It is way too civilized in Room 601 of the Cook County Building, considering that inside the hearing room and outside in the waiting room on this particular Thursday afternoon there are more than 300 taxpayers who feel that their properties have been wrongly assessed and that as a result they are paying too much property tax.
People have plenty of questions, sure.
But there is not one heated argument, not one fist pounded on a desk, not even a raised voice in the offices of the Board of Review of Cook County. A large part of the credit for the civility has to go to Charliemae Towbridge, the chief clerk for the board. You can come and observe. But no cameras, no recording and no interfering with the appeals. If only property taxes could be so straightforward and fair.