Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • EVENTS
  • Toggle search form
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers Blogger
  • Home fire in Cicero impacts 14 families at 16th And Austin Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero
    President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire Cook County
  • Thanksgiving Turkey. hoto courtesy of Unsplash. Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.
    Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money? Baby Boomers
  • Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward Chicago Alderman, files for Congress in the March 19, 2023 Democratic Primary for the 4th District, Illinois
    Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Chicago
  • 2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28, 2023
    2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28 Baby Boomers
  • U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month Economy
  • US Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, sponsor of bill to eliminate double taxation on Social Security
    Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill Baby Boomers
  • Andi Gladwin performs magic at The Rhapsody Theater through Nov. 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of The Rhapsody Theater
    Unveiling Wonder: Andi Gladwin’s “SHUFFLED” Delivers an Unforgettable Night of Magic at The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago Aaron Hanania
  • Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart talks with volunteers during a cleanup of the Deer Creek River in Ford Heights Village Friday Nov. 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Sheriff Tom Dart
    Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to Cook County
  • Photo courtesy of the Lyons Democratic Organization
    Illinois Provides Important Resources for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Illinois Legislature
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital Cook County
  • the second annual Stagg High School Vocational Fair featured Professionals who spent the day on November 7, 2023 discussing their careers with interested students, as well as detailing their career paths and available training. Photo courtesy of Stagg High school and District 230
    Stagg High School hosts massive Vocational Fair Education
  • Flags in Public Plaza. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Illinois ranks in bottom five in study of Best and Worst states for veteran care Civil Rights
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    What can America do with $14.3 billion? Baby Boomers
Lowest gasoline prices in years. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers

Posted on December 12, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Loading

Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, one of the worst mayors to ever sit in the Chicago mayor’s office, is making one last effort to slam taxpayers in suburban Chicagoland to pay for the financial shortfalls and deficits caused by his poor leadership. He wants to jack up the gasoline tax by a whopping 20 percent to pay for the mounting bills and expenses he caused in Chicago.

By Ray Hanania

I don’t think that there has been one day when Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn’t thought about a way to screw the taxpayers. Not just the taxpayers in Chicago but the taxpayers in the County and in the state.

I am so glad Emanuel is leaving Chicago City Hall. He is distinguished as being one of the worst mayors Chicago has ever had. And I know because I have covered all of them since 1976 starting with Richard J. Daley. When you are the worst mayor a city has ever had, you leave a wake of destruction in your path.

But for Mayor Emanuel, a wake of destruction during his two terms as one of Chicago’s least effective chief executive officers is not enough. He has to wreak havoc on the taxpayers one last time as a parting gift to reinforce his failure as a public servant.

Mayor Emanuel wants the state to increase the Gasoline Tax by 20 cents per gallon, mainly to fund improvements in transportation for the City of Chicago.

That has always been Emanuel’s shortcoming. He has no creative vision, only crass political selfishness. Emanuel has never understood how to manage government or control government waste. His entire administration has been one of imposing new taxes to patch up holes in Chicago’s financial train-wreck. Emanuel’s solution to Chicago’s problems has always been to make himself look good by mugging the suburbanites and stealing money from them.

Lowest gasoline prices in years. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
Lowest gasoline prices in years. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

Chicago is a disaster and a large part of that falls on Emanuel’s shoulders. Look at the spiraling crime. He can manipulate the data all he wants but the truth is many parts of Chicago are among the most dangerous in the country. Emanuel has failed to develop a strategy to confront the rising violence and gun-related murder rate turning to political rhetoric instead of solutions to confront the violence.

Now, he wants to slam taxpayers one last time, forcing the hardworking taxpayers to carry the water for those who survive on the lamb with handouts from the federal and state government. Instead of creating an economic base to create more jobs, Emanuel has looked for quick fixes to make himself look good and push the problems further down the road so they fall on the backs of his successors and on the already overburdened taxpayers.

Gasoline prices are at the lowest they have ever been. In Illinois, one of the worst states in the nation not just because of the state’s excessive and bloated politically driven pension system, but because Chicago is a drag on the rest of the state. Chicago not only has the worst crime, it survives only because suburbanites take their lives in their hands every day and go to work there at jobs that should have left the city long ago.

