Thanks to the great folks at AREA Chicago we are distributing 5,000 copies of the TIF Illumination Project’s graphic poster showing the results of our investigation of the 12 TIFs inside the 27th Ward. Awesome! The poster was written by Tom Tresser based on data research lead by Cory Mollet and designed by Carlyn So. The Spring 2013 issue focuses on housing.
It will be a 2-for-1 special this Saturday, April 6 at Chicago State when we Illuminate the many, many TIFs inside the 8th and 9th Wards. Join us at 10am. Details and RSVP at Facebook. http://tinyurl.com/
From Progress Illinois, “Dozens of South Shore residents weren’t too happy upon learning that a portion of their property taxes have been used as part of the city’s tax increment financing, or TIF, program.
Tom Tresser, co-founder of the CivicLab, came to the 7th Ward, and is heading to others, as part of the volunteer-based TIF Illumination Project, which is intended to promote TIF transparency and provide Chicago residents with a snapshot of what the program is — or isn’t — doing for their communities.
“I can’t believe that it’s so much money that’s out there that the community does not know about that’s not channeling back into our community, especially with all the schools closing,” Renita Jones, a South Shore resident of more than 14 years, said after Saturday’s meeting.
“It’s just amazing to me that (the city is) saying there’s no funds, and we have millions of [TIF] dollars that’s available that’s going to the corporate district, but the lower-class people are suffering from it,” Jones added.”
It was a beautiful Spring day outside and inside over 60 people came together to see the five active TIFs of the 7th Ward Illuminated and explained.
Event organizer Sharon Louis, of the South Shore Sustainability Collaborative, welcomed us to the South Shore International College Prep High School (built with TIF funds). WVON radio host Cliff Kelley served as moderator.
Tom Tresser gave the Illumination (see the presentation below) and Eric Tellez, an organizer from the Grassroots Collaborative, gave a presentation on the politics and policies behind the TIF program and other corporate subsidy programs.
The CivicLab has launched the TIF Illumination Project to investigate and explain what Tax Increment Finance Districts are doing to Chicago on a ward-by-ward basis.
We are Illuminating TIFs across the city. Citizens are organizing TIF Town Meetings and inviting us to present our research and explanatory graphics about what the TIFs in their community have done and are doing.
We are seeking support from The Knight News Challenge to hire coders, designers and organizers in order to formalize this work which has already spawned three TIF town meetings and have another four on the calendar and another five in the works!
Please review our application and (1) comment, (2) “Applaud” the entry, (3) Pass it on. Thanks!
TIF Illuminators Tom Tresser and Bea Jasper (organizer of the Englewood TIF Town Meeting) will be on “The GreenPreneur Show” on WVON on Saturday night, March 23, from 5-6pm. Listen live here. The call in number is 773-591-1690. Let’s talk TIFs on the South Side. Our next TIF Town Meeting is in South Shore on March 30. Connect with the TIF Illumination Project.
Join us on March 30 as we illuminate the seven TIFs inside the 7th Ward. The details and RSVP are on this Facebook Event page = http://tinyurl.com/
Check out the article on the March 16 Washington Park TIF Town Meeting in Progress Illinois. [Washington Park TIF Town Meeting organizer Donna Smith. Photo by Ashlee Rezin]
The Egyptian Room at the Washington Park Field House was SRO this morning as neighbors packed in to participate in the “Let’s Talk TIF in Washington Park” Town Meeting. The TIF Illumination Project was invited to present its research on the six TIFs in the 20th Ward by Washington Park Chamber of Commerce President Donna Smith.
WVON radio host (and former Alderman of the 20th Ward) Cliff Kelley was the emcee.The attendees were highly energized and asked MANY questions. At least three more TIF meetings were generated this morning as people came up and wanted to know how they get Illuminated!
Below are the presentations given by Donna Smith and Tom Tresser (audio = 56 minutes).
Join the neighbors from Washington Park Saturday, March 16 at 10am for a TIF Town Meeting. RSVP via Facebook. The TIF Illumination Project will reveal details about the four TIFs in the 20th Ward NEVER before seen or known. Amazing. How DO we do it? Join us in Egyptian Room at the Washington Park Field House to find out.
Questions, more information – please call 773-493-0754 or email wethepeopleofwashingtonpar
