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

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • 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
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Radio, Podcast, Books
  • News Wire
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Treasurer Pappas to Host Philippine Independence Celebration Featuring Traditional Dance Following Daley Plaza Flag Raising Ceremony Cook County
  • Windy City Boat Show June 2026 map
    Windy City Boat & Yacht Show Debuts June 12–14, 2026  Events
  • Emanuel "Chris" Welch, the State Represenative of the 7th House District, was the keynote speaker at the Town of CIcero annual Commemoration for the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero
    Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important Government
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners Cook County
  • father children Leving
    Leving Team Restored Dad’s Place in Daughters’ Lives and Saved Him from Jail Dads' Rights
  • O'Hare Rideshare cars courtesy ray hanania
    More Than 100,000 Rideshare Drivers Win Union Rights in Illinois, Rideshare Drivers’ Union Bill Illinois Legislature
  • Metropolis Wizard of Oz cast Arlington Heights, 2026
    Metropolis Performing Arts Centre announces cast and creative team for The Wizard of Oz July 8 – August 9, 2026 Entertainment
  • Windy City Boat & Yacht Show
    Top Things to See and Experience at the Windy City Boat & Yacht Show Chicago
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Issues Rare Special Report Regarding Federal Grand Jury Appearances Federal
  • U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
    Duckworth Grills Secretary Rubio on State Department Cuts That Undermine Diplomacy and Make Americans Less Safe Federal
  • OP News Release Aquatic e coli
    Orland Park Centennial Park Aquatic Center to Reopen Tuesday Government
  • Leving father son soccer
    Leving Team Protected Dad’s Child from Serious Harm in High-Stakes Court Victory Dads' Rights
  • OFPD Fire Chief John Purtill, to be sworn in June 9, 2026
    Orland Fire Protection District names new Fire Chief – swearing-in Ceremony June 9 Fire
  • THE NEW MUSICAL ICEBOY! WITH MEGAN MULLALLY AND NICK OFFERMAN, GREY HENSON, CEDRIC YARBROUGH, SARAH STILES, ALEX GOODRICH & MORE
    A peek into the new musical Iceboy! with Megan Mullaly and Nick Offerman, Grey Henson, Cedric Yarbrough, Sarah Stiles, Alex Goodrich & more Entertainment
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Announces Sweeping Reforms to Internal Grand Jury Practices and Disclosures Civil Rights
TIF Expert and author Tom Tresser discusses the hazards of a TIF DIstrict and how it applies to Orland Park taxpayers

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

Posted on September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  



Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

By Ray Hanania

09-04-24 The dangers of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s secretive TIF district proposals

I am not surprised Orland Park Trustee Cindy Katsenes, a local realtor with Village Realty, attacked me personally at the Village Board meeting on Tuesday night, and also attacked Mohammed Jaber for raising issues about her and Pekau’s TIF District proposal. Katsenes and Pekau are hiding something and don’t want to detail it because of the huge negative impact their TIF plans will have on taxpayers and on our local schools.

Katsenes and Pekau have failed for the past two years to file the Village of Orland Park financial audits. What are they hiding?

You need to listen to this interview I do with TIF expert Tom Tresser explaining how TIFs can easily be manipulated to benefit the politicians and their failed financial policies, to cover up debts (Orland Park, Katsenes, and Pekau have failed to file the Village’s Financial Audits now two years in a row).

Veteran TIF investigator and TIF author Tom Tresser details the dangers of how a TIF can easily be abused, soaking the property tax monies away from taxing bodies like school districts, libraries, and other local agencies all to shore up a government’s debt, reward its contractors and contributor,s and to do it exploiting the TIF benefits that ease public disclosure.

TIF Expert and author Tom Tresser discusses the hazards of a TIF DIstrict and how it applies to Orland Park taxpayers
TIF Expert and author Tom Tresser discusses the hazards of a TIF DIstrict and how it applies to Orland Park taxpayers

 

The TIF districts being proposed in Orland Park could be part of an effort to off-set major municipal debt, give huge lucrative contracts to local developers who have donated to the politicians, and create huge burdens on taxpayers.

TIF’s require a designation of a property area to be called “Blighted”, but that is an easy description to achieve. This is must must-listen education on the dangers of a TIF being exploited by an untrustworthy mayor who has not given enough information on how the proposed TIFs will operate or where the money will go.

The public right to know is unanswered in a TIF district, and it can be done by giving the public proper notice and complete information on the financial aspects of a TIF. For more information on Tresser, visit www.Tresser.com Also visit Tom’s website The TIF Illumination Project at www.TIFReports.com. For more information on Ray Hanania, visit www.Hanania.com

Watch the video interview using the widget below or click this link to watch it on YouTube.


