Category: News
Lionel Messi busca otro trofeo: Inter Miami enfrenta a Vancouver en la final de la MLS
Por TIM REYNOLDS
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — Para Lionel Messi, la final de la MLS prevista para el sábado representará algunas despedidas. Y, muy posiblemente, un nuevo comienzo.
Messi e Inter Miami se enfrentarán a Thomas Müller —uno de sus rivales de toda la vida— y a los Vancouver Whitecaps por el campeonato de la liga de Estados Unidos. Se trata de la primera final para ambos clubes, así que la MLS tendrá un campeón inédito.
“Sabemos que va a ser un partido muy duro y el agregado de que Müller haya llegado a ese equipo le da mucha más jerarquía al juego”, manifestó Messi en declaraciones distribuidas por Inter Miami el jueves.
Pero para Messi, es el fin de un par de eras. Será el último partido en el actual feudo de las Garzas, ya que el club se mudará a un estadio aún en construcción cerca del aeropuerto internacional de Miami la próxima temporada. Y salvo algunos cambios de opinión serios, será la última vez que juegue junto a Jordi Alba y Sergio Busquets sus compañeros de toda la vida, y que se retirarán después del sábado. También sería su último acto con Luis Suárez.
“Muy agradecido de la carrera que he tenido, de los equipos en los que he estado y todo lo que he aprendido y disfrutado. Ha sido un privilegio”, dijo Alba. “Es una semana con muchas emociones, sabiendo que va a ser mi último partido. Se vive de diferente manera, pero con la decisión firme, que es terminar mi carrera en el mejor escenario posible, una final, y ojalá que salga del lado nuestro”.
No es que Messi necesite esta victoria para su legado. El astro argentino tiene una colección insuperable de 46 títulos para club y país en todo el mundo, para ser el futbolista más ganador de la historia. Es ampliamente considerado el mejor jugador de todos los tiempos y el resultado del sábado no ayudará ni perjudicará esa reputación.
Lo mismo ocurre con Müller, el alemán que estuvo en el bando ganador de una final de la Copa del Mundo —la de Brasil 2014— en la que jugó contra Messi (y Javier Mascherano, ahora el técnico de Inter Miami).
“Es muy lindo que él haya venido a jugar a la liga de Estados Unidos con la repercusión que eso tiene para Vancouver y que se pueda dar esta final, volver a enfrentarnos”, afirmó Messi. “Ya hemos enfrentado a Vancouver y sabemos la clase de equipo que es”.
Dicho esto, el sábado traerá al menos un hecho sin precedentes: si Vancouver gana, Müller será el primer jugador en ganar un Mundial y el campeonato de la MLS . Si Inter Miami gana, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul y Busquets se convertirán en el primer trío en decir que fueron tanto campeones del Mundial como de la MLS.
“Vamos a tener cuatro campeones del Mundial en la cancha”, dijo Mascherano. “Creo que es muy, muy interesante para la liga”.
Se preguntó a Müller, con más de 30 trofeos ganados para su club y país, cómo valora el título de la MLS en su lista.
“En este momento, la clasifico como número 1”, dijo Muller. “Porque es la única final de la que estamos hablando. Es inminente. En este momento, para mí, esta final del sábado es lo más importante en mi vida”.
Luego hizo una pausa.
“Es una buena frase, ¿eh?” preguntó, riéndose de su broma.
Pero claramente, el trono de la MLS es algo que ambos equipos desean con ansias. Para Inter Miami, es una oportunidad de demostrar que traer al cuarteto del Barcelona —Messi, Alba, Suárez y Busquets— valió la pena. Para Vancouver, que venció a Inter Miami dos veces esta temporada en la Liga de Campeones de la CONCACAF, es una oportunidad de ganar un trofeo y vencer a Messi para lograrlo.
“Obviamente, fueron mucho mejores que nosotros en abril”, señaló Mascherano. “Pero la situación no es la misma. Llegamos a esta final con confianza, con algunos jugadores diferentes. Y sabemos que tienen un equipo muy, muy bueno”.
Últimamente…
Inter Miami ha ganado 10 de sus últimos 13 partidos, con dos derrotas y un empate. Las Garzas han sido particularmente dominantes en tres duelos de vida o muerte durante estos playoffs de la MLS, ganando esos compromisos por un marcador combinado de 13-1.
