With high turnout and low morale, rank-and-file Chicago Police officers decided Wednesday to change union presidents heading into contentious contract negotiations.
With 9,811 votes cast, Police Officer Kevin Graham captured 56.2 percent of the vote to incumbent Dean Angelo’s 43.8 percent. […]
Graham could not be reached for comment. His election virtually guarantees that contract talks with the city will be even more contentious than normal.
Hours before the results were announced, Angelo was anticipating defeat because of the level of discontent.
“Everyone’s frustrated. Very, very, very frustrated on this job. Morale is at the lowest I’ve ever seen. . . . Sometimes when you get frustrated, you want to make a change just for change sake. If that’s the case, there’ll be a different person representing the FOP,” Angelo said.
Graham, a staunch critic of outside intervention in the department and efforts to strengthen officer discipline, will take the helm of the department’s most influential police union at a moment of uncertainty and consequence.
The FOP — which represents the wide majority of the department’s approximately 12,000 officers — is heading into a contract negotiation later this year.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced and enacted a series of reforms to a police department plagued by misconduct, but FOP contracts have historically helped shield rank-and-file cops from disciplinary investigations, protections reform advocates would like to see scaled back. […]
Graham, a 22-year veteran patrol officer assigned to the Town Hall police district on the North Side, sought to position himself as an opponent of outside intervention in the department and criticized Angelo for failing to more aggressively resist the Justice investigation. Graham has slammed the media for allegedly lying about police misconduct claims and tied the city’s violence to attempts to “put the handcuffs on the police.”
The city council’s Black Caucus reaction should be something to behold.
Illinois is a few months away from a new fiscal year, yet we have failed to pass a full calendar-year budget for nearly two years. Not only are we working to fix two years of inaction, we’re working to fix several decades of failed choices and broken promises.
It’s going to take a lot of hard work, soul searching and truth telling from everyone involved. That includes Republicans and Democrats in elected office and those running to hold elected office. Voters shouldn’t give anyone a free pass.
* And then she goes on to criticize the Democratic gubernatorial candidates…
Their standard messaging goes something like this: We can’t afford any cuts. We need to increase spending. Let’s just tax the millionaires and billionaires, make them pay their fair share and call it a day. We can talk about reforms later.
* She details some of her complaints and ends with this…
We need more than just sound bites from Democratic candidates for governor. We need an honest evaluation of our problems and concrete solutions to those problems.
The crisis we face today didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of decades of poor decision-making and partisan games. We know both sides got us here. But we also know both sides must get us out.
So, Democratic candidates for governor, stop the partisan rhetoric, step up and put forth real ideas. The people you wish to serve deserve an honest and thoughtful solution to the problems facing Illinois.
I’d say the same for the governor, too, but that’s just me.
They’re in the arena now, so it’s more than fair to ask what their specific plans are.
New York will be the first state to make tuition at public colleges and universities free for middle-class students under a state budget approved by lawmakers Sunday.
The plan crafted by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo will apply to any New York student whose family has an annual income of $125,000 or less. To qualify the student would have to meet certain class load and grade point average restrictions, and room and board would not be covered.
“College is today what high school was 50 years ago,” Cuomo said on a radio interview Sunday on AM 970 in New York City. “If you’re a young person who wants success and a career, a college education is necessary.
The initiative is included in a $153 billion state budget proposal that passed the state Senate late Sunday after being endorsed by the Assembly a day earlier. The budget was due by April 1, but difficult negotiations delayed passage.
The state now will have a cap of two and a half years on temporary [workers’ compensation] benefits, which a worker can receive prior to the start of a 10-year cap on benefits for “permanent partial disabilities” — such as a chronic back condition — that affect a worker’s earning potential. […]
Another worker-centered reform lowers the degree to which a person’s injury lowers his or her earning potential — 75 percent, down from 80 percent — in order to apply for “extreme hardship” toward the end of the 10-year period and receive disability payments in perpetuity. […]
The state’s business community and its Republican allies in the state Senate stressed the need for additional reforms for years — particularly in the wake of last year’s passage of a minimum-wage increase and paid family leave — in hopes of relieving businesses of ever-increasing insurance premiums.
