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Daley gonna Daley

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* Classic Daley…

Chicago mayoral candidate Bill Daley unveils a proposal to freeze homeowners’ property taxes in a television ad his campaign is set to start airing Thursday. […]

After the spot shows Daley talking to various people of different ages and ethnicities, the narrator gets to the big promise: “Bill will put a moratorium on tax hikes to keep families in their homes.” The words “PROPERTY TAX FREEZE” appear on the screen in large letters next to images of Daley speaking to a Hispanic woman in a store and a white man with a young child. […]

He previously had stressed the need to get away from raising the taxes on homeowners, but had not proposed an outright freeze. In a speech to the City Club of Chicago last week, he vowed that any property tax increases would be met with “dollar-for-dollar” cuts to city government. […]

While Daley is calling for a moratorium on property tax hikes, he previously has advocated for City Hall to consider a wide range of new taxes and fees to deal with the city’s ongoing pension crisis, which will require the next mayor to come up with nearly $1 billion in new annual retirement fund payments by 2023. In his City Club speech, Daley opened the door to a commuter tax on suburbanites who work in the city to help fill the pension gap while also saying an increase in real estate transfer fees and taxes on legalized marijuana and a long-sought Chicago casino “must be on the table.”

Refusing to raise property taxes while waiting on Springfield to give the city a casino or whatever pie in the sky idea Richard M. Daley had at the moment is what got the city in trouble in the first place because it didn’t adequately fund its pension systems (or even pay a dime into some of them).

And now Bill Daley thinks that the General Assembly is gonna pass a commuter tax? Does he not know that a record number of suburban Democrats were elected to the legislature last month and that they will be highly resistant to a possibly unconstitutional tax on their own constituents to benefit Chicago, on top of any graduated income tax plan? Or is he just being a Daley?

Also, this…

Daley said that should include considering an amendment to the state’s constitution, deleting a provision that says current public employees cannot have their pension benefits “diminished or impaired.” […]

Many legal scholars question whether changing the constitution would allow the city to reduce the retirement benefits of current city employees, and changes already have been made to lower benefits for new city employees. As a result, it’s unclear what changes a future mayor could make with state lawmakers to save additional money, and Daley did not outline any specifics.

More magic beans.

* I mean, the ad itself is pretty darned good, as TV ads go. But his posturing relies on the suspension of disbelief…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

Down to 20 from 21.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:39 pm
Nostalgic for the days of police torture, growing debt, major patronage scandals, and sweetheart asset sales to Wall Street investment consortia? VOTE DALEY.

Chicago doesn’t want another Daley as mayor. And, because he has lived in a bubble his entire 70 years, Bill Daley is the only Chicagoan who doesn’t know it.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:41 pm
I hate the music in this ad. Something about it is so grating!

Comment by WSJ Paywall Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:44 pm
Just imagine the election workers handing out flyers at every Metra station, your Rep XYZ and the Democrats allowed Chicago to tax your income because you work in Chicago.

That is going to make a heck of an ad in 2 years.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:44 pm
9 second mark: “Bill Daley has spent his whole life in Chicago.” What?

Comment by Confused Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:44 pm
He can always sell O’Hare

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:46 pm
No. Just….No.

Comment by West Sider Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:52 pm
–And now Bill Daley thinks that the General Assembly is gonna pass a commuter tax?–

I don’t think he does. Just more Daley fiscal snake oil.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:52 pm
I predict suburban Democratic representatives will lead the fight against any City commuter tax, just the way they once did against Todd Stroger’s unpopular sales tax hike (though there weren’t nearly as many suburban Dem reps back then).

Comment by anon2 Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:58 pm
That’s a solid out of the gate ad. Especially if your only goal is to get into a runoff, at this point.

Comment by Centennial Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 12:58 pm
I like him so much and I like this ad. I even like the topics, because unlike most folks, the crime stats actually point to a need to work differently than the social worker approach. but, Bill, just, no. it’s not gonna happen. your name is Daley.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:06 pm
–And now Bill Daley thinks that the General Assembly is gonna pass a commuter tax?–

Such a bad idea. Would open the burbs with big employers to retaliate against reverse commuters. Also commuters already spend money and pay taxes downtown on things like breakfast/coffee, lunch, dinner, after work drinks, transportation, running errands and making purchases over lunch, etc. Take this idea too far and it will spur more telecommuting, where people spend money on none of those things.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:09 pm
Does he need state approval to bring back and hike his brother’s “head tax?”

