Business Owners Condemn Candidate Vickrey’s Lincoln Park Tax

CHICAGO - March 16, 2015 - PRLog -- Contact: Kitty Kurth 312-617-7288

Business Owners Condemn Vickrey’s Lincoln Park Tax

Business owners and residents in the 43rd Ward are questioning the proposal put forth by Aldermanic challenger Caroline Vickery to tax vehicles coming in to Lincoln Park to shop at stores, eat at restaurants or play in the park, at the beach or at the zoo.

Jeff Lawler, the owner of Geja’s Cafe said, “The proposed idea to tax the vehicles bringing people to visit Lincoln Park's lakefront, zoo, restaurants, museums and retail stores is bad for everyone. As a long time business operator and resident in Lincoln Park, I know that our neighborhood is a great place to live, play and discover. This tax proposal would be a determent to our community on many levels. Lincoln Park is a welcoming and inclusive neighborhood and by adding a tax to visitors to our community, we’re essentially saying that we don’t want them here. And that’s just wrong.”

Another business leader, Linda Bacin of Bella Bacino’s said, “Taxing people who visit Lincoln Park will hurt our neighborhood businesses. We are proud to have served Lincoln Park and its visitors for more than 30 years. Our neighborhood is fortunate to be the home to so many of Chicago’s treasures including our Zoo, lakefront and of course many great restaurants. Caroline Vickery’s plan to tax cars bringing people here will only hurt the people and the businesses of Lincoln Park.”

43rd Ward Resident MaryAnne Spinner said, “The proposed tax on vehicles entering Lincoln Park is totally insane!  Not only does it penalize citizens visiting our (thankfully) free zoo and beaches, and our hard-working merchants and restaurants, but it is also totally unfair to those of us who invite guests—friends as well as family-- to our homes.  For example, for the past 18 years my spouse and I have belonged to a group of seven couples who get together once a month for dinner at each other’s houses, on a rotating basis.  We are the only ones who live in the city (the others all live in the suburbs), and always look forward to showing off our beautiful neighborhood to our friends.  It would be outrageous if they had to pay a penalty to visit us!!”

Last week on Fox 32 Sunday with Mike Flannery, 43rd Ward Aldermanic candidate Caroline Vickrey talked about her notion of taxing vehicles that come in and park to use beaches, the zoo, Lincoln Park and area restaurants and businesses.

To view the full television show, click on the links below. The discussion of the taxing issues are in Part 2.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/video?clipId=11208614&autoStart=true

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/clip/11208623/fox-32-sunday-caroline-vickrey-michele-smith-pt-2

Earlier, in a Tribune questionnaire, Ms. Vickrey expressed her dangerous ideas for isolating Lincoln Park. She suggested the city should consider "novel ideas like taxes on vehicles entering Lincoln Park, especially from outside the city. While we love our free zoo and beaches, the congestion caused by these lakefront attractions is not helping.”

http://elections.chicagotribune.com/candidates/caroline-vickrey/