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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Center Square | Illinois ‘Freedom Caucus’ says majority Democrats’ agenda not good for taxpayers: State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, is a member of the group that calls itself the Freedom Caucus. He said Democrats have recently passed measures from the House that ban pronouns of boy and girl in state statute, ban cat declawing and more. * Center Square | Democratic Party of Illinois spending in local school and library board races: “There are lots of candidates who are running, Republicans or Democrats, they’re not listed on the ballots as such. What we’re trying to do is to raise awareness about the extremists that are running,” Pritzker said at an unrelated event last week. * News-Gazette Editorial | New revenues welcome, but state debts remain biggest issue: But let’s not get carried away with recent revenue forecasts touting estimates of an additional $1 billion in revenue for the current 2023 fiscal year and the 2024 fiscal year that begins July 1. While Pritzker is riding high on good budget news, Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently suggested taking a go-slow approach. * Herald & Review | Illinois sports betting handle reaches $9.3 billion in 2022: The state’s handle — the total amount wagered — soared to more than $9.3 billion last year, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. Revenues reached nearly $800 million. These represent 39% and 37.8% jumps, respectively, from 2021 totals. * Tribune | State awards $20 million to upgrade security at religious and cultural institutions deemed at risk for terrorism: The grants, which also were awarded to reproductive health centers, must be used for “target-hardening activities,” which include active shooter training, the purchase and installation of security equipment and the hiring of security guards, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office. * Crain’s | Giannoulias fears ‘catastrophic’ data hack, wants $200M to fix system: Illinois risks a “catastrophic” security breach of highly confidential personal data on millions of residents unless it soon upgrades outmoded computer systems based on 1980s technology. That’s the bottom line of a report from newly installed Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias that takes a hard look at the status of Common Business Oriented Language, or COBOL, systems his office now uses to store and process Illinoisans’ data, including their home addresses, vehicle registrations, Social Security numbers and organ donor information. * Tribune | Horse track/casino proposed for south suburban Richton Park as lawmakers seek to eliminate Hawthorne veto power: The group has had several meetings with elected officials of Richton Park, who expressed support, Daniels wrote, adding that the revenue lost due to “incessant delays” in Hawthorne’s plans for expansion create a “significant crisis” for the racing industry. * WSPY | Newark State Rep. learns lay of land in Springfield: Some of the bills include one to help foster parents, a hospital pricing transparency bill, and a bill to help home-based businesses. Davis says he’s been working with Democrats and Republicans to get things done. * Science | Major shake-up coming for Fermilab, the troubled U.S. particle physics center: In an unusual move, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has quietly begun a new competition for the contract to run the United States’s sole dedicated particle physics laboratory. Announced in January, the rebid comes 1 year after Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), which is managed in part by the University of Chicago (UChicago), failed an annual DOE performance review and 9 months after it named a new director. DOE would not comment, but observers say its frustrations include cost increases and delays in a gargantuan new neutrino experiment. * CBS Chicago | Chicago Police officers are taught their lives are more important than community safety: As CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reported Wednesday, the community monitoring group was started as a result of the federal consent decree mandating reforms in the Chicago Police Department. One of the group’s efforts was to inspect what actually happens at the Chicago Police Academy – and take notes. The group’s goal is to stop police brutality and the excessive use of force. * Sun-Times | Tunney on Ann Sather’s future, election, leaving City Council and why he didn’t run for mayor: Tunney, chairman of the Council’s Zoning Committee, came close to joining the race after his longtime friend and political ally, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., took a pass. * Sun-Times | Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products and beloved philanthropist, dead at 98: Mr. Gardner donated tens of thousands of dollars to causes that sought to end gun violence and helped create the nonprofit Black On Black Love.
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- James the Intolerant - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:11 am:
Tunney came out for Vallas early. I wish someone would ask him after all Vallas’ views have been released if he has any regrets.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:15 am:
===Tunney came out for Vallas early. I wish someone would ask him after all Vallas’ views have been released if he has any regrets.===
Tunney was a Daley Appointed Alderman.
There are no regrets.
- regular democrat - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:15 am:
Why does a law need to be passed to get SENIOR buildings to turn on the …..g air conditioning when it gets warm out? Blows my mind.
- regular democrat - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:21 am:
Just to be clear it should be an automatic common sense function of a senior facility. Air conditioning is not a luxury item like a Bentley. It exists to keep people alive.
- John Lopez - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:23 am:
While not listed, the controversy over Naperville City Councilmember Benny White, one of 3 candidates for the open mayoral election April 4, issued statement this morning over the Dan Proft Local Government Information Services article critical of White’s use of the disabled Veterans property tax relief act, which was picked up by the Chicago Tribune owned Naperville Sun.
