Latest news with #Pappas'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular Texas restaurant chain will buy Dallas-based On the Border
In a surprise move by Houston-based Pappas Restaurants, the owner of Pappasito's Cantina is buying Dallas-based On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, a 1980s fajitas-and-margaritas chain that had fallen on hard times. The Pappas family has been in the food business and dining business since the 19th century. It started Pappasito's in 1983 just before adding the popular Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. In the announcement, Pappas Restaurants described On the Border as 'value-driven' and serving at an 'accessible' price point. The restaurants can be strengthened with Pappas' business model and an enhanced menu, the company announcement said. On the Border, which had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, operates nine restaurants in the Fort Worth area. Pappasito's has two, one in Fort Worth and one in Arlington. At the time, On the Border closed its landmark No. 1 and No. 2 locations on Knox Street in Dallas and at 2011 E. Copeland Road, Arlington. The company has been owned by an Atlanta-based franchisee for Applebee's and IHoP since 2014 after operating for most of its history as a Brinker International affiliate of Chili's. It is unclear how the Pappas Restaurants will position On the Border, although technically Pappasitos is a sharply more expensive restaurant. For example, Pappasito's charges $29.95 at dinner and $17.95 at lunch for its least expensive fajitas platter, and $17.95/$16.95 for enchiladas. On the Border charges $19.95 at dinner and $14.79 at lunch for chicken fajitas, and $12.49/$10.99 for enchiladas. 'On The Border has always stood out for its energy and bold flavors — it's a brand we've known and respected for years,' Pappas co-owner Chris Pappas was quoted as saying in the announcement. 'This gives us the chance to bring our passion for Tex-Mex to more guests.' Pappasito's Cantina locations in Tarrant County are at 321 W. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington, and 2704 West Freeway, Fort Worth. On The Border has three Fort Worth restaurants plus Lake Worth, Bedford, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Weatherford. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Nearly $2 billion in Cook County property taxes shifted from businesses to low-income homeowners, study finds
A study from the Cook County Treasurer's Office found nearly $2 billion in property taxes shifted from county businesses to the lowest income homeowners over just three years. The study found property tax assessment appeals submitted by businesses in Cook County caused their collective tax bill to drop by $3.3 billion, while residential tax bills went up $1.9 billion. The study also found the additional tax burden on homeowners fell mainly on low-income Black and Latin homeowners who make less than $50,000 a year, who contested their assessed values at a much lower rate than wealthier white homeowners. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said she has found that most homeowners are overwhelmed by the daily tasks in their lives and so taking actions like appealing your property assessment or taxes are simply not on their radar. Pappas' office said the study suggests current efforts by the Assessor's Office and the Board of Review to standardize their methodology and share date could lead to fewer and smaller small business assessment reductions which could, in turn, reduce the shifts in the tax burden onto low-income homeowners. Her office also suggests outreach to low-income homeowners so they have the knowledge and tools to appeal their assessments.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sullivan splashes endorsements for 1st District seat as others mull run
Hoping to send an early warning message to other potential Democratic primary opponents, First Congressional District candidate Maura Sullivan of Portsmouth announced more than 30 endorsements from elected officials, small business owners and veterans. Among those on the list are former House Speaker Steve Shurtleff of Penacook, former party chairman and U.S. ambassador to Belize George Bruno, State Sen. and Ward 3 Alderman Pat Long, D-Manchester, and former Executive Councilor and Army Reserve Ambassador Jim Normand. A Merrimack County commissioner, Shurtleff lives in the Second Congressional District. The group also includes five school board members and two aldermen from Manchester, the largest city in the district and Pappas' hometown. Earlier this month, Sullivan became the first candidate in either major party to declare her candidacy for the seat that four-term U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., will vacate to run for the U.S. Senate. In 2018, Sullivan finished second to Pappas in his first primary for this seat in a race that attracted 11 candidates. Sullivan outperformed expectations in that race but had to overcome criticism that she had only lived in the state for a few months before the campaign and done little grass roots work in New Hampshire in contrast to Pappas who had been an elected official and campaign volunteer for two decades. Since her loss seven years ago, Sullivan has gotten intensely involved in party politics and last month got elected as one of the state's two vice chairmen of the New Hampshire Democratic Party along with Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene. She also raised more than $400,000 in the week after she announced for the seat and has won the support of VoteVets, a Democratic political action committee that spent significant resources in support of Navy Reserves veteran Maggie Goodlander of Nashua who won the Second Congressional District seat last November. Sullivan is a combat Marine Corps veteran who rose to the rank of captain and had several foreign deployments including one to Iraq. After her service, Sullivan worked in the federal Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense during the Obama administration. Her endorsement list also includes five school board members and two aldermen from