Your calls, emails and visits to his office worked!
Along with 26 other colleagues in the Chicago City Council, 11th Ald. James Balcer stood with Chicago's children and signed onto the ordinance that return this year's TIF money back to CPS, fully funding our schools for the next school year.
This is a great first step, but there's still much work to be done.
Kudos to Ald. Balcer for standing with parents, neighbors and children in the 11th Ward, and city-wide. 773.254.6677
Your calls and emails helped demonstrate what an important issue this is to Bridgeport.
If you can, please call or email Ald. Balcer to say thanks for the support!
Our work isn't done - getting this ordinance proposed is only the first step to making sure our schools are fully funded.
Bridgeport Alliance is a grassroots organization of local residents and institutions committed to engage in the decision making that impacts our community utilizing education, advocacy, and collaborative action to promote responsive government and an improved quality of life for all residents. For more information or to join our mailing list, contact info@bridgeportalliance.org
Showing posts with label TIF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TIF. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Call Alderman Balcer TODAY
7/23/2013 - Schools Action Alert - Call the Alderman!
Our schools will experience major budget deficits next year. To give you an idea of local loss:
Armour $430K
Graham $300K
Holden $150K
McClellan $150K
Sheridan $516,329
Tilden $800K
Please call Alderman Balcer and ask him to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus.
Alderman Balcer's Office phone number: 773 254 6677.
Possible scripts:
a) If you just want to leave a message OR that's the only option: "Hi! I'd like to leave a message for Alderman Balcer. My name is ____ & I am a (CPS Parent/Parent/Concerned Citizen/Taxpayer/Voter) concerned about the severe budget cuts to our schools. (Pick a school or Pick all 3 above) lost $___ which will result in the loss of teachers, support staff, supplies and textbooks, impacting the education of thousands of kids in our Ward. The mayor needs to declare a TIF surplus & give money back to the schools. Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million to CPS. We know this can be done. We expect you to call the Mayor and ask him to declare a TIF surplus. We'll be bringing a letter by to get your support. Thank you."
b.) Maybe you actually get him on the phone: "Hi, this is _________I am a constituent and my school _______just lost _________ ( x dollars or x positions). We need Alderman _______'s help in restoring these positions. As you know, our schools weren't properly funded to begin with and we can't operate with this loss. Possible answer: Well, there's not much the City Council can do when it comes to education. You: "Actually, there was $1.7 billion in TIF accounts at the end of 2011 and $454 million was diverted from Chicago property tax revenue into TIF accounts. 53% of all TIF surplus money would go back to the schools. We would like you to call Mayor Emanuel and ask that he declare a TIF surplus so that we don't have to lose ______ positions." Possible answer: "Well, much of that money is tied up. We don't know for sure how much is in there." You: "Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million. We know this can be done. We expect you to call and we'll be bringing a letter by to get your support." Thank you so much!
Our schools will experience major budget deficits next year. To give you an idea of local loss:
Armour $430K
Graham $300K
Holden $150K
McClellan $150K
Sheridan $516,329
Tilden $800K
Please call Alderman Balcer and ask him to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus.
Alderman Balcer's Office phone number: 773 254 6677.
Possible scripts:
a) If you just want to leave a message OR that's the only option: "Hi! I'd like to leave a message for Alderman Balcer. My name is ____ & I am a (CPS Parent/Parent/Concerned Citizen/Taxpayer/Voter) concerned about the severe budget cuts to our schools. (Pick a school or Pick all 3 above) lost $___ which will result in the loss of teachers, support staff, supplies and textbooks, impacting the education of thousands of kids in our Ward. The mayor needs to declare a TIF surplus & give money back to the schools. Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million to CPS. We know this can be done. We expect you to call the Mayor and ask him to declare a TIF surplus. We'll be bringing a letter by to get your support. Thank you."
