A Project of YAOTL

T.I.F (Incremento de Impuestos Financiados) August 20, 2008

Que es un T.I.F?

Tax Increment Financing (Incremento de Impuestos Financiados) T.I.F, es una herramienta que usa la ciudad de Chicago para generar mas impuestos con proyectos económicos en un área especifica. Un T.I.F determina que tipo de desarrollo se puede construir. Por ejemplo, convertir un área industrial ha residencial (condominios). Un T.I.F también le puede dar poderes a la ciudad para adquirir su casa a la fuerza a través de “eminent domain”.

Proceso Para Establecer Un T.I.F

Según la ley del Estado de Illinois, un área tiene que ser considerada marginada y/o para conservación.

1. Un estudio del área que muestra que el área de un T.I.F necesita proyectos económicos.
2. El Concejal y el Departamento de Planificación tienen que tener por lo menos una audiencia publica y presentar el plan de desarrollo.
3. Una Mesa de Reviso estudia el plan. La Mesa de Reviso consiste de representantes de otros cuerpos que cobran impuestos que incluye el Condado de Cook, CPS, y el Distrito de Parques.

4. La propuesta del T.I.F después es Considerada por la Comisión de Desarrollo.

5. Comunitario. Esta comisión puede aprobar o negar la propuesta en una reunión publica.

6. Que después va al Concilio de la Ciudad para un voto final.

T.I.F es “un proceso de financiar el desarrollo de la tierra para generar impuestos y comercio. Es un método de usar dinero publico para desarrollo privado. El T.I.F es un área al igual que un proceso financiero y político.

Parte de La Villita fue nominado elegible para un T.I.F por el departamento de planificación y desarrollo.

Norte: 25th Street
Oeste: Spaulding Ave.
Sur: California por las vías del tren.
Este: Rockwell Ave.

Área del Proyecto: South Lawndale
• 165 acres
• 458 edificios
• 23 cuadras de impuestos parciales o en total
• 658 lotes con impuestos

Criterio para ser designados un T.I.F:
• 93% de los edificios tienen mas de 35 anos de edad (solo se necesitaba 50% para ser elegible.
• Falta de inversiones privadas
• Area de conservación
Metas del T.I.F:
Tienen que ser conseguidas en el departamento de planificación y desarrollo.

Impacto de T.I.F a Impuestos
1. Si un T.I.F pasa el boto en el Concilio de Chicago, los impuestos de propiedad generados después de un T.I.F, se irán a un fondo especial solo para T.I.Fs. Los impuestos generados antes de un T.I.F se usan como una base para determinar nuevos impuestos generados incrementos.
2. La cantidad de impuestos base seguirá yendo a los servicios como educación, transporte, salud, seguridad etc. Pero los impuestos de base de un T.I.F se quedan al mismo nivel por 23 sin ajustamiento por la inflación, costo de vida. La cantidad generada después de la base va un fondo especial que solo el Alcalde decide como usarlos.
3. Los nuevos impuestos generados se usan para desarrollo económico. El dinero de un T.I.F al principio va a susidios directos a Developer privados. Muchas veces puestos por que hay un acuerdo con la ciudad que se les pagara. La Cuidad se endeuda con los Developer.
4. Cuando desarrollo privado empieza, el valor de las propiedades sube y la consecuencia es que los impuestos de propiedad también suben. En ves de que los nuevos dineros generados se dividan entre los cuerpos que cobran impuestos, cualquier dinero generado después de la base antes de los T.I.Fs solo puede ser usado para generar mas impuestos. Los impuestos que salen después que un T.I.F a sido aprobado se le llama Incremento.

Obama Update 2008

Will People Vote For The Better Future Or The Better Color?
As most of us know, one could hardly call Sen. Barack Obama and “former rival” Sen. Hilary Clinton friends. However, after Senator Clinton lost the Democratic ticket she is now endorsing Obama as a man with “grit, determination and grace”. The two also held a joint rally where they were “unified” in the cause of having Sen. Obama elected as our next President.
So what does this mean for the future of the Democratic party? Will Clinton join the Obama ticket? And if so, are people more likely to vote for the Obama-Clinton ticket? It’s difficult to say in either direction. Though the two may be unified, who’s to say they will have a successful future? Especially taking into consideration their difficult past. On the contrary, they have both proven themselves to be worthy and hardworking politicians. Perhaps, their eventual joint nomination will turn out to be one of the best and beneficial presidential terms we’ve yet to see.
However, because it’s not yet guaranteed whether or not Clinton will be running with Obama for the position of Vice president, we can at least see where Obama stands on certain issues.
Obama has proposed a plan called the American Opportunity Tax Credit. If this plan is passed, the first $4,000 will be free and will cover an additional two-thirds of the tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. This would be a HUGE help to our families and ourselves!!
He also plans on investing $150 billion over a 10 year span to develop the newest and advanced technology for bio-fuels and their use in our society. The traditional way of excavating and using coal will be banned and a considerable sum of money will go towards a fund to develop the way we get coal. This will significantly impact the residents living here in Little Village because at least the emissions coming from the coal power plants will be dramatically decreased.
On the topic of immigration, Obama strongly supports the strengthening of our borders, as well as, the addition of personnel and advanced technology at our borders. However, he is a strong advocate of keeping immigrant families together and allowing them to stay in this country, as long as they pay a fine and agree to learn English.
This election is extremely pivotal for the future of our families as well as on a global scale for our Earth and the environment. So exercise our right to vote and make the difference that our society so desperately needs. VOTE!

