The in box: Unite Here on Penny Pritzker.
Press Advisory for March 1, 2012
Contact:
Elliott Mallen, UNITE HERE
(312) 656-5807, emallen@unitehere.orgParents, homeowners call on Pritzker family to pay their fair share of taxes
Tax appeals by Chicago’s wealthiest family hurt public schools and city servicesWhat: Press conference announcing the release of UNITE HERE’s report on the Pritzker family’s efforts to lower their property taxes, and a call from Chicago parents for the Pritzker family to pay their fair share.
Who: UNITE HERE Local 1 President Henry Tamarin, hotel workers
When: 10:00 – 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 1st
Where: Outside the Office of the Cook County Treasurer, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago
Why: As property tax bills come due for thousands of Chicago homeowners, hotel workers and community leaders are calling on Chicago Board of Education member Penny Pritzker to drop pending tax appeals on her home and to encourage her family members to pay their fair share. The outcry comes as hospitality workers union UNITE HERE releases a report detailing efforts by members of the Pritzker family to lower their property tax bills at the expense of Chicago’s schools, parks, and libraries.
Penny Pritzker, who has benefited from numerous successful tax appeals on her house, is one of seven members of the Chicago Board of Education, which receives most of the property taxes paid by Chicago homeowners. Two appeals on the value of Ms. Pritzker’s house are pending before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. If the appeal is successful, refunds could come at the expense of the Chicago Board of Education and other public agencies.
UNITE HERE’s report, entitled “Tax Relief for Billionaires: Property Taxes and the Pritzker Family,” shows that tax appeals on residences of members of the Pritzker family and Hyatt Hotels CEO Mark Hoplamazian have resulted in a loss of over $300,000 in tax revenues. Advance copies of the report, which will be released on March 1, may be made available to interested reporters.
Unite Here Local 1, Chicago’s hospitality workers union, represents over 15,000 hotel and food service workers in Chicago and casino workers in Northwest Indiana.