WICKER PARK — Following a $589 million property tax increase approved by City Council on Wednesday, homeowners in Wicker Park and Bucktown took to social media to pile kudos on aldermen who opposed the hikes and criticize Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) for supporting Mayor Emanuel's 2016 budget.
"At least these 14 have courage to stand up to [the] Mayor and vote the constituents conscience," Natalie Konieczko, a Noble Square resident, said on Facebook.
Konieczko was referring to Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), among the 14 aldermen who voted against the 2016 budget, which passed with 34 to 14.
Called an increase to property taxes "a difficult ask," Moreno issued a statement on Twitter to explain his "yes" vote.
"The city needs a revenue stream to function and provide critical services to our residents, repairs to our schools and streets and assistance to residents most in need," Moreno wrote.
After the vote, emotions on Facebook and Neighborhood Square ran high. One commenter said he hopes those who voted for Moreno "learned their lesson."
Another Facebook commenter said she was "shocked and pleased" by her new rep, Ald. Deb Mell, voting no.
"We were shifted from the 1st Ward to the 33rd during the redistricting, and a lot of the people in my area were convinced that Rich (and later Deb) Mell were just yes-(wo)men for Rahm. What a surprise that she voted against it, and the allegedly progressive Moreno voted for it. Very pleased with my Alderman (and my redistricting)," the writer posted on DNAinfo Chicago's Facebook page.
At a gathering with members of the East Village Association in September, Moreno talked about plans to tax smokeless tobacco and said he would support a possible property tax increase if necessary.
In discussing cuts to the city budget, Moreno asked a homeowner stewing over a tax increase, "Do you want to cut funding for the mentally ill?"
The homeowner replied, "Sure, if that's what it takes," prompting Moreno to tell the man, "I'm not your guy."
In Bucktown, some homeowners said they were happy with Waguespack's "no" vote.
"I generally feel the city made some bad deals in the last decade and is now asking the citizens to bail it out. Not right. On the other hand, I agree with the garbage tax. Hope it's actually used to improve services," said Kristene Richardson.
Richardson said, "Opposition is good."
"I think the mayor needs to hear no, and the reasons for it. This is not a popular thing to raise taxes, while it may ultimately be needed, the mayor needs to know how the people feel, I think Scott [Waguespack] represents that well," Richardson said.
Reached on Thursday, Hopkins, a freshman alderman, said his "no" vote was based on constituent feedback and promises he made while campaigning to be the 2nd Ward alderman.
"As a candidate seeking to represent a ward with among the highest residential property tax assessment levels in the City, I pledged to oppose an anticipated increase in the property tax levy. Today, I honored that pledge as your Alderman and joined 13 of my colleagues in voting no on the 2016 budget," Hopkins said in a statement.
Hopkins said his "no" vote "was not an easy decision."
"During the course of debate, many logical and compelling arguments were offered in support of this tax increase. To his credit, Mayor Emanuel presented a balanced budget, free of one-time gimmicks and sales of public assets. And this harsh reality remains: all of the potential roads to return our city to fiscal health will inevitably include sacrifice, revenue increases, and painful choices," Hopkins said.
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