George Cárdenas

“Expand as-of-right housing near CTA/Metra, bus corridors, and commercial districts”

— Cardenas for Chicago, 2026-06-16

“By adopting a more transparent and inclusive form of governing as it relates to zoning, and land use, we can determine the appropriate development of affordable housing across our city. I believe that any proposed affordable housing project should receive a City Council committee hearing. It is time to end the practices that continue to segregate our city.”

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2019-01-27 (Aldermanic power section)

““The asphalt plant is there. It’s built,” he said. “How do you tell them, ‘Hello, can you please go away?’””

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2020-08-28

“as-of-right housing growth near transit and commercial corridors”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“Prioritize deeply affordable housing pipeline delivery”

— Cardenas for Chicago, 2026-06-16

“TIF dollars were authorized to aid “blighted” areas, not projects located in the city’s wealthiest communities like we are seeing far too often. Pensions and our public schools remain underfunded, and too many of our neighborhoods continue to struggle. TIFs are continuously generating so much revenue that the city is declaring hundreds of millions of dollars of surplus, it’s well past time to cut back on the program. All new TIFs in Chicago show require proof that tax-increment financing is truly needed to spur development. Also all proposed porting should require approval by at least two-thirds of aldermen. And all ll expenditures and receipt of TIF revenue must be transparent, available on the web and subject to oversight.”

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2019-01-27 (TIFs section)

“Ald. George Cardenas, who championed MAT Asphalt’s opening in McKinley Park and supports the apartment project, said he hopes to help find city dollars for the housing elsewhere, possibly from tax increment financing.”

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2020-08-28

““Not to approve this would be a slap in the face to many of the families that are looking to stay here,””

— Block Club Chicago, 2021-05-21

“To vote against it would negate affordable housing and all different types of housing development for McKinley Park.”

— Block Club Chicago, 2021-05-26

“redirecting one of developer’s favorite tools: tax increment financing resources.”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“stronger production targets for deeply affordable units”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“I would not revive the transfer tax proposal in the form Chicago voters rejected.”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“Our strategy treats homelessness, affordability, preservation, and ownership as one integrated civic system — not separate silos.”

— Cardenas for Chicago, 2026-06-16

“Expand anti-displacement support: legal aid, rental help, and preservation funds”

— Cardenas for Chicago, 2026-06-16

“as-of-right housing growth near transit and commercial corridors, with antidisplacement safeguards”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“Accelerate permitting with accountable timelines”

— Cardenas for Chicago, 2026-06-16

“faster permit timelines and objective standards to reduce delay-driven cost inflation”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“That means streamlining permitting. Eliminating redundancies.”

— Crain's Chicago Business, 2025-07-29

“Implementing property tax circuit breakers is a practical and effective solution to protect families from financial hardship and promote housing stability.”

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2024-08-06

“I support a transparent, evidence-driven assessment framework with stronger public disclosure of assumptions, comparable-data logic and faster correction pathways when valuations are clearly out of step with market reality.”

— The Real Deal, 2026-08-31

“Therefore, extending circuit breaker benefits to renters as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin do (or focusing benefits on them as Oregon does) is crucial, especially for people of color who are more likely to rent due to historical and ongoing discrimination.”

— Chicago Sun-Times, 2024-08-06

“There must be equity, and that means moving toward income-based relief mechanisms like the circuit breaker.”

— Crain's Chicago Business, 2025-07-29

““The system is stacked against the homeowner,” Cardenas said. “Circuit breakers are a solution.””

— WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times, 2025-05-05

““It isn’t the Board of Review, it’s the system,” Cardenas said Saturday. “It’s the perfect storm. ... People should be appealing more.””

— WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times, 2025-05-05