May 19, 2021
BOLSTERING MARTWICK IS TOP PRIORITY IN DEMOCRATS' REMAP

It could very well be called the "Art of the Screw." It's a once-in-decade legislative opportunity by each state's majority party - in this case the Illinois Democrats - to marginalize and make inconsequential the minority party by redrawing congressional and legislative district lines. The technique is called packing, which means stuffing as many Republicans as possible into as few districts as possible. Mike Madigan was a master of this, doing so after the 2000 and 2010 census. He combined line-drawing with fund-raising and built 41-18 Senate, 73-45 House and 13-5 congressional Democratic majorities over the past decade. Full Article...


May 12, 2021
CENSUS TREND PROJECTS MORE WHITE CHICAGO ALDERMEN

It's called non-retrogression, a legal concept embodied in the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) and subsequent case law. Chicago is not only a Sanctuary City but also a non-non-retrogression city. Count on this: There will be more White aldermen and fewer Black aldermen after the 2023 municipal election. What did he say? This is not supposed to happen. Full Article...


May 5, 2021
AREA HOUSING MARKET BOOMING, WITH HOME VALUES UP 10-16%

There is a lot of affordable housing coming on the market on Chicago's Northwest Side and in the suburbs. Only it's not the kind that "woke" liberals clamor for. It's the kind where the buyer/occupant can bear the cost of PITI, an acronym that means principal/interest/property taxes/insurance, without serious inconvenience - and without any government subsidy. What a novel concept. Back in the days of yore it was known as free market capitalism. Now people have a problem when somebody gets denied a home, condo or apartment just because they cannot afford it? It's a sellers' market, and the expectation is that area home values will appreciate by 10 to 16 percent in 2021, and sales prices by a like amount. With the market essentially dormant during the pandemic year of 2020, there is enormous pent-up demand. And with mortgage interest rates at 2.31 percent for a 15-year fixed and 2.91 percent for a 30-year fixed (plus points), buyers can afford the principal and interest even if the taxes and insurance (and water bills) are rising, at least for the near future.If you are going to buy or sell, do it now. First be quick about it. Full Article...


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