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:12 pm
Is anyone here excited for the prospect of Bill Daley as mayor? If so, can you share what makes you support him?

Comment by lakeside Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:21 pm
If we did get a commuter tax, many Chicago residents who work in the suburbs would eventually get taxed. This is the problem with trying to tax people who can’t vote you out of office.

Comment by Steve Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:27 pm
Dear Lord please spare us from another Daley.

Comment by Lobotomy Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:29 pm
=Such a bad idea. Would open the burbs with big employers to retaliate against reverse commuters. Also commuters already spend money and pay taxes downtown on things like breakfast/coffee, lunch, dinner, after work drinks, transportation, running errands and making purchases over lunch, etc. Take this idea too far and it will spur more telecommuting, where people spend money on none of those things.=

Agreed. In addition,I know of enough suburban commuters who HATE Metra and their current level of service. Tax enough of those commuters to their cars, and the gridlock in the city will make everyone angry.

Comment by Sox Fan Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:36 pm
Enough of good sound bites from bad ideas.

Speaking of Da Mare’s race, did anyone else get an unsolicited text message from Paul Vallas’ campaign last night? Hint to candidates and their campaigns: Getting unsolicited texts = I’m less inclined to support you.

Comment by Northsider Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:38 pm
===He can always sell O’Hare===

And probably would.

Daley would be the worst thing to happen to the city.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:39 pm
“And now Bill Daley thinks that the General Assembly is gonna pass a commuter tax?”

Who says he has to go to Springfield for this? There are many ways to enact a “commuter tax” (e.g. some monetary levy on people coming into this city to work). Many of them could be done through home rule, not clear why he would need the GA.

Comment by 5th Floor Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:40 pm
===some monetary levy on people coming into this city to work===

That would be a state function. Not a local one.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:42 pm
Another problem with the commuter tax: how can you prove how often a lawyer comes into the office in downtown Chicago ? What if billings are shifted out of the city even though work is being done in the city?

Comment by Steve Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:46 pm
A city earnings tax is needed,doable, and morally the right solution.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:48 pm
@moe berg, You nailed it sir. Daley is done

Comment by 10th Ward Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 1:57 pm
Daley and many other mayoral candidates are offering revenue ideas that they know (or should know) are not likely to happen because they require state approval. It’s an easy sound bite and they can blame someone else when it doesn’t happen.

Setting mayoral politics aside, a moral realistic route for Chicago and other home rule municipalities would be to convince the legislature to expand the number of services that are taxed, which would bring more money to both the state and locals. Politically, that’s a pretty heavy lift, too…but it’s more realistic than getting suburban GA members to approve a tax on their constituents, particularly when the GA members can’t spend the resulting revenue.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:07 pm
===It’s an easy sound bite and they can blame someone else when it doesn’t happen===

Yep. The CTU has been doing the same magic beans silliness for years with property taxes as Daley is. Only they want a LaSalle St. tax.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:13 pm
He also claims to have lived in Chicago his whole life. I guess all those years in DC just didn’t happen either.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:19 pm
===That would be a state function. Not a local one.===

So if the City still owned the Skyway and wanted to raise the entry toll from Indiana on all cars that did not have Chicago vehicle stickers, they would have to go to Springfield to do that?

Comment by 5th Floor Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:28 pm
===raise the entry toll from Indiana===

I’m not a lawyer. But if you’re talking about a toll, maybe that could be done. What do you do about Metra? lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:31 pm
I think when folks say “commuter tax” they are thinking more in lines of this sort of fee or toll not really a tax like an income tax, property tax, etc., so I actually think they could do it without Springfield.

Whether it makes sense or not is another question. Also, I’d rather have Rich as my non-lawyer lawyer than about 85% of the lawyers in Springfield.

Comment by 5th Floor Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:33 pm
Finally — a mayoral candidate who combines the worst aspects of Rahm Emanuel and Richie Daley.