Every Day Job at LVEJO

Here at LVEJO (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization) all of its youth workers or volunteers are committed to helping out the community no matter how big or how small the task may be. LVEJO’s youth workers/volunteers always show up for meetings so they can find out different ways to help out, and also to spread the word about anything that is happening in the community. In LVEJO they even have their own newsletter, which they personally hand out to people. The purpose of this news letter is to inform the residents of our community about things that are happening in our neighborhoods and around us.
The news letter also has articles that are written by the youth volunteers and the workers. Usually, they (workers/volunteers) will write about something important that affects all of us in the community. They write about their own perspective on things, how they feel about it, and why it should be fixed.
BY:Osvaldo Hernandez

Remembering Rudy Lozano

Summary on the Rudy Lozano event held in Pilsen

An ordinary man took initiative and fought for those who were disadvantaged, that was Rudy Lozano.

On July 20th 2008 he was recognized for all his hard work. The Pilsen community came up with an idea to appreciate and not forget who Rudy Lozano was and what he did. The event attracted many people from many communities. Music was nothing to worry about since Dj’s from all over Chicago came out and played their hearts outs for this one man.
We interviewed some of the people that attended, for example there was a man named Danny Gomez and this is what he had to say, “I think that the event is a good idea because it keeps kids out of the streets for a day and out of trouble.” He mentioned that he lived around the community and that he had heard about the event from his cousin. He also added that that they had not heard much about Rudy but that he knew that he did something for the Latino and African American community.
Other people also had something to say about the event that was being held, for example David Hernandez said that he had heard about the event from a co-worker and the reason that he decided to come out was to support his family and help out with the children.
In conclusion, if we want to remember what our people did we have to keep holding events and reminding ourselves that there are and were people out there that
fought and are fighting for our freedom.
…C-Los…

SkateBoarding

Skating an alternative to gangs?

By:B²
I went on and asked one of my friends some questions.

SKATERS PERSPECTIVE: Slimer
1. When did you start skating and why?
2. How has skating been an alternative to gangs?

“I barely have a year skateboarding. I’ve been skating since last summer,
and well I don’t know I just wanted to try something new.
At first I saw other kids skating and stuff, I thought to myself oh! That looks cool!
I tried it then I started to like it more, so I’ve been skating ever since.
I think skating just keeps you away from gangs and keeps you out of negative stuff. “

In Little Village skating has become an alternative to gangs, which is a good thing. Since skating came along kids have found a hobby, something to do on a daily basis. Now we see kids practicing their skills and getting better. If I my say so myself we have some pretty freaking good skaters. Many kids are loosing their lives by joining gangs, find a positive way to stay away from those circumstances.

LET’S GO BACK IN TIME!
It is said that skateboarding was created around the late 1940’s or 50’s. The reason why it was born was because surfers in California wanted a way to be able to surf, but on a sidewalk than on water. To this day there’s not a specific inventor for the skateboard because it seems that many people had the same idea in those times.

Skateboarding was made as a way to have a good time instead of surfing and was called or referred to as “Sidewalk Surfing”. Today it is not only a sport but rather an alternative to the negative in the Little Village community.

Recently LVEJO had a Skate Jam the outcome of it was good even though the rain started pouring on us. We got through the 13 & under round and we came to the decision of raffling the prizes. The music performances were great and we hope all those who came to support had a good time despite the bad weather. There are many improvements we can make for next years annual skate jam. Would you like to be part of planning for next years skate jam? We are meeting every Tuesday at 5:00 P.m. at LVEJO

For more information:
Phone: (773)762-6991

Campaign Updates

The campaigns throughout the summer have accomplished a lot. The health survey group is focusing on finding out the health results of the people around the celotox area and how it is affecting them. They are trying to link the celotox are with all times of different illnesses. The other campaign is coal power plant.

They are focusing on making a documentary of different life stories of people that live around the coal power plants and how this has affected their lives or health. They are also dedicating a lot of time to outreaching and trying to get together a community meeting.

The third campaign is public transit. They have been outreaching in order to get a 31st bus. They have been meeting with the city and are being supported by them to go along with the idea of having a 31st bus. The main focus of the group is to make visual material to show the businesses in the community and to
have them sign a petition in order to get the bus running by mid year.
The tif campaign has been outreaching and held their first meeting with two different organizations named S.T.O.P. and Stay Fly. The meeting was a success other then trying to keep them on task it went well. The group now is trying to get ready for a community meeting witch is going to be hosted by the youth. The whole meeting is going to be led by the youth and we are the ones that are going to get the place to host it and get the word out and get people to attend the meeting.

Tears and Blood Shed in Little Village

During these past couple of weeks, there has been about ten shootings in Little Village. Tears have been shed from four different families due to these shootings. One of the victims was pregnant and the fetus did not survive. It was not even July yet when we surpassed the total amount of CPS student victims due to gang violence from last year. Governor Blagojevich has already stated that he will send in State Police to communities like Little Village and Englewood because the Chicago Police Dept. cannot handle the violence in these communities. So now that the State Police is coming to Little Village it is going to be more of a strict atmosphere. Prepare yourself to get randomly searched by the officers for “possible mischief.” So leave the guns and knives at home and enjoy the rest of the
summer. …Panda2…