It became an issue that a number of GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Flanagan and Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco, frequently asserted as a priority of theirs in budget negotiations. The movement for reform managed to generate enough support among Assembly Democrats to stay in the final budget agreement.
Organized labor praised the legislation backed by the GOP. More on those reforms here.
After years of efforts, ride-sharing advocates are celebrating in New York this week. The latest state budget deal paves the way for companies like Uber and Lyft to operate upstate.
A new provision in Gov. Cuomo’s budget will make it easier for union members to deduct their dues payments from state taxes.
The clause in the Empire State’s $153 billion budget — which was approved Sunday night — will put an estimated $35 million into the pockets of union workers in the public and private sectors as well as in the building trades.
To help offset the state’s $3.5 billion deficit and fund income tax cuts for people making under $300,000, the budget extends for two years an 8.82 percent tax rate on individuals making more than $1 million a year.
The 2017-18 State Budget fully funds another installment of property tax rebate checks, providing millions of homeowners with $453 million in direct, much-needed tax relief through a check in the mail. When combined with the STAR and Enhanced STAR programs, these checks will bring total property tax relief in this year’s budget to $3.6 billion.
After the Senate advocated for funding that was absent from the Executive Budget proposal, the final budget provides a $146 million multi-year boost in wages to compensate direct care and other clinical professionals for the important work they do in caring for our most vulnerable adults. The funding helps appropriately adjust salaries at not-for-profits that employ workers who provide services for individuals with disabilities, as well as staff at not-for-profits under the purview of the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services and the Office of Mental Health.
The enacted budget includes a record level of school aid funding of approximately $26 billion. This is an approximately $1.1 billion increase over last year, equating to 4.4 percent, and continues the growth of education funding at twice the rate of the rest of the budget.
* A few days ago (click here), I asked all the Democratic gubernatorial candidates where they stood on legalizing marijuana and regulating it like alcohol. The only person who didn’t respond was JB Pritzker, who hadn’t yet announced. Today, his communications director sent me this statement…
JB favors legalization in Illinois and wants it to be done in a way that ensures common sense regulation and a plan to maximize revenue to the state.
In an effort to increase accountability among law enforcement officers, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) introduced legislation today that requires sobriety testing following all officer-involved shootings.
The initiative aims to improve credibility in police department investigations. It would require officers to submit drug and alcohol test results no later than one hour after a shooting.
Police-involved shootings have gained much attention over the years as the number of victims has increased drastically. In 2014 alone, more than 1,000 people were killed by police officers.
“Whether these attacks were targeted or unfortunate accidents, this policy will hold law enforcement accountable for the frequent tragedies of deadly force,” Hunter said.
“Officers must be held to the same standard as other professionals who are responsible for the lives human beings. This should be a standard operating procedure for every police department.”
Illinois Republicans are disturbed by the video of airline personnel violently removing a passenger from an overbooked flight. Regardless of the circumstances or the person’s race, creed, or religion, no one should encounter violence in the face of a disagreement. We hope that both United Airlines and the City of Chicago investigate the situation and ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to prevent similar problems in the future. The conduct in this case is simply unacceptable.”
- Joint Statement from Tim Schneider (Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party), Yan (Grace) Cui (Chairman of the Chinese American GOP Coalition), Dr. Byoung Suh (Chairman of the Illinois Korean American Republican Organization)
* Black eye for United, Chicago after apologies over bloodying doc: “Anyone who saw that video had the same reaction: this was completely unacceptable at every level,” Emanuel said. “I appreciate that Ginger took swift action at the Department of Aviation, and her team is already hard at work on a thorough investigation – in partnership with the airline – to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Rauner also talked about his “Turnaround Agenda”, which is his multi-layered approach to improving the state’s economic growth. He said when it comes to core issues on this agenda, he is open to compromise with Democrats if it means progress.
