All This, and a Tax Hike

Also worked into Rahm's budget proposal, the typical tax hike:

• Mayor Rahm Emanuel will raise taxes on hotel rooms and downtown parking — along with fees on city stickers for SUV’s — to chip away at Chicago’s $635.7 million shortfall, aldermen were told Tuesday.

  Emanuel has promised to erase the deficit without a general tax increase on sales or property or by cutting police officers or using one-time revenues.

  But, he has opened the door to raising a host of more specialized taxes and fees, while turning off the free water spigot for hospitals, universities and other non-profits.

It will be interesting to see the fallout in the tourism sector, especially after the G-8 riots and everyone stops coming to Chicago.