Arlington Heights’ mayor reacted to news Friday the Chicago Bears plan to “advance” their stadium plan in northwest Indiana and not in the northwest Chicago suburb.
“The Village of Arlington Heights understands that the Chicago Bears Football Club announced that they will be focusing their efforts on a stadium development opportunity in Indiana, and we accept that direction,” Mayor Jim Tinaglia said in a statement. “While we are certainly disappointed in this change of direction, I would like to be clear that our Village’s focus will always remain on serving our residents and supporting our local businesses, while positioning Arlington Heights as a premier community. The Arlington Park property is just one element of what makes our Village so special, and we remain focused on the many priorities that contribute to Arlington Heights’ ongoing success.”
The former Arlington racetrack was purchased by the Bears to become the home for their new stadium, but property tax disputes and a failure by Illinois legislators to pass a bill aimed at keeping them in the state created hurdles for that plan.
“Along with our entire Village Board and other local leaders, I strongly believe that the 326-acre Arlington Park property remains a highly viable redevelopment site due to its size, transportation access, and prime location in the Northwest Suburbs. This site remains one of the most unique redevelopment opportunities available anywhere, and our Village remains committed to ensuring the property is developed to its highest and best use,” Tinaglia said.
And while it seems Arlington Heights has accepted the Bears’ move, Illinois lawmakers still believe there’s a way to keep the team.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said despite the team’s latest move, the state “remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois,” but “it will take time to get it right.”
“In April, the House passed an economic development package that was the product of extensive negotiation with the Bears and other stakeholders. That bipartisan legislation reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development and provide property tax relief for working people,” Welch said. “While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills—not taxpayer-funded stadiums. Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois.”
A spokesman for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said the governor “has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
“The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress,” spokesman Matt HIll said in a statement. “Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith. Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon noted the team has repeatedly said Hammond was a main focus, “but that didn’t stop their conversations about a future here in Illinois, and it doesn’t appear that today’s statement will either.”
“We are ready and willing to re-engage with the Chicago Bears when they realize Illinois will always be the best place for them,” Harmon said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said Friday’s announcement is “not surprising.”
“Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today’s announcement is not surprising. It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal,” Johnson said. “Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.”
A special session could still be called Illinois, but it was not immediately clear if or when that could happen.
But the bar for finalizing an agreement for the Bears is now higher.
That’s because after the spring session the threshold for bill passage rises from a simple majority to a three-fifths majority under the Illinois Constitution. That would require 71 votes for a bill to pass in the House and 36 in the Senate.
from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/UMQixpX
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