By: Ashmar Mandou

Pilsen residents gathered outside of St. Paul Catholic Church Saturday morning to condemn the City of Chicago’s continued property tax hikes, forcing families to relocate and businesses to shut down, according to protestors. With signs that read, “Cook County you are killing us with unfair property taxes,” and “Crook County Re-ass-ess yourself stop tax hikes,” Pilsen residents, alongside elected officials, claimed there is an intentional target in predominately Latino neighborhoods with property tax increases averaging 46 percent, according to the Social Justice Committee.

“These increases are main drivers of gentrification created by political structures – city, county, and state – not by residents! We oppose gentrification because it does not include us! Some homeowners are being forced to sell their homes because they cannot pay the taxes, and others are being forced to raise rents on tenants. This increase will eliminate thousands of affordable housing units in our neighborhoods,” stated a member of the Social Justice Committee.

Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th Ward, chimed in on the struggle that many families are experiencing stating, “At least six of our communities have seen drastic increases that are putting our community as risk for foreclosure.” That protest comes as Latino communities have seen massive property tax increases, sometimes more than three times that of the previous year. The second installments on property taxes were due by midnight last Friday. A caravan of nearly 20 vehicles started in Pilsen, then headed to the Loop, honking their horns and circling the building for nearly half an hour as speakers addressed a crowd.

The Social Justice Committee stated, “Our communities are filled with working class people who have maintained and improved their homes and have also fought to improve schools, create recreational opportunities for children, increase the number of social service agencies, such as Alivio Medical Center and El Valor, and opened and sustained small businesses. These efforts, instead of creating stability and improving the lives of residents are now reasons why property values are being increased. And these tax increases are driving out long term residents including many seniors.”

According to the Cook County Assessor’s Office, reductions are currently being determined by the Board of Review for changes to 2022 property taxes in an effort to alleviate the burden for residential and non-residential properties.