(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Leaders of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus say Chicago sports teams have a tough sell if they seek public money for building new stadiums, given the needs within minority communities.
State Rep. Carol Ammons, an Urbana Democrat who chairs the Black Caucus, was asked about taxpayer assistance for stadiums the Chicago Bears and White Sox are seeking to build.
During a budget symposium sponsored by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, Ammons said no one's come to her to make a pitch. But when they do, she said she’ll point out that schools are struggling to find money to retain good teachers.
Chicago State Rep. Kam Buckner, a former Fighting Illini football player, was no more sympathetic. The Democrat did see one silver lining, though.
“There’s a part of me that’s really ecstatic that these asks have come when they did because we continue to have a conversation about the crumbs that we’ve made minority communities fight over,” Buckner said.
He and Ammons say either cut struggling communities in on the deals -- or forget it.
The state budget and race is the topic of this weekend’s “At Issue,” which airs 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
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