Dear LSCs and supporters:
On Monday afternoon I spoke with Barbara Byrd-Bennett by phone. We confirmed our next meeting (Thursday, August 22 at 1 p.m.) and we discussed TIF surplus. I was encouraged to hear that she is meeting with the Mayor before August 22 and plans to ask him why he has not declared a surplus. I also asked that she connect the Coalition with the Mayor's office and the City’s budget director, and she agreed to do that. Another CPS official confirmed this week that CPS is talking to the City about TIF surplus -- the real question, though, is how much the Mayor would declare? (More on this later.)
I believe our work is moving the needle. THANK YOU for your hard work. Your phone calls, emails and letters to elected officials are making a difference, and this work wouldn't possible without you, your schools and your communities! I have heard from various sources that CPS is getting calls and lots of questions from both City- and State-level officials. The headlines may not be daily, but the grassroots effort is making an impact.
There's still work to be done. CPS and the City are great at running out the clock. With 12 days left of school, we cannot let that happen.
CALL TO ACTION
Each day for the next 12 days we will be contacting our elected officials to 1) Ask for a $200 million declaration of TIF surplus and 2) Explain why this is needed! At my school, for example, our shortfall resulted in over-the-legal-limit class sizes in several grades. We must share the stories of how these severe budget cuts hurt our students -- Chicago's future generation.
A note about the amount of TIF surplus funds: City Budget Director Alex Holt reported that $200 million in unencumbered TIF funds exist. The Mayor's own Alderman Pawar confirmed this in his last newsletter to constituents. But a CPS official says that the amount may come in lower or that the Mayor may only declare 20 percent of the $200 million. Half of that -- or about $20 million, would be returned to CPS. If he declares the entire $200 million, about $106 million could be returned to CPS. That's a big difference, and one we need to fight for. We must ask the Mayor and our elected officials to declare the FULL $200 million in unencumbered TIF funds.
Here are the activities for this week:
Tomorrow (Thursday): Email Barbara Byrd-Bennett. The message should be sent to her special assistant at[email protected]. Her assistant agreed to forward messages to her. Ask that when CEO Byrd-Bennett meets with Mayor Emanuel she requests the FULL $200 million if TIF surplus funds. A sample letter is below my signature.
Friday: Call the Mayor’s office at 312-744-3300 and say that you'd like to leave a comment about the CPS budget crisis. Provide your name, phone number and school, and please ask the Mayor to release the FULL $200 million in TIF surplus funds to alleviate the budget crisis. A sample letter you can send to your school is below my signature.
Saturday: Talk to your Neighbors Day! With only 12 days left until school opens, many people in the community may not be aware of what is going on with their neighborhood schools. Please talk to at least 10 people who may not be aware of the situation and give them more information on what they can do to help. It is as simple as 1) emailing Barbara Byrd-Bennett, 2) calling the Mayor’s office, and 3) contacting any of their elected officials. Even if your neighbor doesn't have a child in the CPS system, the cuts devastate a major community anchor.
As always, let me know how I can help or answer questions.
Best regards,
Kate Bolduc
Common Sense: Coalition of LSCs for Fair Funding
On the web: http://commonsensecps.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/commonsensecps
Twitter: https://twitter.com/commonsensecps
SAMPLE LETTERS
1. A sample email to Barbara Byrd-Bennett is below. Please ask your schools and community members to send an email to [email protected]. It will be forwarded to Ms. Byrd-Bennett.
Dear CEO Byrd-Bennett,
I am writing to respectfully request that you ask Mayor Emanuel to declare the FULL $200 million in TIF surplus, half of which would be returned to CPS to alleviate the budget crisis. These cuts are devastating to our schools.
{Describe your cuts here.}
As a former principal and teacher, we know you find these cuts unacceptable, too. We believe that the only short-term solution is the declaration of unencumbered TIF funds. Please ask the Mayor and the City to ensure that all public schools are fully funded to ensure that students receive the highest quality education possible.
Sincerely,
XXX
2. Call the Mayor! The following language can be sent to your school:
Dear XXX parents, teachers and community:
The Mayor can help close the CPS budget gap and provide more teachers and resources for our students. But he needs to hear from you! Please call the Mayor's office at 312-744-3300 and say that you'd like to leave a comment about the CPS budget crisis. Provide your name, phone number and school, and please ask the Mayor torelease $200 million in TIF surplus funds to alleviate the budget crisis.
To learn more about how TIF funds work, and how a surplus could help our schools, watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws52ykXb-MM At 3:49 is an explanation of TIF surplus funds.
