Johnson Jabs Pritzker’s $4 Billion Wealth as Bears’ $8 Billion Stadium Fight Escalates
Updated
Updated · FOX 32 Chicago · May 19
Johnson Jabs Pritzker’s $4 Billion Wealth as Bears’ $8 Billion Stadium Fight Escalates
5 articles · Updated · FOX 32 Chicago · May 19
Brandon Johnson answered JB Pritzker’s "late to the game" criticism by saying lawmakers backing the Bears’ stadium bill were undermining Chicago and by contrasting his working-class background with the governor’s nearly $4 billion fortune.
The mayor again opposed property-tax relief for the Bears, arguing elected officials should not subsidize an $8 billion private franchise seeking a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
Johnson said his earlier lakefront proposal was the best deal for Chicago, but that plan collapsed after Illinois lawmakers showed little appetite for public funding for the stadium itself.
The clash comes as Springfield weighs a "megaprojects" bill before the May 31 session deadline, with the Bears still choosing between Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana.
With a rent-free stadium on the table in Indiana, what is Illinois's last-ditch play to keep the Bears?
Can a new Bears stadium defy decades of data showing poor economic returns for taxpayers?