Ep. 105 - Bring Chicago Home ft. Dixon Romeo

BrownTown chops it up with Dixon Romeo, Executive Director of
NotMeWe and organizer with the Bring Chicago Home campaign. On
March 19th, 2024, Chicago voters have the opportunity in the
state primary elections to restructure the already existing,
one-time Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) "on properties when they
are sold to create a substantial and legally dedicated revenue
stream to provide permanent affordable housing for people
experiencing homelessness" (BringChicagoHome.org). The gang
breaks down the years of organizing it took to get here and the
ballot measure itself which increases the existing flat tax from
.75% for the total price of all homes to 2% on the home price
over $1 million and 3% for on the home price over $1.5 million,
yet decreases for all homes under $1 million (~93% of new home
buyers). BrownTown and Dixon also push back on real estate
lobby-backed lies and places this moment in broader social and
political context regarding the mere existence of homelessness in
the richest, most powerful country in the world. Get in loser,
we're Bringing Chicago Home! Originally recorded March 1, 2024.


Full Transcriptions here!


 


GUESTS
Dixon Romeo is a lifelong South Shore resident and executive
director of Not Me We, a grassroots community group building
power for poor and working-class folks in the neighborhood. Dixon
is also an organizer with the Obama Community Benefits Agreement
Coalition, which includes organizations across Chicago and
residents at risk of being displaced by the Obama Center and the
University of Chicago. Follow Dixon on Instagram and Twitter; and
NowMeWe on Facebook and Instagram!


Support Bring Chicago Home on their website and follow them on
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Vote now until March 19, 2024.
Watch the SoapBox Micro-doc on Bring Chicago Home!


 


Mentioned in episode and more information:


Lightfoot’s Promises to Use Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds to
Transform Chicago Falling Short (WTTW)

Bring Chicago Home referendum info (WGN, Video)

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

February 23rd lawsuit and March 6th appeal win for BCH



Opinions on this episode only reflect David, Caullen,
and Dixon.


CREDITS: Intro soundbite from ABC Chicago. Outro
music from Journey by Tobe Nwigwe. Episode photo from
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless' website. Audio engineered by
Kiera Battles.


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