Do you believe Chicago is broke? Me, neither. I set out to prove by assembling a great team of Chicago experts to write short articles on how can can save and generate MAJOR revenues for Chicago. Revenues that are progressive, sustainable and NOT wrung from those who can least afford to pay. Our goal is to influence the discussions around Chicago's budget and her future. All the details are at www.wearenotbroke.org.I published this via the CivicLab (which I co-founded in 2013) in the Summer of 2016. Since then we've been invited to present at 65 public meetings all over the city
"Tom Tresser's latest book is essential reading for all who have an interest and investment in the future of our city, from City Hall to the residents of each of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. This book offers solutions, not only for the city to dig itself out from where it is, but for taxpayers, legislators, and concerned Chicagoans, to learn about the financial state of the city, and provides a progressive and responsible path forward." - Cook County Clerk David Orr
"There are only a few people courageous enough to sift through the lies and tangled webs that proves Chicago isn't broke, but the politics are. Most people won't take the time to do the research, but Tom Tresser and his team have and this book should be on your list." - Karen Lewis, President, Chicago Teachers Union
About the AuthorTresser, Tom: - "Tom Tresser is an educator, organizer, creativity champion, public defender and fighter of privatization. He has been doing civic engagement and grassroots democracy efforts for over 40 years. His first voter registration campaign was in 1972. Tom has acted in some 40 shows and produced over 100 plays, special events, festivals and community programs. He was director of cultural development at Peoples Housing, in north Rogers Park, Chicago, where he created a community arts program that blended the arts, education and micro-enterprise. Tom was elected to the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School's Local School Council and served from 2004 to 2006. In 2008 he was a co-founder of Protect Our Parks, a neighborhood effort to stop the privatization of public space in Chicago. He was a lead organizer for No Games Chicago, (www.nogameschicago.com) an all-volunteer grassroots effort that opposed Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. He has taught workshops on "The Politics of Creativity - A Call To Service"for arts service organizations in six states. He has taught/teaches a number of classes on creativity and civic engagement for Loyola University, School of the Art Institute, the Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, Adler University, and National Louis University. Tom has published a web-based project, "America Needs You!" - about the need for artists to get involved in politics. Tom was the Green Party candidate for the position of President of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County in November 2010 election. With Benjamin Sugar Tom co-founded The CivicLab (http: //www.civiclab.us), a co-working space where activists, educators, coders and designers came to work, collaborate, teach, and build tools for civic engagement. The space was located in Chicago's West Loop and operated for two eventful years closing on June 30, 2015. Its work continues via publishing and training projects. Tom is the lead organizer for the TIF Illumination Project (http: //www.tifreports.com) that is investigating and explaining the impacts of Tax Increment Financing districts on a ward-by-ward basis. Tom and the TIF Illumination Project are profiled in the cover story of the July 22, 2013 issue of The Nation entitled "Chicago Rising!" He has presented on how TIFs impact neighborhoods all over the city. These public meetings are called Illuminations and since February of 2013 we've presented at a staggering 77 public forums in front of over 6,400 people. In October of 2014 Tom was named a Purpose Prize Fellow by the Encore Foundation - which recognizes change agents over the age of 60). He was named a "Best of Chicago 2015" as "Best activist in the interest of the public defense" by NewCity Magazine. In July of 2016 Tom published a book of short articles by local experts on how we can save and generate MAJOR revenues for Chicago. "Chicago Is Not Broke. Funding the City We Deserve" was made possible by a crowdfunding campaign that attracted 203 contributors (http: //www.wearenotbroke.org). To date the book has triggered 65 public meetings around the book attended by over 2,300 people! Bring us to YOUR community! In June of 2017 Tom and Jonathan Peck launched The POWER Institute to offer training and advanced skill building for civic life and community work. Check out www.powerinstitute.us for the latest workshop schedule."
