Fernando Díaz, Author at Chicago ReporterChicago Reporter

Chicago Reporter - Investigating race and poverty since 1972

Support NonProfit News

Chicago Reporter (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/author/simon-davis-cohen/)

Government and Politics

Chicago has been quietly intercepting millions from state tax refunds during the pandemic

By Simon Davis-Cohen | September 15, 2020

The Lightfoot administration intercepted at least $27 million in 2020 from residents’ state tax refunds to collect on debt, disproportionately hitting lower income neighborhoods and communities of color.

Government and Politics

Chicago intercepts tax refunds to collect unpaid debt, hitting poor black areas the hardest

By Simon Davis-Cohen | May 11, 2020

Despite Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s agenda to curb unfair fees and fines, a little known program extracts millions in revenue annually from unpaid tickets, court fees and other debt from thousands of taxpayers without regard for their ability to pay.