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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, May 12, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Here you go…
* Capitol News Illinois | Gov’s office revises revenue estimates, calls on lawmakers to ‘defray’ noncitizen health care costs: The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget this week shaved $616 million off its estimate for current-year revenues, marking a downward revision of about 1.1 percent. The move corresponded with a $532 million, or roughly 1 percent, increased revenue estimate for the upcoming fiscal year. * Crain’s | State finances get two pieces of good news: Despite a huge drop in revenue last month, Illinois’ overall budget outlook remains good and within earlier forecasts, according to Fitch Ratings. And that report comes just as the watchdog Civic Federation gives Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2024 spending plan its thumbs-up. * Belleville News-Democrat | New regulations could force southern IL power plant to install new technology or shut down: With a few notable exceptions, Illinois appears well on its way to meeting the Biden administration’s proposed limits on climate-changing pollution emitted by power plants. The biggest outlier is a coal-fired plant in southern Illinois owned by dozens of municipalities in Illinois and across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. * Tribune | Illinois makes it easier for women to get birth control directly from pharmacists, without doctors’ visits: The head of the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a standing order Wednesday that will allow pharmacists who complete additional training to dispense hormonal patches, vaginal rings, oral contraceptives and contraceptive injections to patients. Patients will not need prescriptions from their own doctors first. * WBEZ | Brandon Johnson campaigned on reopening mental health clinics. Will he follow through?: Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson was clear on the campaign trail that he supported reopening the shuttered city-run mental health clinics that closed more than a decade ago. It’s a goal he said “that we have to work towards immediately in this first budget.” But as he prepares to take the keys to the 5th floor office next week, his new administration says much of their approach has “yet to be determined.” * Sun-Times | He used to do business with reputed mob figures. Now, he’s licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board.: Jeffrey Bertucci testified in 2010 to illegally paying out winnings from video gaming machines installed in his Cicero diner and splitting his take with the mob’s so-called video poker king. In 2019, gambling regulators gave him a license to legally operate video gaming devices. * The Telegraph | Farmers need state help with soil conservation: With seven people dying and dozens injured when a dust cloud enveloped Interstate 55 south of Springfield and made international news, there have been a lot of people commenting about the need to do something to ensure this doesn’t happen again. * Capitol News Illinois | General Assembly approves criminal sentencing reforms for minors: House Bill 3414 adds to the factors that judges must consider in the process of sentencing children found guilty of a crime. The bill would require a judge to consider a child’s involvement in the child welfare system, whether they have a history of domestic abuse or sexual exploitation and the results of any mental health evaluations the child has gone through. This is in addition to existing factors that judges already consider, such as age, maturity and potential for rehabilitation. * WCCU | Disability worker shortage putting pressure on family caregivers: The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF) is calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office to raise the pay of disability workers. The agency said people have left the industry for less stressful jobs, and it’s causing families to depend on each other to provide care. * Sun-Times | Lawsuit seeks to stop former South Shore High School from being turned into shelter for migrants: ‘We were forced to do this’: The suit alleges a plan to house asylum-seekers at the shuttered school violates a lease agreement and names the city of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools as defendants. * USA Today | Federal judge blocks Biden from ‘paroling’ migrants hours before Title 42 set to lift: A federal judge in Florida on Thursday blocked a Biden administration plan to release migrants in the U.S. on “parole” because of an surge expected once an emergency immigration restriction known as Title 42 lifts. * Sun-Times | Brandon Johnson fleshes out senior staff, shows continued influence of Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Teachers Union: Annette Guzman, Preckwinkle’s budget director for Cook County government, will be Johnson’s city budget director. Guzman replaces Susie Park, who for the last four years has been part of a triumvirate of women credited with engineering a financial turnaround under Mayor Lori Lightfoot tha has included a record low $85 million budget shortfall, a $272 million pension pre-payment and 13 bond rating upgrades. * Sun-Times | 100 years, 37 convictions later, City Council begins second century bullish for future, sheepish about past: Reformers were aiming to root out corruption with the advent of the 50-ward system in 1923, but illegal backroom deals have remained all too common for a legislative body that has otherwise seen massive