Category: Government

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 Police to Host Annual Seniors Luncheon

October 10, 2024October 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Police to Host Annual Seniors Luncheon The Orland Park Police Department will host a complimentary luncheon for area seniors at noon on Monday, October 14 at the Orland Park Civic Center, located at 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone again during this annual event,” said Chief of Police…

Baby Boomers, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago City Council passes “Price Ordinance” protecting firefighters on rooftops

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago City Council passes “Price Ordinance” protecting firefighters on rooftops The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday Oct. 9, 2024 designed to protect Chicago firefighters when they battle blazes on the city’s rooftops and are confronted with potentially dangerous falling hazards like skylights and other roof openings. Named the Price Ordinance, the legislation honors…

Chicago, Fire, Government, News

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive Cook County tax bills via email

October 4, 2024October 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive Cook County tax bills via email By Maria Pappas Cook County property owners can sign up for eBilling for themselves or family members to receive property tax bills via email instead of print copies by snail mail. The eBilling option offers the convenience of allowing spouses to…

Cook County, Environment, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Lipinski and Hanania analyze Vance-Walz VP Debate in video podcast

October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lipinski and Hanania analyze Vance-Walz VP Debate in video podcast The vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday October 1, 2024 reminded people of a long past era in American politics where civility in discussion of issues overshadowed personal attacks that have polarized America pushing the country…

Bill Lipinski, elections, Government, News, Opinion, rayhanania

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

Conforti Calls Out Congressman Sean Casten for Standing Against Women, Repeatedly

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Conforti calls out Casten for standing against women, repeatedly Sean Casten votes NO on law to deport illegal aliens who engage in sex offense, especially against women, Casten regularly votes against women, putting them in harm’s way, candidate rival Niki Conforti alleges This week, Congressman Sean Casten voted ‘No’ on H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against…

elections, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Bridgeview police arrest suspect in 2023 and 2024 Jewelry store heists

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

Bridgeview police arrest suspect in 2023 and 2024 Jewelry store heists On July 13 2023, the Jawahir Jewelry store (8454 S. Harlem ) was the victim of an armed robbery. On January 09 2024, the Jerusalem Jewelry store (9070 S. Harlem) was also robbed. Both of these store suffered substantial losses. Both of these occurrences…

Crime, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Releases

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

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

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits

August 29, 2024August 31, 2024 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the…

Education, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

August 25, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Congressional District 6 Challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congressional District 6 challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher Last week’s inflation report brought more bad news for all Americans, 6th District Candidate for Congress Niki Conforti said Monday, August 19, 2024. Prices continued to increase in July and went up again, close to 3% over a year ago….

Economy, elections, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Plan to Allow Leftover College Savings Funds to Be Used For Retirement Signed Into Law

August 5, 2024August 5, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Plan to Allow Leftover College Savings Funds to Be Used For Retirement Signed Into Law Treasurer Michael Frerichs Thanks Governor, Lawmakers for Bipartisan Approval Parents who don’t use all the money in their Illinois 529 College Savings Accounts (Bright Start and Bright Directions) are now able to roll over the…

Education, Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale

July 31, 2024July 31, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale Cook County property owners have a free financial planning tool that can help them pay off their past-due property tax bills and avoid the “merciless” Annual Tax Sale, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. A Payment Plan…

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

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

July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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,…

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