Ryan Felten

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@CHGO_Bears @ChicagosMayor @kambucknerchi Why not include Arlington Heights mayor Jim Tinaglia? He’s the one who has been working on this first on the village board then as mayor. I know you guys at CHGO are lakefront cheerleaders but be fair

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@chrisplacek @RepMBC The suburbs are a part of that economy. A big part as a matter of fact. The city gets about equal amount of tax revenue it brings into the state, meanwhile the suburbs only receives about .60 cents for every dollar. That’s not how representation works.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@chrisplacek @RepMBC It’s obvious: the Chicago “caucus” has way too much power, and basically decides what does and does not happen - thanks to gerrymandering. Also, I hope @RepMBC, as well as other suburban dems don’t do a thing to help out Chicago. It’s bs they sunk this development in AH

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@Directhim @NateBuiltIt That stadium lakefront presentation was a waste of everyone’s time, and definitely didn’t make Kevin Warren look good

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@Directhim @NateBuiltIt Remember, the Bears were in a dispute with the assessed value of Arlington Park, which meant they would be paying over $10 million in property taxes. They “shifted their focus” to the lakefront to try and get the ball rolling with the local taxing bodies at AP. Leverage.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@SpeakerWelchIL @ElgieSims @RobynGabel @GovPritzker @LtGovStratton @DonHarmonIL @WillGuzzardi @DelgadoRep Freezing the gas tax that YOU increased? “Investing” in education, yet I’m still paying $8,000 in property taxes? To top it off, you’re letting the Bears go to another state, bringing the tax revenue, jobs, and everything else that comes with it?

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@BearE_62 @MaryAnnAhernNBC lol 😆

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@MaryAnnAhernNBC But now they are possibly going to be playing 50 miles in the opposite direction in a different state, yeah, there’s less of connection and meaning to the team… for me. I still love football

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@MaryAnnAhernNBC Good for him. Hope for the best for the Bears, their fans and Hammond. I hope fans enjoy that smell of oil refinery and chemicals there. ✌️

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@bearsfan302 @MaryAnnAhernNBC If you’re questioning my true fandom, I’ve been a fan all 40 years of my life. I’ve traveled as far as Washington to watch them, I have autographs from 4 different Bears HOFers, stuck with them at their worst. My basement is decked out with Bears memorabilia

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@bearsfan302 @MaryAnnAhernNBC To be honest, I would care less. While a majority of the blame regarding the stadium issue is on the Illinois legislature, some falls on the Bears. To give hope to fans then to not do their due diligence which allowed the this to end up where it is, it’s hard to be as passionate

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@bearsfan302 @MaryAnnAhernNBC Been my whole life. I have no desire to go to a Bears game if they choose Indiana.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@dan_bernstein @312SportsChi Chicago would also not be eligible for the Senate proposal because part of it is in DuPage County

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@paschutz We forgive you - it’s been a long past few nights for you. Get some sleep

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

This!

[Collin Corbett @CollinCorbett]

As you know by now, JB Pritzker and Springfield failed yet again to pass a plan that keeps the Bears in Illinois while protecting taxpayers and spurring economic growth.

Our campaign's full statement is below.

****

The failure of Springfield to pass a bill to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois, continuing three years of failure to achieve consensus, highlights the problems with our broken system in Illinois.

The latest proposal, passed by the Senate at 3:30a but ignored by the House when they gaveled out at 4:40a, took a step backward simply to appease Chicago. Instead of balancing property tax certainty for the Bears with additional revenue for local schools, roads, and taxpayers, this Hail Mary proposal could have allowed the Bears to pay zero property taxes on a new stadium.

Governors own, so this failure starts at the top. Governor Pritzker is so focused on his national ambitions that he has abdicated his responsibility to the legislature. Afraid of looking like he's helping billionaire sports owners ahead of a Democratic Presidential Primary, he has failed to provide a vision of economic growth for Illinois.

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and his allies intentionally complicated the legislative process. Despite the Bears repeatedly stating the only two sites under consideration are Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana—a position they reiterated in a statement after session concluded—city leadership continued to push Chicago as an alternative. This lent credence to the belief that Johnson and his allies would rather see the Bears leave for Indiana than do anything to help the suburbs.

In addition to exposing the failures of our broken political system, this situation also highlights our state's economic struggles. Illinois is so hostile to businesses of every size that states with limited appeal, like Indiana, are somehow seen as viable alternatives. Since JB Pritzker took office, Illinois ranks 43rd in GDP growth, 43rd in job growth, and 39th in income growth—all worse than our neighboring states. We can do better. Indiana, of all places, should never even be competitive with Illinois!

Meanwhile, Springfield's lack of transparency, bi-partisanship, and balance keeps our state stuck in the mud. When one chamber isn't talking to the other, one party isn't talking to the other, and decisions are made behind closed doors, it becomes nearly impossible to achieve consensus on big deals like this.

Illinoisans deserve better. There was a chance to pass a common sense bill that would significantly increase the Bears' property tax contribution from $0 to an estimated $14 million, secure the team's future in Illinois, and drive economic development and transit ridership for the entire region. Instead, Springfield politicians fumbled the ball while trying to punt responsibility to local officials in Chicago and Arlington Heights.

If the Bears proved anything last season, it's that bringing in fresh, competent leadership in Coach Ben Johnson directly translates to success on the field. Voting for an Independent leader for Illinois Governor can do the same for our great state.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@paschutz There’s no site in Chicago, there’s not even a plan for a bill to pass

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@BrianCostin You do realize part of Chicago is in DuPage county, right?

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@GovPritzker Sure, think that. Over bloated government, high taxes, shoddy roads, businesses (now the Bears) leaving. Your efforts are falling short as I am having serious conversations about my family moving out of Illinois. $18,000 between state income and property taxes isn’t affordable.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@RobertJSalvador The closer to the Chicago thing is irrelevant. It means nothing. Arlington Heights is better logistically, and overall more attractive. Not to mention the McCaskey/ Halas family has beening eyeing Arlington for 60 years

The reason being is the Bears do not want to be in Hammond.

[Ryan Felten @Ryguy_419]

@RepKamBuckner Then last month when you finally passed a bill, you knew it wasn’t enough to please the Bears, or the Senate. It’s hard not to point the blame.