En tanto, Vancouver ha salido victorioso en siete de sus últimos 13 partidos, con una derrota y cinco empates. Ha encajado un total de 17 goles en sus últimos 17 partidos contra oponentes de la MLS.
Ventaja de local
El equipo que juega de local ha ganado 11 de las últimas 14 finales. De las tres que perdieron en ese escenario, dos se definieron en penales.
Vancouver derrotó a domicilio a Inter Miami en abril en las semifinales de la CONCACAF. Inter Miami ha perdido apenas dos de 20 partidos en todas las competiciones en casa desde entonces.
“Hemos estado listos para esto toda la temporada”, dijo el mediocampista de Vancouver Sebastian Berhalter. “La presión, viene con ello. Es un privilegio y es divertido y creo que nuestros muchachos van a aprovecharlo y disfrutarlo. Equipo local, equipo visitante, no creo que importe”.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Asking Eric: How should I handle when people bring food to gatherings?
Dear Eric: How does one politely suggest to an in-law’s relative that we don’t need to exchange Christmas gifts? My significant other and I are at the stage in life where we really do not need more “stuff” and would rather not deal with gifts that are generic at best and usually are re-gifted promptly via donation or gift-economy communities.
Perhaps I should suggest we only exchange consumables (gifts of homemade baked goods or gourmet food items), but that seems rather controlling.
This person has been nothing but kind to us in all our years of knowing them, but the awkward gift exchange is getting tiresome. I’m at a loss for how to deal with this and am hoping you have a delightful solution to this first-world problem.
– Feeling Bah-humbug
Dear Feeling: It can be deceptively easy to fall into these sorts of back-and-forths. And, as you surely can attest, it is hard to delicately extract oneself. It can feel like rejecting a kind gesture, which could result in hurt feelings or worse. But if you suggest an alternative in place of the traditional exchange, that “no” becomes a “yes, but.” Even more importantly, it can be collaborative rather than controlling.
Try making a suggestion to your in-law about a different way of celebrating and asking their opinion. “Instead of the gift exchange this year, we’d like to bake you something. Is that something you’d be interested in?” This way, they’re free to express their wants – and they might say “no thanks” – but they’re also being encouraged to think more expansively about this tradition.
Dear Eric: I had a pancreas transplant in 2018. Due to this, along with celiac disease, I’m on a very restricted and medically controlled diet. There are very few things I can safely eat. However, I find during the holidays people attempt to make me special food during parties and get-togethers.
I normally do not eat at other people’s homes due to food preparations and sanitary concerns for my transplant, as well as not being able to verify a gluten-free environment when the food was made.
How should I handle when people bring food to these gatherings or mention that they made me something special? I don’t want to be rude because I know it was done in love, but I also don’t want to get sick or risk cross contamination. How should I respond without hurting someone’s feelings?
– Medically Compromised
Dear Medically Compromised: You and your medical team are the experts on keeping yourself healthy and safe. So, don’t be afraid to be clear with friends about what you will and won’t do. If bruised feelings occur, those friends may not be listening to nor believing you in the way that they need to, so the onus is on them.
When talking about your practices regarding food, frame them as universal, rather than personal, and non-negotiable. “It’s so thoughtful of you to make me something. But I can’t eat anything outside of the home because there are too many variables. It’s not about you; I would eat it if I could and I appreciate the thought.”
In some cases, it can be helpful to let your hosts know in advance, perhaps when you’re RSVPing. “For the ease of your planning, I wanted to remind you that I don’t eat outside of the home for medical reasons. So, no need to prepare anything for me. But don’t worry: I’ll have a wonderful time regardless.”
Dear Eric: For years I’ve seen the same complaints about gift-receivers who are unhappy about the gifts they receive (ugly, wrong size, wrong style, not needed, not wanted, etc.) yet they cannot find a way out of this circle. For many years I was also on the receiving end of gifts that were lovingly wrapped and gifted. I understand that for many people the best part of Christmas is to send a beautifully wrapped and thoughtful gift.
I’ve discovered that when people ask, “what do you want?” and “I need a list for you/your family”, it’s coming from a place of love, not to terrorize you. However, I also know that I am one of the lucky people that needs nothing and wants for nothing.
My response is to request gifts of sheets, towels, blankets, cookware, dishes, suitcases, etc. and I happily donate these items to a homeless or rehoming shelter. My relatives are none the wiser and I’m able to send a truly heartfelt thank you note with how much I love these thoughtful gifts.
