Check out this interactive time line from Medill School of Journalism student Joel Jacobs, “How Chicago’s Controversial TIF Program Took Over a Third of the City.”
TIF consultant Mulroney, failed to meet the statutory threshold for public disclosure of relevant details regarding eligibility criteria at the November 14 2018 public hearing held for that purpose. Disclosure of relevant details about TIF eligibility criteria at a public hearing is required by the Illinois Municipal Code. Mulroney, acting under the direction of both Sterling Bay & The City Of Chicago Department of Planning & Development, intentionally withheld relevant details about Lagging EVA from the public at that hearing.
Therefore that hearing cannot be considered to have satisfied the requirements of the IMC statute, the required public hearing was never held & the subsequent vote by the City Council to approve the Cortland and Chicago River TIF was not legally held. A new vote, based on consultant Mulroney’s report, cannot be held because the Lagging EVA eligibility requirement can no longer be met because EVA data from 2018 must be substituted for 2013.
It’s clear that DPD colluded with Sterling Bay and TIF consultant Mulroney to withhold critical relevant information from both the public and the city council prior to the vote. Aldermen rely on DPD to provide them with relevant details about TIF eligibility criteria because they do not have the budget for their own professional staff to advise them. When relevant details are withheld from them they cannot make informed decisions and votes and they are harmed. Therefore any Alderman has the standing to sue.
Well said, Randy! I hope you called your own alderman about this!