change. * Daily Herald | ‘Nonstarter’: Bears, suburban school districts millions apart on property tax deal for Arlington: “This is an excessive sum for property that will sit idle and will have no commercial use for at least the next two years,” Warren wrote. “This is simply not financially feasible and has negative consequences for all parties, including Arlington Heights and the surrounding communities.” * Tribune | Teachers authorize strike at Acero charter school network in Chicago, says operator, accusing teachers union of ‘bad-faith bargaining’: An Instagram account attributed to the CTU’s charter division posted Wednesday that 93% of more than 500 members across the Acero network voted in favor of authorizing a strike. “It’s up to Acero management to avoid a strike by meeting our demands for Supportive, Safe and Sustainable schools. They must increase staffing to support our students and provide Equal Pay for Equal Work,” the post read. * Politico | She Stole $54 Million From Her Town. Then Something Unexpected Happened.: “You have not been doing your job,” said a gray-ponytailed man in flannel once he got to the microphone. City Council members and the mayor sat stone-faced on the dais, absorbing this and similar blasts of anger from the public, still grappling with the shock of the crime they’d discovered far too late. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re all fired. Thank you very much.” Among the scores of citizens of Dixon, Illinois, who had packed the council chambers, lined stairwells, spilled out the front door of the red brick building and across the street into the library parking lot, this was not an uncommon sentiment. * Tribune | This summer’s Chicago Street Race promises to boost tourism, but it may be even more pivotal for NASCAR: The Chicago Street Race, which is expected to draw 100,000 attendees during July Fourth weekend, promises to be a potential tourism boon for the city, but the event could be even more pivotal for NASCAR. Faced with declining ratings, dwindling attendance and growing domestic competition from the Formula 1 international racing series, which offers several urban street courses, NASCAR is seeking new roads to build its fan base. * WBEZ | NASCAR tweaks its Chicago race plan as residents voice concerns about noise and lakefront access: And in response, the racing brand says it will limit car noise, keep access to the lakefront trail open to pedestrians — by way of Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road — and set aside some greenspace areas for public access during the racing festival’s weekend activities.
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- Stuck in Celliniland - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 8:07 am:
Alex Degman has an article this morning about the efforts of the Community News Brief in Macomb helping to reduce the news desert that McDonough County has become in recent years, due to Gannett, Sinclair, and Gray Media:
https://www.wbez.org/stories/decline-of-local-journalism-raises-risk-of-news-deserts/cd71794f-a34f-4935-9191-02b800e6996c
- JS Mill - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:12 am:
The situation with the community and the old South Shore high school being used as a shelter is horrible. Shame on these community members. This morning on WGN I listened as one of the protest leaders complained about the institutional racism black people have faced over the years (and they definitely have)and now they want to turn around and do the same thing to these folks who are essentially refugees running from a horrible situation. Shameful.
When the Burr Ridge mayor complained about migrants being placed in a local hotel, he was properly called out for his racism.
- MisterJayEm - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:16 am:
“This is an excessive sum for property that will sit idle and will have no commercial use for at least the next two years.”
Arlington Heights’ school districts have an obligation to the families that they serve, not to the McCaskey family’s business plan.
If you can’t afford to pay the taxes on something, just do what I do: Don’t buy it.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:27 am:
The Bears want a “want”, it’s not a “need”
School boards are telling the Bears it’s horrific.
The Bears can easily finance the stadium, if they *WANT* a shopping complex for “enhancing revenues”, take a loan for that too.
The Chicago Bears / The McCaskey family will see a worth windfall of no less than $400 million with the sale of the Washington Commanders. Not doing a thing, voting to approve a sale… $400 million in value for the Bears, at minimum.
The governor called it a “bailout”, school boards see the horrific damage… not one nickel. Not one.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:28 am:
Like they say in the movie “Stop trying to make NASCAR happen”….
- DHS Drone - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:31 am:
Loved that Dixon story in Politico. Used to live out that way, and I’m a government worker, so I’ve always been fascinated by the story of Rita Crundwell. There is a great documentary on this called All the Queen’s Horses if you want to learn more.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:33 am:
I’d also add, if the Bears are gonna beef about a $14 million in a property tax increase, just wait till they try to get 60 and 30 and a signature without a minimum of $300+ million to Chicago (even over 10 years) to get any legislative relief for Arlington Heights.
The Bears can always sell the parcel, and where will they move to after that?
