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Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Sugar Grove voters send strong message about listening to constituents
No joke: How many ousted officials does it take before village leaders start listening to their residents? Look no further than Sugar Grove to see that people are fed up with unpopular decisions being jammed down their throats. Since the winter of 2019 the hottest topic in that village has centered on its plans for 760 acres of prime farmland owned by Crown Community Development at the Interstate 88/Route 47 interchange that initially included 4 million square feet of potential warehousing. Residents didn't just react, they revolted, with hundreds of Sugar Grove and Blackberry Township residents packing large convention rooms expressing their concerns at village meetings. The pushback worked. Crown withdrew its plan and in 2021 several elected officials were kicked off the Village Board, including President Sean Michels, who was crushed by Jennifer Konen, a trustee who ran on an anti-warehouse campaign. A few years later Crown was back, this time with a more palatable mixed-use proposal that, in addition to the potential for warehouses, included 'The Grove,' a residential/retail development that featured a 'town center' a good six miles from the heart of the village. Backlash against this 'Crown light' plan was not as monumental but still significant, led mostly by Blackberry Township homeowners who were not only incensed all the industrial development was on their side of the interstate but that, because 98% were Elburn residents, they had no vote in what would forever impact their homes and their futures. Much to their frustration – and outrage – they felt they were once more dealing with Sugar Grove leadership that heavily favored Crown, specifically Konen. And so, the Thoughtful Progress Facebook page that was started in opposition to Crown in 2019 was revived. More recently Neighbors for Sensible Growth was formed and the battle was on again, picking up considerable steam in the village throughout last year, especially as the board voted to approve zoning changes and annexation, then gave Crown financial incentives via a tax increment financing (TIF) district, which in essence declared this fertile farmland blighted. It was a bridge too far for lots of people. And it wasn't long before opponents put together a slate of candidates to run against Konen and for three open trustee seats. The opposition also went a step further, gathering 500 signatures to put an advisory referendum on the ballot asking how voters felt about the Crown development. Once more, they made their displeasure known. Not only did Susan Stillwell soundly defeat Konen for village president (unofficially as of Thursday, 57.71% to 42.29%), all three candidates backed by the anti-Crown movement won seats on the board, which ousted an incumbent trustee who had voted for the development last fall. If that wasn't a strong enough message, the advisory referendum asking for a reversal of the Crown project got (unofficially as of Tuesday) nearly 58% of the votes. 'Time and time again we would hear that it's only Blackberry Township people opposed to the development … that Sugar Grove residents want it,' said Pat Gallagher, who put together the referendum. 'No, they don't … and this election proved that,' Gallagher said. So it seems. The nearly 35% of registered Sugar Grove voters – up from close to 19% in the election four years ago – who cast a ballot in the April 1 election soundly rejected the Crown plan. Imagine how high the numbers would have been with Blackberry votes added. 'This is an incredibly educated force that wants to come to the table and have a voice in how we grow,' said Thoughtful Progress founder Carolyn Anderson. 'We welcome progress but not at the cost of who we are.' As a Blackberry Township resident myself, all of this is positive news. The not-so-great? It's likely too little too late, with the best hope in the hands of Kaneland School District, which is considering legal action against Sugar Grove to challenge the TIF district on the grounds it would limit property tax revenue to the school district. 'It's a litigation nightmare that could have been avoided,' said Gallagher, who drew up the advisory referendum and helped gather the signatures that put it on the ballot. 'Municipalities should not have carte blanche over all the taxing bodies impacted by a TIF. 'There is such a paternalistic attitude that 'we know better than our constituents,'' he added. 'There is too much power in the hands of a few.' And that, he says, all 'goes back to representation.' Jaden Chada, a Blackberry Township resident and 20-year-old nursing student at Aurora University, got involved in this movement after attending a Sugar Grove meeting two years ago discussing the comprehensive land use plan where, 'nearly every person was against it and yet they approved it anyway.' 'That's not right,' he added. Even at his age, Chada realizes that to make a difference it often takes more than showing up and voicing concerns, that there also has to be a plan and those willing to do the hard work to implement it. Chada got so involved that he became the manager of Stillwell's campaign which, he noted, spent only $3,000, a mere fraction of the opponent's, he said. Among his duties: hitting the streets of Sugar Grove day after day, distributing door hangers and flyers to nearly 2,500 of Sugar Grove's 3,000 homes. Thousands more hours went into this effort by a small but determined group that included Anderson, a former insurance specialist and now self-described 'housewife' who estimates she put in 40 to 60 hours a week. 'Our team has spent years researching this development and especially the TIF financing behind it,' she told me. 'The idea that the taxing bodies and public should be forced to bear the financial burden of a project they overwhelmingly opposed is nothing short of immoral.' Sugar Grove is 'uniquely positioned,' she went on, to attract high-caliber development, including health care options. 'With its access to large tracts of land near the tollway, proximity to a strong network of educational institutions and its location within reach of an underserved population, it offers tremendous potential for meaningful investment,' she said. To Gallagher, a software engineer with a master's degree in American legal history, the results on April 1 not only sent a message that local elections are important, but that change is possible. 'It might just be a moral victory at the moment,' he added. 'But we still have a lot of irons in the fire.'
