• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Alderman Tom Tunney - 44th Ward Chicago

Alderman Tom Tunney
44th Ward
Seal_of_Chicago
  • Services
    • About Tom
    • Parking
      • Residential Guest Parking Permits
      • Annual City Sticker
      • Cubs Night Game Parking Restrictions
      • Residential Disabled Parking Signs
      • Chicago Parking Meters
    • Public Safety
      • Become a Court Advocate
      • How Can I Get Involved?
      • CAPS (Community Alternative Policing Strategies)
      • Making My Neighborhood Safer
    • Streets & Sanitation
      • Blue CART Recycling
      • Fall Leaves and Debris
    • Rodent Control
    • Housing Resources
    • Street Sweeping
    • Residential Move - No Parking Signs
    • Winter Services
      • Sidewalk Snow Removal
    • 44th Ward Staff
  • Resources
    • Pride 2022 Event Info
    • For New Residents
    • Block Parties
    • Businesses
      • Chambers of Commerce
    • Community Gardens
    • Community Organizations
    • CTA
    • Elected Officials Serving the 44th Ward
    • Parks & Recreation
      • Boat Park
      • Artificial Turf Field at Diversey
      • Space Park
      • Kelly Park
      • Evergreen Park
      • Juniper Park
      • Sheil Park
      • Margaret Donahue Park
      • Kenmore Park
      • Martin Park
      • Weisman Park
      • Wendt Park
      • Lincoln Playground - Diversey Driving Range
    • LGBTQ
    • Schools
    • Seniors
      • Senior Citizen Sewer Service Charge Exemption - City of Chicago
      • Senior Exemption - Cook County
      • Senior Freeze Exemption - Cook County
      • Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program - Cook County
      • Senior Reduced Fare - Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
      • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - State of Illinois
      • Senior Housing
      • Benefit Access Program Benefits - State of Illinois
      • Senior Citizen Sewer Rebate - City of Chicago
    • Voter Registration
      • Vote Early
      • Vote By Mail
    • Wrigley Field Neighborhood Information
      • Chicago Cubs Parking Restriction Reminders
      • Neighborhood Protection Plan
      • Night Game Parking
      • 2022 Wrigley Field Community Meeting
      • Chicago Cubs Neighborhood Parking Permit (Toyota Camry Lot))
  • Development
    • Building Permits
    • CTA - Red & Purple Modernization Project
    • Community Directed Development Council
    • Developer Checklist
    • Landmarking
    • Major Development Projects
      • 1048 W. Cornelia
      • 1111 W. Addison
      • 1118 W. Patterson
      • 1040-1042 W Waveland
      • Lincoln Park Plaza 554-628 W Diversey / 2801-2807 N Broadway
      • 621 W. Belmont
      • 2941 N. Clark
      • 3115 N. Broadway
      • 1218 W. Belmont
      • 3312 N. Halsted
      • 3200 N. Southport
      • 3300 N. Clark
      • 3401-09 N. Southport
      • 3500 N. Wilton
      • 3407 - 09 N. Bosworth
      • 3710 N Kenmore
      • Wrigley Field Mini Triangle Development
      • 3647 N. Southport
      • 3630 N. Southport Jewel - Correction
      • 3250 N Sheffield
      • 3415-3425 N. Ashland Ave
      • 450 - 54 W. Belmont
      • 3630 N. Southport Jewel - Old
      • 3228 N. Clark
      • 2821 N Orchard
      • 3334 N. Southport
      • 3469-3475 N Clark - The Wheel House Hotel
      • Cubs Outdoor Sports Plaza
      • 3201 N Southport / 1362 W Belmont - Liquor License Approval
      • 3535 N. Ashland - Artis Senior Living
      • 3217 N. Clark
      • 1457 W Roscoe
      • 3630 N. Clark - Hotel Zachary
      • 3179 N. Clark
      • 1457 W Roscoe
      • 434 W. Melrose
      • 3317 N. Seminary
      • 1113-1115 W. Patterson
      • 835 W Addison
      • 508 W. Diversey
      • 945 W. Belmont
      • 662 W Wellington - Restoration and Renovation
      • 1138 W. Belmont
      • 3542 N. Southport
      • Addison & Clark
      • 1225-35 W. School & 1240 W. Melrose - Craftsman Site
      • 3839 N. Clark
      • 3608 N. Southport - Dog-a-Holics - Request for Rezone
      • 600 W Diversey - Foxtrot Proposal
      • 3440 N Broadway
      • 453 - 455 W. Briar
      • 3346 N. Lakewood
      • Merlo Library Renovation and Moderniztion
      • 1501 W. School (Old Ward Yard Site)
      • 1039-41 W. Belmont
      • 913-15 W. School / 3264 N. Clark St
      • 3535 N. Ashland - Artis Senior Living
      • 3120 N. Broadway
      • 647 W. Melrose
      • 712 W. Diversey
