Chicago congressman makes the case for a Bears stadium in Bronzeville

All right, welcome back. It wouldn't be a day if we didn't talk about the Chicago Bears and the stadium push. The Chicago Bears have us all on the edge of our seats as they continue to mull over options for their next stadium site. We've seen proposals for a facility in Hammond, Indiana, Arlington Heights, and more recently, the old U.S. Steelworks Southside. But one lawmaker says the Bears should be thinking about where a new stadium would do the most good. And in his opinion, that is Bronzeville. Joining us now is Congressman Danny Davis. Hey, Davis, Congressman, how are you? Wonderful. The sun is shining brightly, and I'm in Washington, D.C., with all of the excitement that is here, so I'm great. Well, you tell us why you think this is the most convincing idea for the Bears. The Bears are a great part of Chicago. They are a great part of the Chicago history and development. They are a great... economic part of our community and I want to keep it that way and I want to see them in Chicago. Forever, and ever, and ever, because they are so much a part of our great city. I must be honest, Congressman, the Bronzeville Bears does kind of have a ring to it. But let's talk about some of the issues here. The Bears obviously rejected this site, they said, over space limitations, nearby railroad tracks, and logistical concerns. I want to ask you, in terms of this Michael Reese site, has anything changed with the Bears? Have you heard from them? On if they would actually consider this site again, sometimes you look at the perfect and you look at a way to make the imperfect more perfect. And I think with what architects and planners and people who put all of these things together can make that site as desirable as it can be. I know that there has been some concerns in terms of Paying for a site, public investment, all of those are great issues. But if you have a revenue generator like the Bears, and how much it would mean to the citizens of Chicago, opportunities for jobs, opportunity for work, continuous community engagement and involvement, continuous excitement, I think that whatever it is that we need to do to enhance that site and make it the perfect site for the bears are as close to perfection as we can make it. Let's do it. In the long run, short run, immediate run, it's what would be good for Chicago. Congressman, what grade would you give the Johnson administration on their effort to keep the bears in Chicago? You know, I think the Johnson administration, I think the governor, I agree especially with what the governor has been doing in terms of saying, yeah, we got to have some public investment, but we got to be sure that it's in the best interest of the voters and the taxpayers. I think that all of these units working together. Together. Become what is needed for the city of Chicago, state of Illinois, to not only survive, but to thrive and put a facility where it would do the most good for the people of Illinois. And that's in Chicago, and the site can be... Developed in such a way that it meet the needs. Congressman, we talk about taxes, I'll tell you what, I get a little infuriated. And the reason being is because I've done my fair share of reporting on people who are literally I literally have someone right now who is forced. Out of their home in foreclosure because of taxes. When you talk about taxpayer money and you talk about the stadium project, there may be significant public dollars that have to be put into this. How much taxpayer money would you support putting toward this project? And where should that money actually come from? Things that people think and feel about taxes, but one of the things that I have learned is that taxation. It is the price that you pay for a civilized society. Another thing I've learned about taxation is that the world in which we live, you may not get everything that you pay for, but you will pay for everything that you get. And you will pay one way or you will pay the other way. I see this as public investment. I see it as investment. No investment, no return, good investment, solid return that will keep coming and coming and coming. And so I always want to protect taxpayer interest and taxpayer money. But I also know that you will pay for everything that you get. Congressman, I respect your opinion completely, and I've always respected you as a lifelong Chicagoan here, born and raised in the city of Chicago. But when you talk about taxes and you talk about neighboring Indiana, you said that you get, essentially, you get what you pay for. But Indiana, they're not paying the kind of taxes that we're already paying here in the state of Illinois. How do you justify that in an economy like this, where it is so volatile for people? People can't afford to go to the grocery store. People can't afford to fill up their gas tanks. People can't afford them. The basic necessities of life. How can you say that you support extra taxes for a stadium? If you don't make money, you don't get money. If you don't have money, you can't just produce money out of the sky. Will you be concerned, Congressman, that people are already leaving the state of Illinois? We're not going to have any Bears fans left if we tack on additional taxes. Let me tell you, people have been leaving and moving ever since I've been alive, from every place that I've ever been. And yes, Chicago has been a haven. For individuals who wanted to come to this city to enjoy the quality of life that it produces as a planner and one who has been planning for many years, you always give something for every decision that you make. People who live in rural America, they give something in order to have the fresh air that they get. People who live in urban America, with all of the excitement and movement, they give up some of the freedom that they would have in a rural area. And so there's always give and take, but jobs are needed. Understood. Opportunities are needed. And the Bears will provide that for individuals who live in Chicago. I don't want to see the work opportunities taken out of Chicago. And then we talk about. Unemployment and how many people can't get a job. Listen, I agree with that 100%. But when you talk about property taxes, you look at an area like Bronzeville, for example, a historically black community, right? Gentrification has already reared its head in that community where, you know, in some cases people can't afford to even buy a home there anymore, right? Like if you have your home now, the property taxes are now raised because the community, right? We've seen it. We've seen it go up in terms of properties being reassessed. So I hear you on taxes, but. But I don't know if everyone would agree on that. Congressman Danny Davis, it has been a pleasure. If we had more time, we'd extend it to you right here on Good Day Chicago. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. Everyone will never agree on anything. Well, we can agree that Illinois doesn't need to be taxed anymore. But thank you so much, sir. Enjoy your retirement.