White disclosed he’s no longer eligible for the program since he’s reached the program’s cap, a detail not included in the articles.
- James the Intolerant - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:29 am:
Tunney was the first openly gay alderman. Some of Vallas’ words must give him pause. No repsonse needed OW, just the opinion of a Chicago voter who is still not sure who I will vote for.
- Loyal Virus - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:30 am:
Alexi is spot on. Plus, a new system would also make it possible to add a non-binary gender marker option to driver’s licenses and other state id.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:34 am:
===No repsonse needed… , just the opinion of a Chicago voter who is still not sure who I will vote for.===
Ignoring Tunney’s own history with Daley, ignoring Vallas’ Daley bona fides, sometimes it’s Occam’s razor; Daleyites coming home.
Plus, in the post, Tunney is highlighted. Nothing wrong with a lil sunshine to history, no?
- H-W - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:43 am:
@ James
Several of us have said we are not sure who we will vote for in the election, and that there are two candidates who are not ideal.
I would suggest you vote for the ideal, then. Which candidate gives you the most hope. It was said yesterday (or Wednesday), that Johnson’s agenda offered more hope than Vallas’s agenda.
Even if neither is ideal, one candidate is always less palatable than the other. In the same vein, one candidate always offers more hope than the other.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:51 am:
With all due respect to Secretary Giannoulias, my personal data is safer on 1980s technology in COBOL than state of the art technology in Java or C++ (think F-35).
- Earl - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 8:55 am:
Most hope? My suggestion would be to vote for the candidate that has the least of chance of further screwing up a city already on the brink. I went to the UIC criminal justice debate with an open mind and was taken about how glib Johnson was when asked about he would measure success. Said he’ll know it when he sees it.
- supplied_demand - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:09 am:
==Even if neither is ideal, one candidate is always less palatable than the other. In the same vein, one candidate always offers more hope than the other. ==
I think it depends on what one is hoping for, it’s not so cut-and-dry. Many are hoping for safer streets for their own and their neighbor’s children (Vallas). Others are hoping for a more stable tax environment (Vallas). Others still are hoping for a more compassionate and equitable justice system (Johnson). Others are hoping for an improved and expanded CTA (Johnson). As voters we must weigh multiple “hopes” against the reality we see today. Hope isn’t a governing principle, it is an election principle.
- Techie - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:20 am:
“My suggestion would be to vote for the candidate that has the least of chance of further screwing up a city already on the brink.”
Somehow I don’t see the candidate who is funded by the wealthy and business interests serving the interests of the poor and middle class who are suffering the most. The same candidate who wants to hire more cops without tackling the root causes of crime. Basically someone who wants the status quo - that will lead the city further down the same sad path, which as you suggest, could put it over the brink.
- OneMan - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:34 am:
Got three school board mailers, two for the anti-woke slate that came from two different PACs, the one appeared kind of generic and not really aimed at the local issues.
One came from the other slate and was sent to the youngest voter in the house who hasn’t voted in a while since they are away at school
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:37 am:
=one candidate is always less palatable than the other.=
Nope.
- Earl - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:43 am:
Techie, both candidates say they want to hire more police (and otherwise reform policing) and attack the root causes of violence. It’s not an either or proposition. The question is which is most likely to accomplish those goals. My group of undecideds at the debate were alarmed by Johnson’s lack of specificity on how he would do those things and by his derision toward the taxpayers and business community who will pay for it. Hope won’t cut it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:45 am:
===My group of undecideds at the debate were alarmed by Johnson’s lack of specificity on how he would do those things and by his derision toward the taxpayers and business community who will pay for it.===
What was Vallas’ at the debate, and his “paying” specifics?
Thanks.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:46 am:
+Many are hoping for safer streets for their own and their neighbor’s children (Vallas).
Others still are hoping for a more compassionate and equitable justice system (Johnson). =
Exactly. Neither strategy works in isolation….but no centrist candidate.
- Jerry - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:48 am:
The only folks who talk about “defundin the police” are Woke Republicans. Just like they are the ones banning Mrs Doubtfire at the library.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 9:51 am:
===The only folks===
I’m fairly certain Johnson talked about it.
