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Podcast Episode

Pat Hynes - On a mission to reform property taxes

The Crisis Cast··8 August 2026·32 min

About this episode

When the property assessor's office fails to reflect market realities, the results can be chaotic. In this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Pat Hynes, candidate for Cook County Assessor. Pat shares his journey from firefighter/EMT to political leadership. We'll dive into the intricacies of property valuation, tax assessment reforms, and how to improve the system for taxpayers. Pat uses the metaphor of "spaghetti thrown on the floor" to describe how assessments can become erratic. Ideally, property values should increase at a steady and predictable pace. As confusion and shock seem to rule tax bills, we'll get into the solutions that Hynes says would bring reform.