Tuesday, November 7 - Bring Chicago Home Vote Today / Say NO to the Peoples Gas Rate Hike
Action You Can Take Today
Action 1: Tell your alderperson to support Bring Chicago Home - find their contact info
Action 2: Say NO to the Peoples Gas Rate Hike
Action 1: VOTE TODAY - Bring Chicago Home
For decades, Chicago has ignored the growing homelessness crisis in Chicago. As a result, over 68,000 Chicagoans experience homelessness on the streets, in shelters or living doubled-up, meaning people are couch surfing with family or friends with no place to call home. The Bring Chicago Home campaign launched in the fall of 2018 to create a new revenue stream that would be legally dedicated to providing permanent affordable housing with wraparound supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. To date, the campaign has been endorsed by over 100 community, policy, labor and faith-based organizations.
The coalition aims to restructure the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax on properties when they are sold to create a substantial and legally dedicated revenue stream to provide permanent affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Restructure the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), a one-time tax paid when a property is sold. A property sold for less than $1 million would see a decrease. Properties sold for more the $1 million would see an increase.
Nearly 95% of properties would see a decrease. The increase only applies to about 4.2% of properties sold every year.
The new tax is estimated to generate at least $100 million every single year, and be legally dedicated to programs that alleviate homelessness, including assistance for children, veterans, and those fleeing gender-based violence.
The City Council is voting on putting this measure on the March ballot TODAY! Call on your alderpson to support this! And join a rally in support today.
Action via Bring Chicago Home
Action 2: Say NO to the Peoples Gas Rate Hike
In the next few weeks, Peoples Gas is hoping that the Illinois Commerce Commission will approve the largest gas rate hike in Illinois history. If you live in Chicago or know people who do, you’ve probably heard about how absurd prices already are, with the average customer spending more than $50 every month in fixed charges before they even use any gas.
While fossil fuels are certainly expensive, this isn’t just the cost of doing business. Peoples Gas hasn’t been struggling these last few years; their shareholders have enjoyed record profits for six years in a row.
That’s why earlier this month, Peoples Gas customers and clean energy advocates testified before the Commission to stop the rate hike! Take a moment to watch and share the recap video on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Stopping this rate hike is our first priority since the Commission is expected to vote on it in the next few weeks. That’s why it’s so important that they hear from us. You can sign this petition, then share the video above to help spread the word.
Action via Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition
While some of these Daily Actions come from our own work as Indivisible Chicago Alliance, others are from our many partners working to advance the progressive agenda. We invite you to join us in supporting their work. Postings from partners do not imply Indivisible Chicago Alliance endorsement of specific policies and positions.