Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Question of the day

Posted in:

Illinois
YouTube

* Background is here if you need it. New ad from Chicago Forward…

Tired of politicians empty promises? Remember when the lottery was going to fund our schools and cut property taxes? That didn’t happen. Then we were told selling the parking meters would balance the budget and reduce debt. Didn’t happen either.

Now Mayor Johnson promises he’ll end homelessness if we approve a massive new tax on property sales across Chicago. Chicago already spends hundreds of millions on homeless programs. Now, the mayor wants another $100 million in taxes and has no plan. Sound familiar? Do you trust Mayor Johnson with $100 million in new taxes?

* The Question: Your rating? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 11:43 am

Comments

C- It doesn’t tie it to the average taxpayer (e.g., claim the tax will be passed down in higher rents).

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:10 pm
B+. It articulates what is (imo) the best attack against Bring Chicago Home.

“We already are spending money on this, why would a new fund be different?” is succinct and clear to average voter.

Of course, I don’t agree with that sentiment - but effective messaging.

Comment by wowie Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:12 pm
I give it a solid B. Hits the right points, but I’d emphasize the money already being spent, and the money spent for decades on homelessness against the backdrop of the tent cities all over Chicago. If we’re spending $200 million and homelessness is still this out of control, that is evidence that the city has no plan but to spend more money with no evidence that they could spend it effectively.

Whatever the city’s plan is to get people into housing, it clearly isn’t working.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:13 pm
Ah, but it *is* working. An OIG report that came out on DFSS rehousing programs showed that 80%+ of rapid rehousing clients were still housed in permanent housing 2+ years later. It’s just the funding needed to scale this up

Comment by Local Person Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:16 pm
F-

Won’t even move the needle. And I wouldn’t trust Republican Vallyes with a $100 million.

Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:19 pm
D

It got to the right point (finally) at the end - do you trust Johnson? But the only people who remember the lottery was for schools are north of 70 years old. Parking meters still smart of course, but everyone knows and blames RJD. I think it would’ve been more effective to show all of the mayor’s stumbles and then ask if we trust him with another $100M

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:24 pm
Rate B.
If only Mayor Brandon Johnson majored in finance, he might understand the complexities of budgeting.

To end homelessness is an admirable goal,but what is the plan for implementation and assessment? Has the fifth floor considered a pilot program to create a model before funding this program?

Where is the plan? What are the strategies? Give me the money and I’ll figure it out is not acceptable.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:27 pm
I’d give it an A-.

It’s quick and effective. Mayor Johnson isn’t popular right now and it ties the tax increase to him. Plus it reminds voters of other tax deals that failed to achieve their stated goals.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:33 pm
I’m giving it a B- simply because no one thought the parking meter deal was a good idea…especially following Daley’s selling of the Skyway.

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:43 pm
–Parking meters still smart of course, but everyone knows and blames RJD–

Polling data citation on that assertion?

Comment by King Louis XVI Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:47 pm
B It ties mayor Johnson to things people hate. but the voice is not compelling. the irony of it is that it hits the old Daley parking meter deal. this is from Goldner, right?

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 12:56 pm
“Has the fifth floor considered a pilot program to create a model before funding this program?”

I recognize that most people don’t know the existing work that goes on everyday to house people experiencing homelessness. There are proven models for providing permanent housing and services. There are amazing examples throughout the city and beyond. It is not an issue of figuring out a model, but rather investing the solutions that we know work at a scale that moves the needle.

Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 1:28 pm
D- Is this a knock ad on Johnson or an opposition ad to the tax referendum? Really unfocused.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 1:29 pm
D. It brings up a bunch of issues most voters don’t know or care about to the point I’m embarrassed for the ad designer. Seriously, with the exception of people who read this blog, who understands the part about the state lottery?

Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 1:50 pm
Someone on the blog suggested tying the referendum to Johnson

Comment by HarveyGuy Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:20 pm
B- It tries to connect the dots on a lot of policies that predated Johnson to make their point and with the sound off, it seems to take too long to get there. The viewer really has to pay attention. It also doesn’t touch on the weakness of killing downtown and commercial development (I’m assuming they wanted to keep this homeowner focused though).

The music is a nice touch and it does pack a punch, albeit a light one. I would have focused more on the culmination of Johnson’s other policies that are driving businesses and taxpayers out of the city. This proposal just exacerbates those.

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:42 pm
If there are proven models to address homelessness, why are CTA trains rolling homeless hotels?

The city must provide structure and accountability for the monies spent to address this crisis. The time for rhetoric is over.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:44 pm
=Someone on the blog suggested tying the referendum to Johnson=

I did - and as you can see above, I don’t think they did a good job. They should’ve highlighted all of *his* screwups in 9 short months then ask if we trust him.

As for the doofus asking me to cite something on the parking meters, do your own research Sherlock

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:52 pm
===If there are proven models to address homelessness, why are CTA trains rolling homeless hotels?===

Here’s one example: https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/02/19/uptown-homeless-shelter-proposal-rejected-by-zoning-board/

And what they’re doing about the CTA: https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/02/19/program-tries-to-reach-homeless-where-theyre-at-on-cta-trains/

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:55 pm
A fourth homeless shelter in a one block radius controlled by a shady company with a history of negligence is a bad idea. Other neighborhoods welcome to help out.

Comment by Updawg Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:07 pm
touching the lottery and parking meters–people understand those broken promises–just another politician grabbing money –I think for an intro add it pretty effective

Comment by ANON Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:12 pm
Works by pushing myths and bad information.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:13 pm
D.

I don’t know what they want.

And the cheerful music is at odds with the text.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:35 pm
I don’t understood the lottery reference. The lottery pays the lottery winners, then the cost of running the lottery. After that it goes to the schools.

Comment by Da big bad wolf Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:44 pm
===I don’t understood the lottery reference===

Because you’re not 60+ years old

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:50 pm
The lottery was supposed to be additional money for the schools. Instead it was used to balance the budget for the schools. Kind of. Frankly, this mayor is so unpopular all you have to say this is something he wants, minimize the word salad, and people will vote no.

I would want more of a breakdown of what it will go for. If it is for more orange tents for dignity that isn’t work for me.

Comment by DMC Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:53 pm
Point of Information:

In fact, the Illinois lottery was NOT enacted to provide a funding source for Illinois schools. Instead, it was created in 1973 to provide funding to replenish the state budget for dollars being sent to subsidize mass transit in northeastern Illinois through the RTA. Lottery money wasn’t dedicated by law to the Common School Fund until 1985.

Respectfully submitted,

Charlie Wheeler

Footnote– I am indeed 60+ years old, and I was covering the Legislature for the Chicago Sun-Times when the lottery bill passed.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 4:20 pm
Oops, anonymous at 4:20 was me. My apologies

Comment by Charlie Wheeler Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 4:21 pm
B+ cause no one trusts Johnson with money especially with the tents on Chicagoans minds and his lack of openness to the news media.That sentence is all that matters.

Comment by Notatechie Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 4:28 pm
Sounds like there are some bring Chicago home folks on this thread. I give this a solid B. It’s a completely legitimate question to ask voters whether or not they trust this administration – or any administration for that matter – with $100 million on an annual basis to invest in a new program that doesn’t have any structure or specifics on paper, reviewed and vetted, and ready to be executed when the money comes through. I’m not sure voters are crazy about giving blank checks in the wake of some of the other issues raised in the ad and in many other similar scenarios.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 4:42 pm
I’m not 60 years old, but my folks got me a subscription to the Chicago Today (R.I.P.) when I was 6 so….

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 6:31 pm
A- The ad recycles old memes that were still good enough to defeat the progressive income tax.

Funny how if you remember the promises of the lottery, you also remember an America where homelessness was rare. Homelessness should be a moral outrage. Instead, it has been accepted as the necessary whip arm of capitalism. My grandfather like to say, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” It was never, “If you don’t eat you sleep outside.”

Comment by James of Little Italy Wednesday, Feb 21, 24 @ 12:08 pm
Note for everyone citing the progressive tax: that tax passed in Chicago with close to 75% support.

Comment by One Term Wednesday, Feb 21, 24 @ 4:46 pm