* Tribune…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is evaluating a developer’s request for state help to fund construction of a $3.8 billion transit center as part of a megadevelopment along Lake Shore Drive across from Soldier Field.

Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said administration officials, including Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes, the governor’s budget point man, “have met with the developers to understand their proposal.”

“The administration is reviewing the plan and we look forward to continuing discussions,” Abudayyeh wrote in an email.

Lawmakers in the Illinois House will be briefed on the developer’s proposal — which would have the state assume ownership of the transit center after construction costs are paid off — at a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Springfield. Legislation that would make the arrangement possible has not been filed.

* Crain’s…

Pritzker has wisely stopped short of endorsing the proposal or Dunn’s specific request to pass legislation this year to allow his company to be reimbursed for the cost of building the transit center from new state tax revenue that the overall development would create. The final figures are not available. Taxpayers need to know a lot more about the risks involved in this arrangement before getting aboard this particular train. This city may be good at making real estate out of nothing, but until it finds a way to make money out of nothing, its elected leaders—whether in Chicago or Springfield—should proceed on this idea with caution.

* Press release…

The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement urging the passage of legislation that would ensure greater representation of Latinos, African Americans and women on corporate boards:

“As elected officials of one of the most diverse states in our country, it is on us to ensure that the communities we represent have a seat at the table. Communities of color and women have and are still underrepresented in positions of power, and that is unacceptable.

“Members of all of our communities have had tireless leaders who have fought not only in securing their own rights and access to economic, social, and political opportunity, but to create a fairer and more just society for all Americans. Ensuring women and people of color are represented on corporate boards will build on that progress, ensuring that we live up to our ideals of inclusion.

“We urge our colleagues in the Senate to move swiftly and ensure that all residents in Illinois have a say when decisions are being made.”

* Crain’s…

Diversity in the boardrooms of Chicago’s biggest public companies is improving, but the gains aren’t spread evenly.

Women are far better represented today than they were five years ago. There are 103 women serving on boards of the 40 largest corporations on Crain’s list of public companies. Five years ago, there were 74, according to a review of proxy statements for each of those companies.

Minorities—defined as African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans—today number 72 on those boards compared with 59 five years ago.

Corporate Chicago’s percentages are generally in line with similarly sized public companies throughout the country. Female directors make up 24 percent of the board members of Chicago’s top 40. The national average also was 24 percent at companies last year in the S&P 500, according to recruitment firm Spencer Stuart, which tracks boardroom trends annually.

Minorities make up 16 percent of directors locally. That’s just shy of 17 percent nationally last year for the top 200 companies by revenue in the S&P 500. At the 20 largest Chicago corporations—which would correspond more closely to the top 200 in the S&P 500—the percentage of minorities also is 17 percent.

* I can definitely get behind this concept…

Thank you, @AndyManar for introducing this eminently reasonable legislation. pic.twitter.com/UwxJY74LJC

— John Amdor (@JohnAmdor) May 4, 2019

* From Sen. Manar’s Facebook page…

And then there was a visit with Carlinville High School seniors Andrew DeNeve, Tyler Behme, Travis Osborn, Tristen Burns, and Tucker Green.

As part of their requirements for civics class, they had to put together a Civics Action Plan that makes the case to their elected official as to why daylight saving time should be eliminated. Andrew DeNeve called my district office to ask for a meeting for them to make their case to me directly–so we met today.

After their presentation and me peppering them with numerous questions, I committed to them that I would introduce legislation next week in the Illinois Senate to abolish daylight saving time in Illinois. I was impressed with the very strong case they presented and that deserves a debate in Springfield. One catch–when our legislation is called for a hearing in a Senate Committee, they agreed to come to a Senate Committee and present their research.

* Other stuff…

* ‘Special interrogatories’ bill advances in Senate Judiciary; Arbitration bill stalls

* Business group wary of proposed Workplace Transparency Act