Collin Corbett: JB Pritzker and Springfield, enough games: Unite behind the Bears moving to Arlington Heights

0:00Call in Corbett, JB Pritzker and Springfield, enough games, unite behind the bears moving to Arlington Heights. Written by Colin Corbett. This article is being read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlet. Games are supposed to be played on the field. But in Illinois, political games have brought the Chicago bears to the brink of leaving the state entirely for Hammond, Indiana. Why are we here? A state legislator who represents Chicago recently said the quiet part out loud, city lawmakers tank the Arlington Park site because they believe Chicago benefits slightly more in the short term if the bears go to Hammond instead of the Northwest suburbs. I am Chicago first. I want the bears at South Works on the South Lake Front. I cannot support an Arlington Heights outcome that offers little meaningful benefit to the people I represent. If the bears choose Hammond, my district would see some spillover because Hammond is close

1:03and connected to the southeast side. State representative Curtis Tarver, 25th, while losing the bears to Indiana would devastate the state's tax base and pride, some state lawmakers are okay with it because they admit their allegiance is to the city of Chicago more than the state of Illinois. I am not anti-Sy-Cago. Despite the opposite, in fact, but state lawmakers should be focused on what's best for Illinoisans. If these lawmakers are more focused on the city, they should run for the Chicago City Council. Meanwhile, the adults in the room, if there are any left, need to resolve this before it's too late. Because the idea that Chicago wins if the bears move to Indiana is extremely short-sighted, Indiana will quickly build up commercial infrastructure around the new stadium in Hammond. They aren't giving this sweetheart deal to the bears just to let Chicago keep the tourism revenue. Once that's done, Chicago will no longer capture the spillover revenue they anticipate.

2:04That's why it's time for Chicago lawmakers to support the suburbs for once. Time and again, the suburbs are asked to sacrifice to support Chicago. We're told the city is the economic engine of Illinois, and it is, so we gladly support our anchor city. But the suburbs have long been the piggy bank for the rest of the state. City after study confirmed that suburban cook and the Collar counties contribute significantly more to the state in taxes. Then, we receive back in spending a reality made worse by the recent increases in our tolls and sales taxes to bail out mass transit. It's not unreasonable for the suburbs to ask Chicago to do something to help us, especially since what we're asking for comes at almost no cost to the city. The bears are leaving Chicago one way or another. But with something as simple as their vote, state lawmakers who represent Chicago can support their suburban counterparts and keep the bears in Illinois. This would drive significant economic growth throughout the northwest suburbs, because

3:04it's about more than just a stadium. The world-class entertainment complex and surrounding development would bring vitality to the entire region, a region that has been ignored for too long. It also would bring significant revenue to local governments, reducing the property tax burden for local homeowners. That site never generated more than $3 million in annual local tax revenue when it was Arlington Park. The bears would pay five times that amount, an estimated $15 million, plus what the surrounding development generates. There is a reason local municipal leaders and school districts have voiced unanimous support for this framework. Arlington Park should not remain an empty lot while Indiana benefits from our political dysfunction. Bringing the bears to Arlington Heights would energize our entire suburban region, not just on game days but all year. It's time for our leaders to step up and make it happen. Colin Corbett is an independent candidate for governor.