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Archive for the ‘Deception’ Category

Pritzker Embraces Democratic Socialists of America as Part of Democrats’ Recipe to Win – Wirepoints

Posted in Clown Car, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Guest Essay, Immigration, Land Disconnection, Land Use, Lipstick On A Pig, Look For The Union Label, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Snowflake Effect, Taxes, The New Normal?, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, Village Code, Wirepoints on July 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By: Mark Glennon* | Wirepoints

Gov. JB Pritzker left no doubt about where he stands in the growing schism within the Democratic party about its surge toward the radical left. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked him directly on June 30 if it’s good that Democratic primary voters recently chose Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates over more moderate Democratic incumbents.

Pritzker answered that as long as they are talking about affordability and oppose Trump, “those are the people who are winning” and embracing progressive/in Democratic Socialist candidates is “the recipe for winning in 2026 and beyond.” Here’s the clip:

Many key Democrats are revolting against the growing elements of socialism in their party.  As the left-leaning Guardian put it:

Over the last few days, prominent party figures have moved away from unifying under a “blue no matter who” banner to push for a more formal break with their left flank, and said the moment may have arrived for Democrats to confront their more socialist wing.

No less than veteran Democratic political advisor James Carvill recently said “it’s time for Democrats to talk the S-word: schism,” He added that some DSA-aligned candidates “have no place in the Democratic party” and, of the broader coalition: “I’m not in that fucking political party.”

Other prominent Democrats speaking up against the party’s growing leftism include Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the Democratic national committee, former New York governor David Paterson and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. And the left-leaning Atlantic wrote that, while the DSA is “anything but Democratic,” its clever subversion of the Democratic Party will be difficult to stop.

In case you don’t already know – and you should – here’s some of what the DSA supports:

  • Abolishing ICE, demilitarizing the border, ending all deportations, granting immediate amnesty to all immigrants regardless of status and guaranteeing access to jobs, labor rights and social services
  • Abolishing the Senate, expanding the House, voting rights for noncitizens and people with criminal convictions, statehood to the District of Columbia, replace the two‑party system with proportional representation,  limit the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review, and replace the Electoral College with a national popular vote
  • Medicare for All with no health care premiums, co‑pays or deductibles, including reproductive and gender‑affirming care
  • Tuition‑free public higher education, eliminating out‑of‑pocket costs for room and board, and canceling all student loan debt
  • Universal rent control, guaranteed legal representation for tenants, and major public investment in social housing
  • Free universal childcare and pre‑K, expansive paid family leave, a 32‑hour workweek with no loss in pay or benefits
  • Higher rates on the wealthiest earners, for‑profit corporations, large inheritances and private colleges and universities, as well as a wealth tax on the ultra‑rich
  • A Green New Deal to end fossil fuels, guarantees for displaced workers and public ownership of major transportation, energy infrastructure and natural resources
  • Ending mandatory minimums and cash bail, demilitarizing police departments and treating drug addiction as a public health issue

For the sake of the nation, we can only hope that, on this, America agrees with James Carville: “I’m not in that f-ing party.”

*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints. 

Source

Editorial note: Maria Peterson (pictured below with JB Pritzker) appears to have made a profession for years running for offices with the financial backing of JB Pritzker, among others. In 2022 she ran unsuccessfully for Illinois State Senate and in 2024 she lost her bid for Illinois House 52nd District Representative.

Maria Peterson and JB Pritzker | Courtesy Maria Peterson’s Facebook page

Currently she is feverishly campaigning again for 52nd District Representative, and there is absolutely no doubt if successful, she will back all of JB Pritzker’s initiatives and likely those of the Democratic Socialists of America.  This includes Pritzker’s stalled “BUILD Initiative” which would strip property rights from residents and place all zoning controls in the hands of Springfield politicians and unions.

Please don’t consider this as our being negative, as some might. Instead, think of it for what it is – fact.

