Blagica Bottigliero, NBC5 Street Team (Video)
To: President Todd Stroger & Commissioner Larry Suffredin
From: Confused Chicago Resident
Dear Mr. Stroger,
Thank you for making the Cook County sales tax, effective tomorrow July 1, the highest in the country. I understand our budget needs some tweaking, however, will this tax jump truly be the answer?
With our hotel rooms at capacity and able to demand top dollar (which I know is good for the city’s tourism budget…which enables me to enjoy free concerts in Grant Park), will tourists really want to shop on our Magnificent Mile when the sales tax hike ain’t so Magnificent?
I also have a question for Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who was the swing vote on this hike in the final minutes before the midnight deadline. Mr. Suffredin, what gives? You were a strong opponent against Mr. Stroger and his hikes for some time, but you decided to change your vote after Mr. Stroger promised to privatize control of the county medical system.
So, NOW we have a new system of outsiders controlling the hospitals, in hopes of better controls, yet you decide to vote in favor of a higher sales tax – before you even know if such private controls will even work?
Mr. Stroger (you may want to update your blog, by the way) and Mr. Suffredin, you just made the jobs of hard working city evangelists at the Department of Tourism, World Business Chicago and the Chicago Chamber of Commerce work even HARDER to convince people to come to Chicago to Work, Live and Play. You know why? Because all of that just got even MORE expensive. Congrats.
Let me know if you’d like me to pick you up with my iGo car when I visit Lake, DuPage or Will county for some Saturday shopping. I wouldn’t mind spending about 3.75% less on big ticket items, how ’bout you?
I hope you like Michael Jackson – I do my best to reach his high ‘SHAMON!’ pitches when I drive.
Sincerely,
Confused and Disappointed in the South Loop
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You are right on – good post. 99% of politicians know nothing about business. Running a county, a city, or a country has the same business fundamentals of managing revenues coming in and expenditures going out. If these elected officials don’t know how to run a 7/11, how the hell are they going to manage running a jurisdiction concerning millions of constituents? It’s absurd! Case in point: lack of business savvy = largest sales tax in the country. What we as the people need to do is critique the business acumen of running politicians and recruit people who do have that right acumen.
Applause to both Blagica and Ben! I agree wholeheartedly about poor business savvy equating to the highest taxes in the country. I’ll join Blagica on an out-of-Cook County shopping spree!