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* Kass…
In response to toilet-gate and the Blago tapes, boss Democrats engineered an early endorsement of Pritzker by labor leaders of the Illinois AFL-CIO to demonstrate J.B.’s strength.
A Kennedy being squeezed by Cook County Democrats and organized labor in Illinois?
Richard J. Daley is rolling over in his grave.
Now there’s another problem for Democrats: the exhaustive analysis of Cook County property taxes by the Chicago Tribune’s Jason Grotto. It shows that under Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, a Boss Madigan ally, property assessments in Cook County are riddled with errors. According to the Tribune, lower-priced homes were overvalued, while higher-priced homes were undervalued.
Minorities won’t like that. Without minorities, Boss Madigan can’t rule and take advantage of all those Pritzker bucks. And so, Kennedy hit at Madigan’s weak spot.
The Tribune story, Kennedy said, “demonstrates there is enormous prejudice in the system, the system is rigged against the poor, and that is probably a de facto violation of the Civil Rights Act because people of color are so disproportionately punished by the system and disproportionately paying much higher taxes.”
* But Greg Hinz also makes a good point…
On the other hand, I think Berrios has some points in his favor, too. For instance, the main map the Tribune displayed to summarize its findings showed that while the poor, black West Side on average is overassessed, so is the white Northwest Side and most of northwest suburban Cook.
Here’s that map. Dark red means the properties were overvalued by at least 10 percent, light red is overvalued by less than 10 percent…
The full Kennedy interview is here. That’s quite a play-in Kass has.
*** UPDATE *** From Assessor Joe Berrios…
Mr. Kennedy’s comments stem from Chicago Tribune stories based on faulty sales ratio studies not done by assessment professionals and not including all properties, countywide.
I grew up in Cabrini Green, am the first minority to become Assessor and was the legislature’s first Hispanic-American. I won’t allow unfair assessments to cause minorities to pay more than they should.
The Cook County Assessor’s office does base all valuation on all sale prices and market conditions over a three year period for similar homes in each neighborhood. The Assessor doesn’t set tax rates or levies. That is done by school districts, municipalities and other taxing bodies. Mr. Kennedy’s lack of knowledge of assessments may have caused his errors.
* And check this out…
Setting aside the fact that the “institute” claims to be non-partisan, Kennedy needs a better online ad strategy than this.
* And while we’re on the subject, Jacobin Magazine has a long, left-perspective oppo dump on the candidate. Click here.
* Related…
* Cook County’s Property Taxes: Uneven, Unequal - But how bad is it compared to other states and counties?
* A closer look at Top Box Foods, Chris Kennedy’s nonprofit
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:07 am
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re: online strategy, isn’t it just that IPI is outbidding Kennedy for the search words “Chris Kennedy”? Not sure what he can do about that. Probably someone here knows more than I…
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:14 am
===Not sure what he can do about that===
Bid higher.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:16 am
Hard to prove discriminatory intent with this. They have insufficient money as do the suburban assessor to do an adequate job. They all rely on models for their assessments. That fact that wealthier folks take advantage of the appeal process doesn’t reflect discrimination.
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:21 am
I thought the same thing when I looked at the map…it doesn’t necessarily prove the Trib’s thesis.
Looks like downtown, the north lakefront, and suburban north shore are almost all under valued. Otherwise, it’s a real hodgepodge of over/under assessment regardless of race and region.
Comment by Telly Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:22 am
Ck is playing to his key base for the primary, older African American voters, who remember JFK. I don’t know if it will be enough. He needs a 4/5/6 candidates on the ballot in the primary. Your name can only get you so far, he needs to get on Chicago Media market for at least 3 months before the primary. I don’t know if he can pull that off.
I’m shocked at that Kass article. I can’t wait to see his lofty endorsement of Drury or CK the Sunday before March 20th!
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:28 am
===Ck is playing to his key base for the primary, older African American voters, who remember JFK===
If he is, then maybe he should rethink another appearance on Kass’ show.
Just sayin…
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:32 am
The Kass article tells me Team Rauner most fears JB as their opponent in November 2018.
Cui bono. . .
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:32 am
If Cook Co. would buy my house for what it values it at, I would triple my money for what i built it for nearly 15 years ago.
