The Illinois Coin Laundry Association (ILCLA) is strongly opposed to Mayor Emanuel’s plan to tax residents’ water, including those who use Laundromats, at a rate of 29.5 percent. The association believes that the plan is immoral because of its highly regressive nature means that low-income residents will be disparately affected. Washing clothes is not a luxury, but rather a necessary need that all residents need. A large number of lower income Chicagoans do not have access to quality laundry facilities where they live and rely on local Laundromats to get this chore done. Over the last several years the City has doubled the cost of water and most owners have tried to absorb the increase without raising prices, but can no longer afford to do so and stay in business. This tax increase will have to be passed down to Laundromat users. Additionally, since most facilities are operated by quarters, there is no way to increase prices at exactly what the tax will cost. Rather they will have to increase by 25 cent increments, thereby charging more than the tax actually costs. The ILCLA believes that the City’s financial situation should not be solved on the backs of those who can least afford it.