Ald. John Arena (45) and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) were lone “no” votes on two property tax breaks at the Committee on Economic, Technology, and Capital Development yesterday. Arena objected to a valuable 6(b) extension for a tack cloth company in Ald. Ed Burke’s 14th Ward, and Rosa voted down a break for a new data center whose contractors would not be paid a “living wage” of $15 an hour.
Attendance: Chairman Proco Joe Moreno (1), Greg Mitchell (7), Patrick D. Thompson (11), Derrick Curtis (18), Michael Scott Jr. (24), Danny Solis (25), Walter Burnett Jr. (27), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), Emma Mitts (37), Tom Tunney (44), John Arena (45)
Noting that aldermen were about to vote on a major water-sewer tax hike, Ald. Arena wanted justification why Bond Corp., a tack cloth company in Ald. Burke’s ward, would need a 12 year extension on a class 6(b) extension the company had been taking advantage of since 2011. Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11) sponsored the resolution, saying Ald. Burke had a conflict of interest.