Comment by Ractin Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:33 am
So does this mean Joe Berrios isn’t going to put up a Kennedy sign?
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:34 am
It looks like the dark red neighborhoods on the north and northwest side are Rogers Park, plus some middle class and Hispanic neighborhoods on the far northwest side. Hinz doesn’t have much of a point.
Comment by BSer Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:38 am
John Kass wrapping his arms around Chris Kennedy as the oppressed underdog???? God we live in weird times.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:40 am
I agree Rich, but when your main opponent is already on Chicago TV and self funded millions already to his campaign. He needs any earned media he can get to help spread his message. Beggars can’t be choosers
Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:41 am
===Hinz doesn’t have much of a point===
Um, you do know you’re looking at a map of the county, right?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:41 am
Still waiting to hear from Joe Berrios’ most important political protector. (No, not Mike Madigan.)
She’s quick to point to racism in the criminal justice system. Why isn’t Toni Preckwinkle talking about discrimination in the property assessment system?
Comment by Anon414 Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:43 am
==Bid higher==
Yeah, but if Kennedy campaign ever wins the bid, IPI just gets more money from Rauner to outbid him, so this really isn’t an option. And if the Pritzker campaign is paying any attention, they could bump Kennedy down to the 3rd spot too.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:44 am
BTW, that so-called Kennedy oppo dump is the lamest oppo dump ever.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:45 am
===Hinz doesn’t have much of a point.===
Um, the big pink square at the upper left is Barrington Township. Not exactly a poor neighborhood.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:46 am
I would agree that any system which itself admits a high level of “errors” through its own appeals process is broken and in need of repair. How about a sample audit process not triggered by homeowner appeals, to deal with the imbalance created by wealthier being more likely to appeal?
To go so far as to claim a systemic pattern or practice violation of the Civil Rights Act, is political desperation. Kennedy lost a lot of credibility with that one IMO.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:52 am
If the Pritzker camp’s response is to defend Berrios and the current system, they are making a big mistake. Kennedy is smart to keep this issue in the spotlight.
Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:56 am
- Um, you do know you’re looking at a map of the county, right? -
Yes, Rich. The big block of dark red on the northwest side inside the city going toward O’Hare are mostly middle class, Hispanic, and Polish neighborhoods. These are not rich neighborhoods.
Is today the first time you’ve linked a Marxist publication?
Comment by BSer Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:05 am
The oppo dump was laughable.
Top Box Foods has an innovative business model that allows for more people to get better food. It’s not a soup kitchen but it’s certainly not a reflection of supply-side economic ideology–as the author would have you believe.
Comment by Red fish blue fish Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:07 am
I bet some class action law firm might be creative enough to go after the assessor
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:12 am
===the exhaustive analysis of Cook County property taxes by the Chicago Tribune’s Jason Grotto===
The “analysis” was anything but exhaustive. It is poorly researched at best and intentionally misleading at worst.
Say what you want about the property tax system but poorer areas aren’t paying more “because their homes are assessed higher.” It’s because their tax rates are so much higher with the fleeing of industry over the last 2 decades. Chicago’s tax rate is a third of what Chicago Heights’ is. This research takes 3 minutes to look up online.
Comment by Boone's is back Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:21 am
“- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 10:56 am:
If the Pritzker camp’s response is to defend Berrios and the current system, they are making a big mistake. Kennedy is smart to keep this issue in the spotlight.”
Yes, that would be a big mistake. but of course that’s not remotely their response.
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:24 am
==Kennedy needs a better online ad strategy than this==
Pritzker had the same problem a couple weeks ago, but appears to have solved it now.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:34 am
There probably is an argument to be made about the CRA, but the race part of this equation seems almost coincidental to me (as far as the assessor’s office). The Tribune said part (most?) of the overvaluing/undervaluing resulted from, basically, the assessors using average values for square feet and other features. So if your house is more expensive than average per square foot, you’re assessed a lower amount than it’s worth. So cheaper houses would get assessed more than they’re worth. And cheaper houses are owned by poorer people, which is disproportionately minorities. I get that we’re arguing over semantics, but I’m not sure you can call what the assessor is doing “racist,” even though it probably does run afoul of the CRA based on who it affects.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:38 am
===Pritzker had the same problem a couple weeks ago===
I called them about this. Apparently, they were in between online directors.
