(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Activists in Pilsen are fighting against record-high property tax hikes.
Activists in Pilsen held a rally outside of the Cook County building downtown, demanding the Assessor's Office take action, after property tax increases continue to displace longtime residents and push out small businesses.
With gentrification on the rise, Pilsen resident Ricky Ochoa says the neighborhood is feeling the stress with property tax hikes of more than 40%.
“A lot of people in my family lived in Pilson for a very, very long time, and it's not acceptable how drastically the taxes are increasing and it's not fair.”
A representative with the activist group El Pueblo Manda said she feels betrayed by the city with the high property taxes.
“With these high property taxes, the government, basically our eviction landlords,” she said.
Activists headed up to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi's Office to file appeals. The office says they are working on a meeting with residents with triennial reassessment of properties now underway.
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