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Tom Tresser's avatar

Ray is on the ball and spot on when it comes to his excellent coverage of local politics and civic finances. TIFs are a secretive scam that take billions of public dollars across Illinois and removed those dollars FROM seving the public TO slush funds controlled by local mayors - just as Ray has reported. The Number One victim is always the local public school system. Follow the TIF Illumination Project at www.tifreports.com = tom@tresser.com

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Ray Hanania's avatar

The master of TIFs is Tom Tresser ... no one knows TIFs better than he does ... and I recommend that if you have a TIF issue in your community, reach out to him and bring him out to do a presentation ... his presentation in Orland Park helped activists there recognize the pitfalls of a TIF and what to watch out for ...

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Patrick Girondi's avatar

Ray Hanania, the best journalist ever from Chicago.

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Ray Hanania's avatar

Thanks Patrick ... once this election is over next week we have to reconnect ...

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Patrick Girondi's avatar

We’re connected for life brother.

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Ray Hanania's avatar

James Bax insists he is not backed by Pekau but I have asked him to send me a statement disavowing any ties to Mayor Pekau and when he does I will publish it.

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Efrosine Kanellakes's avatar

Please write a column recommending candidates for Orland Park District 135 school board.

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Pete Host's avatar

Thanks for the insight and recommendations. I would like to see an article on The mayor/village president race in Orland Hills. As a 40 plus year resident of Orland Hills, I'm tired of the Kyle Hastings one sided regime. For all the good that has happened under his administration, he only helps those who agree with him. I believe Aaron Radneys write in bid should be given some press.

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Ray Hanania's avatar

i understand your feelings but Orland Hills is a low tier race. The big challenge is removing pekau … hastings opposes pekau … opposing hastings would undermine that bigger fight. Kyle has been in office for a long time and he is supported by his constituents. i’m not against him. no politician is perfect. but in this case i have to support him.

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Pete Host's avatar

I found your response rather dismissive. The Orland Hills election is only low tier because you live in Orland Park. I agree with your assessment of Pekau, but so does Aaron Radney. Hastings heavy handed operation of the village serves those who agree with him, just like Pekau supporters. Hastings has openly said that his goal is to be the longest tenured mayor in the state. He has groomed Kyle jr to succeed him as mayor when he has achieved his goal. It's small town politics at it's worst, mimicking the Kennedy's , Daley's and Madigan's. In my neighborhood, in the old section of Orland Hills, he is known as King Kyle and his minions, ignoring our concerns for 20 years.

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Ray Hanania's avatar

I appreciate your perspective but I have to say I like the Hastings family and what the mayor has done over the years ... I am not sure the challenger would be better. And a write-in candidacy reflects a lack of understanding of the election process ... an easy way to get don't he ballot ... I know it's challenging but Hastings has been very good over the past two decades ,,,

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