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Barley farmers face economic strain with tariffs as beer consumption hits 40-year low
Barley farmers face economic strain with tariffs as beer consumption hits 40-year low Show Caption Hide Caption Nasdaq to open second headquarters in Texas Exchange operator Nasdaq, long known for its Times Square location, said it would open a regional headquarters in Dallas. It's the latest sign that Texas is fast emerging as a major financial hub, rivaling New York. Overdue loans and mounting interest payments often weigh on Montana barley grower Mitch Konen as he bales hay and loads trailers at his remote farm overlooking the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As spring sunshine warms the fields, Konen, 65, and other barley farmers worry tariffs will take away crucial export markets and increase the cost to grow the grains, even as sinking U.S. beer consumption has slashed demand for barley. "Down here on the farm we're already stretched pretty thin financially," said Konen, who is also vice president of the National Barley Growers Association. "It makes us wonder whether or not we can even stay in business." Roughly half of Konen's barley is destined for Mexico, where it will be turned into beer. Some will be shipped back to the U.S. in bottles of Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. Mexico is the third largest importer of U.S. barley and the biggest importer of U.S. malt, made from germinating kernels of barley and a key ingredient in beer. If Mexico issues tariffs in retaliation or switches to buying barley from other trading partners, experts say it could deal another economic blow to American farmers as U.S. consumers increasingly ditch beer. Canada, the largest importer of U.S. malt barley, issued tariffs against U.S. barley and other agricultural goods that went into effect on March 4. Frayne Olson, crop economist at North Dakota State University, said farmers are worried that tariffs could decimate U.S. barley exports to Canada. Alcohol and trade wars: Tariffs might not happen but tequila is already paying the price U.S. President Donald Trump has said his back-and-forth tariffs against major trading partners are intended to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S., and has downplayed the market impacts for U.S. companies and consumers. "The people who pay for tariffs are the farmers," said barley farmer Steve Sheffels, vice president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. "We grow way more barley than we can possibly consume, so if those markets go away, then farmers are going to be competing for a much more limited number of buyers." Costs for fertilizer, which is mostly sourced from Canada, will rise with tariffs. Prices for imported crop chemicals from China have already risen because of tariffs that took effect on February 4. "There's a sinking feeling and a feeling of dread that things are bad, and things are going to stay bad for a while," Sheffels said. "We are scared almost to death about tariffs." A slow decline Beer consumption in the U.S. has been sliding and in 2024 it hit its lowest level in over 40 years as more Americans chose other alcoholic beverages, said Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. Recently, hard seltzer drinks and canned cocktails have posed particularly bruising competition to beer. Others are giving up alcohol altogether. Gen Z-ers and millennials are drinking less than most previous generations, according to a 2024 Gallup poll. In January, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks. Multiple high-profile studies have stated no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. Watson believes major beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, may keep prices steady to preserve market share and maintain sales volume. Craft breweries may be less able to absorb higher costs and are likely to raise prices, he said. The 25% tariffs the White House has slapped on metals will likely hike the costs brewers pay for kegs and cans, which are often made from steel and aluminum imported from Canada. The price of a bottle of Corona or Modelo, both produced in Mexico, may be more likely to spike if U.S. malt is subject to tariffs by Mexico as it heads south and the finished beer is slapped with tariffs again as it is shipped north. "Breweries are going to have to choose to pass this along or choose to eat it," Watson said. "It will have an impact." Reporting by Heather Schlitz. Editing by Emily Schmall and David Gregorio
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With beer drinking down in US, barley farmers now fear tariffs
By Heather Schlitz CHICAGO (Reuters) - Overdue loans and mounting interest payments often weigh on Montana barley grower Mitch Konen as he bales hay and loads trailers at his remote farm overlooking the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As spring sunshine warms the fields, Konen, 65, and other barley farmers worry tariffs will take away crucial export markets and increase the cost to grow the grains, even as sinking U.S. beer consumption has slashed demand for barley. "Down here on the farm we're already stretched pretty thin financially," said Konen, who is also vice president of the National Barley Growers Association. "It makes us wonder whether or not we can even stay in business." Roughly half of Konen's barley is destined for Mexico, where it will be turned into beer. Some will be shipped back to the U.S. in bottles of Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. Mexico is the