Upcoming Events in the 33rd District
My events calendar continues to be updated with additional events. My next event is a Traveling Office Hours event. Please note that I do not typically attend these, but I do stop by if my schedule permits. The purpose of these events is to provide assistance to constituents who are struggling with an issue involving state departments and agencies. To that end, my constituent services staff always attends Traveling Office Hours. Here is a run-down of upcoming events:
- August 6: Traveling Office Hours, Algonquin Public Library, 2600 Harnish Dr, Algonquin, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- August 19: ICASH Unclaimed Property Event, Gail Borden Public Library District (South Elgin Branch), 127 S. McLean Blvd, South Elgin, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- September 4: Senior Fair in Carpentersville, Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 16: Senior Fair in St. Charles, St. Charles Park District Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- October 14: Senior Fair in Crystal Lake, Grand Oaks Recreation Building 1401 IL-176, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
You can remain up to date about upcoming events by visiting the Events page on my website.
Illinois Now Ranks Highest in Nation for Property Taxes
Illinois has taken the top spot on yet another list no state wants to be on. Illinois now ranks #1 for the highest property tax rate in the country.
According to the Tax Foundation, Illinois homeowners paid an average effective property tax rate of 1.83% in 2023. By comparison, residents in neighboring states face significantly lower property tax rates, one of many factors driving people to leave Illinois.
This ranking comes just weeks after Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the largest state budget in Illinois history, which included nearly $1 billion in new tax hikes, fees, and one-time gimmicks.
The Governor’s agenda is crushing working families, piling even more taxes onto Illinoisans. Instead of making life more affordable, Pritzker and his allies are choosing to spend more, tax more, and ignore real reforms that could actually bring relief to homeowners.
Senate Republicans Call Out Pritzker’s Redistricting Record
As Governor JB Pritzker continues to try and raise his profile in states outside of Illinois, his latest comments on redistricting efforts in Texas are drawing sharp criticism back home. Senate Republicans say the governor has no credibility on the issue of fair maps after breaking a major campaign promise and signing the most gerrymandered political maps in the country into law a few years ago (see photo).
On the campaign trail, Pritzker pledged to support independent redistricting and to veto gerrymandered maps, but once in office, he reversed course. In 2021, he signed partisan maps drawn in secret by Democrats. The maps were designed to protect Democratic control, not ensure fair representation.
Pritzker is now faking outrage over fairness while inserting himself into redistricting debates out of state. After setting the standard for partisan map manipulation in Illinois, his calls for fairness are the textbook definition of hypocrisy. His words ring hollow and appear more focused on political advantage than principle.
If the rules only matter when his party benefits, it was never about voters or fairness. Instead of correcting the damage already done, Pritzker appears ready to double down. Illinois families deserve a transparent redistricting process, not more political games from Springfield.