b.) Maybe you actually get him on the phone: "Hi, this is _________I am a constituent and my school _______just lost _________ ( x dollars or x positions). We need Alderman _______'s help in restoring these positions. As you know, our schools weren't properly funded to begin with and we can't operate with this loss. Possible answer: Well, there's not much the City Council can do when it comes to education. You: "Actually, there was $1.7 billion in TIF accounts at the end of 2011 and $454 million was diverted from Chicago property tax revenue into TIF accounts. 53% of all TIF surplus money would go back to the schools. We would like you to call Mayor Emanuel and ask that he declare a TIF surplus so that we don't have to lose ______ positions." Possible answer: "Well, much of that money is tied up. We don't know for sure how much is in there." You: "Mayor Daley declared a TIF surplus 3 years ago and returned $90 million. We know this can be done. We expect you to call and we'll be bringing a letter by to get your support." Thank you so much!
Monday, June 24, 2013
Updates from the May Meeting
The BA is continuing to work with local schools by recruiting volunteers to help with reading, tutoring and office work. Teachers, principals, parents and school members met on June 6 to list their most pressing concerns. Future meetings are planned.
BA member supported Communities Organized for Democratic Education (CODE) which is working to pass a corporate tax accountability bill in the Illinois General Assembly. Closing corporate loopholes would add approximately $440 million to the state budget. Allowing the State Treasurer to post corporate taxes would allow Illinois citizens to see how corporations doing business in Illinois contribute to our economy. BA members hopped a bus to Springfield to lobby our local senators and representatives to support these bills.
The 31st Street bus effort is still going strong. State Representative Esther Golar introduced a Resolution in the House in support of the bus. The BA will be meeting next month with the CTA to learn more about the planned study of the eastern portion of the route.
The Active Transport Alliance (ATA) requested that we consider becmoing the host organization for Bridgeport. A special meeting was held and members agreed. The ATA works closely with the CTA and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to improve public transportation, biking and pedestrian safety.
The TIF meeting on June 5, in cooperation with the McKinley Park Neighbors Association, was well attended. Members that went to the session plan to meet again.
Check out the BA display at VersionFest 13. This year's theme is “the human operating system” and what could be more human than what neighbors are doing at BA meetings.
We helped close down the coal fired power plant that was harming our children and seniors. We started meetings with the CTA to bring back our bus on31st Street. We helped parents and school members keep our local schools off the CPS closing list. We helped get a new playground for McGuane Park. And BA members are continuing to help where we can.
David Hatch presented a great deal of information at the May meeting. For those who missed this, please see his website
It is time to elect new leaders for the B A. Elections will be held on June 27 at general meeting
BA member supported Communities Organized for Democratic Education (CODE) which is working to pass a corporate tax accountability bill in the Illinois General Assembly. Closing corporate loopholes would add approximately $440 million to the state budget. Allowing the State Treasurer to post corporate taxes would allow Illinois citizens to see how corporations doing business in Illinois contribute to our economy. BA members hopped a bus to Springfield to lobby our local senators and representatives to support these bills.
The 31st Street bus effort is still going strong. State Representative Esther Golar introduced a Resolution in the House in support of the bus. The BA will be meeting next month with the CTA to learn more about the planned study of the eastern portion of the route.
The Active Transport Alliance (ATA) requested that we consider becmoing the host organization for Bridgeport. A special meeting was held and members agreed. The ATA works closely with the CTA and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to improve public transportation, biking and pedestrian safety.
The TIF meeting on June 5, in cooperation with the McKinley Park Neighbors Association, was well attended. Members that went to the session plan to meet again.
Check out the BA display at VersionFest 13. This year's theme is “the human operating system” and what could be more human than what neighbors are doing at BA meetings.
We helped close down the coal fired power plant that was harming our children and seniors. We started meetings with the CTA to bring back our bus on31st Street. We helped parents and school members keep our local schools off the CPS closing list. We helped get a new playground for McGuane Park. And BA members are continuing to help where we can.
David Hatch presented a great deal of information at the May meeting. For those who missed this, please see his website
It is time to elect new leaders for the B A. Elections will be held on June 27 at general meeting
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