary below and hopefully this may be a fit for a write-up at Capitol Fax.
Best,
Derrick
The Story: Groups connected to the Illinois Policy Institute, the state’s leading conservative think tank, have gained momentum on Chicago’s Northwest Side by organizing against an affordable housing complex. The proposal, supported by 45th Ward Ald. John Arena and State Rep. Robert Martwick, has stirred intense debate about government aid for the poor, racial segregation and housing density.
According to records obtained by ProPublica Illinois reporter Mick Dumke, starting with the 2012 elections, some Illinois Policy Institute leaders began funding campaigns after a series of transactions involving other organizations and political action committees they formed. In 2015 and 2016, the Government Accountability Alliance, which is also led by institute CEO John Tillman, gave more than $3 million total to the Illinois Opportunity Project. The IOP in turn has poured more than $1.7 million into political campaigns and committees across the state, including candidates opposed to the affordable housing complex. Tillman was also on the board of the Illinois Opportunity Project through 2016. (The story infographics help illustrate the money trail.)
The activities of some Illinois Policy Institute leaders have raised questions about accountability and transparency. For example, a report by the Chicago Sun-Times and ProPublica Illinois found that the now-defunct Project Six, touted as an independent and nonpartisan watchdog group, received 98 percent of its initial funding from the Illinois Policy Institute. And following that and similar reports, Congressman Dan Lipinski called for an investigation into IPI.
Click here or here.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
How strange that Proft and IPI would seek to inflame and exploit racial and socio-economic fears in Chicago. That is so unlike them.
Building a political and electoral toe-hold in Chicago based on fear and resentment?
Say it ain’t so. Who knew that opposing affordable housing could represent the best chance of electing more Republicans in Chicago?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:38 pm:
–“GAA donated to IOP to fund their general operations,” he (Tillman) wrote in response to questions. “What IOP then did independent of that with their funding is a separate matter over which GAA had no control.”–
Tillman gave $3 million to Proft with no idea as to what he would do with the money? What amazing generosity.
Geez, he thinks people are stupid. Why lie about it? Feeling guilty of something?
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
I have a feeling this was written from the top: https://twitter.com/illinoispolicy/status/999359184218017792
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
When this development was first proposed, the opposition was transparent and fear-based. The opponents voiced concerns about crime and not wanting another Cabrini Green. One opponent at a community meeting wanted to know if there would be background checks on any children living there. Once they were rightly condemned for fear-mongering and racism, the opponents decided to change tack and claim they were really opposed to the size of the building and that it was out.of character with the neighborhood. Even though the property is bordered by busy Milwaukee Avenue on one side and the Kennedy expressway on the other and does not abut any single-family homes. It is directly across the street from the police station and two blocks from a major bus terminal, Blue Line stop, and Metra stop. Hardly leafy suburbia.
- Honeybadger - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
After watching Dan Proft’s performance yesterday, I’d say he is a very angry man and needs some anger management classes. His swearing and challenging Mr Brady was very unbecoming.
Maybe Proft and the IPI want to resurrect the spirit of Bernie Epton.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:25 pm:
Proft telling Brady to “pound sand” was a highlight.
Brady stole show with the suggestion Tom Demmer will be President someday.
- Steve - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:37 pm:
Anyone who thinks the Northwest side wants Section 8 housing destroying their neighborhood should think again. If the deal was so darn good why do they need federal and state money ? If you can’t afford to live there you have no right to live there. Period.
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
One problem is that genius Chicago GOP chair Chris Cleveland, who somehow avoided to get his name mentioned in this piece, had the brilliant idea of having Kessem & Biela endorse and campaign with Jeanne Ives. That will ensure that neither of them gets above 35% because they will be tied to the hip with Ives & her policies.
It’s not a bad idea to try to build a GOP presence on the Northwest Side, but if you want to actually win elections, you need to be at least somewhat cognizant of who the voters are up there.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
Would this be the same Propublica that receives funding from the Democracy Fund, which is a spin-off of the Democracy Alliance that receives funding from unions like AFSCME and SEIU and some random billionaires?
