Mayor Richard M. Daley held another press conference today to tout his administration’s use of tax increment financing money and commitment to economic development, but he bristled at questions about whether a recent series of such events means he’s running for re-election in February.
“Where are you going on the Fourth of July?” Daley said when asked when he’ll talk about his plans for re-election. “The election is in February. Why does this have to be political? You make it political. Everything is not political in Chicago.”
Daley was speaking at 600 W. Chicago Ave., the former Montgomery Ward warehouse building that’s home to a number of innovative, high-tech companies such as Groupon, the rapidly growing firm that uses social networking to link customers to business deals. Seven years ago the city provided $28 million in TIF funds to help building owners fix up the property.
“Our investment has created a home for thousands of new jobs and has helped shine a national spotlight on Chicago as a technology leader,” Daley said while surrounded by executives from Groupon, Google’s Chicago office, and other tech companies. He added that the city had provided $13.4 million in TIF funds to help the Illinois Institute of Technology create a high-tech research park on the South Side.
The TIF program has come under intense scrutiny in recent months because it absorbs about $500 million a year in local property tax money. The funds are tightly controlled by the mayor and otherwise would have gone to the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, city, county, and other local taxing bodies. Earlier this month state Rep. John Fritchey, who says he’s considering his own mayoral bid, proposed reforms to the TIF program that include redirecting some of the money to the schools, parks, and other taxing bodies.
Daley also announced that he was forming the Mayor’s Committee on Technology Infrastructure, a group of local business executives that he said will help the city ensure it’s meeting the physical needs of high-tech firms. Daley said he’ll soon travel to China and Korea to promote international business ties, all part of his administration’s efforts to “create new jobs and build a modern new economy.”
“This century is all about change,” he said.
But the mayor declined to talk about the possibility of change in the leadership of the city. Instead, he accused the press of inserting politics into an economic development event because it makes for better headlines.
“You make it [political] for, you know, your gig,” he said.
Daley said he backed police Superintendent Jody Weis despite criticism that the city’s top cop should not have met recently with reputed gang leaders.
“If you can save one life, if I can save your son’s life, you want me to sit down with them. But it’s not your son, it’s not your daughter—remember that—in the media,” Daley said.
A reporter noted that Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward) had said he was so outraged by the Weis meeting that it had him thinking anew about challenging Daley for mayor. The room went quiet for a moment before Daley spoke. “I have no answer,” he said.
And everything is not religious at the Vatican. Right.
Good to see ya back in the saddle again Mick. I hope you are at home here.