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CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding

Posted in 220, AI, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, League of Women Voters, OMA, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Video Recordings, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 1, 2026| 2 Comments »

 

At their special meeting Monday, the 220 Board of Education voted on approving the, “Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning a Board Member,” and the, “Public Release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Findings.” Here’s how that went:

“Ficke-Bradford: The next motion, I’d like to invite Aris Talianas, the Board attorney, to come to the table in case the Board has any questions.

And I just want to do a little preamble on this one just to make sure it’s very clear.

After the receipt of a Complaint regarding alleged violations of Board Policy, an outside investigator was appointed to investigate the Complaint and the investigator issued a written report pursuant to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure. The outside investigator’s report includes recommended findings that Board Member Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 relating to the Board Member Code of Conduct concerning the appearance of impropriety and the use of social media. According to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure, the Board is required to issue a written decision following the issuance of the investigator’s report reaching its own conclusions, the Board’s own conclusions. Therefore, I am requesting a motion to approve the Board’s decision on the Complaint filed against Board Member Ding consistent with the following, and Board Members, you have a copy of this in front of you. I’m going to read through the bullets:

  • Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 when she decided not to recuse herself from the vote on the first complaint that was created, that created the appearance of impropriety.
  • Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is significant evidence to prove that Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 when she allowed certain social media posts to remain on her active campaign website.
  • Accepting the investigator’s findings that there is not evidence to conclude that Ding violated Board Policy or law based on her receipt of campaign contributions from labor and or education groups, including those affiliated with the Barrington Education Association. However, the Board expects Ding to consider recusing herself from Board deliberations and action on substantive decisions related to Barrington Education Association and Barrington School Employee’s Organization collective bargaining agreements.
  • The Board directs Ding to remove from her campaign website any references to District achievements and expects Ding to decline to vote on any matter coming before the Board, which is likely to create the appearance of impropriety.
  • The Board considers it is appropriate that Ding reimburse the District for the cost of investigating and adjudicating this second Complaint alleging violations of Board Policy, especially given that the Complaint largely involves Ding’s failure to follow the direction and training from the first complaint. In lieu of reimbursement, the Board requests Ding write a letter of apology and seek IASB or District approved ethics counseling on their own time and at their own expense.

Do I have such a motion?

Collister-Lazari: So moved.

Srivastava: Second.

Ficke Bradford: All right. Any questions or comments from the Board?

All right, let’s do roll call.

Steve Wang? Yes.

Sandra Bradford? Yes.

Harathi Srivastava? Yes.

Diana Clopton? Yes.

Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.

Ficke Bradford: All right, motion passes. The next motion. Do we have a motion to approve the public release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and finding?

Collister Lazari:  So moved.

Clopton: Second.

Ficke Bradford: All right, so just to be very clear, this is the official report that we just took the former action on. So we… It’s marked as confidential. So the Board must take an action to waive that confidentiality. So that is what we are doing with this action. Any questions from the Board?

All right, let’s do a roll call, please.

Harathi Srivastava? Yes.

Sandra Bradford? Yes.

Steve Wang? Yes.

Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.

Diana Clapton? Yes.”

To view to the YouTube video queued to the start of the discussion, click here.

A copy of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Finding can be viewed and downloaded here.

Related: “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”

AND

“Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

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CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud

Posted in 220, AI, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Goat Rodeo, Illinois Federation of Teachers, League of Women Voters, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Transparency, Unions, Video Recordings, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on June 30, 2026| 1 Comment »

 

Erin Chan Ding

Monday morning at 7:30 AM, the District 220 Board met at a special agreed upon time to address the ongoing issues relating to current board member, Erin Chan Ding. Here is a transcribed portion of the discussion, which included blunt comments from a former CUSD 220 board member:

“Ficke-Bradford:  And as I also mentioned at our last Board meeting, we needed to have another meeting, which is why we’re here today. We need to have this meeting to address a few  Board action items. We did plan this date and this time around the availability of Erin Chan Ding that Erin did provide to me when she would be available. Unfortunately, Dr. Altshuler was not available at this, at this time. And, unfortunately, yesterday, just after 4pm, Erin Chan Ding communicated that she would not be in attendance today.