third largest importer of U.S. barley and the biggest importer of U.S. malt, made from germinating kernels of barley and a key ingredient in beer. If Mexico issues tariffs in retaliation or switches to buying barley from other trading partners, experts say it could deal another economic blow to American farmers as U.S. consumers increasingly ditch beer. Canada, the largest importer of U.S. malt barley, issued tariffs against U.S. barley and other agricultural goods that went into effect on March 4. Frayne Olson, crop economist at North Dakota State University, said farmers are worried that tariffs could decimate U.S. barley exports to Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump has said his back-and-forth tariffs against major trading partners are intended to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S., and has downplayed the market impacts for U.S. companies and consumers. "The people who pay for tariffs are the farmers," said barley farmer Steve Sheffels, vice president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. "We grow way more barley than we can possibly consume, so if those markets go away, then farmers are going to be competing for a much more limited number of buyers." Costs for fertilizer, which is mostly sourced from Canada, will rise with tariffs. Prices for imported crop chemicals from China have already risen because of tariffs that took effect on February 4. "There's a sinking feeling and a feeling of dread that things are bad, and things are going to stay bad for a while," Sheffels said. "We are scared almost to death about tariffs." A SLOW DECLINE Beer consumption in the U.S. has been sliding and in 2024 it hit its lowest level in over 40 years as more Americans chose other alcoholic beverages, said Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. Recently, hard seltzer drinks and canned cocktails have posed particularly bruising competition to beer. Others are giving up alcohol altogether. Gen Z-ers and millennials are drinking less than most previous generations, according to a 2024 Gallup poll. In January, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks. Multiple high-profile studies have stated no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. Watson believes major beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, may keep prices steady to preserve market share and maintain sales volume. Craft breweries may be less able to absorb higher costs and are likely to raise prices, he said. The 25% tariffs the White House has slapped on metals will likely hike the costs brewers pay for kegs and cans, which are often made from steel and aluminum imported from Canada. The price of a bottle of Corona or Modelo, both produced in Mexico, may be more likely to spike if U.S. malt is subject to tariffs by Mexico as it heads south and the finished beer is slapped with tariffs again as it is shipped north. "Breweries are going to have to choose to pass this along or choose to eat it," Watson said. "It will have an impact." Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With beer drinking down in US, barley farmers now fear tariffs
By Heather Schlitz CHICAGO (Reuters) - Overdue loans and mounting interest payments often weigh on Montana barley grower Mitch Konen as he bales hay and loads trailers at his remote farm overlooking the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As spring sunshine warms the fields, Konen, 65, and other barley farmers worry tariffs will take away crucial export markets and increase the cost to grow the grains, even as sinking U.S. beer consumption has slashed demand for barley. "Down here on the farm we're already stretched pretty thin financially," said Konen, who is also vice president of the National Barley Growers Association. "It makes us wonder whether or not we can even stay in business." Roughly half of Konen's barley is destined for Mexico, where it will be turned into beer. Some will be shipped back to the U.S. in bottles of Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. Mexico is the third largest importer of U.S. barley and the biggest importer of U.S. malt, made from germinating kernels of barley and a key ingredient in beer. If Mexico issues tariffs in retaliation or switches to buying barley from other trading partners, experts say it could deal another economic blow to American farmers as U.S. consumers increasingly ditch beer. Canada, the largest importer of U.S. malt barley, issued tariffs against U.S. barley and other agricultural goods that went into effect on March 4. Frayne Olson, crop economist at North Dakota State University, said farmers are worried that tariffs could decimate U.S. barley exports to Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump has said his back-and-forth tariffs against major trading partners are intended to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S., and has downplayed the market impacts for U.S. companies and consumers. "The people who pay for tariffs are the farmers," said barley farmer Steve Sheffels, vice president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. "We grow way more barley than we can possibly consume, so if those markets go away, then farmers are going to be competing for a much more limited number of buyers." Costs for fertilizer, which is mostly sourced from Canada, will rise with tariffs. Prices for imported crop chemicals from China have already risen because of tariffs that took effect on February 4. "There's a sinking feeling and a feeling of dread that things are bad, and things are going to stay bad for a