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Buckner says he’s had talks with SDG about opposition to Bears stadium bill (Updated)
Monday, Apr 20, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Hmm…  Meanwhile, Buckner says he has it covered…
More here. …Adding… Mayor Brandon Johnson on Fox 32…
Mayor Johnon’s basic belief here is that if the Bears don’t stay in the city, then he’d rather let them go to Indiana.
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- Well well well - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:16 pm:
If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s on SDG/CTU operating in good faith
- Think Again - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:19 pm:
=Stacy Davis Gates =
I can think of $50 billion and 3 cents worth of reasons why this is a bad sign for keeping the Bears in Illinois.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
SDG is really a roadblock to progress on so much…
- JS Mill - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
It is irresponsible to include CTU/IFT and SDG in these talks in any substantive manner. SUre, let them express their thoughts and thank them for thier input like any constituent, but “and have added their thoughts and ideas into the working draft,” that is ridiculous. I wonder if the 211, D25, and 214 district teachers associations (you know, the place where the stadium will actually be built) get as much say. much less the rest of the communities? Doubt it.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
Buckner: Two steps ahead.
Johnson: Five steps behind.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
===that is ridiculous===
60-30-1
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:35 pm:
The Mayor and SDG are so fake. It’s ok for them to spend literal public dollars to build a new Soldiers Field for the Bears, but counterintuitive to pass the megaprojects bill. Sure, Jan.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
===It’s ok for them to spend literal public dollars to build a new Soldiers Field===
Don’t forget that SDG was at the big unveil with Mayor Johnson and the Bears.
- 4 percent - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 3:37 pm:
Those are NOT public dollars. These are private dollars and the discussion is how much is paid to government entities. Too many politicians including Mayor think that revenue from private employers is “their money”.
- low level - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 3:39 pm:
==SDG is really a roadblock to progress on so much…==
So true. Including her on anything is a sure sign of a disaster waiting to happen. Then throw in the mayor’s always helpful comments / s, and you know the deal will fail. Total fiasco.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:04 pm:
=== Including her on anything is a sure sign===
She is president of the IFT, which I think is the largest union in the state.
She cannot possibly be ignored.
- JB13 - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:09 pm:
– if the Bears don’t stay in the city, then he’d rather let them go to Indiana –
Objectively true. But he hasn’t been the only one.
It’s convenient to blame the Bears for the snail’s pace on this, because, well, the Bears.
But I’ll put it this way: If not for the real offer from Indiana, the people in charge of this state would still be saying things very similar to the mayor, just in a more tactful and less obvious “Chicago First” fashion.
- AH - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:25 pm:
== These are private dollars and the discussion is how much is paid to government entities. ==
That also describes the money Arlington Heights residents will have to pay after their property taxes rise. The schools are in on this discussion for a reason.
- Bearister - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:33 pm:
SDG is only speaking for herself. The local school districts are IN SUPPORT of the PILOT/Mega Projects Bill. This is why they negotiated with Arl. Hts. and the Bears for so long over the assessed value of the property.
If they really want to protect the schools, they should bar the incentive from applying to property with any new residences. Let it apply to commercial/industrial, but not to new homes.
- Johnny B - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:35 pm:
Why would homeowners in Arlington Heights see their property taxes rise because of a new stadium?
Isn’t it reasonable to assume domes stadium would generate more tax revenue for the city than the vacant parcel of land currently does?
Do you foresee a big surge of school aged kids living in the Bears new stadium?
- Ducky - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:53 pm:
Given Mayor Johnson’s legislative record, this is a great sign for the Bears. If Johnson and SDG are against it, then it is sure to pass.
- ElTacoBandito - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:57 pm:
I’m no fan of SDG but her advocating to protect education funding seems like exactly where she should be. As Rich said, she’s the head of the IFT.
Now whether she is negotiating in good-faith is another story.
- Amalia - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 4:59 pm:
SDG is a do not invite. she would always rather be out protesting something rather than getting good things done, or educating kids. Move that Legislation, Speaker Welch.
- Incandenza - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 5:04 pm:
Reminder that Mayor Johnson is the least popular politician in the country with an approval rating dipping down around 10% or 20%
- Bears Tax Shift - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 7:01 pm:
***Why would homeowners in Arlington Heights see their property taxes rise because of a new stadium?***
Because the bill allows taxing bodies to use the total assessed value above the frozen assessed value to compute their levy. So, that means the taxes associated with the value above the frozen value are transferred to all the other property owners in the area. This is an absolute tax shift to other property owners. Of course, the unions like this bill.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 8:17 pm:
I am an Arlington resident. Bears Tax Shift, what do you propose to do with the 326 acre eye sore I see multiple times a week when I drive my daughter is going to school?
- JS Mill - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 8:41 pm:
=the 326 acre eye sore=
Is it really an eye sore? Asking seriously, I have not been past the old track since they tore everything down.
- Rahm’s Parking Meter - Monday, Apr 20, 26 @ 11:06 pm:
Yes, especially after when it rains.
- Skokie Man - Tuesday, Apr 21, 26 @ 8:26 am:
“What do you propose to do with the 326 acre eye sore I see multiple times a week?”
1. Have you considered a horse racing facility? I kid…
2. A mixed-use development like The Glen would likely be very successful there, particularly with the easy access to the Metra baked into the property
3. The Bears bought the property hoping that your perspective here would help them get a sweet tax deal. There are other fish in the sea.