Good Morning.
My name is Bob Fioretti. I’m a proud native of Cook County, born and raised on the far South Side of Chicago where my Polish-American mother and Italian immigrant father met and raised their family.
It is a place I had my first job bussing tables in Roseland, a place where I attended Mendel High School and through hard work earned a scholarship to the University of Illinois.
It is also a place where I choose to stay as an adult and serve my community, a place my wife Nicki and I have dedicated our life to, a place that even at a young age I knew I wanted to make better and equal for all.
Growing up I saw inequality firsthand and learned the hard lesson that not everyone is treated fairly. That is why I became a civil rights attorney, to ensure all have a voice and can enjoy the American dream.
I then went on to serve two terms in the Chicago City Council, representing one of the most diverse wards in the city, under two different mayors. During this time, I rolled up my sleeves, passed positive legislation, closed the food desert, created jobs, all the while working to be an independent voice of reason, representing the citizens who elected me, while looking out for the interests of ALL.
It has always been an easy choice for me to dedicate my life to Cook County, to making it a place that works for everyone, not just the chosen few. Current leadership does not have the same belief.
Eight years ago, voters in Cook County, including me, voted for one thing. We got another. Sadly, we learned that in Cook County, a penny earned is not a penny saved. It is a penny taxed.
Instead of a government that lives within its means, we got another sales tax, a new soda tax, rising property taxes, and more taxes on everything from hotels to parking to even a game of pool. It seems there is nothing Cook County won’t tax these days.As a result, Cook County residents are fleeing for other states in record numbers.
Today, we battle through some of the roughest days in our county. We have a struggling healthcare system, out-of-control county government spending, and a jail without proper rehabilitation services. Underfunded pensions have left us in a nearly irreversible financial crisis and our county board president believes increasing taxes is the answer to these problems. Meanwhile real people are suffering - from the hard-working homeowner beset by booming property taxes to the single mother who wants to earn a living wage.
We cannot allow this to continue. That’s why I am running to be your next Cook County Board President.
I understand what it takes to be an independent voice and catalyst for change.I understand what it means to truly represent all people and to really listen to those you serve.
We are here today at Lansing Municipal Airport because the County’s unwise and unjust tax system destroys local businesses and actually drives down revenue to county and local governments. So instead of the win-win of prosperous, successful businesses funneling part of their profits to local governments, in Cook County we have the lose-lose of disastrous policies causing the downward spiral of crippled local businesses and less tax revenue.
Cook County is the only county in Illinois that assesses “leasehold” taxes (the equivalent of property taxes) on private businesses that are located on public property. Illinois neighboring states also don’t allow it. According to the BGA, instead of being an economic engine, this airport actually lost nearly a million dollars over a five year period, beginning in 2010. The uncompetitive leasehold taxes are one primary reason for that.
In the real world, common sense dictates that you don’t create unnecessary obstacles for local businesses to succeed. But in Cook County, it is standard operating procedure. When Cook County is the only county to impose tax after tax, whether it is an extra sales tax, a soda tax, or special leasehold taxes, the disastrous results are predictable.
The County’s approach is always to tax more, more, more when the correct approach to creating more economic development, and thus more tax revenue, is to adopt policies that allow our businesses to fairly compete and thrive.
Our most valuable asset is our people and we must join together to make a change. Instead of taxing people out of our county, we must invite people in. We need to eliminate the senseless taxes that are forcing residents out. Whether it’s the south suburban residents who are searching for homes in Indiana or the west suburban families that are flocking to DuPage County to live or shop, IT'S GOT TOSTOP.
Our current leadership has failed us. Instead of looking out for all, we have been let down. Today that changes. Today we will fight this together and do away with the unfair treatment that has plagued our system for way too long. We need to be true to the mission of what Cook County should be –providing excellent healthcare and safe communities to all our residents.
It’s time to rise up and take back the Cook County government from the political insiders who have been running and ruining it.Democratic voters in our county feel lied to, and betrayed. It is time to vote without regret for a Cook County Board President.
Today, I announce my candidacy so that tomorrow is a better day... finally, an honest day, for all residents of Cook County.