Schools Action Alert - Call the Alderman!

Our schools will experience major budget deficits next year.

To give you an idea of local loss:
Graham: $300k
Haines: -$300k (Loss of 3 positions)
Sheridan: -$516k (Loss of 3 teachers & 3 teacher assistants)

The citywide parent organization, Illinois Raise Your Hand for Public Education, is gathering budget loss information from parent members. So far they have heard from 142 schools and over $82 million has been lost.

Please call Alderman Balcer and ask him to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus. A

lderman 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!

If you'd like to learn more about TIFs you can listen to & view slides of the 11th & 12th Ward TIF Illumination talk from a couple of weeks ago. It was sponsored by the McKinley Park Civic Association & the Bridgeport Alliance.
 http://www.civiclab.us/2013/06/11th-and-12th-illuminated/
Don't have time to listen? Here's some basics on TIFs: http://www.civiclab.us/the-tif-report/how-do-tifs-work/

Missed the TIF Illumiator Workshop?

It was a packed house at the McKinley Park Library for the 11th and 12th Ward Illumination. The TIF Illumination Project lit up the 16 TIFs inside those two wards. See the presentation and listen to the audio (59 minutes).

Don't have time to listen? Here's some basics on TIFs

Parents, teachers, & community - call your Alderman. Ask your Alderman to tell the Mayor to declare a TIF surplus.

BA In the News

Read what people are saying about last night's TIF Illuminator Workshop!

Progress Illinois - TIF Program Angers Bridgeport, McKinley Park Residents

DNA Info - TIF Workshop Illuminates Complicated Tax Projects

TIF Illuminator Workshop for 11th & 12th Wards

Let's Talk TIFS

McKinley Park Civic Association and the Bridgeport Alliance presents

LETS TALK TIFs IN THE 11th & 12the WARD

• What is a Tax Increment Finance District?
• How many of them are there in our community?
• How do they impact us?
• Who gets money from a TIF and why?

McKinley Park Library (1915 W 35th Street) The presenter will be Tom Tresser, co-founder of the CivicLab, a space for civic innovation and lead organizer for the TIF Illumination Project (TIP). TIP is investigating and exposing what TIFs are doing to us on a ward-by-ward basis.



Learn More

April News

Our Next General Meeting will be held Thursday, April 25th, 7:00 pm. At First Lutheran Church of the Trinity (31st and Lowe)

Clean and Green 

Next Saturday!  

Come out and do some dirty deeds!

Let's Talk TIFS

McKinley Park Civic Association and the Bridgeport Alliance presents
LETS TALK TIFs IN THE 11th & 12the WARDS

• What is a Tax Increment Finance District?
• How many of them are there in our community?
• How do they impact us?
• Who gets money from a TIF and why?

McKinley Park Library (1915 W 35th Street) The presenter will be Tom Tresser, co-founder of the CivicLab, a space for civic innovation and lead organizer for the TIF Illumination Project (TIP). TIP is investigating and exposing what TIFs are doing to us on a ward-by-ward basis. 

National People's Action
While many of us are working to beautify our neighborhood next weekend, a few folks from Bridgeport Alliance will be representing us at the NPA Annual Conference in Washington DC.  We look forward to hearing what they accomplish and learn!

Other notes from Bridgeport Alliance members, friends and neighbors:

• Help get Nate to Netroots Nation 2013 - Vote here!

• Louis L. ValentineClub's Annual White Sox Community Night Fundraiser on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Contact dpeterson@bgcc.org for info.
• Benton House has two events next week - Benton House Children's Benefit League Tag Days Benefit! and One for the Kids.