I tried calling the Kennedy campaign about this (and other stuff) yesterday and have yet to hear back.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 11:40 am
In order for it to be an actual violation of the Civil Rights Act, wouldn’t it have to be de jure, not de facto?
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 12:02 pm
=And cheaper houses are owned by poorer people, which is disproportionately minorities. I get that we’re arguing over semantics, but I’m not sure you can call what the assessor is doing “racist,” even though it probably does run afoul of the CRA based on who it affects.=
The phrase I’ve heard in relation to it is systemic racism. I don’t think Berrios is racist in intent, but housing falls along racial lines, so that can translate into assessments through pretty obvious channels. It takes some care to not perpetuate embedded racism, and the Trib’s pretty convincing that the assessor’s office is not especially careful.
Comment by whetstone Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 12:19 pm
==I called them about this. Apparently, they were in between online directors.==
It’s…not “tricky”, but it’s something, ’cause Google only cares about the ad revenue, doesn’t care who it’s from. It’s an easy one to be caught napping on.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 12:23 pm
In today’s Sun-Times, Joe Berrios attempted to defend the system while admitting that his office routinely fails to actually assess the properties by conducting a field visit to the property parcels. His defense of the status quo was that the appeals process exists to correct inequities.
Berrios also claimed that the minority communities fail to appeal assessments often enough and that he tried to address that by holding workshops to train people how to file appeals.
At the start of the Great Depression, Cook County faced a crisis when property tax collections were halted because a taxpayer lawsuit challenged the entire system because accurate assessments had not be conducted for several years. The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Comment by Ward Heeler Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 1:16 pm
There is bias in a system for funding government based on property wealth that dates back to when only white men were allowed to own land in this country?
I find that really, really hard to believe.
What’s next, a three-part Tribune series on the Electoral College?
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 1:19 pm
“he Tribune said part (most?) of the overvaluing/undervaluing resulted from, basically, the assessors using average values for square feet and other features. So if your house is more expensive than average per square foot, you’re assessed a lower amount than it’s worth. So cheaper houses would get assessed more than they’re worth.”
———–
Remember, Cook County Assessor’s office is using a computer valuation model - basically, a CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal) System. Which is really good at spitting out numbers.
Look at some of the numbers:
Cook County: 2015 RE Tax Year - 10.85% Urban-Weighted Median Ratio (3 year average)
The rest of the State of IL works at .3333 for non-farm property.
Cook County runs under a Classification system, so they don’t. But when everything is finished, they still have to get to that .3333% level for non-farm properties, so that’s why you have that enormous countywide equalization factor each year.
But back to assessments…..
Look at the COD numbers (and number of sales) for Cook County:
Link is: http://www.revenue.state.il.us/AboutIdor/TaxStats/PropertyTaxStats/Table-1/2015-AssessmentRatios.pdf
For example, you look at the “Number of Sales” column, the more sales you have, the lower (hopefully) your COD is. Lower COD is better; that means there is less variation between properties - assessed value to market value.
I was always taught to strive for a COD of less than 20. That’s HARD! But that was a long time ago.
What the stats are telling (IMO) is that the field data validation isn’t happening, or it’s being done very poorly, or both. Simply, after you create the numbers, your field appraisal staff has to go back out with individual valuation records created by the CAMA System and verify that the data is accurate. That’s why your field staff are supposed to be RE appraisers.
Simply, are they validating their results? How big of a sample? What areas are they doing this in.
What sales are they using for comparisons? Is Cook County Assessor using the same sales data as IL DOR, or are they getting creative and using something they ‘edited’?
Lots & lots & LOTS of questions.
Comment by Anon Downstate Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 3:34 pm
===Ck is playing to his key base for the primary, older African American voters, who remember JFK===
Just as a point of fact, JFK was killed nearly 54 years ago.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 4:18 pm
I wonder if this is a software issue. I recently looked at home sales in the city of Rockford greater than 250,000. Though very limited 9 out of 10 were significantly under assessed, one to the tune of $170,000. The median underassessment of the 10 properties was 96,000 which is a big deal in Rockford.
Comment by Anonymoose Tuesday, Jun 13, 17 @ 4:58 pm