Governor candidate's hypocrisy showing

J.B. Pritzker's recent advertisement claims he wants to "think big," but it looks like he is just another Chicago "insider" thinking of himself. One need only look to a recent newspaper article to see how insiders like Pritzker game the system by claiming their multimillion dollar mansions are "uninhabitable" to slash their property taxes by nearly a quarter of a million dollars. That's right, a quarter of a million dollars - the combined starting salaries of nearly 5 new Chicago teachers.

This is unbelievable. While regular Illinois homeowners pay sky high property taxes, billionaires like Pritzker use their insider status to exploit loopholes to get off easy.

I realize shenanigans like this must happen all the time by the uber- wealthy, but Pritzker's claim that his Gold Coast mansion is "uninhabitable" is especially egregious. Who in their right mind believes this fairy tale?

What's even worse is that Pritzker claims he wants to tax the rich in order to, presumably, help the little guy. However, when it comes to himself, Pritzker cheats and we all pay the price. Anyone like Pritzker who wants to be governor for all Illinoisans, not just himself and his insider pals, should apologize to Illinois taxpayers and pay back the money he owes.

Mark L. Shaw

Waukegan