- The young gov - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:47 pm:
—Steve—
Right, veterans and people with disabilities have no right to live in Jefferson Park or any other relatively safe area of the city. May the gods shine on you and your family so you never, ever face a debilitating accident that creates a ceiling on your income OR renders you or your loved ones in need accessible housing. For the record, there are plenty of people who live in Jefferson Park right now who are a-okay with this building and actually see the need for it.
- Grand Avenue - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
The way for Republicans to win on the Northwest side is to get candidates like those who are already successful around there - Rep McAuliffe, Alderman Napolitano & Commissioner Silvestri. Don’t recruit what should be good candidates - Biela is a teacher and Kessem is CPD - and then ruin them by attaching them to someone as far right as Jeanne Ives.
- Steve - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:24 pm:
Living in a certain neighborhood isn’t a right. If it just was individuals who are seniors or veterans that would be one thing but the neighborhood really doesn’t want it.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:25 pm:
What’s your point City Zen? So unions are fighting for good working people who need housing assistance? You seem to be defending the privileged and advocating the segregation of the poor. It’s like you want to criminalize poverty.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:31 pm:
===Living in a certain neighborhood isn’t a right===
OK, so in that case, what gives you the right to keep others out?
- Wow said I - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
To the young gov it’s not worth talking to someone who is closed minded. As a kid and a minority I remember moving into the near north neighborhood in Chicago and going to church and the families who would not give a child their hand at the sign of the peace. Things will eventually change but it takes all of us to say no, when it’s wrong. However, lately it’s fewer and fewer saying, no
- Just saying.... - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
Hey Rich,
What ever happened to Senator Nybo’s push to investigate the Tillman/Proft/Uhlien cabal?
He was out front for a short period of time and then crickets…????
Hmmm…wonder who pulled him off???
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 3:41 pm:
== If it just was individuals who are seniors or veterans that would be one thing but the neighborhood really doesn’t want it.==
You say that you and “the neighborhood” aren’t opposed to seniors or veterans - this means your objection isn’t to poor people specifically. So what other groups of people, specifically, is it that you and “the neighborhood” do not want moving in? Short people? People with blond hair?
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
Honeybear - I’m referring to Derrick’s comment: “Illinois Policy Institute, which you may recall has been under heavy criticism for issues of transparency and accountability…” Propublica doesn’t seem forthright with some of their financial corporate backers either, many of which are corporate-like behemoths such as AFSCME.
I’m actually familiar with the project and agree with Anonymous’ post above.
- truth - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:12 pm:
==Honeybear - I’m referring to Derrick’s comment: “Illinois Policy Institute, which you may recall has been under heavy criticism for issues of transparency and accountability…” Propublica doesn’t seem forthright with some of their financial corporate backers either, many of which are corporate-like behemoths such as AFSCME.==
Huh? They list their supporters right here - https://www.propublica.org/supporters/
- Honeybear - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:25 pm:
City Zen, my bad. I’d like to point out that in no way shape or form is AFSCME a “corporate-like behemoth”. Come on man. It’s made up of a ton of tiny locals. My local is pretty large with 900 or so state workers. Even so I looked and didn’t see where Afscme was funding propublica. Maybe I’m wrong but Afscme expenditures are pretty tightly monitored. Got proof?
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:27 pm:
==They list their supporters right here==
Yes, but you have to drill-down to get to the details I cited. I suppose it’s easier to say “Democracy Fund” than “SEIU and Soros”.
- City Zen - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:33 pm:
==didn’t see where Afscme was funding propublica==
AFSCME funds the Democracy Alliance (you have to search the US Dept of Labor to find it), which in turn funds the Democracy Fund, which in turn funds ProPublica.
