Why This Matters

Renters deserve a real voice in this renter-majority district. They shouldn’t be priced out of our district and homeownership shouldn’t be a distant dream, especially for young people who want to grow their roots and raise families here. It is also unfair if our seniors find it difficult to remain in their homes and communities that they cared for all their lives and are forced to move for affordable care. We also deserve a modern, efficient, and well-connected public transit system that befits a major global city.

My Commitment

To lower housing costs, I will push for tax incentives, interest rate subsidies, and effective policy interventions to ease the cost burden for renters, help first-time homeowners, as well as support construction of lower cost, high-density apartment buildings and condominiums.

To reduce transportation costs, I will actively support measures to expand and modernize public transit as well as redesign and widening of streets to make them safer for bikers and pedestrians.

Policy Actions I Will Support

Affordable Home Ownership and Rents

• To make homeownership a reality, state income tax incentives for first time homeowners who desire to grow roots in our district and state

• Expand down payment and closing cost assistance for first time homeowners

• State income tax rebates to offset high rentals - to bring down housing costs below 30% of income for most and below 25% of income for lower income residents

• To pay for these incentives to the deserving, I will actively support a progressive income tax structure for the state with high income earners contributing a larger share than currently. I will also push for speedy implementation of an additional tax levy on very high-income earners, which received more than 60% support in a 2024 state-wide referendum

Increase Multi-Family Housing Supply

• Reevaluate current rules and regulations to facilitate construction of new multi-family units, especially smaller units for young adults, in less dense neighborhoods

• Easier conversion of underutilized commercial buildings to multi-family units

• Investments in parks, play areas and other shared community spaces

Efficient and Accessible Public Transit

• Improve public transport access to reduce cost and stress of daily work commutes

• Strengthen our public transit networks by making them more cost-efficient and financially sustainable

• Ensure accountability by linking additional funding to well-defined targets for efficiency and timeliness of service

• Use effective technology tools to make accessing public transport easier

• Expand bike lanes to more streets to reduce congestion

• ·Additional tax incentives for renters and homeowners who are willing to forego private vehicle ownership and use public transport    

Protect and Improve Access to Healthcare

• Actively support the healthcare institutions and resources in the district and facilitate their expansion, where desirable

• Defend and expand state budget support to make healthcare more affordable to senior citizens

  The Results We Seek

  A 12th District Where:

• Homeownership is not a distant dream for the majority

• Low-cost housing is plenty and rents are affordable

• Public transit is modern, well-connected and efficient

  Let’s Make Illinois Affordable for All

  Litcy Kurisinkal

Democrat for State Representative – 12th District