Voters in various jurisdictions in Illinois will see a variety of ballot questions when they enter the polling booth. We’re not weighing in on all of them but here are five where we have a firm opinion.
Voters in Chicago’s 29th Ward’s 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th precincts will be asked, “Shall the people of Chicago provide any taxpayer subsidy to the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium?”
Vote no. We’re all for some public infrastructure help where it makes sense, but the Bears should be paying for any stadium themselves.
Obviously.
Voters in Glencoe will be asked if their village should gain home-rule status.
Vote yes. Most of the surrounding communities already have that status and wealthy, well-managed Glencoe should be able to make its own decisions on a village sales tax and other matters. What’s good for Winnetka …
Oak Park residents will be asked if they want proportional representation for the election of village trustees.
Vote yes. There is a good argument for allowing so-called ranked choice voting, which allows voters to express second choices and beyond, for these kinds of elections with multiple available spots. Voters get more choices and candidates have to garner a wider base of support. What’s good for Evanston …
Tribune Editorial Board endorsements for the 2024 general election
Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 is asking voters to allow it to issue bonds to finance improvements in school buildings. So is Indian Prairie School District 204, focusing on facility and safety needs.
Vote yes in both cases. Most of the schools in both of these districts are old and improvements clearly are needed.
Skokie voters are being asked if they want term limits for their mayor.
Vote no. If Skokie voters don’t like their mayor, and they’ve had some long-serving folks in that office, they should go ahead and vote that mayor out.
Simple as that.
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