I’m by no means defending IPI and its funders, just that both sides have their share of wealthy benefactors with their own motives. I like the work Propublica Illinois has done, but I can trace their funding and I don’t need billionaires to pay me for it.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:36 pm:
“Living in a certain neighborhood isn’t a right.”
If people qualify for subsidized housing, who’s to stop them from living where they can afford to pay the rent?
- Honeybear - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:44 pm:
Yeah, City Zen, motives like helping poor people get housing or workers rights.
I see IPI and it’s backers working for
Corporate welfare
Pinstripe patronage
The wealthy elite
The privileged
Randian Libertarian greed
- 44th - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 4:59 pm:
Arena is a thug, easy to point to him as a case for all that is wrong in Chicago.
- Board Watcher - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 5:11 pm:
_Honeybear- seems you have a problem with successful business people..
- supplied_demand - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 5:19 pm:
==If the deal was so darn good why do they need federal and state money ? If you can’t afford to live there you have no right to live there.==
Should we assume that “Steve” turns down the mortgage interest deduction (subsidy) if he owns property?
- Carrying_Water - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 5:45 pm:
Arguing about funding sources kinda misses the point. Isn’t it odd that ProPublica Illinois has focused so intently on IPI. Look at this state and its problem, yet they expend a lot of capital on a conservative non-profit that doesn’t even have the inside track with Rauner anymore. I had hoped for so much more when they announced.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 5:54 pm:
Arena is trying to paint the opposition to this project as uniformly racist. There are, however, legitimate concerns being aired. It’s true that the development is tucked in between Milwaukee Ave on one side, and the Kennedy on the other. Arena pushed through a zoning change foe the building to be 7 stories tall, when zoning called for no building higher than 4 stories. 100 units, and no side streets anywhere near the development except side streets across a very busy 4 lane Milwaukee Ave, that are packed with cars already and have zoned parking due to their proximity to the Jefferson Park Blue line trains/bus terminal. Where will all those resident’s cars go? Inquiring minds want to know.
In addition, this area of Jefferson Park is wedged between Milwaukee Ave, Elston Ave, and Central. Afternoon traffic is already at gridlock. Ask any cta bus operator how hard it is to get in and out of the Jeff Park terminal given the traffic on Milwaukee as it is today, before adding 100 units and their cars into the mix.
Jefferson Park was designed and zoned for low density housing. This isn’t Lincoln Park. I live here. I actually love the area. I also like to be able to park in front of my house, although I would like to sell for the prices that Lincoln Park homes command.
So, while I was surprised at the involvement of IPI and their ilk, and totally reject the organization on its face, as well as any of the racist sentiments their supporters exhibit, I wanted to present my view on this. Arena is only interested in burnishing his progressive bonafides, but this dense of a development in an area that is already way overburdened in terms of road, sewer and access infrastructure is ill-planned, and tone deaf to legitimate neighborhood concerns, and he’ll pay for it in 2019.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 23, 18 @ 11:25 pm:
Public servant, the height has been lowered and it has been downsized to 75 units.
- Robert M Roman - Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 6:29 am:
“===Living in a certain neighborhood isn’t a right===
“OK, so in that case, what gives you the right to keep others out? ”
Money, of course.
- Honeybear - Thursday, May 24, 18 @ 7:37 am:
Board Watcher- I have a problem with capitalism in general. I have a huge problem with people who equate “success” with wealth.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Friday, May 25, 18 @ 6:18 am:
==Anyone who thinks the Northwest side wants Section 8 housing destroying their neighborhood should think again.==
Section 8 doesn’t destroy neighborhoods. It does act like an economic surge protector. Because the government will only pay market price, it keeps properties at the median, keeping them from going too high or too low. Also people from the government inspect the homes so it keeps the local homes in good shape. The people who rent have 70% of their rent paid for through this program so they have more disposable income to spent in local stores, verses the average American who spends up to 50% of his income. All these things help a neighborhood. Many of the landlords in Jefferson Park might already be section 8 landlords already. Its only a matter of filling out some forms, and they get guaranteed rent.