Category: Blogger

Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure

October 12, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure State Comptroller Susana Mendoza slaps the wrist of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau as TIFs, Taxes, and Audits continue to plague the Southwest suburban village, but is it enough? By Ray Hanania State Comptroller Susana Mendoza suspended the Village of Orland Park from the…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, construction, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

October 1, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns Mayor Keith Pekau used his eNewsletter to defend School District 230 President Lynn Zeder who attacked a school colleague for raising concerns about the impact Pekau’s 3 new TIFs will have on schools and property taxes By Ray Hanania Mayor…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way

September 29, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way By Ray Hanania Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, 14651 S La Grange Road, has a fantastic menu with a great tasting Korean Chinese fusion food menu. But it goes one step further offering a fun way to enjoy it allowing…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

September 27, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party By Maria Pappas Some Cook County homeowners are bombarded with ads and solicitations from vendors offering help to obtain refunds on their property taxes. My office has about $93 million available in potential refunds for property tax overpayments…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities By Maria Pappas State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving property tax relief on an annual basis. Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer have to reapply for the benefit every year….

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

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

September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

New school year challenges also provide a chance for parents and children to start fresh

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

New school year challenges also provide a chance for parents and children to start fresh By Jeffery M. Leving SM The start of the new school year comes with anxiety for too many parents and children, so it’s essential to take preemptive action to address the things that cause stress and seize opportunities. Like the…