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* This is one crazy day, campers. Here’s Tim Novak…
Federal prosecutors have made a series of requests to the Cook County assessor’s office over the past five months for records regarding the $330,000 property tax break that Gov. J.B. Pritzker got on a Gold Coast mansion — a break he got in part because the toilets were disconnected during a stalled remodeling job.
Records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago has asked Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi for all emails and any other communications dating to 2012 regarding the tax break that Kaegi’s predecessor, Joseph Berrios, gave Pritzker.
As they continue an investigation prompted by a Sun-Times report in May 2017, they have asked for information including the name of every employee who, under Berrios, “worked, reviewed and/or approved” the tax break for one of the two mansions Pritzker owns on North Astor Street. Pritzker reimbursed Cook County the full value of the tax break in 2018.
Rather than obtain those names through subpoenas, prosecutors sent Kaegi’s staff a series of emails beginning Jan. 17 that cited a wide range of specific records, which he has agreed to turn over, records show.
* Just a few of the other properties the feds were interested in…
• 1 N. LaSalle St., a Loop skyscraper owned by ONL Properties. Burke’s law firm filed eight appeals between 2010 and 2017. During that time, Berrios moved to drastically increase his estimation of the property’s value but backed down. That resulted in Burke getting more than $1.9 million in property savings for the owners. On top of that, he got them a tax refund of $101,951 last year when a Cook County judge agreed to lower the 2015 assessment, when the tax bill totaled $2,098,342. […]
• 730 Franklin Building, a commercial building at 300 W. Superior St., filed five appeals to Berrios’ office, at first using Madigan’s law firm and then switching to Flanagan last year. […]
• Gibson’s, 1028 N. Rush St., a steakhouse popular with Chicago’s movers and shakers, has long been represented by property tax attorney Michael Crane, whose nephew Christopher Crowley was Berrios’s chief of staff in the assessor’s office. […]
• Erie Cafe, 530 E. Erie St., a steakhouse where Berrios is among the clout-heavy regulars. It was also the site of his retirement party before he left office in December 2018.
…Adding… From the governor’s daily public schedule…
What: Gov. Pritzker to discuss local jobs supported by the Summer Youth Employment Program.
Where: Employee Connections, 2504 Washington Street, Waukegan
When: 12:00 p.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideoWhat: Gov. Pritzker to discuss the census and the importance of being counted.
Where: Hinkston Park, 810 Baldwin Avenue, Waukegan
When: 1:00 p.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideo
Note: No additional media availability.
I’ve asked whether he’s still planning to do these events. I’ll let you know what I hear back.
*** UPDATE *** I’m told the schedule stands as is.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:11 am
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Campaign fodder for the anti-progressive tax groups.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:15 am
==I’ve asked whether he’s still planning to do these events. ==
I’m sure he will–plus getting geared up for all the reporters’ questions on the tax matters when it’s time for questions
Comment by Chatham Resident Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:25 am
@Ravenswood - Well yeah. When the people wanting to raise taxes are using their connections to avoid them, it’s not a good look.
Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:28 am
I’m guessing he’s not taking questions today.
Comment by Birds on the Bat Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:34 am
This is not great for the Fair Tax push, but is this not old news at this point. It did not hurt him in the general election. Why would it come back to bite him harder the second time around? The spot light on it is bad, but it has been addressed and repaid. Totally bad look, but not a kiss of death.
Comment by NuancedApproach Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:35 am
Interesting headline by the Sun-Time, Wonder why they didn’t headline it: “Feds cast wide net on Berrios, get records on Sun-Time’s Owner, 118 other properties” instead of singling out the Governor??
Comment by Jimbo2 Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:36 am
I’m pressing the delete button on my comments of 9:39. I committed the sin of responding to the headline and only reading later. My bad.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:44 am
Didn’t Burke also represent the owners of 401 N. Wabash?
Comment by Quizzical Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:49 am
Not trying to be mean, but I have noticed that Governor Pritzker has gained some weight. Could this be from stress eating?
Comment by Ostomie Wedgie Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 9:55 am
We all know that Attorney General Barr is a political attack dog for Trump and the Republicans. This investigation by the US attorney cannot not be evaluated without taking this into account.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:01 am
Hard for me to fault the USDA and FBI on timing issues. We should all remember that they are also dealing with catching and prosecuting drug cartel criminals as well as protecting us from terrorist organizations.
I appreciate the fact that local property tax issues and “toilet” removal tax avoidance efforts are not high on their agenda, but have to admit the Feds never seem to give up.
Comment by Back to the Future Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:02 am
=We all know that Attorney General Barr is a political attack dog for Trump and the Republicans. This investigation by the US attorney cannot not be evaluated without taking this into account.=
Amen.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:03 am
“It did not hurt him in the general election. Why would it come back to bite him harder the second time around”
Rauner isn’t on the ballot. Regardless, It won’t hurt. If anything it helps IMO. It does reinforce my opinion that he and the 3% will figure out a way to get out of higher taxes as they normally do.
Corruption Friday with all of these articles…..
Comment by 1st Ward Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:07 am
Hey Banish and Tiny Dancer, please take off your tinfoil hats. Barr was named AG in 2019. The feds started investigating Pritzker in May 2017.
Comment by phocion Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:15 am
I’m sure Berrios is lamenting that he wasn’t able to pay his staff above/beyond their county salaries because “they work so hard for the People and are under paid.”
Comment by cdog Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:17 am
-Not trying to be mean, but I have noticed that Governor Pritzker has gained some weight.-
If he hasn’t gained weight since March i suspect he’s be in the minority. Worst part about working form home is the GD Fridge is right there.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:18 am
The Feds are also looking at Berrios and his connected people, judging by the addresses of interest, and links to Berrios. JB may have paid back the money, but that doesn’t legally negate criminal charges under State and Federal law.
Comment by revvedup Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:24 am
“Barr was named AG in 2019. The feds started investigating Pritzker in May 2017.”
And if there is one man that we can all acknowledge as a paragon of fair-minded, non-partisan justice it’s Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:40 am
=The feds started investigating Pritzker in May 2017.=
2017? Still Trump’s DOJ.
He has a history of weaponizing government power and attacking Democratic governors for his political advantage.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:47 am
– weaponizing government power —
In Illinois, game respects game.
Comment by JB13 Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 10:52 am
Funny how many people here are making excuses for a billionaire who cheated Cook County property taxpayers through a scam who, only when caught red handed, paid his “fair share” of taxes.
Comment by phocion Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:05 am
He got caught on this one, & paid the taxes.
THIS one isn’t the one we should be worried about. Citizens want to talk about ’systemic’ -isms?
In IL, it only matters that you’re connected-ism.
Comment by Dub Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:05 am
Talk bad about the Prez and see what it gets you.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:29 am
If there’s more on the tax break let’s hear it. But if it’s nothing more than a rehash of what we’ve already been told I don’t expect it will get much traction. Whether it’s Pritzker with property taxes or Rauner clouting his kid the expected behavior of rich guys being rich doesn’t seem to move the needle much. Heck nobody seems to be all that concerned that we can’t seem to see the President’s tax returns.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 11:48 am
$100,000s of thousands in tax cheating while spending $tens of millions to raise taxes. What a strange state we live in.
Comment by 44th Friday, Jul 17, 20 @ 3:11 pm