Manchester, the largest city in the district and Pappas' hometown. This open seat is sure to attract other Democratic hopefuls. Potential tough race with Stefany Shaheen looms Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth city councilor and police commissioner, recently confirmed she's considering her own campaign. She's the eldest daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen who will retire in 2026 after five decades of serving in elective office and working on campaigns. Chris Bright, a Derry businessman who finished fourth in the 2024 Republican primary for this seat, is expected to run again. Some activists are encouraging the second and third place finishers in that primary, Greenland business owner Hollie Noveletsky and Manchester Aldermanic President Joe Kelly Levasseur, to run. Other Democrats who are on this latest list to endorse Sullivan include: ● State Rep. Luz Bay of Dover; ● Rep. Charlie St. Clair of Laconia, executive director of Laconia Bike Week; ● Rep. David Meuse of Portsmouth; ● Ex-Rep. Kate Miller of Laconia; ● Ex-Rep. Gerri Cannon of Somersworth; ● Ward 1 Manchester School Board member Julie Turner; ● Ward 2 Manchester School Board Sean Parr; ● Ward 7 Manchester School Board Chris Potter; ● Ward 8 Manchester School Board Jessica Spillers; ● Ward 11 Manchester School Board Liz O'Neil; ● Ward 2 Manchester Alderman Dan Goonan; ● City Councilor Eric Hoffman of Laconia; ● City Councilor Tony Felch of Laconia; ● Town Councilor Mackenzie Murphy of Merrimack; ● Retired Lieut. Col. Andy Corrow of Durham; ● N.H. AFL-CIO Executive Council member John MacNeil of Bedford; ● Moms Demand Action activist Robin Skudlarek of Londonderry; ● Belknap County Democratic Chair Johnna Davis of Gilford; ● Rockingham County Democrats Secretary Trish Tidd of Kingston; ● Carroll County Dems Vice Chair Tom Randell of Moultonborough; ● Former town chair George Hamblen of Plaistow; ● Town Chair Reva Tankle of Gilford; ● Town Chair Carrie Duran of Wolfeboro; ● USMC veteran Bill Kingston of New Castle; ● Navy veteran and businessman Gray Chynoweth of Manchester; ● Holly Henshaw, Navy Veteran and Community Leader, Dover and, ● Katelyn and Michael Wilson, activists from Newfields. klandrigan@
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White, wealthy Cook County residents more likely to vote on tax proposals: analysis
The Brief Cook County voters in wealthy and majority-white areas are more likely to turn out and vote on ballot referenda asking for tax increases, according to a new analysis. The Cook County Treasurer's Office examined data from the 2024 primary and general elections for the analysis. The findings show just how few voters can decide on tax increases across the county, the treasurer's office said. COOK CO., Ill. - Cook County residents who are white, wealthy and who own their homes are more likely to vote and determine the outcome of ballot questions that raise taxes, according to a new analysis. The Cook County Treasurer's Office released the findings of its analysis this month to show just how few voters decide whether to raise new taxes on residents and increase government debt. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas used the findings to urge residents to turn out and vote during the upcoming local election next Tuesday, April 1. By the numbers Pappas' office analyzed 35 referenda on the ballot last year. It found that wealthier residents were more likely to vote in those elections. In Cook County's wealthiest taxing districts, the average turnout was 60%, compared to only 34% in districts where the median household income fell below the county median of $81,797. The analysis found that white residents were also more likely to vote. On average, turnout in majority-white districts was more than 20 percentage points higher than in majority Black, Latino, and majority-minority districts. People who own their homes were also more likely to vote. In taxing districts where 80% or more of residents own their home, the average turnout was more than 55%. In districts where more than 20% of residents rent, the average turnout was just 30%. "Rising property taxes always anger property owners. Despite that, most don't vote in referendums that determine whether their taxes go up or down," Pappas said in a statement. Another way in which overall voter participation decreases is what the analysis called "drop-off" voters, or when a voter doesn't fill out the referendum questions that tend to be listed further down the ballot. In Cook County, the median drop-off rate for the primary and general elections was about 6.2%, according to the treasurer's office. Why you should care The release of the findings comes just days before another local election is set to take place next Tuesday, April 1. Tuesday's election will feature multiple taxing ballot questions as well. Local consolidated elections during off years tend to have lower turnout rates, Pappas' office pointed out. "If the Treasurer's findings are any guide, little will have changed and only a few will still decide for the many," the analysis said. Early voting is already open for Tuesday's election. Visit the Cook County Clerk's Office for more information. Dig deeper In a summary of the results, the treasurer's office highlighted two examples to illustrate its findings, one referendum in a low-income south suburb and another in a high-income suburb in the North Shore. The Robbins Park District asked voters last March to approve a tax increase. The district is in an area where the median household income is about $38,000 and less than 73% of residents own their home. While the tax increase was rejected, only 14% of registered voters weighed in, one of the lowest turnouts in the primary election, according to the analysis. By comparison, in Kenilworth, a majority white North Shore suburb where the median household income is above $250,000 and more than 97% of residents own their homes, voters were asked to approve a $2.5 million bond issuance. The turnout rate was 33% for the March primary, more than twice the turnout rate in Robbins. You can read the full analysis on the Cook County Treasurer's Office website.
