He Grew Up in a Parish on Chicago’s South Side. Now He’s the Pope.

Chicagoans quickly tried to figure out where Pope Leo XIV fit into their big, complicated city, which is home to hundreds of thousands of Catholics. Was he a fan of the White Sox or the Cubs? Was he from the city or the suburbs? More crucially, where did he attend church as a boy?

“No one in Chicago could relax until they knew which parish he was from,” said Bridget Gainer, a Cook County commissioner and member of a large South Side Catholic family. “Because then I know 85 percent of what I need to know about him.”

Pope Leo XIV’s family belonged to the now-shuttered St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in the Riverdale neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, then populated by throngs of Catholic families. His father, Louis Prevost, was a school superintendent in Cook County. His mother, Mildred Prevost, was a librarian and deeply involved in parish life, serving as the president of the St. Mary Altar and Rosary Society, according to her death notice in 1990.

Cook County launches $15M homeowner tax relief fund

Cook County launches $15M homeowner tax relief fund

The Cook County Board of Commissioners recently approved a resolution establishing the eligibility criteria for the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, which is a $15 million program to assist homeowners who have experienced a substantial increase on their property tax bills in recent years.

This program will provide immediate relief to residents as Cook County continues to pursue long-term property tax reform efforts at the state and local levels. These broader efforts are being led by the Property Tax Reform Group (PTAX), which includes the separately elected offices that make up the property tax system, as the County works to identify and advance system-wide reforms.

Cook County to offer $1,000 relief to help cover property tax bills for some

Just in time for this summer’s property tax bills, the Cook County Board has finalized plans for a one-time relief program for a small slice of taxpayers.

The program will dole out $13.6 million in unrestricted cash payments to eligible households at or below 100% of the area median income that have seen their property tax bills go up by at least 50% in any year since 2022. The maximum payout would be $1,000.

“This is a short-term solution” to try to address unexpected spikes in tax bills in recent years, Commissioner Bridget Gainer, the lead sponsor of the relief fund, said. “It’s one step in a long road.”


Cook County to give $1,000 to some homeowners struggling with big property tax hikes

With some residents facing record-high increases to their property taxes, Cook County commissioners on Thursday approved giving one-time payments of $1,000 to a limited number of households struggling the most.

Those eligible to apply must have a tax bill that has climbed at least 50% in any year since 2021, and have a household income at or below 100% of the area median income for an applicant’s household size. For example, that would include a family of four making less than $120,000 a year, according to the county.

The county estimates about 112,000 households are eligible. Commissioner Bridget Gainer, a North Side Democrat who led the effort, hopes to open up applications in June and get payments out soon after.

Cook County Board to consider $1,000 payments to help homeowners pay property taxes

Cook County is considering offering one-time payments of $1,000 to residents who have had the biggest hikes in their property tax bills.

The county has budgeted $15 million for the program this year, which would benefit about 13,600 people. The county estimates that about 112,000 households are eligible.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, a North Side Democrat, is leading the effort.

Cook County board considering $15M property tax relief proposal

Political momentum is building for a so-called "circuit breaker" that would reimburse lower-income property owners if they see sharp increases in their bills.

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer introduced a resolution this month, calling on the county to create a $15 million "homeowner relief fund" for taxpayers experiencing sticker shock. The Cook County Board of Review, and Assessor Fritz Kaegi have endorsed the idea, saying he's in touch with state lawmakers about potentially getting something passed next spring. However it is still unclear where the money for the program would come from.

Bridget Gainer: Property tax reform is the long-term goal, but homeowners need some short-term relief now

Residents go to their alderman for street lights, garbage cans or block party permits. County commissioners field calls about the county hospital or the forest preserves, but one of our most important constituent services is helping homeowners figure out property taxes. 

This year, members of my office have seen more than 300 homeowners and sat across from them in an alderman’s office or a school gym. We go through the folders of tax bills, assessments and income tax returns to help them qualify for exemptions or appeals. And there are hundreds more who call the office. 

Cook County property tax late fees could be used for tax relief for low-income homeowners

The lead sponsor, Commissioner Bridget Gainer, said those fees are coming out ahead of budgeted amounts, providing a potential lifeline “to give people relief right now” amid record spikes. Gainer said she’s witnessed a massive increase in taxpayers seeking help at community meetings in her district. “I’m not going to talk to hundreds of people and do nothing about it,” she said.

Gainer sisters honored for achievements

Gainer sisters honored for achievements

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School honored five sisters who took what they learned during their four years at the school and launched successful careers in a variety of fields. During the school’s Celebration Gala on Feb. 1, the Gainer sisters were presented with the Catherine McAuley Leadership Award. Bridget Gainer ’86, Nora Gainer ’88, Maureen Gainer Reilly ’93, Mary Gainer MD ’96 and Sheila Gainer ’99 grew up in Beverly and attended St. Barnabas Elementary School before enrolling at Mother McAuley.