– Lucky to Need Nothing
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Dear Lucky: This is a lovely solution. Others who are trying this tactic this year might also consider letting their loved ones know about the donation plan so that the loved ones aren’t looking for that special Crockpot the next time they visit.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
Connor Bedard scores for a 3rd straight game in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings
LOS ANGELES — Connor Bedard scored for the third straight games, Spencer Knight made 26 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Thursday night to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Wyatt Kaiser had his first goal of the season to help the Hawks win for the second time in three games after losing five in a row. Frank Nazar had two assists.
Trevor Moore scored and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for the Kings, who were held to two goals or fewer for the seventh time in nine games.
The Hawks scored twice in the second period. Bedard got his fifth power-play goal to open the scoring, attacking the crease and putting in Nazar’s centering pass. Bedard has four goals and two assists in the last three games and 18 goals on the season.
Kaiser made it 2-0 with 5.1 seconds left after the Kings nearly scored when the puck got tangled up at Knight’s feet and Phillip Danault couldn’t convert a wraparound into the open net.
The Kings welcomed top defenseman Drew Doughty back after he missed seven games because of a foot injury. Doughty was injured blocking a shot against Ottawa on Nov. 15.
Kings forward Warren Foegele also returned from a three-game absence because of an upper-body injury. He found Moore for a one-timer midway through the third, but it wasn’t enough to help the Kings avoid their sixth loss in eight games.
The Kings were 0-for-5 on the power play, which included Bedard’s hooking penalty with 1:26 to go. The Kings failed to capitalize on a 6-on-4 advantage after pulling Kuemper for an extra attacker.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/chicago-blackhawks-la-kings-connor-bedard/
Copa Libertadores, elecciones, Shakira y otras fotos de la semana en América Latina y el Caribe
Por The Associated Press
Honduras celebró elecciones presidenciales, con dos candidatos conservadores muy igualados a la espera de que finalice el conteo de los votos, que comenzó tras los comicios del domingo.
El presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, continuó con su agenda pública, mientras Estados Unidos refuerza su presencia militar en la región, la más numerosa en generaciones, una medida vista por muchos como una táctica para presionar al mandatario para que renuncie.
El Flamengo de Brasil ganó la Copa Libertadores en Lima, Perú, y Shakira actuó en Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Esta fotogalería destaca algunas de las mejores imágenes noticiosas tomadas por los fotógrafos de The Associated Press en Latinoamérica y el Caribe publicadas entre el 28 de noviembre y el 4 de diciembre de 2025.
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Las imágenes fueron seleccionadas por la editora de fotografía de The Associated Press Leslie Mazoch en la Ciudad de Mëxico.
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Los fotógrafos de AP están en Instagram en: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images en X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
blog de AP Images: http://apimagesblog.com
Gary Sánchez destaca en triunfo de Gigantes sobre Toros en Dominicana
Por The Associated Press
El veterano de las Grandes Ligas Gary Sánchez brindó una sólida actuación ofensiva para guiar el jueves a los Gigantes del Cibao a una victoria por 7-5 sobre los Toros del Este en la Liga Dominicana de Béisbol.
Sánchez, con 11 temporadas de experiencia en las mayores y quien jugó para Baltimore en 2025, actualmente es agente libre. El jueves bateó de 4-2, con un doble y dos carreras remolcadas. Deyvison De Los Santos añadió otro doble productor de dos anotaciones.
En Santiago de los Caballeros, Jerar Encarnación bateó de 4-2 con una carrera anotada y otra producida, mientras que Aderlin Rodríguez se fue de 4-1 con una empujada, en la victoria de las Águilas Cibaeñas por 4-1 sobre los Leones del Escogido.
A media temporada, Santurce ratifica su liderato en Puerto Rico
Los Cangrejeros de Santurce derrotaron 8-4 a los Indios de Mayagüez para ratificar su liderato, justo cuando el calendario de la campaña regular alcanzó sus primeros 20 de 40 encuentros programados en la Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente.
Roy Morales bateó de 3-2 con una carrera anotada y dos producidas, mientras que Henry Ramos se fue de 4-3 con un doble, dos anotadas y una empujada.