 

Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter who has lived in Orland Park since 1986. He writes for many suburban newspapers including The Regional News. For more information on this and other topics visit his website at hanania.com, to get information on subscribing to his columns and video podcasts below. email him at [email protected].

 

Subscribe to Ray’s Syndicated Columns

Click this link to subscribe to his FREE Columns

A Message from Ray Hanania

I write four to five (4-5) columns each week on mainstream American politics civering Chicago, Illinois and the nation, and also columns on seniors and slice of life humor and serious issues.

I hope you will subscribe, enjoy the columns and share your feedback on my system’s new chat format at my website at www.RayHanania.com or www.Hanania.com, where all of the columns (FREE and PAID) are now hosted and distributed.

You can subscribe as a PAID subscriber, or as a FREE subscriber. Each week several columns like this distributed FREE of charge.

Again, a Big Thank You for supporting my writings, radio shows and podcasts. Your support means a lot to me.

Subscribe by clicking this link to confront government bullying and protect a forum for full information disclosure.

www.RayHanania.com


Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns


newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion 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.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

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 [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Treasurer Pappas to Host Philippine Independence Celebration Featuring Traditional Dance Following Daley Plaza Flag Raising Ceremony - June 10, 2026
  • Windy City Boat & Yacht Show Debuts June 12–14, 2026  - June 10, 2026
  • Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important - June 5, 2026
NPV: 273
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes Tags:author, Cindy Katsenes, Keith Pekau, Mohammed Jaber, Orland Park, realtor, secretive land deals, Tax Increment Financing, TIF, TIF DIstrict, TIF expert, Tom Tresser, unfiled Village Audits

Post navigation

Previous Post: Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations
Next Post: Orland Fire Protection District responds to home fire, no injuries

Related Posts

  • Houby Day Parade 2013
    Czech, Slovak & Bohemian culture showcased in Houby Day tradition Commentary
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Photo courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills Chicago
  • (From left) Chief Schofield, cardiac victim Raymond Morrissey, Lisa Morrissey, Lifetime Employees Jason Fox and Jen Strickland, and Lt. Mark Duke.
    Orland Fire Protection District presents lifesaving commendations News
  • Green Party blasts County Clerk David Orr for impeding Water Reclamation District election elections
  • 04-01-25 Chris Getty election night
    Getty Celebrates Successful Re-Election and Local Victory Sweep elections
  • Orland Park Veterans Collection
    Village of Orland Park Vets Collect for Current Military Orland Park

More Related Articles

Maria Pappas, Emo Cundari, Cook County Treasurer and Cicero Town Assessor logos and titles Pappas, Cundari discuss County system to view your property taxes Chicago
Google Appliance as shown at RSA Expo 2008 in San Francisco. It was only a computer case with no parts inside.-Daniel A (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Google Photos will corrupt your system — avoid it Blogger
Mayor Keith Pekau of Orland Park joins officials and employees at Old Navy, which was damaged by fire last April, in reopening on Friday May 25, 2018. Photo courtesy of Old Navy Orland Mayor Pekau honors Old Navy manager at grand opening Business
Nicholas Aguirre, charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. David Aguirre-Gonzalez charged with firing the weapon and one count of First Degree Murder. Photo courtesy of the Cicero Police Department First Degree Murder charges filed against gang member in Cicero shooting death breaking news
Finding a new place to lose weight & hang my iPod Baby Boomers
Former Sandburg student authors children’s book Books & Films

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID

Links to the Latest News by other media that is worth reading with attribution
Arab Center Ad
  • NEWS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Treasurer Pappas to Host Philippine Independence Celebration Featuring Traditional Dance Following Daley Plaza Flag Raising Ceremony
    June 10, 2026
  • Windy City Boat Show June 2026 map
    Windy City Boat & Yacht Show Debuts June 12–14, 2026 
    June 10, 2026
  • Emanuel "Chris" Welch, the State Represenative of the 7th House District, was the keynote speaker at the Town of CIcero annual Commemoration for the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero
    Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important
    June 5, 2026
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners
    June 5, 2026
  • father children Leving
    Leving Team Restored Dad’s Place in Daughters’ Lives and Saved Him from Jail
    June 5, 2026

Courageous Thought Syndicate Columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

Restaurant Reviews

Photo: Sullivan's Steakhouse Lobster Tempura
Restaurant Reviews
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners
    June 5, 2026
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Property Tax Pointers: 10 Must-Know Tips for Homeowners
    May 22, 2026
  • Ray Hanania on Politics podcast logo
    Frank Calabrese and Ray Hanania on Politics podcast discuss court ruling on Samatha Steele’s alleged DUI
    May 7, 2026
John Kass Columns

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

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All work 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. Some photos published with permission from Zemanta and Wikipedia.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme