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* Have at it, but please keep the discussion to Illinois stuff. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 8:34 am

Comments

Friends of the Parks wants a casino in the oldest building at McCormick Place.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:05 am
Re: Illinois highest taxes study
Replace Illinois’ property tax system with a land value tax system, get the progressive income tax amendment back on the ballot as soon as possible.

Comment by Lake Villa Township Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:07 am
I don’t know if the name Sundrine “Sandy” Temple rings a bell to anyone here, but she was a longtime tour guide at the Old State Capitol, starting immediately after it opened to tourists in 1969 (after the massive renovation after Sangamon County moved out of the building). Her husband is former Illinois State Archives Deputy Director and Lincoln scholar and author Dr. Wayne C. (”Doc”) Temple. Anyway, Sandy passed away recently (at 85) and her funeral is this morning. Amazing obituary in the SJ-R and Staab’s website the last couple days for her, quite a storied life. I have heard that “Doc” may have wrote her obituary. Prayers for the Temple family and their friends and associates during this time.

https://www.staabfuneralhomes.com/obituary/sunderine-temple/

Comment by State Employee Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:08 am
==Friends of the Parks wants a casino in the oldest building at McCormick Place.==

Is that an early April Fool’s joke, or did you mean to say that FOP wants to Stop the casino? That sounds like something they would be in favor of (case in point, Lucas Museum battle several years ago).

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:11 am
===Is that an early April Fool’s joke===

Nope.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:17 am
The McCormick Place CEO is seemingly opposed to the casino location near or on the convention footprint, so there’s that too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:20 am
Sounds like instead of cash or chips at the FOP casino, you’ll instead be playing with acorns, buckeyes, and other tree nuts and berries.

And instead of normal casino games it will be something more educational like a wildlife version of the Memory game (with some “wagers”) or the types of games you might see in the gift shops of zoos or nature preserves. Adapted for casino use.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 9:29 am
The Sun-Times takes a look at the possible opponents being floated for Mayor Lightfoot. Someone important not on this list?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2022/3/8/22966361/chicago-mayor-election-candidates-lightfoot-campaign-runoff-quigley-valencia-conway-chico-vallas

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:05 am
Friends of the Parks has had issues for a long time. Once upon a time the Executive Director had a salary so large that it was shocking.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:06 am
After a 2-year COVID absence (most infamously in 2020 when the Governor asked the Mayor to pull the plug on the parade two days prior), Springfield’s St. Patricks Day parade is returning. It was supposed to be Saturday but due to freezing temps expected that day, it has now been postponed a week later (Mar. 19).

I obviously won’t be going and I will keep my opinions to myself about the safety of parades and massive events when we just finished the Omicron wave. As I’ve already expressed them on here before.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:14 am
==Friends of the Parks has had issues for a long time. Once upon a time the Executive Director had a salary so large that it was shocking.==

As it seems like a lot of other charity and non-profit CEOs. Of course, take it with a grain of salt but over a year ago Charity Watch had an article and list of the top 25 nonprofit CEO salaries. Ranging from over $1-4 million. If they could just live on maybe an Eighth or less of that salary, and have the charity keep the rest, can you imagine all the extra services and supplies these nonprofits could give to persons in their care, and how many more people they could serve, some with life-saving treatment or services?

https://www.charitywatch.org/top-charity-salaries

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:19 am
Lake Villa Township,

The voters just rejected the progressive income tax. That is that for the forseeable future. If you want it, you have to sell it to the voters. And be prepared to argue against powerful $$ interests.

Also does IL even have a property tax system? I thought those bills came from the counties and townships (my township seems to collec its taxes from the county, not sure how that works in other parts of the state.) Could a single county change to a land value tax system? And what would be the advantages/disadvantes of doing that?

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:36 am
@State Employee

That was one of the most beautiful obituaries I’ve ever read. And yes, I’m sure “Doc” penned it.

Comment by dbk Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:39 am
@Staub -

Thank you so much for that. I didn’t know her. But reading that obituary, I wish I had. What an amazing woman, what an amazing life.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:51 am
Okay, wish I could edit.

I have no idea why my response to State Employee showed as “Staub”. I swear I cut-and-pasted.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 10:52 am
@Cermak
State constitution is what lays out property tax collection procedure, not entirely sure that the replacement would be possible without an amendment but for all intensive purposes let’s assume it is. I’m pushing for it hard up here in Lake county where we have the highest property taxes in the state. The main pros are that this cracks down on empty lots/land speculation by taxing the land that the property stands upon, rather than taxing development upon said land which makes it more progressive. Main downside is that if not implemented properly it could have a huge regressive impact on family farms. (I think people like bill gates snatching up IL farmland absolutely need to pay more) If the policy is to be implemented farmers should have a seat at the table throughout every single step of the process.

Comment by Lake Villa Township Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 11:33 am
Lake County is third largest county in Illinois and it has not raised it’s county property taxes for four straight years. Nobody really pays attention to any county that isn’t Cook County but it’s kind of a big accomplishment for Lake County to do this.

As a taxpayer, it’s maybe a very small part of my bill but I appreciate the effort. That’s all I got.

I’m fine with the McCormick place casino but I don’t understand why the non profit folks would be okay with that and they alone caused us to lose the Lucasfilm museum

Comment by Pink Slime news damages our country Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 11:43 am
Yep Lake county board+Treasurer Holly Kim have done terrific in that regard no doubt, problem is that they’re still the highest in the state.

Comment by Lake Villa Township Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 11:49 am
==Friends of the Parks wants a casino in the oldest building at McCormick Place.==

It may just be me but the whole Friends of the Parks casino thing seems to remind me of the Simpsons episode when Bart opens a casino in his treehouse. After Mr. Burns opened his. Bart even gets Robert Goulet (I think) to perform at his treehouse casino.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 12:35 pm
I mentioned this Monday, but the SJ-R finally has a nonpaywalled story on this. The former ALPLM Foundation has now relaunched as the Lincoln Presidential Foundation after severing ties last year with the parent organization. One of their partnerships is with the National Park Service.

https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2022/03/09/lincoln-presidential-foundation-has-relaunched-and-rebranded/9416270002/

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 12:44 pm
Not directly Illinois related, but may attract Eastern Bloc customers and divert revenue from local slot places. Not to mention possibly diverting potential revenues, if not helping to kill outright, a future Danville casino.

Terre Haute, Indiana will be starting construction on a new casino in that city:

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20220309/news/303099946/

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 12:52 pm
This is not an advertising plug, but comments are not allowed on cap fax ads. I just want to say that an Illinois Credit Union totally helped me when I could not find a bank that would.

Thank you to the Credit Union people.

Comment by Siriously Wednesday, Mar 9, 22 @ 1:55 pm

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