En Caguas, Harrison Francis lanzó cinco entradas y un tercio sin permitir carrera, con cinco ponches, y Luis Vázquez conectó un jonrón solitario en el quinto episodio para darles a los Criollos una victoria por 1-0 sobre los Leones de Ponce.
Los Senadores de San Juan derrotaron 5-1 a los Gigantes en Carolina. Calvin Estrada bateó de 3-2 con una carrera producida y Randal Díaz se fue de 5-2 también con una empujada.
Águilas remontan para vencer a Tiburones en Venezuela
Las Águilas del Zulia armaron una rebelión de cinco anotaciones en la parte alta de la novena entrada para remontar una pizarra adversa y derrotar por 8-5 a los Tiburones de La Guaira en la Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional.
José Pirela empujó dos carreras con un doble y Ángelo Castellano conectó un jonrón de dos anotaciones.
En Caracas, Hernán Pérez bateó de 4-3 con dos carreras producidas, y Herlis Rodríguez se fue de 4-2 con un doble, un triple y dos anotadas, en la victoria de los Caribes de Anzoátegui por 5-1 sobre los Leones locales.
Los Bravos de Margarita vencieron 6-2 a los Cardenales de Lara en Porlamar. Breyvic Valera bateó de 4-2 con dos carreras anotadas y una producida, y Wilson García conectó de 4-2 con una anotada y una remolcada.
En Valencia, Bryan Mata lanzó seis entradas en blanco, permitiendo apenas un imparable y ponchando a siete rivales, para guiar a los Navegantes del Magallanes a un triunfo por 7-0 sobre los Tigres de Aragua.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Jahmyr Gibbs anota 3 veces y Lions logran victoria importante, 44-30 sobre Cowboys
Por LARRY LAGE
DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs corrió para tres touchdowns, el último de 13 yardas con 2:19 minutos restantes que aseguró el jueves una importante victoria de los Lions de Detroit, por 44-30 sobre los Cowboys de Dallas.
Los Lions (8-5) evitaron lo que hubiera sido su primera racha de derrotas en más de tres años mientras buscan posicionarse para un boleto de playoffs con un mes restante en la temporada regular.
Los Cowboys (6-6-1) habían entrado en la contienda de postemporada con una racha de tres victorias consecutivas. Pero contra los Lions, la ofensiva mejor clasificada de la NFL tuvo que depender demasiado del poderoso pateador Brandon Aubrey.
Y la revitalizada defensa de Dallas fue humillada.
Jared Goff completó 25 de 34 pases para 309 yardas con un pase de touchdown de 12 yardas al receptor novato Isaac TeSlaa que puso a Detroit adelante por 27-9.
Dallas se acercó a tres puntos en dos ocasiones en el último cuarto, incluyendo con 3:42 restantes cuando Aubrey igualó un récord personal con su quinto gol de campo.
Tom Kennedy devolvió la patada siguiente hasta el medio campo y Goff lanzó un pase de 37 yardas a Amon-Ra St. Brown, lo que dejó listo el escenario para el tercer touchdown de Gibbs.
Gibbs sumó siete recepciones para 77 yardas. Añadió 43 yardas por tierra en 12 acarreos.
Williams acumuló siete recepciones por segundo duelo consecutivo y terminó con 96 yardas. St. Brown, quien estaba en duda por una lesión de tobillo, dejó en claro su valor con seis recepciones para 92 yardas y muchos bloqueos clave para sus compañeros.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Jahmyr Gibbs’ 3 TD runs lead the Detroit Lions to a much-needed 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys
DETROIT — Jahmyr Gibbs ran for three touchdowns, the last a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed the Detroit Lions’ much-needed 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.
The Lions (8-5) avoided losing consecutive games for the first time in more than three years as they seek to move into position for a playoff berth with a month remaining in the regular season.
“They don’t get panicked,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We played our best game that we played all year.”
The Cowboys (6-6-1) had surged into postseason contention with a three-game winning streak. But against the Lions, the NFL’s top-ranked offense had to lean on powerful kicker Brandon Aubrey too much, and the Cowboys’ revitalized defense was humbled.
“It seemed like every time we got some momentum, they hit another explosive play,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “They have a lot of speed, and they can make big plays.”
Jared Goff went 25 of 34 for 309 yards with a 12-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa that put the Lions ahead 27-9.
The Cowboys pulled within three points twice in the fourth quarter, including with 3:42 left when Aubrey matched a career high with his fifth field goal.
