Anthony Moser writes a guest column for EduShyster, asking and answering some questions about Mayor Rahm’s campaign: Who is funding it? Who benefits most from the mayor’s determination to make (or keep) Chicago “a world-class city”?
Moser looks at the city’s TIF (Tax Incentive Fund):
“This, presumably, is the justification for Rahm’s obsessive focus on downtown. Nearly half of the money collected in TIF districts has gone to the central business district. In case you are unfamiliar, TIFs are a means of diverting property taxes from their normal destinations, like schools and parks, and instead earmarking the funds for *development.* As originally enshrined in Illinois law, they were tools for improving blighted districts. Of course the Loop does not fit most definitions of *blight,* but the complicated rules of TIFs allow money to be shunted around between adjoining districts, so that money collected in Englewood can fund development downtown. Wealth does not flow from the prosperous center to the impoverished fringes, but instead the growth of downtown is financed by the parts of our city most in need….”
“Our mayor came into power after living in the city for less than a year with a campaign funded by powerful, wealthy people across the country. He has rewarded them with city contracts and privatization schemes even as he fired ordinary working folks like teachers and janitors by the thousands. He sues to curb pension benefits, while turning over those same pension funds to his friends and donors. He stands before the national media, taking no questions, to celebrate investment by and for the richest among us (and, given his ties to New York, Washington and LA, not among us). The campaign contributions Mayor Emanuel accepts in a week are more than many of the city’s residents could earn in a lifetime.”
For the links to sources, read the article.
Good mornin Diane, This was put in the wpri.com Dan McGowan/Ted Nesi column on Rahm Emanuel this morning and Iwanted to share it w/ you:
The hottest political race in the country this year is the race for mayor of Chicago where incumbent *Rahm Emanuel* is facing a spirited challenge from *Jesus “Chuy” Garcia*. (Read here about how education is the biggest issue in the race.) The match up has caught the eye of at least a few Rhode Islanders, including former Attorney General *Patrick Lynch*, who donated $1,000 to Emanuel’s campaign on Feb. 5. Emanuel also received $1,500 from *Robert McNamara* of Providence on March 24. As for Garcia, *Samuel Franklin*, a Brown University graduate student, donated $1,000 on March 26. http://wpri.com/2015/04/04/the-saturday-morning-post-april-4/
On Sat, Apr 4, 2015 at 9:01 AM, Diane Ravitch’s blog wrote:
> dianeravitch posted: “Anthony Moser writes a guest column for > EduShyster, asking and answering some questions about Mayor Rahm’s > campaign: Who is funding it? Who benefits most from the mayor’s > determination to make (or keep) Chicago “a world-class city”? Moser looks > at the “
NPR’s “lead education blogger”, Anya Kamenetz, quoted Steven Levitt, of the University of Chicago, in her recent Atlanta teacher article. Levitt is a graduate of Koch’s alma mater, MIT. Criticism of Levitt, readily found on the internet, IMO, makes him a poor choice for expert comment. Why fuel questions about bias in NPR reporting, by selecting a controversial economist to interview, on the subject of teaching?
NPR is no longer non-bias because Gates bought them: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database#q/k=national%20public%20radio
Captured and coopted?
“The University of the People” reports, at its website, that Gates financially supported Kamenetz book.
Clearly Emanuel represents corporate interests over those of working class people. He along with the President is rumored to have invested in real estate with Tony Rezko, a major donor of both Emanuel and Obama. One intention of gentrifying targeted inner loop properties is closing public schools and opening charters. To do this Emanuel has funneled redevelopment money into these areas. This money is intended for distressed areas, but Emanuel has been able to divert funds to forward his real estate interests. Emanuel is a man of self interest, not a man of the people. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/03/us/chicago-under-rahm-emanuel-readers-respond.html
My deepest wish in this race was that Karen Lewis could have run against Rahm. I think she might have won. The latest is that Garcia is about 20 points behind. After tomorrow we will know. The Chicago Tribune reported today that many of Rahm’s supporters are half hearted in his support. They do not fully believe in him but think that he is the best for the job.
The billionaires have all gone to the same meetings and learned to grab the money from kids.
David Sirota has been reporting on Emanuel’s failure to comply with FOIA requests for emails and:
“Rahm Emanuel blocks release of secret contracts he gave to the “independent” official overseeing Chicago’s election”
http://www.ibtimes.com/chicago-elections-chief-got-lobbying-contracts-rahm-emanuels-adminstration-1869898
I will be very surprised if this does not turn out to be a rigged election.