Cook County Board passes paid leave expansion

Cook County Board passes paid leave expansion

Just ahead of a new year’s deadline before a statewide law takes effect, the Cook County Board on Thursday unanimously approved a new paid leave mandate that applies to all suburban municipalities.

The changes replicate and slightly expand on the Jan. 1 state law, which will require most employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid leave per year. Statewide, time off will be accrued one hour at a time for every 40 hours worked, or employers could front-load that time off. Those standards would be enshrined at Cook County businesses starting in 2024 whether or not the County Board took any action.

Too Many Vacant Lots, Not Enough Housing: The U.S. Real-Estate Puzzle

Too Many Vacant Lots, Not Enough Housing: The U.S. Real-Estate Puzzle

“Vacancy becomes a disease, and it’s contagious,” said Bridget Gainer, a Cook County Commissioner and chair of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. The land bank has helped put around 865 vacant lots and more than 1,100 abandoned buildings back on tax rolls since it formed in 2013, a goal pursued by other cities.

Bridget Gainer and Amanda Williams: Red tulips in Washington Park testify to the need to reverse redlining

Bridget Gainer and Amanda Williams: Red tulips in Washington Park testify to the need to reverse redlining

Today, the Cook County Land Bank Authority has generated significant community wealth. And because more than 90% of properties sold by the Land Bank are for homeownership, that money remains in the community. With nearly 1,700 homes redeveloped and twice that number in the pipeline, the impact is real. The Land Bank didn’t make this happen on its own; its mission of reclaiming the land’s potential is shared by residents, community organizations, civic leaders, elected officials, artists, activists and more.

Chicago Sun-Times: Pritzker should sign bill to reform property tax scavenger sales

Chicago Sun-Times: Pritzker should sign bill to reform property tax scavenger sales

An astounding 30,000 Cook County properties await scavenger sale. The Cook County Land Bank has had success in recent years using its government powers to acquire tax-delinquent buildings in depressed areas and linking them up with new owners. But Land Bank Chairperson Bridget Gainer, a Cook County commissioner, said buildings usually sit vacant for seven to 10 years before the agency can acquire control. Gainer said the legislation, if signed by Pritzker, can shorten the time by half.

SCRAM devices come under fire from Cook County board

SCRAM devices come under fire from Cook County board

During the hearing, Gainer noted that the company “returns back to the same court system to then collect money when people can’t pay for SCRAM,” adding that this has turned the publicly funded court system into a tool for private profit. “It’s not right. We have to be mindful that private profit has no place (in the criminal justice system),” she said.

Following the hearing, Gainer introduced a resolution calling for a full audit of CAM Systems’ finances pertaining to its Cook County clients and an independent study of the efficacy of SCRAM. The criminal justice committee and full county board will vote next month on whether to approve the audit.

Bridget Gainer: Ankle monitors for DUI, traffic cases are creating private profit with little transparency

Bridget Gainer: Ankle monitors for DUI, traffic cases are creating private profit with little transparency

We are in a time when employers and government are investing in the financial and workplace resilience of people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that the criminal justice system mandates solutions that keep people safe and address and rehabilitate the root causes of issues such as addiction. However, creating private profit is not the job of the court system.

Black developers to build 3-flats in a single Woodlawn block, replacing 11 vacant lots

Black developers to build 3-flats in a single Woodlawn block, replacing 11 vacant lots

Cook County Board Commissioner Bridget Gainer, Cook County Land Bank Authority Executive Director Eleanor Gorski, Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Housing Marisa Novara and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and West Woodlawn Pointe developers are about to break ground during the launch of the Buy Back the Block initiative at 6314 S. Evans Ave. in the West Woodlawn neighborhood Tuesday morning. Through the Cook County Land Bank Authority, five developers bought 11 vacant lots on the 6300 block of South Evans Avenue to build West Woodlawn Pointe, which will consist of 11 three-flat residential buildings.

Black developers are replacing vacant lots with 22 new homes on the South Side

Black developers are replacing vacant lots with 22 new homes on the South Side

Commissioner Gainer tells us about the work of the Cook County Land Bank Authority, which addresses the large inventory of vacant residential, industrial and commercial property in Cook County. Bridget and David want to raise awareness of the work that the CCLBA does and how people can take advantage of the program to build homes.

Cook County inmates get ID cards for life outside jail

A unique program at the Cook County Correctional Center aims to prepare inmates for life outside the jail. On Monday morning, many women inside the jail were smiling for the camera — and then within minutes they got a CityKey. It is a government issued ID to use in Chicago. Without an ID in this city or this country, you don’t exist. You can’t get an apartment, you can’t go to the food pantry, you can’t get social service help," said Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer. That’s why Commissioner Gainer wanted to bring this municipal ID printing event to Cook County Jail, where a lot of inmates don’t have identification.