      • 731 W. Melrose
      • 1044 W. Newport
      • 1045 W. Cornelia
      • 1418 W. Addison
      • 2950 N Sheridan Road
      • 3030 N. Broadway - Mariano's
      • 3200 N. Clark
      • 3731-33 N Sheffield
      • 3201 N. Ashland - Whole Foods
      • 538 W. Diversey - Everbrook Academy - Lincoln Park
      • 3160 N. Broadway
      • 3701 N. Ashland- Rosecrance Lakeview
      • 3812 N. Clark-MedMar
      • 3600 N. Halsted - LGBT-friendly Senior Affordable Housing
      • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
      • Belmont-Diversey Revetment Project
      • Saint Joseph Hospital
      • 3630 N. Southport – Jewel
      • 3035 N Sheffield
      • 3347-49 N. Southport
      • 3355 N. Southport
      • 3124 N Broadway
      • 3322 N. Halsted
      • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Developments
      • 3431 N. Ashland
      • 19th District Police Station
      • 3501 - 3519 N. Halsted (46th Ward)
      • 3415 N Ashland - Loyola Press Building
      • 3123 N. Kenmore
      • 3250 N Clark
      • Wrigley Field - Blue Lot
      • 3460 N. Broadway - Former Treasure Island
      • 957 W. Grace (3757 N. Sheffield)
    • Wrigley Field Expansion Plan
    • Zoning Ordinances
    • 44th Ward Master Plan
  • Infrastructure
    • Aldermanic Infrastructure Menu
      • 2013 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2012 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2022 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2011 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2010 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2009 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2008 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2018 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2019 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2017 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2020 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2016 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2015 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2021 Infrastructure Menu
      • 2014 Infrastructure Menu
    • Bike & Pedestrian Infrastructure
      • School/Aldine & Roscoe Greenway
      • E-Scooter Share Pilot Program
    • Redefine the Drive
    • Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2018 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2017 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2016 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2015 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2014 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2013 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2012 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2019 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2020 Capital Improvement Projects
      • 2021 Capital Improvement Projects
    • Major Infrastructure Projects
      • Lincoln/Belmont/Ashland Reconstruction
      • Artificial Turf Field at Diversey
      • CTA – Red & Purple Modernization Project
    • Shared Cost Sidewalk Program
    • Vision Zero Chicago
      • Northeast Corner of Cornelia and Halsted (46th Ward)
      • Southwest Corner of Halsted and Aldine
      • Northeast Corner of Halsted and Aldine
      • Southwest Corner of Halsted and Cornelia
      • Northwest Corner of Halsted and Buckingham
      • Southwest Corner of Halsted and Buckingham
      • Northeast Corner of Halsted and Buckingham
      • Southeast Corner of Halsted and Buckingham
      • Northwest Corner of Halsted and Newport
    • Department of Transportation (CDOT)
    • Department of Water Management (DWM)
      • Water Quality
      • Frozen Pipe Prevention
    • Streets & Sanitation Bureau of Forestry (BOF)
      • Care of the Chicago Public Way
      • City of Chicago Standard Tree Protection Instructions
      • Emerald Ash Borer
      • Landscape Ordinance
    • Chicago Smart Lighting Program
  • News
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Calendar
  • Contact

2021 Budget Vote

November 24, 2020

As I studied and went line-by-line through Chicago’s 2021 budget, I did so with the knowledge that it was deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which hit Chicago hard. However, I strongly believe that a budget package that includes an annual property tax increase and a huge bond issue is unrealistic and will cause long-term harm to the residents, businesses and economy of Chicago.