I just want to make sure it’s clear to the community that we did plan. We’re not trying to have any action items without Erin Chan Ding being present. And last, for my little Be Real segment, I just want to remind the Board and community that on November 18, the Board of Education issued its written decision on a Complaint directed at the Board Member Erin Chan Ding, alleging violations of Board Policy. And at its decision, Ms. Ding completed training on policy 2:105 on Ethics and Gift Ban in early December.

Today, the Board will consider a second written decision. To be clear and to remind the community, per school code, the Board does not have the authority to remove Ms. Ding from the Board. Only the Lake County Regional Superintendent has such authority.

And Eric, since you’re here, you can affirm that as well, right?

Attorney: That is accurate. Yes.

Ficke Bradford: So I just wanted to make sure that everyone was well.
OK. So with that, let us move on to public comment.  I think we have one public commenter.

Public Comment – Angela Wilcox:  It’s not as fun sitting over here. I am so sorry I have to do this.

The first affirmation in the Illinois School Board Member Swearing an Oath is “I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a faithful protector of the school district’s assets.”  Erin’s actions on this Board have repeatedly violated this oath to the community and have also forced all of you other Members to have to violate it as well.

I listened to the first complaint against her actions on this Board and her prepared response, which wasn’t truthful as to her true actions and wasn’t accurate as to her actions moving forward. She said that she didn’t understand she was violating policy.

However, I sat in the exact room where that policy was written with her for countless hours, looking at every word over and over. She said that she would take every action not to violate policies in the future. Yet I see on the agenda there’s yet another complaint that’s been filed against her.

I’m angry, and this is a time for you to be angry as well. Your time has been wasted over and over and over again. You took a duty to this community and you were forced to have to spend it doing something completely outside of what your duty is.  I can’t imagine the amount of time that you have wasted in responding to emails, internal discussions and community responses at the grocery store regarding the violations of Board policies by a Board Member that you cannot control.

She has abused the 220 staff, especially Dr. Winkleman, by forcing them to add the defense of her political ambitions to their job descriptions on top of their actual job descriptions.

She has not respected taxpayer interests by serving as a faithful protector of the School District’s assets, but has used the lawyers employed by 220 as her own personal representatives to fulfill her political aspirations.

The last time she was confronted with this complaint, she received a dressing down and a response. But now it’s time to take firm action. I understand that you as a Board cannot remove her, but I ask that you do whatever you can to make sure that you…

Whatever it can be so that you don’t have to continue dealing with this in the future.

I feel bad for you. And I wish that there was something that this community could do to support you more. However, you do need to list the amount of money that taxpayers have had to pay to outside counsel to defend Erin’s political aspirations beyond 220. And there also needs to be a way to establish a means for this money to be re-paid to the public. I know there is no way to account for the amount of lost revenue and wages that you’ve had to spend internally and as you have as a Board. But to the extent that it can be quantified, I ask that you publish this because it is something that we should know as taxpayers.

Thank you.

Ficke Bradford: Thank you, Angela.”

And we thank you for your continued dedication to District 220, Angela.

To listen to the YouTube recording queued to the start of Ficke-Bradford’s comments, click here.

Related: “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”

AND

“Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

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As state lawmakers stall on data center rules, Illinois cities and counties step in to fill the void

Posted in AI, Animal Welfare, BACOG, Chicago Tribune, Data Center, Deception, Education, EJ&E/Canadian National, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Springfield, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions on June 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Construction underway at the new Compass Datacenters 197-acre site in Hoffman Estates on June 23, 2026. Compass is constructing five hyperscale data centers on the former Sears Headquarters campus. | Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune

“People are upset with the lack of transparency around these projects. They feel like backdoor deals are being made before the public is ever aware they’re happening.”

By Jack O’Connor | Chicago Tribune

In lieu of statewide regulations, a growing number of Illinois cities and counties are telling data centers to come back later or adhere to new regulations.

