Delinquent properties could be lost in annual tax sale

Chicago – Every year, hundreds of properties in Cook County are lost by homeowners to so-called "tax scavengers," who buy houses at auction when the owner fails to pay property taxes. Oftentimes, homeowners are caught off guard, having missed their property tax bill in the mail or because they failed to keep up with confusing paperwork.

“Property owners can find themselves in crisis situations because they’re unaware their property taxes went unpaid,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Senior citizens are more likely to face this issue because their mortgages are more likely to be paid off, so a bank is no longer ensuring the taxes are being paid through an escrow account."

In Senator Cunningham’s district alone, there are 1,530 property owners who are past due on their property taxes, according to records maintained by the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. Of those, 84 are senior citizens.

“Cook County residents who don’t know their status should check with the Cook County Treasurer’s Office,” said Cunningham. “This is an easy problem to avoid with a quick phone call or by spending some time on the treasurer's website.”

The County Treasurer can be reached at 312-443-5100 or at cookcountytreasurer.com. To check your property's tax payment status enter your Property Index Number (PIN) or property address here here.

Senator Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.

Cunningham passes bill to improve medical response time for overdoses

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham to combat opioid overdoses by improving emergency response time passed the State Senate in a bipartisan vote Wednesday.

“We’re facing a crisis when it comes to overdoses in our state and we need to empower our first responders to act quickly,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “It’s time for lawmakers to get aggressive in the fight against opioid abuse.”

Senate Bill 1258 would require emergency medical technicians in Chicago to report treatment of an individual experiencing a suspected or actual opioid overdose to the city for use in the Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP), developed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

The ODMAP provides real-time overdose data throughout an area to mobilize an immediate response to an overdose spike. Each suspected overdose is plotted to a map that allows local officials to identify trends and develop strategies to more effectively respond to overdoses.

“This program will be an effective tool as we try to prevent overdose deaths,” Cunningham said. “I encourage my colleagues in the House to pass this measure quickly to provide desperately needed help for the people of Chicago.”

Senate Bill 1258 passed 54-0. It will now go before the House of Representatives.

Cunningham introduces bill to prohibit excessive idling

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Bill Cunningham has introduced a bill this legislative session that would seek to solve residential noise and air quality issues by prohibiting diesel trucks from idling excessively in residential areas.

Senate Bill 1256 would prevent diesel trucks from idling for more than a total of ten minutes in an hour if the vehicle is within 200 feet of a residential area.

Cunningham credited Cook County residents living near a trucking yard in Merrionette Park for bringing the issue to his attention. The residents identified persistent noise and air quality issues with the trucking yard that needed to be addressed.

“Illinois residents should not have to deal with excessive noise and poor air quality at their own homes,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “This bill is intended to finally bring some peace and quiet to families that live near these commercial trucking yards.”

Senate Bill 1256 is currently in the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee.

Breakfast with Legislators 3/9/19