“There is nothing in what I’m recommending that has to be there,” Rauner said. “If they refuse to do term limits, OK. Take it out. If they refuse to do a property tax freeze, OK. Take it out. But let’s be clear. We have to have a package together that allows companies to have confidence to come.”
If that’s the case then he should’ve let the Senate pass its grand bargain last month. But, c’mon, we all know it’s not the case. He’s just talking nice things to the cameras because he knows the people behind the cameras won’t ever put one and one together.
* Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist, thinks JB Pritzker’s candidacy is a “a preview of 2020.” He also thinks Pritzker is a sure loser. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion, and Pritzker may not win if he’s nominated. But they don’t get to make up their own facts, like this one…
In Illinois, especially in vote-rich Chicago, Pritzker enjoys almost Trump-like name recognition.
A recent straw poll of Illinois Democrats put Pritzker in fifth place among a list of 9 possible candidates. Depending on how much he spends in the coming months could change that, but he has a big hill to climb. And to make matters worse, he won’t be the only Democrat trying to use his money and name-recognition to garner more Democratic support. One of Pritzker’s opponents is none other than millionaire Kennedy family scion Chris Kennedy.
Meanwhile, the guy leading the pack is State Senator Daniel Biss, whose campaign literature begins and ends with reminders that he is not a millionaire. Biss is way ahead in the early Democratic Party polls.
Democratic Party polls? Does he mean that one straw poll? Is he serious?
At least he didn’t reference that totally made up DGA poll from the other day. So, there’s that.
Beyond money and class issues, Pritzker is also a weaker candidate because he’s truly a product and member of the political class. Pritzker and his family have been major Democratic Party donors for decades. His sister Penny rode her financial support for then-candidate Barack Obama to the Commerce Secretary spot in his cabinet. At some point, big donors like to get off the sidelines and get on the political stage themselves. And when they do, it can be hard to stop them.
President Trump’s unique appeal was predicated on the fact that despite his wealth, he was seen as the consummate political outsider. Pritzker is far from that with his years of political fundraising and schmoozing with elected officials.
Trump played in the political game for years, so I don’t think that’s accurate, either.
If he does manage to succeed, other more nationally viable billionaire liberals like Bloomberg or former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz will then become more likely to challenge Trump on the national stage. If he loses, the progressive wing of the party gains a significant victory.
Among those confirming that they either intend to run or are seriously considering doing so in Roskam’s west suburban 6th District are Amanda Howland, a lawyer and psychologist who got 42 percent of the vote against him in 2016; Barrington Hills Planning Commission member Kelly Mazeski, a former state senate hopeful and ex-financial consultant; and Carole Cheney, who now works as district chief of staff for neighboring Congressman Bill Foster, D-Geneva.
Howland says she’s definitely in the contest and points to the name recognition she built up in her prior race.
Mazesk is is “exploring” running but is interested enough that she’s met both with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (the party’s House elections unit) and Emily’s List, a prominent women’s funding group. Cheney says she “likely” to get in the race because, “The people in the 6th Congressional District are entitled to a representative who respects and listens to them regardless of political party.” […]
I wasn’t able to reach her, but [Maura Sullivan] comes right out of central casting: a former U.S. Marine and Iraq war veteran who graduated from Northwestern Univesity, got an MBA from Harvard University, and until recently was a senior public affairs official at the Pentagon.
But Sullivan also reportedly lives in Evanston, something that likely would become an issue if she moved to run.
Yeah, I’m kinda thinking that an Evanston Democrat may not go over too well out there in DuPage Land, but one never knows, I suppose.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
Today Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is releasing web ads targeted at Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), urging her to support the VA Accountability First Act of 2017. Duckworth voted for similar legislation, the VA Accountability Act, in 2015.
“How many more veterans will die waiting for care at the Department of Veterans Affairs?” the ad narrator asks. “How many more will be neglected by the people hired to serve them? How many more will suffer before the Senate acts?” The ad then prompts viewers to call Senator Duckworth directly in support of the bill.