In Aurora, what began as a 180-day moratorium ended with city officials bringing the regulatory hammer down on data centers after many community members complained about excessive noise, utility bills and environmental concerns stemming from the city’s existing facilities.

Nine months removed from the September moratorium, Aurora’s data centers are having to play by new rules. Restrictions on where facilities can be built and updates to zoning rules to give the city approval power over new developments. Strict noise emission, water efficiency and energy efficiency standards for new data centers. Mandatory annual reporting of energy use, water use, noise levels and the storage of biometric data for all data centers, including those already built.

“My administration is about putting people and planet first, so it’s making sure that the lights always get turned on for residents of Aurora, instead of seeing the power stripped away for data centers,” Aurora Mayor John Laesch said. “It’s good news that other municipalities and counties are taking action on this.”

So far, at least six counties and nine cities in Illinois have approved data center moratoriums or regulations. Since May, Bloomington, Normal, Effingham, Bourbonnais, Carbondale, Logan County and Lake County have implemented data center moratoriums ranging from a six-month ban to a whole year. McLean County took a stronger approach in June, requiring existing data centers to document their electrical consumption and mandating data center proposals to identify potential impacts on local infrastructure, emergency services and utilities.

Much of the blowback against data centers stems from concerns about the facilities’ energy and water use amid rising utility costs.

Without regulations in place, advocates and local officials worry data centers will strain the electrical grid and deplete Lake Michigan and rural well water faster than rain, runoff and groundwater can replenish them. Data centers already account for 5.4% of Illinois’ electrical consumption and that demand is expected to balloon by 133% by 2030, according to the U.S. arm of the International Energy Agency. At the same time, electric costs for ComEd customers in June have jumped 12%, while prices for Ameren customers downstate rose by nearly 30%, according to the Citizens Utility Board, a utility consumer watchdog group.

Report continues here.

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Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Data Center, Deception, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, News Media, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, Well Water Quality, WGN9 on June 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By: Dana Rebik, Ethan Illers | WGN9

A proposed data center in the northwest suburbs is drawing residents to protest Wednesday evening.

Plum Farms, which stretches across 185 acres of land near Route 59 and Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates, could soon be home to the village’s third data center. It’s a project proposed by the company Karis Critical.

The possibility of the data center being built has area residents frustrated.

“It is incredibly close. My neighbors and I, we can walk down a hilly berm from some of their back yards,” South Barrington resident Dr. Laura Holmes said. “The people here have some idea that they’re closing us in.”

At a commission meeting held on June 3, residents said they were not given information about the scope of the project, so they filed a freedom of information request and said what they found was alarming.

“We feel like we’ve been totally ignored. The public hearings we’ve had are like political theater. It’s just a formality. They’ve already made up their mind,” Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard said. “They had all these plans up to 18 months ago even prior to the sale of the property. We found a letter from the village manager who basically guaranteed we can re-zone.”

According to a letter from Village Manager Eric Palm to Karis Critical Attorney Matthew Norton, in January of 2025, Palm said the village recognizes the benefits data centers provide for the community, saying the village will support zoning approvals and that staff will recommend its approval.

Residents said seeing this makes them feel left in the dark.

“It’s been very surreptitious,” Holmes said.

Residents also found detailed site plans on a Karis document, showing a five-building, 300 megawatt data center, ten times larger than the one Karis tried to build in Naperville, which was voted down earlier this year.

Report and video can be found here.

Related: “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

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Local residents protest potential rezoning of Plum Farms site in Hoffman Estates for data center

Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Deception, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Mad Cows, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions on June 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, including Christine Krzystofczyk of Hoffman Estates, protest the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the corner of routes 59 and 72, immediately west of The Arboretum in South Barrington Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald

Residents of communities near the 186-acre Plum Farms property in Hoffman Estates Wednesday protested its proposed rezoning for industrial uses they consider a smoke screen for a data center.