Tom Kennedy returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, and Goff threw a 37-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown to set up Gibbs’ third score.
Gibbs had seven catches for 77 yards and 43 yards rushing on 12 carries.
“He’s unique,” Campbell said. “He’s special.”
Williams had seven catches for the second straight game and finished with 96 yards. St. Brown, who had been listed as questionable with an ankle injury, left no doubt of his value with six catches for 92 yards and a lot of key blocks for teammates.
“He was going and nobody was going to talk him out of it,” Campbell said.
The Lions’ Al-Quadin Muhammad had a career-high three sacks and Jack Campbell had a sack and forced a fumble for a team that hadn’t been generating much pressure on quarterbacks.
Dak Prescott wished that trend continued.
Prescott was sacked five times and pressured many more. He was 31 of 47 for 376 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He lost his top target in the third quarter when CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion after he had six catches for 121 yards.
The 30-year-old Aubrey converted from 63, 57 and 55 yards to become the first NFL kicker to make three field goals from 55-plus yards in a game, according to Sportradar.
Injuries
Cowboys: Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, CB Trevon Diggs and LT Tyler Guyton were inactive.
Lions: S Brian Branch suffered an ankle injury late in the game. S Thomas Harper, filling in for injured All-Pro Kerby, left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. TE Brock Wright was put on injured reserve earlier in the day and WR/PR Kalif Raymond and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.
Up next
Cowboys: Host the Minnesota Vikings in prime time on Dec. 14.
Lions: Visit the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 14.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/detroit-lions-dallas-cowboys-jahmyr-gibbs/
No. 18 Notre Dame lets big lead slip away in 69-62 loss to No. 13 Mississippi in ACC/SEC Challenge
OXFORD, Miss. — Cotie McMahon scored 22 points, Christeen Iwuala added 18 points and 13 rebounds and No. 13 Mississippi rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit to defeat No. 18 Notre Dame 69-62 on Thursday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge to remain unbeaten.
Mahon and Iwuala combined for 13 of the Rebels’ 19 fourth-quarter points with Iwuala’s three-point play early in the period giving Ole Miss (8-0) the lead for good and kicking off an 11-2 run.
McMahon was 10-of-20 shooting and Iwuala 6 of 11 while collecting her fourth double-double this season.
Hannah Hildago scored 28 points, including Notre Dame’s final six to keep the Fighting Irish (5-2) within range until she was ejected with a pair of technicals in the final seconds.
Hildago was 10-for-23 shooting, made all eight of her free throws and had five steals. Malaya Cowles added 12 points before fouling out.
Ole Miss took its first lead on Powe’s 3-pointer during a 9-0 run late in the third quarter and led 50-49 heading into the fourth.
The Rebels trailed by as many as 19 midway through the second quarter before finishing the period with a 13-2 run to narrow the deficit to 37-29.
Ole Miss shot 39% and made only 6 of 25 3-pointers but outrebounded the Irish 42-27, including 19-8 on the offensive boards. Notre Dame shot 44%.
Up next
Notre Dame plays its ACC opener at Florida State on Sunday.
Ole Miss will play Kansas State on Sunday in the Bill Snyder Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/notre-dame-mississippi-womens-basketball/
Randle anota 28 puntos por Timberwolves, que vencen a Pelicans otra vez en noche discreta de Edwards
NUEVA ORLEÁNS (AP) — Julius Randle anotó 28 puntos y consiguió nueve rebotes, para sacar adelante a Minnesota en una noche discreta de Anthony Edwards, y los Timberwolves vencieron el jueves 125-116 a los Pelicans de Nueva Orleans.
Edwards terminó con apenas 11 puntos en 31 minutos. Anotó el martes 44 unidades, su mayor cifra de la temporada, en la victoria de Minnesota por 146-142 en tiempo extra, en el primer partido de la serie de dos ante los Pelicans.
Naz Reid agregó 19 tantos, siete rebotes y seis asistencias por los Timberwolves, quienes ganaron su cuarto partido consecutivo. Rudy Gobert sumó 15 puntos y 12 rebotes, en tanto que Donte DiVincenzo también anotó 15 unidades.
Trey Murphy III consiguió 21 puntos, ocho asistencias y siete rebotes por los Pelicans, quienes han perdido cinco duelos seguidos y cayeron a 3-20. Jeremiah Fears y Saddiq Bey añadieron 20 puntos cada uno.
