CR_Spring2022_Online

Your Spring Government
Affairs Update
REALTORS ® CALL ON DEPARTMENT OF
WATER MANAGEMENT FOR REFORMS
Currently, the City of Chicago’s INVEST South/West program gathers
resources to inspire growth by transforming underserved commercial
corridors and attracting more residents to the adjoining residential
areas. Some of the homes in these areas are abandoned and dilapidated,
and the properties still carry a water bill balance. Delinquent water
bills owed to the city cause problems, as the purchasing party must
pay the water bill in full to acquire the property. REALTORS ® will begin
conversations with the Department of Water Management about
relieving outstanding water debts for abandoned properties.
The city and its emissaries often quote the need for affordable housing,
and affordability begins with lessening acquisition costs, regulation
costs and construction costs. Reducing or eradicating outstanding
water bills can help encourage affordability.
MONITORING CITY’S USAGE OF
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS
The City of Chicago issued the State and Local Fiscal Recovery
Funds – 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report, outlining how $ 1,866
billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds were allocated for an
equitable recovery.
Some of the larger expenditures include $ 12 million for homelessness
support services, $ 85 million for violence prevention and $ 65 million for
youth opportunities. Federal money in 2022 will include $ 32 million for
mental health services, $ 85 million for job training and $ 51 million for small
business economic assistance. Financial assistance programs are budgeted
for $ 71 million, including a universal basic income (UBI) pilot program for
5,000 families. In addition to UBI, the city seeks to “create immediate financial
assistance programs for…undocumented residents, domestic workers
and small community-based nonprofits providing safety net services.”
The City of Chicago is monitoring funds through a dedicated Program
Management Office. There are concerns about where the money for
this budget is coming from and if there will be future tax increases to
keep this running in the future.
CITY SEEKS TO PROVIDE TENANTS
WITH MORE RIGHTS
The City of Chicago, through the Department of Housing, issued a
Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Right to Counsel Program, which will
provide tenants with pre-paid counsel during eviction hearings.
A right to counsel is not a Constitutional guarantee in civil cases. While
this initiative may be well-meaning, there is concern it will result in
delayed evictions in Cook County, which is behind compared to other
jurisdictions in the state.
The REALTORS ® contend the city fails to bring equity to housing
providers, which could be done through changes to the Residential
Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO). This matter will be closely monitored
by the Government Affairs team.
80% OF SMALL LANDLORDS HAVE
NEVER HEARD OF JUST HOUSING
AMENDMENT (JHA)
It has been two years since the JHA went into effect. Most landlords
have been able to comply and adjust their tenant screening process.
However, staff is concerned with the lack of outreach to small owners
and operators of rental properties. If landlords are not complying because
they are not aware, that can lead to unnecessary misperceptions or
additional regulations.
In the fall of 2021, we partnered with the Illinois REALTORS ® and the
National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) to survey 457 owners of
rental property in Cook County who are not directly associated with the
REALTOR ® association. Over 75% own fewer than four rental units. Of
the survey respondents, 80% had never heard of the JHA. Similarly, 81%
had never heard of source of income as a protected class, which was
passed in Cook County in 2013.
The Cook County Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing
JHA and source of income. In December 2021, staff shared the small landlord
survey results with the Commission and County Board Commissioners,
who reached out to learn more about how we can work together.
HELP US ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX
PREDICTABILITY
When it comes to property taxes, affordability and predictability are
priorities. While the Cook County property tax system is very complex
and highly contentious, there must be a holistic approach to solving the
property tax crisis. Over the next year, CAR staff will be working on ways to
make property taxes more predictable. The affordability of property taxes
will be the most challenging issue, given our government’s reliance on the
stable income from real estate. County officials are up for re-election this
year and property taxes will surely be a talking point on the campaign trail.
If you have worked with clients who have left or cancelled a deal in Chicago
or Cook County because of property taxes, we want to hear from you:
ENTER PAGE LINK HERE. More information to come!
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE REALTOR ® PARTY MOBILE
ALERTS: TEXT REALTOR TO 30644.
Contact your GADs Kristopher J. Anderson, Director of Government &
External Affairs, kanderson@chicagorealtor.com, and Adriann Murawski,
Director of Government Affairs, amurawski@chicagorealtor.com.
48 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine