Category: Cook County

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office

October 20, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office Real Republican Gary Grasso responds to Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s vicious political lies and mischaracterizations. Pekau made his political attacks in his taxpayer funded position as Mayor of Orland Park, something Pekau does quite often. By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith…

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

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk

October 17, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk For the past 13 years, you’ve known Mariyana Spyropoulos as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. But she began her career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney before moving to private practice. There, she saw firsthand how vital it is for our courts to be…

Cook County, elections, Government, News

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

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

Car crashes into Orland Park post Office

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Car crashes into Orland Park post Office At approximately 1:49 PM on Thursday, September 21st, 2023, The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a report that a car had crashed into the building at 9500 W. 144th Place, identified as the Orland Park Post Office. On arrival crews found a vehicle that had driven…

accident, Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Many Cook County homeowners are losing thousands of dollars in savings because they are not taking advantage of property tax breaks. My office recently helped an older couple on Chicago’s North Side receive…

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

Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels

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

Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels Nine hotels in the 19th District are set to receive more than $700,000 in Back to Business grants, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings. “Our hospitality industry helps generate revenue and contribute to the economic and social development of our communities,”…

Business, construction, Cook County, Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Mokena, News, NewsWire, Regional Midwest, restaurants, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland, Will County

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

Disaster Recovery Center opened in Cicero to help Cicero Residents Impacted by Summer Flooding

August 30, 2023August 30, 2023 Press ReleaseChicago No Comments

Disaster Recovery Center opened in Cicero to help Cicero Residents Impacted by Summer Flooding The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Town of Cicero announced the opening Tuesday (August 29) of a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) located at Morton College. The Disaster Recovery Center, run by FEMA, is a location where residents who suffered…

Cook County, Federal, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

Commissioner Monica Gordon Announces Advisory Council to Address Violence Prevention

August 27, 2023August 27, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Commissioner Monica Gordon Announces Advisory Council to Address Violence Prevention Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon is convening an Inaugural Violence Prevention Advisory Council in an effort to address the issue from every direction. The 5th District Commissioner says she sees the prevention of violence in our communities as the single most important issue facing Cook County…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials

August 20, 2023August 20, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty hosted a Town Hall meeting featuring Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia along promising that they would work together to continue to bring state funding to support resident needs. Also attending the event were State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, State…

Cook County, Federal, Government, News, Taxes

Cicero President leads successful push to get FEMA to approve flood disaster assistance to residents

August 17, 2023August 17, 2023 Press ReleaseChicago No Comments

Cicero President leads successful push to get FEMA to approve flood disaster assistance to residents Town President Larry Dominick announced Tuesday, August 15, 2023 that Cicero residents can begin applying for Federal FEMA funding for damages caused by the July 2 floods. The FEMA approval was announced by the White House on Tuesday afternoon and…

Baby Boomers, Cook County, Flooding, food, Government, News, NewsWire, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Maria Pappas applauds passage of historic property tax reform law cutting the interest on late taxes

August 12, 2023August 12, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Maria Pappas applauds passage of historic property tax reform law cutting the interest on late taxes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday signed into law historic reforms to fix long-standing racial inequities and abuses in the state’s property tax system spotlighted in two studies issued last year by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Pappas’ property…

Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Senator Michael Hasting bipartisan-backed proposal to crack down on crime now law

August 1, 2023August 2, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senator Michael Hasting bipartisan-backed proposal to crack down on crime now law State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles is now law. “This measure helps us evolve by better utilizing the latest technology to track criminal actions,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We already know that there is technology…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland