Welp.
I have to admit I was today years old when I learned that some people think the president of the United States has something to do with why their property taxes are so damn high.
Progressive schools with socialist teachers unions. Education is the first thing to go.
— tree hugging sister 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) January 6, 2026
So, this is an interesting kind of twist, and, to be fair, the phrasing in that Xweet and the news report it contains is kind of misleading.
Yes, those black clergymen were at Trump Tower in Chicago going on about their neighborhoods' tax increases as of January 1, 2026, some of which were over 100%. I'd be pissed, too.
But they were in front of Trump Tower specifically because that property had gotten a property tax reduction, and were happily implying that Donald Trump, white billionaire, didn't pay his fair share in city taxes, and was getting a break on the back of the poor black neighborhoods.
This is where the gaslighting comes in, and oh, if only people were educated enough in that city not to fall for it. But as much of those enormous property taxes fund that miserable, failing school system, there we go.
In the first place, Cook County and the city of Chicago set property tax rates and appraisals - Donald Trump has nothing to do with anything, as omnipotent as he feels and acts at any given time. It's a simple fact.
As for commercial real estate in general, which is what Trump Tower falls under in the taxing bracket (sorry, Reverends), how's that market in Brandon Johnson's Chicago holding up?
Well, here's a prime example on prime property in a prime location - the former Boeing headquarters in downtown Chicago finally sold.
The phrase is 'firesale,' I believe. And they're damn lucky they got that.
Boeing sells former headquarters office tower at 100 N. Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois at an 87% discount.
— Nightingale Associates (@FCNightingale) December 21, 2025
Sold for $22M. Boeing paid more than $165M for the tower 20 years ago.
The sale was for a leasehold interest in the building, which is separate from Stahl's… pic.twitter.com/0rkpPhQoZn
...The sale was for a leasehold interest in the building, which is separate from Stahl's ownership of the ground on which it sits. 776,000 SF Built 1990
YIKES
They have a serious problem with commercial real estate in the city, as many businesses are either closing, going under, or - surprise! - moving out. This has led to a series of devaluations in property values, which affect all real estate and the tax amounts they pay, especially in the formerly primo downtown locations, including, gosh darn, Trump Tower.
No, Reverends. Much as you might bellyache and gaslight, he isn't special.
A 39% cut for Trump Tower, 33% for The Hilton, 32% for a South Michigan Avenue luxury high-rise and 22% for a data center are examples of big reductions for commercial properties by the Cook County Board of Review.
The city is going to make up that lost revenue somewhere, and, in Chicago, with the vampiric Chicago Teachers' Union (CTU) constantly on a search for new infusions of life-sustaining taxpayer blood, it falls to the working class to fill that void, however humble and straightened their circumstances may be.
Earlier this fall, property tax increase notices started arriving in mailboxes, and Cook County homeowners were choking at the numbers contained in the envelopes. Some of the increases were as high as 133%.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL
Welcome to Democrat-run Chicago—home of triple-digit new property tax hikes.
— Midwest Millennial (@MillennialVerse) November 17, 2025
Cook County homeowners are getting their tax bills in the mail—and they’re seeing a 16% rise in the city alone, while communities like North Lawndale are up 98%, Englewood is up 82%, and West Garfield… pic.twitter.com/nhP2xRQUg7
That was before the Chicago School Board voted right before New Year's on their own little additional property tax levy package for lucky homeowners.
No worries, taxpayers were told, it's gonna be a SMALL one. Just, like, $25M, okay?
Then they voted and?
THE OLD MAGOO
Somehow, that modest $25M morphed into FORTY MILLION...
WE WERE LIED TO. The Chicago Public Schools voted for and passed a $40 million dollar amended property tax levy - not a $25 million dollar one. https://t.co/VIhqBY4UHX pic.twitter.com/CdIqXLqbup
— Reporter William J. Kelly #thatreporter (@Williamjkelly) December 31, 2025
...and done the old Chicago Way - threatening any 'elected' school board member who wanted to warn the public about the vote beforehand.
(This is, no doubt, also Trump's fault.)
These people will vote for Democrats ... then when Democrats ruin their lives, they all blame Trump.
— The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) January 6, 2026
They are literaly doing the meme. pic.twitter.com/iTIp0hURMM
They are literally going to be pulling blood from stones to get it.
What's worse is that they already have plans in the works to tax more - the max allowed every year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHICAGO
Now the Sun Times reports Mayor Jonson controlled school boards latest property tax increase, which they tried to sneak by the public on Friday is $40 million not $25 million as originally reported. This brings the districts total increase this year $272 million.
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) December 31, 2025
Johnson’s… pic.twitter.com/AAsez79oxP
...Johnson’s school board President Sean Harden’s threat to gaslight and illegally dismiss any “elected”school board members for alerting the public about the vote they were about to take was outrageous and disqualifies him for school board leadership.
All told combined property tax increases on Chicago residential property owners will well exceed $500 million this year. Thousands of residential property owners in Black and Latino neighborhoods will see almost a doubling of their taxes. This means rents will rise too.
The property tax increases of course are accompanied by 20 other tax and fee increases the Mayor proposed in his budget, including a now 14% “Cloud Tax” on commuter use and services- NONE of which are tied to income.
Bear in mind that the Mayor controlled school board’s plan is to tax at the maximum levy limit each year which will raise annual property taxes by $1.2 billion through 2030 without City Council approval for a district that has seen record enrollment loses.
Here's some sickening progressive #mathz for you, Reverends: Chicago Public Schools consume over half of every tax dollar collected in the city.
Maybe you'd be better served standing outside the CTU headquarters.
Nah. I know.
Too dangerous.
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