The ad is part of a larger series of sixteen other VA accountability ads that CVA is launching this week. Other ad targets include Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
These ads come as part of a six-figure investment CVA is making into helping the VA Accountability First Act of 2017 pass in the Senate this year. The group is making thousands of phone calls to constituents of Senate targets and is promoting a digital tool which connects CVA activists directly with their Senators’ offices via email and social media.
* It would be fascinating to see what sort of support this bill would get if they’d just put it up on the big board. But they’re the ones doing the counting, not me, so subject matter only hearings is all we’ll likely get this year…
Feedback from community groups, advocacy organizations, public safety officers, medical professionals and the public will be pivotal in shaping efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois. At a press conference today, State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) announced plans to hold the first subject matter hearing on the topic at 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in the Bilandic building.
“Rep. Cassidy and I are committed to gathering feedback about how legalizing recreational marijuana would affect the state from a large variety of interest groups,” Steans said. “We have received overwhelming support for this legislation but do not plan to move forward hastily. We want to ensure that there is ample time for organizations and individuals to present testimony and for us to adjust the legislation based on information presented in hearings.”
Barbara Brohl, the executive director of Colorado’s Department of Revenue will testify on how legalizing recreational marijuana has affected Colorado during the first hearing on this subject. Karmen Hanson, the program director of the Health Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures, will also testify on what other states have done around legalizing marijuana.
“Senator Steans and I strongly believe that it’s time that Illinois had a new drug policy,” Cassidy said. “Legalizing recreational marijuana will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. We’re discussing all sorts of proposals to end the budget impasse, and we thought this should be part of the conversation as well.”
The Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy organization devoted to ending marijuana prohibition, has estimated that legalizing recreational marijuana would generate between $350 million and $700 million in new revenue for the state of Illinois. Under the Steans-Cassidy proposals, the revenue would go to support the State Board of Education; treatment and education programs about marijuana, alcohol and tobacco; and the state’s General Revenue Fund.
Currently, six groups and organizations have come out in support of the legislation due to the fiscal impact it would have on the state and their belief that Illinois needs a new drug policy.
“It is time for Illinois to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol,” said Chris Lindsey, a spokesperson for the Coalition for a Safer Illinois, a newly formed alliance of doctors, law enforcement, clergy and other organizations committed to updating marijuana legislation in Illinois. “Our current policy causes more harm to the individual and society than cannabis consumption, and a majority of Illinois voters are ready for a better approach. We believe these bills are exactly what Illinois needs.”
* Brian Gaughan, a former cop and a current crusader against the drug war was at today’s press conference. Gaughan lives in Chicago and had this to say to reporters…
It’s time that we put law enforcement working solving crimes instead of going after people who have a plant. There’s enough violent crime that’s actually fueled by illicit cannabis purchases. That money now goes to street gangs and drug cartels and fighting for territory is one of the main reasons we see such a high level of street crime in Chicago.
Walgreen’s and Costco managers won’t shoot at each other over weed territory or sell that product to kids.
What would have been worse: for Gov. Bruce Rauner to just admit he is campaigning for two days while there is no state budget — or for him to do everything that looks, smells and feels like campaigning, but call it something different? […]
Some of the headlines:
– “Rauner insists campaign-funded statewide tour not about re-election bid,” by Chicago Tribune’s Kim Geiger and Monique Garcia: “When Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner tours a business, talks with employees and stresses the importance of his economic agenda and frustration at Democratic opposition, taxpayers typically cover the cost as part of his official duties running the state. As the governor embarked on a two-day statewide tour Tuesday, his campaign fund was footing the bill. Despite that, the governor insisted Tuesday that the proceedings weren’t political. Reporters, Rauner said, shouldn’t cover his tour ‘in any way other than communication to the people of Illinois.’” Story here
– “Rauner: State trip isn’t campaigning,” by AP’s Sara Burnett: “Rauner, who put $50 million into his campaign fund in December, said Tuesday he wanted media to cover the events as ‘communication with the people of Illinois.’ He also refused to say he’s seeking another term, adding ‘That will be discussed later on.’ Rauner and his political team acknowledged, however, that the tour was being paid for out of his campaign fund, Citizens for Rauner. But they described it as a ‘political event’ like others he’s held throughout his term and not a ‘campaign event.’” Story here
– “Rauner launches campaign-funded tour he says isn’t campaign tour,” by Sun-Times’ Tina Sfondeles: “Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday kicked off a campaign-funded two-day tour of the state — all the while denying that he’s kicking off his re-election or that the 10 stops are campaign-related.” Story here […]
* Subscribers know more about what went on, but check out these ledes, starting with Public Radio in the Quad Cities…
Hoping to bring pressure on the General Assembly to solve the budget crisis, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has started a two-day tour across the state.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner took his plan to solve Illinois’ financial woes to the people Tuesday, including a stop in Rock Island on Tuesday where he held fast to demands for his reform agenda.
