💵 Jeff Urso calls it a "war on small businesses." On November 3, voters face a proposed 1% Lake County school sales tax "to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals." Jeff argues another tax squeezes neighborhood businesses. Rick Lesser describes sales taxes as regressive and argues the burden falls harder on the lower middle class.

First, the guys talk break-ins: a little cash in the register can mean a much bigger repair bill. Then it's the Caucus's October 20 replacement-candidate vote. After two school-board candidates were rejected, Rick and Skoo question the replacement process and whether voters should have more choices.

There's also Scouts football, the flag-versus-tackle argument, Northwestern's stadium and Bears memories. Halloween brings a more pressing neighborhood question: what's the best—and worst—candy in the bag?

We close with the leaf-blower debate: noise, equipment costs and what local rules mean for landscapers. Pete also announces the Neighbor News Network and asks neighbors to help look into local issues.

Last week's episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZqNqfkj610

🎙️ Pete Jansons — with Rick Lesser, Skoo Walker & Jeff Urso

⏱️ WHAT WE GET INTO

💵 0:00 — "War on small businesses"

🔐 0:42 — What's left in the cash register?

💥 1:43 — A little cash, a big repair bill

📷 3:26 — Flock cameras and stolen cars

▶ Bratski's break-in footage (10/3/26 episode, 6:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaReBrH0QP0&t=380s

🚨 4:28 — Alarms, response times and protecting your business

🏫 5:51 — Property taxes, police and school funding

🗳️ 6:52 — November's proposed school sales tax

🍕 7:34 — Jeff: another squeeze on small business

⚖️ 8:57 — Rick: why sales taxes are regressive

🧾 9:39 — The tax budget versus your lunch budget

🎰 12:04 — Gambling, cannabis and sin taxes

📅 14:51 — The Caucus's October replacement vote

🔎 16:39 — Skoo questions the candidate-vetting process

❓ 18:44 — Talk of another group—and an invitation

📊 20:48 — Parents Care: getting the message across

🎙️ 23:13 — What kind of podcast is this?

🏈 25:18 — Scouts football and the feeder teams

🛡️ 27:01 — Flag, tackle and teaching contact

📋 32:53 — Whatever happened to the wishbone?

👟 34:57 — Junior Scouts numbers and hockey overlap

🏟️ 37:00 — Northwestern's stadium and concert talk

🐻 40:06 — Bears memories and the Coach

🏙️ 44:40 — Highwood and who gets to do business

🎃 48:09 — Halloween candy: best and worst

🛍️ 53:21 — The Chamber pop-up and empty storefronts

🚗 54:23 — Oakwood traffic and the radar gun

▶ The Oakwood school-bus radar clip (6/7/25 episode, 5:02): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_72lcUYvnY&t=302s

🍂 55:24 — Leaf blowers: noise, costs and local rules

📰 1:00:55 — Pete announces the Neighbor News Network

👋 1:03:21 — Last call and Rick's farewell

🙏 1:04:18 — Thank you to our supporters

🧮 1:04:55 — Larisey CPA

🎸 1:05:18 — Song: War on Small Business

🔗 UPDATES & LINKS

▶ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@lakeforestpodcast

▶ Visit: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.com

▶ Support the show (as little as 99¢ a month): https://www.patreon.com/lakeforestpodcast

▶ Newsletter: https://petejansons.substack.com

The Lake Forest Podcast — We document. You decide.

#LakeForestPodcast #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #LakeForestCaucus #LakeCountyIL #SmallBusiness #SchoolSalesTax #ScoutsFootball #Highwood #NorthShore #60045