Demonstrators from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington cited documents obtained through public records requests as evidence that inquiries about a plan for a data center at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 were shared with the village in early 2025

Hoffman Estates Deputy Village Manager Jon Pape confirmed landowner Karis Critical did submit such unsolicited concept plans last year. They were not reviewed by village staff as a formal development proposal would have been.

Doreen Gibrich, along with other residents of Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington, protests the proposed rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property on the corner of routes 59 and 72 Wednesday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Mayor Bill McLeod emphasized the request before the village board at its meeting of Monday, July 6 is for a rezoning of the property without a detailed plan attached.

“A concept plan isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” McLeod said. “Formal plans are very involved. What’s on the table is rezoning.”

The village’s plan commission recommended against granting that request by a 4-2 vote on June 3. The village presidents of Barrington Hills and South Barrington have lent their voices to the opposition.

Article continues here.

Related: “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development”

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Pritzker Adds $800 Million a Year in New Taxes to Already High-Tax Illinois

Posted in BOHICA, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Fat Bastard, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Washington Free Beacon, Unions on June 21, 2026| 1 Comment »

Digital advertising, social media, crypto, prediction markets are targeted by governor |
Governor J.B. Pritzker, Democrat of Illinois, is seen in a photo provided by his office.

By Ira Stoll | The Washington Free Beacon

The governor of Illinois, Democrat J.B. Pritzker, the billionaire Hyatt hotel heir who is a possible 2028 presidential candidate, is facing sharp criticism after signing into law a state budget that adds $800 million a year in new taxes to a state already in the worst third of the 50 states when it comes to imposing tax burdens.

Unleash Prosperity, a pro-growth, free-market-oriented group, called Pritzker “a man who never met a tax increase he didn’t embrace.” He’s more frugal when it comes to his own money. Pritzker had five toilets ripped out of a second mansion in what Cook County described as a fraudulent scheme to save $330,000 in property taxes.

The Illinois Policy Institute had urged Pritzker to veto the advertising tax on the grounds that “its revenue isn’t needed and it’s sure to be legally challenged.” “It’s another ‘Pritzker Two-Step’ budget: increase spending, then raise taxes and sweep dedicated revenues from other funds to fill another big budget gap. This is why Illinois residents pay the highest combined state and local tax rate in the country,” wrote Paul Vallas, a senior fellow at the Institute. “Pritzker has presided over at least 63 tax and fee increases.”

A senior fellow at the Tax Foundation, Jared Walczak, warns that, “the new tax opens the state up to costly litigation it has a very good chance of losing … the whole thing looks like something dashed off with very little thought.” The social media tax “is $6 per user per year, denominated as $0.50 per user per month for large social media platforms, and lesser amounts per user for smaller platforms,” he writes. “Illinois plans to impose a complicated, legally fraught new tax based on a few pages of confused, contradictory, and almost laughably incomplete legislative text embedded in the new budget.”

An editorial in the Washington Post is headlined “Pritzker’s social-media-tax belly flop.” Said the Post, “He’s preparing to run for president in 2028 and apparently believes that antagonizing successful businesses will play well with the liberal base. But voters tend to notice incompetence.” It notes that the digital ad tax “is designed to extract huge sums from Google, Meta and Amazon, whose executive chairman Jeff Bezos owns The Post.”

The Post concluded, “Ultimately, the biggest losers might be the people who actually use social media. Rather than just swallow the tax, companies may need to consider charging for subscriptions, erecting tiered paywalls and raising the rates for advertising. That will disadvantage small businesses who depend on social media to get out the word about their products. It might even mean some smaller platforms cease operations in Illinois.”

Report continues here.

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Editorial: ‘Toll free in ‘73’ was just another empty promise. Buckle up for a 45-cent toll hike, Illinois.

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Chicago Tribune, Clown Car, Cost of Living, Deception, Ethics, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Road construction, Springfield, Taxes, Traffic, Unions on June 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Engineer John Zimmerman, left, and Commissioner George DeMent, right, view an automatic coin collector at the toll gate of the Calumet Skyway on April 10, 1958, to be opened to traffic. | George Quinn/Chicago Tribune

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Illinois tollways were meant to be freeways decades ago.

