CR Magazine - Winter 2016

Government Affairs
Government Affairs Update
Chicago
NEWS
2016 has been a busy year – and our Government Affairs team has been hard at work tackling
the issues that threaten our industry and impact your clients’ private property rights. You
can find out more information about each of these individual issues on our website.
MAJOR WINS:
• Obtained a Cloud Tax exemption for MLS data
• G-Fees Taken Off the Table as a Revenue Stream for Surface
Transportation Authorization Bill
• Launched the REALTOR ® Parking Permit
• Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2016
Signed into Law
• Added a 30-Day Warning for Recycling Code Non-Compliance
PROPERTY TAX OUTREACH
We have launched a property tax outreach in conjunction with
Real Property Alliance to provide consumers resources to
appeal their property assessments. We held initial events at
Coldwell Banker Lincoln Park and Century 21 S.G.R., Inc. We
anticipate continuing this outreach in neighborhoods throughout
the city. In the meantime, check out our property tax outreach
site for consumers – and pass along to your clients:
www.realpropertyalliance.org/property-taxes/
RLTO REFORM
We are still single-minded in our goal of changing the Residential
Landlord Tenant Ordinance to encourage judicial discretion and
eliminate mandatory sentencing for landlords for minor or trivial
offences. Simply changing “shall” to “may” will create fairness
for both landlords as well as their tenants. As of press time, we
are estimating that hearings will take place the first two weeks
in December, at soonest, with a potential vote thereafter. We
continue to aggressively build support for our position, and we
will keep you posted on ChicagoREALTOR.com with any updates.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
NAR FEDERAL TAX COMMITTEE
Senior Director of Government Affairs Brian Bernardoni was
re-appointed to the NAR Federal Tax Committee this year; he
will also serve on work groups at the state and local level
regarding rent control. Additionally, Brian is a member of the
Government Affairs Directors’ Committee to develop better
legislative protocols on NAR policy matters.
Chicago
UNDERSTANDING THE
EVICTION PROCESS
Understanding the system for evictions in Cook County
is key for the process to work. The following provides
critical information for your clients’ use.
The Cook County sheriff has put together a FAQ
regarding the eviction procedure. The guide covers:
• Filing with the sheriff
• Scheduling
• Day-of eviction processes
• Cancellations, delays and re-scheduling
For day-of problems, please contact
ccso.evictions@cookcountyil.gov as soon as the
problem arises. Problems could include:
• Sheriff failing to enforce an order or
misinterpreting an order
• Sheriff failing to show up
• Extenuating factors which will make the
eviction more difficult to enforce, i.e. evictee
has medical equipment, is in need of social
services, etc.
Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Brian A.
Bernardoni and Government Affairs Director Kristopher J. Anderson
engage in advocacy and policy matters, increasing the ability of
REALTORS ® to have their voices heard at Chicago’s City Hall, the
Cook County Board and a number of government and policy arenas.
BRIAN A.
BERNARDONI
Senior Director of
Government Affairs
and Public Policy
Find it all at ChicagoREALTOR.com
KRISTOPHER J.
ANDERSON
Director of
Government Affairs
36 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine