Oppose public funds for the Bears

I am writing as your constituent in Highland Park to urge you to continue opposing any commitment of public funds toward a new stadium for the Chicago Bears. I understand the relocation threat is real, and I know the pressure to respond is intense. But the economics have not changed because Hammond made an offer. Decades of independent research are consistent on this point: publicly financed stadiums do not deliver the jobs, tax revenue, or growth their backers promise. Most fan spending simply shifts from other local businesses, the jobs created are largely seasonal, and the public debt routinely outlasts any benefit. The teams and their owners capture the gains; taxpayers absorb the cost. At a time when Illinois residents are struggling with affordability, asking them to subsidize a privately owned franchise worth billions is the wrong priority. The same dollars do far more for our communities in transit, schools, and infrastructure. A profitable private business should finance its own facilities. If the Bears choose to leave rather than pay their own way, that is a business decision—not a reason to hand over public money. Please continue to stand with taxpayers. Thank you for your service and for your consideration.