Chicago is a disaster. Maybe one of the dozen or so of the people hoping to become Chicago mayor can turn things around and restore Chicago to its greatness that it once was. Candidates like Bill Daley, Garry McCarthy, Willie Wilson, Paul Vallas and Gery Chico seem to have what it could take to turn things around. Or, we can go the old politics route and put someone in like Toni Preckwinkle who has proven she can’t keep a campaign promise and isn’t afraid to lie, promising not to raise taxes and then when taking office raises taxes higher than any county predecessor.

There are 21 people running for Chicago mayor, but the media is only showcasing 11, the ones with political clout. We may never get other from the other 10 lesser known candidates because the mainstream news media in Chicago is controlled by big business. And big business has played a big role in enabling the failed leadership of Mayor Emanuel, demanding tax breaks while supporting the mayor’s tax hikes for the taxpayers. Sure big business has been squeezing their employees paying the lowest wages while increasing costs for services and products with Mayor Emanuel’s help.

Although Chicago constantly whines about its troubles — with Mayor Emanuel always blaming everyone else except himself — it turns out Chicago isn’t the worst off city in America, even if Chicago has driven the state down the tubes over the years. The latest study from WalletHub shows that Chicago ranks 60th among the neediest cities in the nation. Chicago has propped itself up by stealing funds from the rest of the state, taking more money from taxes paid by taxpayers outside of Chicago (in Cook County and the state) than were paid by taxpayers living in Chicago. In other words, Chicago is on the dole always looking for a handout to cover its excessive spending. Chicagoans make far less than they spend but they make up for that deficit by stealing from Suburban Chicagoland.

That needs to stop.

Voters need to monitor the gasoline tax issues. Voters need to remember the lies of the politicians — like when Toni Preckwinkle said she opposed her opponents sales tax hike plan and then turned around and raised taxes herself, mainly on the suburbs not on her Chicago base. Voters need to punish those politicians like Preckwinkle who lie to win more benefits and higher office for themselves. They complain about the pension problem but look at the pensions that Preckwinkle and Emanuel have racked up for themselves. They feed on the pension problem and use it as an excuse to hammer taxpayers with higher taxes.

You have the power to make it stop. You don’t have to be herded into stupidity by the mainstream Chicago news media.

Chicago needs someone who is willing to honestly recognize the city’s real problems and be courageous enough to tackle them not by stealing money from the wallets of taxpayers outside of Chicago but by making the people of Chicago live for the first time int heir lives within their own means and budgets.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. He currently writes op-eds for the Southwest News newspaper chain of eight newspapers and is a lead columnist for Suburban Chicagoland. His personal website is www.Hanania.com. Email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money? - December 1, 2023
  • Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress - November 29, 2023
  • Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms - November 28, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, elections, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Transportation Tags:Chicago, failed leadership, gas tax hike, gasoline tax, Mayor Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel, stealing from the suburbs to cover CHicago

Post navigation

Previous Post: Carole Ruzich leads new slate in Orland Village elections
Next Post: My ongoing love affair with soda pop

Related Posts

  • Opinion: Orland Mayor accuses me of writing fiction over public meeting Blogger
  • L.O.U.D. (Leaders Opposed to Underage Drinking) is dedicated to creating healthy communities and schools that encourage alcohol free youth by implementing evidence-based strategies to fight the contributing factors of underage drinking.
    Tinley Park educates teens against drinking Education
  • Police image, Photo by Logan Weaver on Unsplash
    Bond Set at $1 Million for Man Charged with Attempt First Degree Murder at Children’s Indoor Amusement Park Chicago
  • “Weird Al” funny as ever News
  • The Political Pundit Comic Strip 07-27-20 Mayor Lori Lightfoot hypocrisy, attacks FOP, Ald. Lopez and then calls for civility
    The Political Pundit Comic Strip lampoons Mayor Lightfoot Blogger
  • Sports: Lincoln-Way East Captures 2017 State Football Title Blogger

More Related Articles

Gary Grasso, Republican Candidate for Congress in the 6th District in 2022 6th Congressional District Candidate Grasso Hits Airwaves with  “Family First” Commercial Cook County
Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 - 9, 2022 Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 – 9 Chicago
Orland Park Trustee Candidates Billy Healy, Michael Milani, and Cindy Katsenes Second slate enters race for Orland Park Trustees elections
2023 Morgan Silver Dollar Coin collecting: The re-release of the popular Morgan Silver Dollar Blogger
A letter from a reader on the Brannigan controversy Opinion
Flags in Public Plaza. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Illinois ranks in bottom five in study of Best and Worst states for veteran care Civil Rights

