Category: Commentary

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board
High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

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…

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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

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party
Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party

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…

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

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities
Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

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….

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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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers
Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

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…

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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

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

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…

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted
Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted By Ray Hanania Former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody had a bad habit of lying about how he would act on controversial policies from the prevailing wage to the one-cent per-ounce tax on soda pop. Published in The…

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

Ex-wife used daughter’s therapy to cut dad’s court ordered parenting time

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Ex-wife used daughter’s therapy to cut dad’s court ordered parenting time

Ex-wife used daughter’s therapy to cut dad’s court ordered parenting time By Laura Reichel The time a father spends with his child can be incredibly important to maintaining a strong relationship between father and child. However, in the case of a Chicago father, he feared his relationship with his young daughter was at risk.  Chicago…

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion, Radio

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

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Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move Residents of Unincorporated Orland Township blast Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau for trying to grab their land and violate their rights. Residents say Mayor Pekau failed to properly notify them of his plans that began quietly in 2022 and continued to 2023 before residents could address the board…

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Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Videos

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

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Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets By Maria Pappas Illinois lawmakers have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II. These amendments, effective for the 2024 tax year, underscore our commitment to supporting our veteran…

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

Leving legal team won appeal defending falsely accused Chicago dad

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Leving legal team won appeal defending falsely accused Chicago dad

Leving legal team won appeal defending falsely accused Chicago dad By Laura Reichel The Leving legal team won a critical decision from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in favor of an accused father they defended. It is terrifying for any father to be faced with the allegation that he neglected his…

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns

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Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist but he needs your support. His columns reflects an honesty in political coverage that you don’t often find in American journalism. Watch this promotion on Ray’s commitment to objective journalism and commentary, “even when it hurts.” He needs your…

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Blogger, Commentary, Culture, journalism, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas
Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas By Maria Pappas My office redesigned this year’s property tax bills to clearly show where your tax dollars go. On the front of every bill, you can see how much of your hard-earned money goes to each taxing body What is less visible, however,…

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

The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region

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The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region

The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region By Ray Hanania I was first introduced to Mike Madigan in 1978 by then Chicago Mayor Michael A. Bilandic. The mayor told me, a cub reporter at the time, to keep an eye on him because he was a “rising star.” As it turns…

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Blogger, Commentary, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 
Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person  By Maria Pappas Property owners face an Aug. 1 due date to pay their Second Installment 2023 tax bills. Many homeowners authorize their mortgage company to pay their two annual property tax installments from an escrow account….

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

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade

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Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade Syndicated columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter writes 5 columns each week addressing politics, slice of life and the Middle East Here is a summary of the most recent columns which you can subscribe to free of charge (or become a…

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Commentary, elections, Features, Government, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates
Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates Video Podcast: Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania discuss the pressures on President Biden to withdraw from the presidential election, and the impact it will have on…

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Bill Lipinski, Commentary, elections, National, News, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes, Videos

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes
Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes By Maria Pappas Record-high increases in property tax bills have shocked and angered many Cook County property owners, especially in the south suburbs. Second Installment 2023 bills are online at cookcountytreasurer.com and arriving in mailboxes in early July. Bills are…

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

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

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Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara Controversy-plagued Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau will introduce a letter at Monday’s Village Board meeting (June 17, 2024) signed by him telling Village Manager George Koczwara that his contract cannot be renewed because it would be “unfair and inappropriate to allow an automatic extension” to…

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