People have little faith in their government right now and raising taxes isn’t a way to restore that faith. For this and reasons detailed below, I voted “No.”

Elected officials need to be realistic. Businesses are shedding jobs while others have no choice but to shut down. Because our economic engine has slowed down considerably, people working in the private sector are losing their jobs.

But yet in the last eight months, the City of Chicago has not cut back public employees hours, instituted furloughs or layoffs, nor is it doing so with any meaningful impact in the proposed budget. We have seen little to no success dealing with pushback from the city’s unions. Instead, we were faced with a 2021 budget package with more taxes, fees and overtime, and less accountability and efficiencies.

Of particular note is the lack of progress to bring efficiencies and accountability to the city departments that are charged with maintaining public safety — CPD, CFD and OEMC. Instead of efficiencies, a new department, the Office of Public Safety Administration, was formed with a 2020 budget of $18.5 million. However, no efficiencies have yet to be realized and it still has not taken over and professionalized the administrative functions of the police and fire departments, as promised. No progress, but yet another $30 million is budgeted for 2021. Meanwhile, overtime for police will top $300 million in 2020.

Previous mayors and city councils were criticized for refinancing of existing debt, yet it was done in the 2020 budget and was done again. The 2021 budget includes $1 billion in refinancing — $600 million in 2021 and $400 million to fill the 2020 budget shortfall. Unfortunately, this short-term solution to balance the budgets increases the debt load and extends it well into the future.

While being forced to refinance past debt, the City Council also was asked to support a $3.7 billion bond package dedicated to infrastructure improvements like bridges, overpasses, streets, alleys, lighting, traffic signals, etc. Our ward will see very few of these projects as we have been diligent in the past 20 years to ensure that infrastructure improvements were ongoing in the 44th Ward. Among them are the new 19th District Police Station, the newly renovated Merlo Public Library, new street and alley lighting, lakefront revetment, traffic signal upgrades, street and sidewalk repairs, new and upgraded parks and open green spaces, and sewer and water main replacements.

I fully understand the desire of my fellow aldermen to have these needed improvements made in their wards, but this is not the year to be issuing bonds and adding to an already crushing debt load for the city and its residents.

Yes, I did vote for a property tax increase in 2015 demonstrating I’m not afraid to take an unpopular vote. But, I was very public with the fact that my vote was to ensure more police resources in the 44th Ward and, in order to provide our families with a competitive, high quality, neighborhood high school, $25 million in capital investments for Lake View High School. The investments in Lake View High School were made and the police resources came, but have once again been reduced as the new police superintendent has prioritized citywide units as opposed to district policing and beat integrity.

While I voted against the 2021 budget package, know that I will continue to be a strong advocate for our ward as I push for financial stability for our residents and businesses.

I look forward to working with the Mayor and other members of the City Council as we move forward to revitalize Chicago, enhance revenue and control spending.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Tom Tunney
44th Alderman

Categories: City Council News, General, Property Tax News

« Previous article
Next article »

Categories

  • “Welcome Wagon”
  • Animal Control
  • Chamber News
  • City Council News
  • City of Chicago Notice
  • Community Events
  • Coronavirus Updates
  • CTA Notices
  • Development/Zoning Updates
  • Film Notices
  • General
  • Infrastructure/Construction Notice
  • Property Tax News
  • Public Safety News
  • Special Events
  • Water Quality News
  • Wrigley Field News
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
Parking
Information
44th Ward
Safety
Street
Sweeping
Newsletter
Sign Up
773-525-6034
ward44@cityofchicago.org
3223 N. Sheffield Ave, Suite A, Chicago, IL, 60657
© 2023 Ward 44
Website Designed by Chicago’s ePageCity.com