Category: Chicago

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress Demonstrates his strong grassroots support and the hunger for real change Raymond Lopez officially filed his nominating petitions on Monday Nov. 27 to run for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District. With over 3,000 petition signatures submitted on the first day of filing, Lopez demonstrates the strength…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today unveiled an innovative online tool that for the first time calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The search tool at cookcountytreasurer.com is available as…

Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas. The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…

Chicago, Cook County, Education, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023 News Editor No Comments

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes By Maria Pappas Veterans deserve our thanks, especially those whose abilities were diminished as a result of active military service. Illinois law recognizes that. Qualifying veterans whose disabilities are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for tax breaks. Veterans classified as…

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

Chicago and other cities should launch initiatives to help fathers

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago and other cities should launch initiatives to help fathers The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. is calling on the City of Chicago and cities all over America to create programs that are similar to Milwaukee’s Fatherhood Initiative. Attorney Jeffery Leving, founder and president of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd….

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio

Systems can create parental alienation, and add barriers to healthy families and father inclusion.

October 19, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Systems can create parental alienation, and add barriers to healthy families and father inclusion. These systems created for protection, should not become systems of harm. This is what I’ll be talking about on my weekly Chicagoland radio broadcast, the Dads’ Rights Legal Hour, 9-10 a.m. CDT Saturday, October 21 on Power 92.3 FM. I represented…

Business, Chicago, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire, Radio

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions?

October 15, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions? Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas If you own a home or other real estate in Cook County, chances are you will have a property tax bill due soon. Property taxes in Illinois are billed…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

US Foreclosure activity shows continued rise in Third Quarter, approaching levels seen before pandemic

October 15, 2023October 15, 2023 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

US Foreclosure activity shows continued rise in Third Quarter, approaching levels seen before pandemic Highest Foreclosure Rates in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Delaware; Average Time to Foreclose Nationwide Hit Pre-Pandemic Levels ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, released its Q3 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 124,539 U.S. properties…

Chicago, Cook County, Economy, National, News, NewsWire

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need

October 3, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need By Ray Hanania Last week, I wrote about how Fritz Kaegi artificially increased assessments on properties across Cook County in order to protect business property owners who are big donors with political clout. Kaegi knows voters have no lobbyists and are easily forgotten in…

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

Citizen champion Alderman Raymond Lopez announces his candidacy for U.S. Congress in 4th District

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Citizen champion Alderman Raymond Lopez announces his candidacy for U.S. Congress in 4th District By Ray Hanania Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, who has been one of the most vocal champions of citizen rights in Chicago and the region, announced Tuesday that he will be running as a Democratic candidate in the March 19, 2024 Democratic…

Chicago, Civil Rights, elections, Federal, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund

September 30, 2023September 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund By Maria Pappas “Your Property Taxes” column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Helping taxpayers obtain refunds for property tax overpayments is one of the most rewarding parts of my job as Cook County Treasurer. My office recently helped a south suburban resident receive…

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

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses

September 27, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses By Ray Hanania Last year, a report was issued that showed that a major tax burden would slam commercial properties in Cook County. Cook County Asessor Fritz Kaegi reassessed properties in 2021 claiming it would ease the burden on homeowners. But in fact, it has…

Blogger, Business, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Court orders wife to stop selling marital assets

September 25, 2023September 25, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Court orders wife to stop selling marital assets The father of a 7-year-old girl was rightfully upset when the child’s mother sold a very rare and expensive antique car that the couple acquired while married without his knowledge or consent and without sharing the proceeds. Attorney Jeffery Leving, founder and president of the Law Offices…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Ray Lopez leads and champions rights of Chicago residents

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Ray Lopez leads and champions rights of Chicago residents Statement on Mayor Johnson’s Next Steps with the City’s Migrant Crisis Today, I and many of my City Council colleagues attended a briefing about the ever-growing border crisis that has reached a boiling point in our neighborhoods. Mayor Johnson and I share the belief that avoiding…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Federal, Government, immigrant, News, Politics

Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece

September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece By Jeffery M. Leving A 3-year-old girl tragically became an orphan when both of her parents died. She has aunts who are still living – and we had to fight for one of them to see her own niece. I’ll talk…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions

August 31, 2023August 31, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Cook County owes refunds to thousands of property owners because of past overpayments and missed exemptions. Many homeowners who could use the extra money to pay bills, buy groceries and meet other needs have…

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

Ali Center announces 2023 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients

August 30, 2023August 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ali Center announces 2023 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients Awardees include KIND Bars CEO, Innocence Project co-founder, LMPD Offiers, HollyRod Foundation The 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Saturday, November 4, and boasts another esteemed panel of honorees. The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are the Center’s largest annual fundraiser and incorporate two…

Chicago, Civil Rights, News, NewsWire

Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance Following an uptick in illegal activities at migrant shelters and police districts throughout the city, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) and several others want to return “commonsense restrictions” addressing public safety back into the city’s Welcoming City ordinance. Under the Lightfoot administration, all public safety carveouts…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Crime, immigrant, News