Sincerely,
XXX LSC
On Monday afternoon I spoke with Barbara Byrd-Bennett by phone. We confirmed our next meeting (Thursday, August 22 at 1 p.m.) and we discussed TIF surplus. I was encouraged to hear that she is meeting with the Mayor before August 22 and plans to ask him why he has not declared a surplus. I also asked that she connect the Coalition with the Mayor's office and the City’s budget director, and she agreed to do that. Another CPS official confirmed this week that CPS is talking to the City about TIF surplus -- the real question, though, is how much the Mayor would declare? (More on this later.)
I believe our work is moving the needle. THANK YOU for your hard work. Your phone calls, emails and letters to elected officials are making a difference, and this work wouldn't possible without you, your schools and your communities! I have heard from various sources that CPS is getting calls and lots of questions from both City- and State-level officials. The headlines may not be daily, but the grassroots effort is making an impact.
There's still work to be done. CPS and the City are great at running out the clock. With 12 days left of school, we cannot let that happen.
CALL TO ACTION
Each day for the next 12 days we will be contacting our elected officials to 1) Ask for a $200 million declaration of TIF surplus and 2) Explain why this is needed! At my school, for example, our shortfall resulted in over-the-legal-limit class sizes in several grades. We must share the stories of how these severe budget cuts hurt our students -- Chicago's future generation.
A note about the amount of TIF surplus funds: City Budget Director Alex Holt reported that $200 million in unencumbered TIF funds exist. The Mayor's own Alderman Pawar confirmed this in his last newsletter to constituents. But a CPS official says that the amount may come in lower or that the Mayor may only declare 20 percent of the $200 million. Half of that -- or about $20 million, would be returned to CPS. If he declares the entire $200 million, about $106 million could be returned to CPS. That's a big difference, and one we need to fight for. We must ask the Mayor and our elected officials to declare the FULL $200 million in unencumbered TIF funds.
Here are the activities for this week:
Tomorrow (Thursday): Email Barbara Byrd-Bennett. The message should be sent to her special assistant at[email protected]. Her assistant agreed to forward messages to her. Ask that when CEO Byrd-Bennett meets with Mayor Emanuel she requests the FULL $200 million if TIF surplus funds. A sample letter is below my signature.
Friday: Call the Mayor’s office at 312-744-3300 and say that you'd like to leave a comment about the CPS budget crisis. Provide your name, phone number and school, and please ask the Mayor to release the FULL $200 million in TIF surplus funds to alleviate the budget crisis. A sample letter you can send to your school is below my signature.
Saturday: Talk to your Neighbors Day! With only 12 days left until school opens, many people in the community may not be aware of what is going on with their neighborhood schools. Please talk to at least 10 people who may not be aware of the situation and give them more information on what they can do to help. It is as simple as 1) emailing Barbara Byrd-Bennett, 2) calling the Mayor’s office, and 3) contacting any of their elected officials. Even if your neighbor doesn't have a child in the CPS system, the cuts devastate a major community anchor.
As always, let me know how I can help or answer questions.
Best regards,
Kate Bolduc
Common Sense: Coalition of LSCs for Fair Funding
On the web: http://commonsensecps.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/commonsensecps
Twitter: https://twitter.com/commonsensecps
SAMPLE LETTERS
1. A sample email to Barbara Byrd-Bennett is below. Please ask your schools and community members to send an email to [email protected]. It will be forwarded to Ms. Byrd-Bennett.
Dear CEO Byrd-Bennett,
I am writing to respectfully request that you ask Mayor Emanuel to declare the FULL $200 million in TIF surplus, half of which would be returned to CPS to alleviate the budget crisis. These cuts are devastating to our schools.
{Describe your cuts here.}
As a former principal and teacher, we know you find these cuts unacceptable, too. We believe that the only short-term solution is the declaration of unencumbered TIF funds. Please ask the Mayor and the City to ensure that all public schools are fully funded to ensure that students receive the highest quality education possible.
Sincerely,
XXX
2. Call the Mayor! The following language can be sent to your school:
Dear XXX parents, teachers and community:
The Mayor can help close the CPS budget gap and provide more teachers and resources for our students. But he needs to hear from you! Please call the Mayor's office at 312-744-3300 and say that you'd like to leave a comment about the CPS budget crisis. Provide your name, phone number and school, and please ask the Mayor torelease $200 million in TIF surplus funds to alleviate the budget crisis.
To learn more about how TIF funds work, and how a surplus could help our schools, watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws52ykXb-MM At 3:49 is an explanation of TIF surplus funds.
Sincerely,
XXX LSC