Current:Home > ScamsJudge throws out Chicago ballot measure that would fund services for homeless people-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Judge throws out Chicago ballot measure that would fund services for homeless people
View Date:2024-12-23 22:34:03
CHICAGO (AP) — A Cook County judge has rejected a Chicago ballot measure that would have raised a one-time tax on luxury properties to fund services for homeless people after objections from real estate and business groups.
The ruling Friday by Judge Kathleen Burke came as early voting for Illinois’ March 19 primary has already started. The tax measure appears on the ballot.
The measure would have raised what’s called the real estate transfer tax on properties valued at over $1 million, but lower it on properties under that amount.
Supporters, including first-term Mayor Brandon Johnson, estimated it would have brought in about $100 million a year, which would be used to fund housing and other services including mental health care. Cities including Los Angeles and Santa Fe, New Mexico have adopted similar tax increases.
Maxica Williams, board president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, issued a statement expressing disappointment in the ruling.
“We are outraged by the fact that this small minority of wealthy real estate interests would rather spend thousands of dollars on legal fees to preserve a brutally unjust status quo than pay their fair share in taxes,” Williams said.
Roughly 68,000 people experience homelessness in Chicago.
Business groups, including the Building Owners and Managers Association International, argued the tax would disproportionately hit commercial real estate as Chicago’s downtown is still struggling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Attorneys for Bring Home Chicago, who championed the ballot measure, have said they would appeal any decision thwarting their efforts to get the question on the ballot.
veryGood! (674)
Related
- Video shows masked man’s apparent attempt to kidnap child in NYC; suspect arrested
- Ron Forman, credited with transforming New Orleans’ once-disparaged Audubon Zoo, to retire
- Colts star Jonathan Taylor 'excused' from training camp due to 'personal matter'
- New Mexico congressman in swing district seeks health care trust for oil field workers
- Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House
- Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston found not guilty of concealing his father’s child sex crimes
- A look at the tumultuous life of 'Persepolis' as it turns 20
- Father sentenced for 1-year-old’s death that renewed criticism of Maine’s child welfare agency
- Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani wins reelection to Arizona US House seat
- Activists campaign for shackled elderly zoo elephants to be released in Vietnam
Ranking
- Wicked Director Jon M. Chu Reveals Name of Baby Daughter After Missing Film's LA Premiere for Her Birth
- Hawaii pledges to protect Maui homeowners from predatory land grabs after wildfires: Not going to allow it
- U.S. sanctions 4 Russian operatives for 2020 poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny
- Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis Score a Legal Victory in Nanny's Lawsuit
- Cruel Intentions' Brooke Lena Johnson Teases the Biggest Differences Between the Show and the 1999 Film
- NBA Christmas Day schedule features Lakers-Celtics, Nuggets-Warriors among five games
- Is spicy food good for you? Yes –but here's what you should know.
- More than 1.5 million dehumidifiers recalled after 23 fires, including brands GE and Kenmore
Recommendation
-
Advance Auto Parts is closing hundreds of stores in an effort to turn its business around
-
Key takeaways from Trump's indictment in Georgia's 2020 election interference case
-
Target sales dip first time in 6 years amid Pride Month backlash, inflation
-
Connecticut official continues mayoral campaign despite facing charges in Jan. 6 case
-
Megan Fox Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Machine Gun Kelly
-
Mississippi issues statewide burn ban at state parks and fishing lakes
-
Democratic National Committee asks federal judges to dismiss case on Alabama party infighting
-
Judge rules Florida law banning some Chinese property purchases can be enforced