The fact that this man must be taken seriously says terrible things about Chicago’s voters.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:38 pm
Daley should have promised a chicken in every pot while he was at it. None of his “proposals” stand a chance.

Comment by revedup Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:42 pm
Daley’s government reform plan is very good … term limits on both mayors and members of the city council, independent ward maps … the site of 1,000 people kissing Ed Burke’s ring is evidence enough that Chicago needs to change.

Comment by west wing Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:46 pm
The only way a commuter tax makes sense is politically, kind of. Joe average Chicago voter knows the city needs more money, and if someone running for Mayor wants to get that money from “the other,” meaning not them, that sounds good in the abstract. Witness why hotel, entertainment, and convention taxes are often so high — politically easy to soak the tourists. Might hurt Daley in courting the business community though, as they would seem to be his natural base.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:51 pm
Roman, your approach is the one I agree with the most, although I do hate regressive taxes so. The sales tax is stuck in the past by only taxing physical goods, but nowadays, everything is shifting over to services. If we broaden the tax base for the sales tax, the overall sales tax rate could possibly be lowered.

Comment by Homer Simpson's Brain Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:55 pm
The music in this is just awful as another commenter pointed out.

I feel like I just got watching an ad for a mediocre sports bar…. Although Bill Daley is the mediocre sports bar of candidates.

Comment by Driving a car Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:06 pm
The ad is a “standard B”

The truth and honesty to things aside, Bill Daley is banking (aw, see what I did there) on this premise that the Daley name is worth 19-23% to get to the runoff. Daley is banking on coming out early with a Daley like policy stance, it is s good foundation.

He may be right, but “standard B” for a Daley isn’t all that… rallying.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:12 pm
===He also claims to have lived in Chicago his whole life. I guess all those years in DC just didn’t happen either.===

It’s like a grand total of 2.5 years spent in two presidential cabinets. The guy is clearly a born and bred Chicagoan unlike the other two front runners.

Comment by 5th Floor Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:30 pm
I don’t see a shinning star in this collection of wannabes. There are probably enough Daley fans left to garner 20% of the vote. If there are 10 names on the ballot, it could happen. At least to make the runoff. Oof, it can actually get worse.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:30 pm
5th Floor - Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 2:28 pm:

===That would be a state function. Not a local one.===

So if the City still owned the Skyway and wanted to raise the entry toll from Indiana on all cars that did not have Chicago vehicle stickers, they would have to go to Springfield to do that?

That would violate the dormant interstate commerce clause.

Comment by TominChicago Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:41 pm
==The guy is clearly a born and bred Chicagoan unlike the other two front runners.==

Do you have any thoughts about population decline? What about being a “world class city?”

Also, pretty sure the guy currently on 5 wouldn’t meet your definition of a born and bred Chicagoan.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 3:53 pm
Yeah, no.

Comment by Albany Park Patriot Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 4:22 pm
When is someone gonna break the news to him that Chicago doesn’t want another Daley?

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 4:26 pm
He’ll have my undivided when he reverses his brother and puts an airport back on Northerly Island. Or builds a Southerly Island for one. Until then, meh.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 5:31 pm
New York City even let their commuter tax die, Philadelpia has one, but on both residents and suburban workers with a higher rate for City residents. How that ever got passed I’ll never know.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/opinion/new-york-commuter-tax.html

https://www.phila.gov/services/business-self-employment/business-taxes/wage-tax-employers/

3.88% wage tax for residents of Philly? Talk about death at the polls to whoever proposes that.

Comment by Chicago Bars Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 7:38 pm
1% income tax on those who work in Cook County, 100% rebated for federal filers who list a Cook County address. If you want to make it pro-urbanist, persons who have tax remittance in the prior month get a discount on CTA or Metra monthly passes that is offset by a 1:1 transfer from the 1% fund. Administratively feasible.

Comment by GC Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 8:46 pm
“He’ll have my undivided when he reverses his brother and puts an airport back on Northerly Island.” Nothing like a barbed wire surrounded facility for the super-rich on the precious lakefront to say man of the people.

Comment by striketoo Thursday, Dec 6, 18 @ 10:50 pm
Time to sell off Midway.

Comment by Dupage Bard Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 8:30 am