Events

Jan
21
Wed
A smart way to meet transit needs: The CTA Gray Line @ Henry George School suite 1207
Jan 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
 metra electric and south shore lines at roosevelt road
CTA Gray Line could fit here. Image credit: Anthony N via flickr(cc)

We sometimes describe Henry George’s fiscal proposal as a “smart tax,” unlike the inefficient anti-prosperity taxes that fund most government programs today.  Similarly, there can be “smart” transit facilities, which are distinguished from dumb ones because they are cost less and provide more service. Perhaps the most prominent recent smart transit proposal is the CTA Gray Line, whose creator, Mike Payne, will be our speaker tonight.

From the CTA Gray Line web page:

Launching the Gray Line would provide a brand new CTA Rapid Transit (‘L’) service (on EXISTING facilities) to Grant Park, the Museum Campus, the newly renovated Soldier Field, and McCormick Place (with a connected station under the McCormick Place South Bldg.)

Also service to Bronzeville, Hyde Park, the Museum of Science & Industry (with an ADA compliant station 1 1/2 blocks away), the University of Chicago, Woodlawn, South Shore, South Chicago, Chatham, Chicago State University, Pullman, Roseland, Blue Island, and Hegewisch; again almost all Gray Line facilities are in place, and operating RIGHT NOW TODAY.

. . .

There is  N O  need for costly and time consuming design and engineering, right-of-way acquistion, condemnation, demolition, clearing, materials acquisition, delivery, and major construction; the CTA Gray Line ‘L’ System could be up and providing CTA ‘L’ service to the Far South Side WITHIN  O N E  YEAR, rather than waiting until 2016 for completion of the Red Line Extension.

Come to this free presentation to meet and question a prominent transit activist, and think about what could be done with all the public money saved by smart projects like the CTA Gray Line.

May
9
Tue
Illinois is not Broke @ Overflow Coffee Bar
May 9 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

Recent books by Scott Baker and Tom Tresser (ed) assert that America is not Broke and Chicago is not Broke. They’re right, of course, and neither is Illinois. Using principles outlined by Henry George, this presentation will show how the community could choose to collect the value it cre­ates, funding its needs without discouraging productive work.

Sep
12
Tue
Illinois is not Broke @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Sep 12 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

Recent books by Scott Baker and Tom Tresser (ed) assert that America is not Broke and Chicago is not Broke. They’re right, of course, and neither is Illinois. Using principles outlined by Henry George, this presentation will show how the community could choose to collect the value it cre­ates, funding its needs without discouraging productive work, and without burdening the earning power of the most needy.

This is an update of material originally presented in May of this year. While subsequent developments have transferred some of the economic distress from governments to citizens, there is no indication that the politicians or other interest groups involved admit any understanding of the fundamental economic principles described here.

 

Nov
12
Sun
Illinois is not Broke @ Sulzer Branch of Chicago Public Library
Nov 12 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Henry George School photo by Chuck Metalitz

Recent books by Scott Baker and Tom Tresser (ed) assert that America is not Broke and Chicago is not Broke. They’re right, of course, and neither is Illinois.  Using principles outlined by Henry George, this presentation will show how the community fails to collect its legitimate earnings, instead placing barriers against productive work and making it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

This is an update of material originally presented in May of this year. While subsequent developments have transferred some of the economic distress from governments to citizens, there is no indication that the politicians or other interest groups involved admit any understanding of the fundamental economic principles described here.  Without this understanding, even honest government couldn’t put Illinois on a path to prosperity and freedom.

This Henry George School presentation is sponsored by the Chicago Ethical Humanist Circle, is free and open to the public. The Library is three blocks from the Western Brown Line CTA station.

 

Mar
3
Sat
Illinois is not Broke @ Signature Office
Mar 3 @ 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Henry George School photo of a gentrifying area by Chuck Metalitz

Cook County isn’t broke either.  Neither is Chicago

In this session you will learn about the legitimate earnings that our communities generate every day, and how collecting these earnings would allow removal of barriers to productive work which make it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

There’s plenty of waste and fraud throughout government, but that’s not the focus here.  Even an honest and efficient government requires revenue, and the source of that revenue determines whether we can have prosperity and freedom, or — something else.

PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY.  This program is free, but due to building policies  you must pre-register by email or by phoning us at 312 450-2906.

Mar
8
Thu
Illinois is not Broke @ Signature Office
Mar 8 @ 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm
Henry George School photo of a gentrifying area by Chuck Metalitz

Cook County isn’t broke either.  Neither is Chicago

In this session you will learn about the legitimate earnings that our communities generate every day, and how collecting these earnings would allow removal of barriers to productive work which make it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

There’s plenty of waste and fraud throughout government, but that’s not the focus here.  Even an honest and efficient government requires revenue, and the source of that revenue determines whether we can have prosperity and freedom, or — something else.

PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY.  This program is free, but due to building policies  you must pre-register by email or by phoning us at 312 450-2906.

Apr
11
Thu
Illinois Pension Solutions @ Signature Office
Apr 11 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm
Illinois Pension Solutions @ Signature Office

Michael Belsky, executive director Center for Municipal Finance at Harris School University of Chicago, will discuss ongoing research into the state and local pension crisis in Illinois.

Registration is required for this free event.