County judge rules Bring Chicago Home referendum is invalid

A man stands with grocery carts full of personal items belonging to him and friends near Clinton and Lake Street in Chicago’s West Loop. The Bring Chicago Home referendum, which would change the city’s real estate transfer tax to address homelessness, was determined to be invalid by a Cook County JudgeKathleen Burke on February 24th, 2024.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

County judge rules Bring Chicago Home referendum is invalid

Voters will still see the initiative on their ballots, but the votes for will not be tallied without an appeal.

A man stands with grocery carts full of personal items belonging to him and friends near Clinton and Lake Street in Chicago’s West Loop. The Bring Chicago Home referendum, which would change the city’s real estate transfer tax to address homelessness, was determined to be invalid by a Cook County JudgeKathleen Burke on February 24th, 2024.

By Brenda Ruiz

Cook County Judge Kathleen Burke gave little explanation for her decision to render the Bring Chicago Home referendum invalid. That initiative would increase taxes for property sales above $1 million and Mayor Johnson’s administration says it would use those funds to combat homelessness in Chicago.

Reset learns more about what this means for voters, and what’s next for the measure.

GUEST: Tessa Weinberg, city government and politics reporter for WBEZ