Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | View in browser
Dear Community Members,
I am hereby returning Ordinance 39-O-25 to the City Council with my veto.
Evanston has long defined itself as a community rooted in diversity and inclusivity, where people of every background, income level, and origin can put down roots and thrive.
Yet today, families across Evanston face some of the toughest financial pressures in decades. Inflation has driven up the cost of essentials like childcare, health care, housing, utilities, and especially groceries. With food prices already at historic highs, adding an additional tax on groceries would not only deepen the economic pain for local families, it would be fundamentally unfair.
If we are serious about keeping Evanston affordable, we must focus on distributing the tax burden responsibly and equitably. Our broader tax system — at both the state and national level — is already regressive. I understand that the City is facing a tough fiscal situation with only bad choices. But that is no justification for selecting the single most regressive option available to us.
Let’s instead work together to pursue just and equitable solutions so Evanston remains a city where everyone, from every walk of life, can afford to live and call home.
Sincerely,
Daniel Biss
Mayor, City of Evanston
dbiss@cityofevanston.org
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