Gov. JB Pritzker promised to reform the Illinois Tollway before he was elected, the latest in a long line of governors, from Rod Blagojevich to Jim Thompson, who vowed reform.

Remember, the tollways aren’t even supposed to be tollways anymore. The tolls were meant to be temporary until the bonds issued to build the roads were paid off. Many of our readers may remember that old promise that by 1973, our dear tollways would become freeways.

“Toll free in ‘73,” it turns out, is just another empty promise long forgotten.

After decades — and billions of dollars — in paid tolls later, drivers are further away than ever from those cost-free roads.

Now, they’re staring down the prospect of another toll hike.

The Illinois Tollway board is in the process of implementing a 45-cent toll increase for I-Pass users, meaning a 70-cent toll today could become $1.15 in 2027.

And the toll hikes won’t stop there. Starting in 2029, the proposal to be considered by the Illinois Tollway board sets up CPI-indexed toll hikes every two years.

Editorial continues here.

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Special Closed Session Meeting of the Barrington Hills Park District Board Monday, June 22nd

Posted in Agendas, Algonquin Rd, Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Big Brother, Big Red, Cellular Service, Countryside Elementary School, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Financial Statements, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, Massbach Hounds, Open Meetings Act, Organizations, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, School Districts, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, WTF on June 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Barrington Hills Park District Board/Riding Cult of Barrington Hills will hold a closed session meeting Monday at 6:00 PM. The sole topic on their agenda is:

  • To discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired pursuant to 2(c)(5) of the Open Meetings Act; and to discuss the setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body pursuant to 2(c)(6) of the Open Meetings Act

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.

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Editorial: Has Chicago learned nothing from Jussie Smollett and his fake hate crime?

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, OP/Ed, Politics, Snowflake Effect on June 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Jussie Smollett, the actor charged with lying to police about an alleged fabricated attack, is surrounded by media as he waits for a car at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on March 26, 2019. | José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

We have some advice for Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cardinal Blase Cupich, Rev. Michael Pfleger and others who rushed out statements following images of a burning cross in Grant Park circulating online and, naturally, then being amplified by algorithms that feed like blood-thirsty vampires on controversy.

Take a breath and let the police investigate for a day or two before you trot out a statement destined to land in international media and feed someone’s need for publicity. Just tell reporters: We’re going to let the police ascertain the facts first.

Did we learn nothing as a city after the actor Jussie Smollett reported a fake hate crime that he had actually staged himself in downtown Chicago, embarrassing any number of knee-jerk politicians (few of whom later apologized), wasting police time and trashing the city’s reputation all at once? Did that not motivate our leaders to say to their eager spokespeople, “Hang on a minute and let’s find out exactly what happened here?”

Apparently not. In this case, Pritzker immediately opined that the incident “speaks to what happens when the seeds of racism and fascism grow unchecked in our country.”

Then on Monday, WMAQ-Ch. 5 interviewed a 21-year-old college student from Naperville who told the station that he had placed a MAGA hat on top of the burning cross and that he actually was protesting the policies of President Donald Trump and didn’t expect his actions to be viewed in the context in which they were reported. The police now also have a suspect in custody. In other words, the man who talked to NBC 5 said his motivation was the precise opposite of what the governor said this incident represented.

We’ve no idea if that motivation was an after-the-fact invention of the suspect, or his lawyer, or even with certainty that it was the same person (no charges had been filed at press time), but we also know that anytime you see the words “after the image circulated online” in a shocking news story — and there were many such stories about this incident in national and local media, replete with the recounting of historical American inhumanity to man — it is a cue to be suspicious that not everything is as it first might seem.

Also a cue: anything purportedly happening in Chicago involving nooses, burning crosses and the other hateful detritus of America’s shameful past, especially from the South.

Editorial continues here.

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