Progress report: TIF reform
It has been over 90 days (93 to be exact) since Mayor Emanuel's TIF Task Force released their recommendations on how to reform the broken system of economic development. And when they did, the Mayor said that he planned to fully implement them. So, how much progress has been made so far? Very little.
It has been over 90 days (93 to be exact) since Mayor Emanuel’s TIF Task Force released their recommendations on how to reform the broken system of economic development. And when they did, the Mayor said that he planned to fully implement them.
So, how much progress has been made so far? Very little.
Chicago’s TIF program has wandered far off track, becoming a $500 million-a-year slush fund instead of a targeted redevelopment program and is in desperate need of reform. And the improvements recommended by the TIF Task Force would take Chicago a long way towards solving the problems with its TIF program. They won’t fix the whole problem, but they are a good first step.
But it’s not enough to just have these ideas on paper, they need to be rigorously implemented if we are going to see real change.
Mayor Emanuel should begin implementing these reforms as soon as possible, before more of our tax dollars are wasted.
Authors
Celeste Meiffren-Swango
State Director, Environment Oregon
As director of Environment Oregon, Celeste develops and runs campaigns to win real results for Oregon's environment. She has worked on issues ranging from preventing plastic pollution, stopping global warming, defending clean water, and protecting our beautiful places. Celeste's organizing has helped to reduce kids' exposure to lead in drinking water at childcare facilities in Oregon, encourage transportation electrification, ban single-use plastic grocery bags, defend our bedrock environmental laws and more. She is also the author of the children's book, Myrtle the Turtle, empowering kids to prevent plastic pollution. Celeste lives in Portland, Ore., with her husband and two daughters, where they frequently enjoy the bounty of Oregon's natural beauty.
