Assessor Joe Berrios has for years punished many homeowners in minority communities by overvaluing their homes, thus requiring them to pay more than their fair share of property taxes. At the same time, he has undervalued the homes of the wealthy. Despite a recent series of stories in the Chicago Tribune that convincingly exposes this reality, he refuses to own up to, or change, his behavior.

Berrios refuses to tell us how his assessment process works, but he accepts millions of dollars in political contributions from property tax attorneys, many of whom are politically connected. Something here smells bad.

This summer, when homeowners receive their tax bills, they should have confidence that responsible elected officials are investigating and correcting this injustice. This is particularly urgent for working families struggling to make ends meet.

That’s why we residents of Cook County are calling on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to immediately begin investigating whether Berrios’ assessment practices violate state or federal laws, including the Civil Rights Act; and on President Toni Preckwinkle and the County Board to step up and put an end to this system that disproportionately burdens working families, especially in minority communities.

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