Truly a textbook lesson on how not to leverage, maneuver, or work a deal to “maximize revenues with public help”
Not one nickel.
Those schools will suffer. You can choose kids or schools at this point. That’s where it sits, today.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:40 am:
“Nonstarter”
Someone want to explain leverage to this cat.
What the Bears are selling the school boards ain’t buying.
- Annonin' - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:44 am:
Media headed to Peoria may need some questions for DeSantis and the LaHoods….
Are they worried Trump will revoke the Confessed Congressman’s free pass? How much help did CitadelKen provide to get the free pass from Trump and end the gag order? What was Ray’s Talent Fee for the smear job on Kilbride. Did he pay taxes? Did he pay his $50K fine? Did he pay taxes on the package he got from the Nigerian Oil Baron? Will help with a local angle. Will check back Monday.
- Captain Obvious - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:46 am:
The fact that the Bears paid $197 million seems to me to be an indication that that is the minimum it is worth. So why should shouldn’t they have to pay taxes on that amount? Just like I do when I purchase a home.
- Timzilla - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:51 am:
“Those schools will suffer. You can choose kids or schools at this point. That’s where it sits, today.”
The Bears (McCaskey Family) have always operated a billion dollar business like a mom & pop shop, so I get they are way out of their element in getting this stadium built but how exactly are the schools going to suffer? The Bears own proposal will have them paying more taxes than previously generated when the property was a racetrack.
- Jerry - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 9:55 am:
Right now the “Bears” have a house along the lake, built to their specifications and they have received billions in Welfare.
If they dont like their current home, repay the money and then your free to move.
But pay for it yourselves.
Just because the former college administrator got somebody else to build a stadium and mooch off of taxpayers doesent mean it will happen again.
No Welfare for the Bears!
- DuPage Saint - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 10:03 am:
Certainly the Bears can afford it but I am curious how much money did local governments get under previous ownership. I thought they got a huge rebate and even the taxes they paid got reimbursed by state or county. I thought that was wrong then and don’t think Bears should get it either
- City Guy - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 10:22 am:
I did a quick look at info from the NASCAR economic impact study. It is based on 100,000 spectators and 24,000 room-nights. There are approximately 45,000 hotel rooms in downtown Chicago. I really doubt there were 24,000 vacant hotel rooms over July 4th holiday. I would be interested in seeing what the normal occupancy rate for July 4th was in the past.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 10:37 am:
City Guy- you’re on the right track. Per the Tribune article, the Choose Chicago touism group says Chicago will have 5.4 million visitors in 2023.
So that averages to about 100,000 a week over the whole year. The NASCAR event with basically be an average week for Chicago.
At the cost of shutting down Grant Park for quite a few days including set up and tear down.
- JS Mill - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 10:47 am:
=If you can’t afford to pay the taxes on something, just do what I do: Don’t buy it.=
Sage advice from one of the best on the blog.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 10:55 am:
Minimum of 300 million to Chicago?
Lots of luck with that, don’t buy a lotto ticket today
- Oswego Willy - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 11:44 am:
===Lots of luck with that, don’t buy a lotto ticket today===
Nah. That’s what the Bears should do if they are crying “poor” and still can’t find 60/30 with a governor looking at things as a Bears Bailout.
The Bears can always, as their right, reject any and all plans, but the Bears can’t expect as a right some corporate welfare.
The Bears should just get private financing and be done with it.
- DuPage - Friday, May 12, 23 @ 11:55 am:
* ===Belleville News-Democrat | New regulations could force southern IL power plant to install new technology or shut down: With a few notable exceptions….. The biggest outlier is a coal-fired plant in southern Illinois owned by dozens of municipalities in Illinois and across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states.===
Electric rates can influence decisions of where large companies locate new manufacturing. Having abundant, inexpensive electricity is an important factor. Illinois needs to encourage companies to bring in wind and solar power and install mega-size battery-farm storage. Permitting should be fast-tracked and roadblocks removed. Affected property owners should be paid a percentage above low-ball prices on eminent domain.
Other states seem to be going ahead of us with large power projects and new power lines to bring in the power. We will need much more electricity when the coal plant shuts down, at the same time electrical demand goes up because of more people getting electric cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxntVvGSPqw