Editorial: Chicago Teachers Union leaders flip-flop on taxpayer-funded stadiums

By Hilary Gowins

04/30/2024

Chicago Teachers Union leadership opposed publicly funded stadiums in 2013. That’s changed: Chicago’s mayor is pushing a Bears football stadium deal needing billions in tax subsidies. And his pals in CTU leadership have yet to speak out about it.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago Bears, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Bears buy Arlington Park, but Chicago still owes $640M for Soldier Field

By Dylan Sharkey

02/16/2023

The Chicago Bears have purchased the former Arlington Park Racetrack for $197.2 million. Chicagoans are still on the hook for $640 million for Soldier Field renovations from 2002.

TAGS: Chicago Bears

Arlington Heights takes first step toward taxpayer-backed Chicago Bears stadium

By Dylan Sharkey

11/15/2022

Arlington Heights trustees unanimously approved a pre-development agreement with the Chicago Bears, but the review process could take years before they break ground on the new football stadium.

TAGS: Arlington Heights, Chicago Bears

Arlington Heights kills effort to stop ‘Bears tax’

By Patrick Andriesen

10/04/2022

The Arlington Heights Board voted unanimously to reject a citizen proposal to stop them from subsidizing the $5 billion Bears stadium development with taxpayer funds. Petition sponsors said they will pursue a ballot question.

TAGS: Chicago Bears

Arlington Heights residents oppose Chicago Bears tax

By Dylan Sharkey

08/31/2022

Arlington Heights residents want the Chicago Bears to move to town, but nearly 70% of residents surveyed are against using taxpayer dollars to build a new football stadium.

TAGS: Chicago Bears

Lightfoot’s play to keep Bears could cost up to $2,000 per family

By Dylan Sharkey, Bryce Hill

07/28/2022

The Chicago Bears are considering a move to Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pitching a last-ditch effort to revamp Soldier Field. Depending on the option, the tax hit per household ranges from $833 to $2,036.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Bears, Lori Lightfoot, Soldier Field, taxes

Will the Chicago Bears stay in the city? Lightfoot hopes so, but says taxpayer dollars won’t be part of the deal

By Robert Brutvan

09/30/2021

Soldier Field is the NFL’s oldest stadium and home to the bears since 1971. Though their city contract runs through 2033, many expect the team will move to the suburbs after the purchase of Arlington Park in the northwest suburbs.

TAGS: Arlington Heights, Chicago Bears, Lori Lightfoot, Soldier Field

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

View Report

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Report Archive

Martin Sahagun

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students