Pritzker Tax Protest: Activists Target Chicago's Richest Family's Property Tax Bill

The Huffington Post reports:

A group of Chicago homeowners, hospitality workers and community leaders is calling on Chicago's wealthiest family to pay their fair share of property taxes.

Unite Here, a hospitality union representing over 15,000 hotel and food service workers in Chicago, released a report Thursday titled "Tax Relief for Billionaires" that accuses members of the Pritzker family of routinely soliciting and obtaining local property tax reductions on their multi-million dollar Chicago homes.

"When billionaires pay less taxes, we all pay the price," said Linda O'Neal, a server at the W Chicago Lakeshore and homeowner with three children enrolled in Chicago Public Schools, according to a press release from Unite Here. "I don't make the kind of money the Pritzkers make, but I pay my fair share of taxes. It's time for Chicago's wealthiest family to stand up and stop hurting our communities."

Citing documents from the Cook County assessor's office, the coalition's report states that Penny Pritzker, the daughter of Sue and Donald Pritzker and Chairperson of Classic Residence by Hyatt, has appealed the tax bill on her Lincoln Park mansion 10 times since 2006, and has been successful twice, saving close to $200,000, with two more appeals pending.

For a historic look at how the Pritzer family associated with the Chicago Mob click on this.