while," Sheffels said. "We are scared almost to death about tariffs." A SLOW DECLINE Beer consumption in the U.S. has been sliding and in 2024 it hit its lowest level in over 40 years as more Americans chose other alcoholic beverages, said Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. Recently, hard seltzer drinks and canned cocktails have posed particularly bruising competition to beer. Others are giving up alcohol altogether. Gen Z-ers and millennials are drinking less than most previous generations, according to a 2024 Gallup poll. In January, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks. Multiple high-profile studies have stated no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. Watson believes major beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, may keep prices steady to preserve market share and maintain sales volume. Craft breweries may be less able to absorb higher costs and are likely to raise prices, he said. The 25% tariffs the White House has slapped on metals will likely hike the costs brewers pay for kegs and cans, which are often made from steel and aluminum imported from Canada. The price of a bottle of Corona or Modelo, both produced in Mexico, may be more likely to spike if U.S. malt is subject to tariffs by Mexico as it heads south and the finished beer is slapped with tariffs again as it is shipped north. "Breweries are going to have to choose to pass this along or choose to eat it," Watson said. "It will have an impact." Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
18-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
With beer drinking down in US, barley farmers now fear tariffs
CHICAGO, March 18 (Reuters) - Overdue loans and mounting interest payments often weigh on Montana barley grower Mitch Konen as he bales hay and loads trailers at his remote farm overlooking the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. As spring sunshine warms the fields, Konen, 65, and other barley farmers worry tariffs will take away crucial export markets and increase the cost to grow the grains, even as sinking U.S. beer consumption has slashed demand for barley. "Down here on the farm we're already stretched pretty thin financially," said Konen, who is also vice president of the National Barley Growers Association. "It makes us wonder whether or not we can even stay in business." Roughly half of Konen's barley is destined for Mexico, where it will be turned into beer. Some will be shipped back to the U.S. in bottles of Modelo, Corona and Pacifico. Mexico is the third largest importer of U.S. barley and the biggest importer of U.S. malt, made from germinating kernels of barley and a key ingredient in beer. If Mexico issues tariffs in retaliation or switches to buying barley from other trading partners, experts say it could deal another economic blow to American farmers as U.S. consumers increasingly ditch beer. Canada, the largest importer of U.S. malt barley, issued tariffs against U.S. barley and other agricultural goods that went into effect on March 4. Frayne Olson, crop economist at North Dakota State University, said farmers are worried that tariffs could decimate U.S. barley exports to Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump has said his back-and-forth tariffs against major trading partners are intended to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S., and has downplayed the market impacts for U.S. companies and consumers. "The people who pay for tariffs are the farmers," said barley farmer Steve Sheffels, vice president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. "We grow way more barley than we can possibly consume, so if those markets go away, then farmers are going to be competing for a much more limited number of buyers." Costs for fertilizer, which is mostly sourced from Canada, will rise with tariffs. Prices for imported crop chemicals from China have already risen because of tariffs that took effect on February 4. "There's a sinking feeling and a feeling of dread that things are bad, and things are going to stay bad for a while," Sheffels said. "We are scared almost to death about tariffs." A SLOW DECLINE Beer consumption in the U.S. has been sliding and in 2024 it hit its lowest level in over 40 years as more Americans chose other alcoholic beverages, said Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. Recently, hard seltzer drinks and canned cocktails have posed particularly bruising competition to beer. Others are giving up alcohol altogether. Gen Z-ers and millennials are drinking less than most previous generations, according to a 2024 Gallup poll., opens new tab In January, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks. Multiple high-profile studies have stated no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. Watson believes major beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, may keep prices steady to preserve market share and maintain sales volume. Craft breweries may be less able to absorb higher costs and are likely to raise prices, he said. The 25% tariffs the White House has slapped on metals will likely hike the costs brewers pay for kegs and cans, which are often made from steel and aluminum imported from Canada. The price of a bottle of Corona or Modelo, both produced in Mexico, may be more likely to spike if U.S. malt is subject to tariffs by Mexico as it heads south and the finished beer is slapped with tariffs again as it is shipped north. "Breweries are going to have to choose to pass this along or choose to eat it," Watson said. "It will have an impact."