“We’ve had a political system that’s been working for the insiders and not for the people,” he told a group at Performance Food Group in Rock Island. “… The answers to our challenges are real simple: We need to grow our economy.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner repeatedly emphasized his persistence in the more than two-year-long fight over the state budget during a visit to a Peoria business Tuesday.
Rauner is encouraged, however, that Senate Democrats are starting to negotiate some of his proposed structural reforms, including a property tax freeze and term limits among other items.
* As I told subscribers this morning, Rauner couldn’t buy coverage like this from ABC 7 if he tried…
Many people will [say] that the State of Illinois is in worse financial shape now than it was two years ago when Republican Governor Bruce Rauner took office. However, as Newschannel 20’s Esther Kwon reports, Governor Rauner says Democrats have been an obstacle to success.
Rauner said his administration has done “a phenomenal job” on the things he can control, and said the Democratic majority has blocked him from fixing the state’s issues.
Today, the JB for Governor campaign released the first in a series of “JB and Me” online videos highlighting JB’s commitment to his community and the future of Illinois.
The video features Neal Sales-Griffin’s work to help people learn how to write computer code. With the help of 1871, a non-profit small business hub that JB founded to help small tech companies get started, Neal was able to build a company that has taught 1,600 people how to code, design, and build web applications.
“I’ve seen firsthand JB’s impact on hundreds, even thousands of other people and businesses,” said Neal Sales-Griffin. “JB sees a challenge — something that others might see as insurmountable — and he’s ready to take it on. I know I’m just one guy, but I hope that my story will help shed a little light on who this man is, and what motivates him. JB Pritzker helped change my life, and I can’t wait to watch him change Illinois.”
* Overall, the Illinois Statehouse has a 4.5-star TripAdvisor rating. Some of the individual reviews are pretty biting, though…
“The building is nice, the legislators not”
The Illinois State Capitol building is an attractive imposing building. Unfortunately, the legislators do not live up to their positions. Go for a visit to see where governing is supposed to take place.
“Our state reps don’t use the building so i figured we’d tour it”
Beautiful building and a lot of history behind it. We were able to go to just about every room in the capitol since all of our state reps were missing, like usual. Definitely visit the basement to see the foundation.
* Most folks have been focused on what the impasse has done to public universities. But private colleges are being hit hard as well because state MAP grants haven’t been appropriated…
Many, including Illinois State University and Lincoln College, fronted the money to students this academic year so they could enroll, hoping the state eventually will come through, as it did last year.
But even the so-called “lifeline” bill approved by the House last week would only cover half of the spring semester grants — if the Senate and governor go along with it.
“We’ve tried to be responsible,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach. “In good faith, we rolled the dice again” and credited students for the state grants.
For Lincoln College, where about 47 percent of the students receive MAP grants, that amounts to about $1.1 million a semester, according to Gerlach. […]
ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow testified that MAP recipients graduate at about the same rate as other students in the same college while facing greater financial obstacles than their peers.
Private liberal arts schools have been hit hard this decade. Many have closed. And more Illinois colleges could be in very big trouble soon without some MAP grant funding. When half your students rely on a state grant and you’re fronting that money to them without knowing if the cash will ever be distributed, that’s a recipe for disaster.