Can’t unring bells… or sound bites
- Earl - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:09 am:
He proposed maintaining Lightfoot’s South and West Side investment plans and redirecting Tiff funds, for example. And yes, Johnson did previously propose defunding the police and when he denied doing so the largely African American audience laughed at him. He would have been better off describing why he changed his mind than telling porkies that no one believed.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:13 am:
Tunney should have run himself. It is impossible to know what would have happened, but I think a lot of people would have been drawn to his candidacy.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:15 am:
===maintaining Lightfoot’s South and West Side investment plans and redirecting Tiff funds===
How exactly is that getting more cops, and how will the redirecting TIF work?
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:16 am:
The Chicago mayoral election is a nose holder for many. If Vallas was just a moderate or conservative Democrat without the racist and homophobic baggage, if he didn’t guest host a right wing radio show, like bigoted posts, guest speak at “Awake,” trash Obama, Biden, Pritzker and Chicago, he could be more palatable. But Vallas is a politician on steroids, shamelessly playing both sides. If he loses some Democrats are going to have the stain of endorsing him. Maybe if he wins he’ll do a Sinema and ditch the party, after using it to his benefit.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:23 am:
Who would know better than Arnie Duncan how disastrous it would be for a CTU puppet to be Mayor of Chicago?
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/arne-duncan-endorses-paul-vallas-mayor
- Techie - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:33 am:
“attack the root causes of violence”
I’ve not heard or seen Vallas propose anything to address the root causes of crime and violence. Johnson, on the other hand, talks about this a lot by investing in the people whose needs are chronically un-met.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:38 am:
==CTU puppet==
Well then I guess it’s a contest between a “CTU puppet” and someone who hangs out with hatemongers.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:42 am:
===Arnie Duncan===
A Daleyite
They’re all coming home, no?
- Chicago Guy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:44 am:
How would you redirect TIF funds? Ans: You redirect them!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:47 am:
===You redirect them===
Gosh, if it’s that easy… Why hasn’t it been done
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 10:59 am:
Much more than a Daleyite
Served in President Obama’s cabinet as Secretary of Education for 7 of the 8 years
- Snowman61 - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:03 am:
Someone in Chicago should start a “None of the Above” campaign. /s
- Lurker - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:05 am:
No way the SoS will be upgraded for only $200M. I will be surprised if it’s not at least 2.5 times that.
And to Anyone Remember, your statement was true 10 years ago but not anymore. Everyone that knows COBOL is retired or dead. The data no longer has enough hands to know how to keep it safe.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:27 am:
===Much more than a Daleyite===
A Daleyite all the same, that’s the point.
Otherwise it’s some other person with no Chicago connection, lol
- supplied_demand - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:43 am:
==Gosh, if it’s that easy… Why hasn’t it been done ==
It has, many times. I think the point is to make more structural changes than annual “surplus announcements” to balance the budget.
2023: https://news.wttw.com/2023/01/05/share-chicago-property-tax-revenues-claimed-tif-funds-grew-155-2021-report-0
2022: https://news.wttw.com/2021/09/30/more-1b-chicago-property-tax-revenues-claimed-tif-funds-2020-report
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 11:46 am:
===I think the point is to make more structural changes than annual “surplus announcements” to balance the budget.===
Ball Game.
Thing is, if you’re counting on that surplus number as the gap, you’re chasing what that number *could* be.
A budget is a weight and measure of policy by the monies put to the policy.
Breezy words…
- Big Dipper - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:09 pm:
==Served in President Obama’s cabinet==
Suddenly an Obama fan?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
===Suddenly an Obama fan?===
“Forget it, he’s rolling”
Wait till ole - LP - figures out Dems are gonna have to support his AH Bears stadium bailout. (Mind blowing)
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
has anyone evaluated the “want to have a beer with him” sense in the Mayoral? Vaguely Malcolm X Brandon vs. Fire Marshall Bill Vallas who sounds like Cartman….skewl/respect my authoritay. what an election.
- supplied_demand - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:20 pm:
==A budget is a weight and measure of policy by the monies put to the policy.==
You speak in riddles, so it’s hard to follow exactly what you mean. Either way, your original comment was about “redirecting TIF funds” and how it would work. I explained how it happens every year. The money is clearly there, it needs to be better allocated with proper budget oversight, not used as a political slush fund.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:25 pm:
===You speak in riddles===
I actually don’t, were any of those words too big, or tough to define?
===The money is clearly there, it needs to be better allocated with proper budget oversight, not used as a political slush fund.===
Or… if there’s a budgetary reason to look at “surplus” instead of or outside of “found” monies, then the discussion begins to an honesty to even TIF.
- Dotnonymous - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 1:48 pm:
TIFs benefit developers and their buddies…most.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:22 pm:
People, stay on topic.