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers
    December 3, 2023
  • Thanksgiving Turkey. hoto courtesy of Unsplash. Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.
    Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money?
    December 1, 2023
  • US Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, sponsor of bill to eliminate double taxation on Social Security
    Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill
    November 17, 2023
  • Andi Gladwin performs magic at The Rhapsody Theater through Nov. 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of The Rhapsody Theater
    Unveiling Wonder: Andi Gladwin’s “SHUFFLED” Delivers an Unforgettable Night of Magic at The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago
    November 13, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    What can America do with $14.3 billion?
    November 6, 2023
  • Assault weapons, courtesy of WIkipedia
    Gun control debate and failure to impose severe punishments on criminals fueling American violence
    November 4, 2023

Events Calendar

  • No events

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Home fire in Cicero impacts 14 families at 16th And Austin Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero
    President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire
    December 2, 2023
  • Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward Chicago Alderman, files for Congress in the March 19, 2023 Democratic Primary for the 4th District, Illinois
    Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress
    November 29, 2023
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms
    November 28, 2023
  • 2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28, 2023
    2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28
    November 21, 2023
  • U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month
    November 18, 2023
  • Andi Gladwin performs magic at The Rhapsody Theater through Nov. 19, 2023. Photo courtesy of The Rhapsody Theater
    Unveiling Wonder: Andi Gladwin’s “SHUFFLED” Delivers an Unforgettable Night of Magic at The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago
    November 13, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
Ziyad Brothers serving the Arab American community since 1966
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Ad Oct -Nov 2023

Trending

  • Vehicle crashes into Orland Park Post Office on 114th Place. Car crashes into Orland P... Car crashes into Orland Park post Office At approximately 1:49 PM on Thursd... posted on September 22, 2023
  • Veteran Diana Howard addresses a disrespectful Village of Orland Park Village Board meeting on August 21, 2023. She was viciously attacked in Mayor Pekau's eNewsletter Veteran Diana Howard cour... Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor By Ra... posted on September 6, 2023
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Celebrity Fight Night XXIII in Phoenix, Arizona.. Photo courtesy of WIkipedia YouGov Poll shows Robert... YouGov Poll shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr Presidential candidacy surging Poll:... posted on September 27, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon Hastings urges residents... Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program State... posted on September 18, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash Fritz Kaegi’s artif... Fritz Kaegi's artificial inflation of property assessments to protect busin... posted on September 27, 2023

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Photo courtesy of PRIMETIME Sports and SeatGeek Stadium
    SeatGeek features competition between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club Leon on Saturday Sept. 9
    September 8, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Senator Michael Hasting ensures degraded former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to be revitalized into a sports park in new law
    May 24, 2023
  • Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, Orland Park. Scoreboard
    Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation Sponsor Park Redevelopment
    May 23, 2023
  • Chicago Hounds rugby at Seat Geek Stadium July 8, 2023
    Chicago Hounds rugby announce plans for Dawg Town block party
    May 11, 2023
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Home fire in Cicero impacts 14 families at 16th And Austin Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero
    President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire
    December 2, 2023
  • 2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28, 2023
    2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28
    November 21, 2023
  • U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month
    November 18, 2023
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital
    November 7, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses   
    October 30, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Systems can create parental alienation, and add barriers to healthy families and father inclusion.
    October 19, 2023
  • Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
    Rupert Murdoch and the International News Empire
    October 4, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses
    September 27, 2023
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels
    September 13, 2023
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Orland Fire Protection District acquires 6 Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs to more easily and safely rescue victims in emergencies
    Orland Fire District utilizes new technology to increase emergency victim safety
    August 20, 2023
  • Suspect Alisa Velcu charged in Verion Store theft July 26, 2023 in Bloomington, Illinois. Mugshot supplied by the DuPage County State's Attorney
    Bond Set for Two Women Charged with Robbing Bloomingdale Verizon Wireless Store
    July 26, 2023
  • The Village of Orland Hills, Mayor Kyle Hastings State Senator Michael Hastings and Orland Township Highway Commissioner Antonio Rubino are partnering to host a Free "Shred and E-Recycling" day for families to be held Saturday August 26, 2023.
    Orland Hills to host “Shred and E-Recycling Day” Saturday August 26, 2023
    July 18, 2023

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme