"Judge Invalidates 'Bring Chicago Home' Referendum on Primary Ballot"

A judge invalidated the "Bring Chicago Home" referendum, which aimed to address homelessness through a tax hike on higher-priced property sales, siding with business and real estate interests who oppose the measure. The ruling places the future of the referendum in doubt, and any votes made through mail-in or early voting won’t be counted for the time being. The lawsuit, filed by real estate interests and corporate leaders, argued that the referendum lacked clarity on how the estimated $100 million in annual revenues would be spent and would harm the city’s business and real estate industry. The mayor's office expressed disappointment and plans to explore legal options, while supporters of the referendum vow to continue their campaign and encourage Chicagoans to vote "yes."