Los Pelicans anotaron el primer punto del cuarto periodo para tomar una ventaja de 91-88. Los Wolves anotaron luego 15 seguidos para una delantera de 103-91 y se sostuvieron.
Reid, quien jugó en LSU, tuvo dos triples y una clavada de alley-oop durante la racha.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Harvey residents and officials try to piece together city finances in midst of fiscal crisis
Harvey residents gathered at a Thursday discussion event hosted by Alds. Colby Chapman and Tracy Key and City Treasurer Aisha Pickett to try to understand the city’s opaque finances.
Pickett was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. She said throughout her time as treasurer, she has not been provided the necessary information to understand the city’s financial situation and do her job.
“My tenure as treasurer has not been the easiest. As they mentioned before, there are things I don’t necessarily have access to,” Pickett said. “It makes my job very difficult.”
Harvey is in the midst of a prolonged fiscal crisis. The city government has operated on reduced hours and severely cut staffing since October, when the City Council voted unanimously to apply for designation as a financially distressed city.
That designation would allow the city to receive state financial relief and oversight under the Illinois Financially Distressed City Law, with the state appointing a three-person board to oversee the city’s finances. Only one Illinois city, East St. Louis, has previously received the status. Illinois does not otherwise have a mechanism in place for municipalities to declare bankruptcy.
Pickett expressed frustration, saying she felt she wasn’t being allowed to serve the residents.
“I’m hoping that with this current situation, maybe some things will turn around. I’m hoping things will be more open, that they’ll be more willing to work with us, because we are willing to do the work,” Pickett said. “We just need some little cracks in the door.”
Residents Glynis James-Watson and Amanda Askew assembled a spreadsheet compiling the various bills lists approved at City Council meetings over the past year to try to better understand the city’s expenditures.
The City Council approved the most recent bills Oct. 27. Both meetings scheduled for November were canceled.
“The only thing that we’ve ever received, ever, as it relates to our financial state, is the bills list,” Chapman said. “Anything further than that, when there’s a request for invoices, a profit and loss statement, or just, for instance, the settlement agreement where these businesses are paying $30,000 a year to operate without a business license, none of that has ever been provided to us.”
Harvey Treasurer Aisha Pickett speaks to residents about the city’s finances on Thursday. (Evy Lewis/Daily Southtown)
James-Watson, who works with budgets as part of her job, pointed out a few things she found strange about the compiled bills lists, including hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenditures being categorized under “miscellaneous appropriations.”
“In budget terms, there should not be a miscellaneous anything appropriated,” James-Watson said. “Everything you plan to spend for the year is supposed to be appropriated in your budget.”
Shortly after the City Council voted to declare the city financially distressed, Harvey laid off 40% of its workforce in what was initially framed as temporary furloughs, cutting nearly half the Fire Department and more than a third of the Police Department.
Another round of firings last week laid off eight additional staff from the Fire Department, Police Department and Public Works Department. Chapman said she found out about those firings on the news, despite being on the City Council.
One issue at the core of Harvey’s financial difficulties is a painful property tax double-bind. Harvey has one of the highest tax rates in Cook County. Correspondingly, it also has the third lowest property tax collection rate in the county. When the high rates mean that some people can’t or won’t pay their taxes, the tax burden falls even harder on those that do, and the result is a budgetary shortfall for the city.
The same day the meeting was held, nuEra Cannabis opened a dispensary in Harvey. A news release about the opening emphasized the benefit of the dispensary’s projected tax revenue to Harvey, estimating that it would generate more than $200,000 annually.
Harvey Ald. Colby Chapman addresses residents Thursday while Tracy Key, left, listens. (Evy Lewis/Daily Southtown)
Mayor Christopher Clark has said that blame for the city’s dire financial straits falls primarily with the former mayor, Eric Kellogg, whose administration was rife with expensive scandals the city is still paying for, including failure to make required payments to the fire and police pension funds and the diversion of water bills owed to the city of Chicago.
However, critics of Clark, including Chapman and Key, said the mayor is dodging accountability and has caused more problems by not being transparent with city’s finances from the beginning. Clark was first elected in 2019.
“You should know when you run out of money,” Key said. “We’re not trying to cause any trouble. We’re just doing our jobs.”
elewis@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/harvey-officials-piece-together-city-finances/
