Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
They’re Speeding Up the Treadmill…And Pushing Evanston Families Off! 🏃♀️ Hamster Wheels. Treadmills. And Evanston Residents Getting Left Behind.
Imagine being on a treadmill, trying to stay in place while certain city officials keep speeding it up.
That’s what it feels like for countless Evanston residents trying to stay in their homes while property taxes skyrocket.
Meanwhile, the City pats itself on the back for adding a handful of new “affordable units” - for new taxpayers.
But what about the taxpayers already here, the ones who’ve been pouring their dollars, loyalty, and history into this community for decades?
Many planned to age in place, but instead, they’re running faster and faster just to keep from falling off the treadmill…while City Hall makes it harder every year.
Last night, while many of you were working hard, caring for your families, and simply trying to keep up with life, a small group of us were in that Finance & Budget Committee meeting fighting for YOU.
Because if we don’t step up now, too many of our neighbors will be one paycheck, one tax bill, or one mortgage payment away from homelessness and devastation.
And yes…it really is that urgent.
This 26-minute video is packed with critical moments you need to see, including public comment and Councilmember Clare Kelly’s powerful words.
Watch it from beginning to end, or save it now to watch later.
Here’s what you’ll see in this video:
• Why the Evanston Circuit Breaker Program is a lifeline - not charity.
• How this program provides relief without burdening other taxpayers.
• Why there’s no third-party organization skimming off funds - just transparency and accountability between the city and residents.
• Cook County’s James Mendez explaining why they support circuit breakers and why we need to launch a local pilot program NOW instead of waiting years for a state version like HB3808.
• How certain committee members pushed back, even against a fully funded, fair solution and how it barely made it through to City Council.
• Clare Kelly’s message: Evanston keeps spending to attract new people… but what about protecting the people who are already here?
We are living in a time of massive national shifts:
With the Trump Administration’s Project 2025 and Mayor Biss’s Project 2045, the stakes for local families couldn’t be higher.
This isn’t a problem we can push off to “someday.”
It’s a problem we must tackle right now, while we still have the power to act.
💥 GAME ON, Evanston.
If you’ve ever complained about property taxes…this is your moment to do something instead of just crying about it later.
Stand with your neighbors. Stand for the seniors, families, and lifelong residents being pushed out.
1. Watch the full video or save it for later.
2. Share this post with your network, tag friends and family.
3. Get ready to show up and speak out at the next meeting.
Thank you to Councilmember Clare Kelly, cosponsor Tom Suffredin, and Cook County for standing with the people in the meeting. 🙏🏾
To every resident who has supported this fight so far…this is for YOU.
📢 Evanston, the people are watching. And the treadmill will only stop speeding up if we fight back together.
🔥 Call to Action:
💾 Save this video now so you don’t lose it.
▶️ Watch from beginning to end - every second matters.
🔗 Share this post so we can get the whole city activated.
#Evanston #EvanstonStrong #EvanstonCommunity #PropertyTaxes #TaxRelief #HousingJustice #CommunityOverPolitics #MeleikaGardner #ClareKelly #IsaiahWhite #JamesMendez #CookCounty #TomSuffredin
They’re Speeding Up the Treadmill…And Pushing Evanston Families Off! 🏃♀️ Hamster Wheels. Treadmills. And Evanston Residents Getting Left Behind.
Imagine being on a treadmill, trying to stay in place while certain city officials keep speeding it up.
That’s what it feels like for countless Evanston residents trying to stay in their homes while property taxes skyrocket.
Meanwhile, the City pats itself on the back for adding a handful of new “affordable units” - for new taxpayers.
But what about the taxpayers already here, the ones who’ve been pouring their dollars, loyalty, and history into this community for decades?
Many planned to age in place, but instead, they’re running faster and faster just to keep from falling off the treadmill…while City Hall makes it harder every year.
Last night, while many of you were working hard, caring for your families, and simply trying to keep up with life, a small group of us were in that Finance & Budget Committee meeting fighting for YOU.
Because if we don’t step up now, too many of our neighbors will be one paycheck, one tax bill, or one mortgage payment away from homelessness and devastation.
And yes…it really is that urgent.
This 26-minute video is packed with critical moments you need to see, including public comment and Councilmember Clare Kelly’s powerful words.
Watch it from beginning to end, or save it now to watch later.
Here’s what you’ll see in this video:
• Why the Evanston Circuit Breaker Program is a lifeline - not charity.
• How this program provides relief without burdening other taxpayers.
• Why there’s no third-party organization skimming off funds - just transparency and accountability between the city and residents.
• Cook County’s James Mendez explaining why they support circuit breakers and why we need to launch a local pilot program NOW instead of waiting years for a state version like HB3808.
• How certain committee members pushed back, even against a fully funded, fair solution and how it barely made it through to City Council.
• Clare Kelly’s message: Evanston keeps spending to attract new people… but what about protecting the people who are already here?
We are living in a time of massive national shifts:
With the Trump Administration’s Project 2025 and Mayor Biss’s Project 2045, the stakes for local families couldn’t be higher.
This isn’t a problem we can push off to “someday.”
It’s a problem we must tackle right now, while we still have the power to act.
💥 GAME ON, Evanston.
If you’ve ever complained about property taxes…this is your moment to do something instead of just crying about it later.
Stand with your neighbors. Stand for the seniors, families, and lifelong residents being pushed out.
1. Watch the full video or save it for later.
2. Share this post with your network, tag friends and family.
3. Get ready to show up and speak out at the next meeting.
Thank you to Councilmember Clare Kelly, cosponsor Tom Suffredin, and Cook County for standing with the people in the meeting. 🙏🏾
To every resident who has supported this fight so far…this is for YOU.
📢 Evanston, the people are watching. And the treadmill will only stop speeding up if we fight back together.
🔥 Call to Action:
💾 Save this video now so you don’t lose it.
▶️ Watch from beginning to end - every second matters.
🔗 Share this post so we can get the whole city activated.
#Evanston #EvanstonStrong #EvanstonCommunity #PropertyTaxes #TaxRelief #HousingJustice #CommunityOverPolitics #MeleikaGardner #ClareKelly #IsaiahWhite #JamesMendez #CookCounty #TomSuffredin
