Chicago Public Schools

The Community Development Commission advanced a Tax Increment Financing district for the Washington Park community with no discussion or opposition on Tuesday despite objections from several outspoken neighborhood residents.

If approved by the City Council, a portion of property taxes collected in the district would be reserved for city-picked economic development projects within its borders. The proposed 988-acre TIF area spans all of Washington Park itself and also includes 631 acres of land just south and west of the park.

In the wake of Chicago Public Schools’ recent struggles balancing its 2015 budget, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday announced major donations from Google and Staples, Inc. to provide teachers with school supplies for the upcoming school year.

“There is no greater investment we can make in the future of the city of Chicago than by investing in our children,” the mayor said. “Through [teachers’] ongoing dedication and the resources provided by Google and Staples, our students will have increased access to the tools necessary to go to college and to build a successful career.”