Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

Now, ahead of Tuesday night’s Township Board meeting, the Joliet Park District had issued a statement saying that it is rescinding the lease to the township of the Hartman Recreation Center, which was set to go into effect on Oct. 1. Park District Executive Director Brad Staab said in the statement that the township misrepresented what the township would use the Hartman Center for.

“Until we saw a copy of the grant application and saw the Hartman Recreation Center listed as a Welcome Center, we trusted they were going to do what they said, which was use it for community events, a farmers market, and moving some of their offices from Jefferson Street, NOT a migrant welcome center,” the park district statement said.

Unreal.

* 12th District Republican challenger Darren Bailey issued a statement on the invasion of Israel over the weekend. The NRCC responded…

…Here’s a quote below regarding Darren Bailey’s complete 180 on his stance with Israel/Palestine. As you know, he spoke in front of a map that erased Israel and depicted the entire region as “Palestine.” When asked by the Times of Israel if he would get behind legislation supporting Israel, Bailey “avoided providing an answer.”

“Terrorists are invading Israel to wipe it off the map—which is exactly what Darren Bailey endorsed in his shameless campaign appearance in Chicagoland last year. We live in too dangerous a world to allow flip-flopping politicians like Darren Bailey into Congress.” – NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella

More background is here.

* Politico completely ignored the Illinois Legislative Jewish Caucus’ statement on Israel and the sharp push-back against Rep. Rashid’s counter-statement, and the resulting “clarifications” issued by at least four (now five) of Rashid’s own co-signers. Subscribers know more…

Gov. JB Pritzker condemned the “horrifying attacks on Israel” by the Palestinian Hamas group over the weekend. “In Illinois and across America, the people of Israel are in our prayers,” Pritzker said in a social media statement and reiterating his sentiments on CBS’ Face the Nation.

And 18 members of the Illinois General Assembly signed a letter calling for peace in the Middle East.

“There are people across Illinois, many of whom are our constituents, who are watching this situation unfold and experiencing deep pain as they worry for loved ones,” the members said. “We will not be able to achieve peace when millions of Palestinians are denied basic human rights.”

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, was among those signing the letter.

* WBEZ has a profile of United Working Families leader Kennedy Bartley…

Kennedy Bartley knows her way around 121 N. Lasalle.

Her group, United Working Families, has long sought to shape public policies passed through City Hall. They hold political action events there, attend council meetings to push their agenda, and work to elect grassroots organizers.

But for the first time since UWF’s ascension in Chicago politics, Bartley and the organization she’s been tasked to lead have an influential seat at the City Hall table, with the mayor they helped elect.

Same Kennedy Bartley…

From the river to the sea Palestine will be free. Amen!

— Kennedy Bartley (@kennedy_bartley) October 10, 2023

“From the river to the sea” explained by the ADL…

Demanding justice for Palestinians, or calling for a Palestinian state should not also mean negating Israel’s existence. This chant can be understood as a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, implying the dismantling of the Jewish state. Indeed, this rallying cry has long been used by the anti-Israel terrorist organizations such as Hamas and the PFLP, which seek Israel’s destruction through violent means.

* On to other topics. Sen. Durbin had a knee replaced…

U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today underwent a successful total knee replacement surgery for his left knee. The procedure was performed this morning at RUSH in Oak Brook, Illinois. Durbin will remain in Illinois until he is cleared for travel to Washington by his doctor.

“As a result of my unremarkable high school football career, it was determined that I needed a full knee replacement for my left knee. I’m grateful to the medical staff at RUSH for today’s successful procedure and my new knee. I look forward to getting back to Washington as soon as possible.”

* Got any ideas?…

The Illinois Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board is seeking further input from parents, education advocates, community groups and other stakeholders regarding the transition to a fully-elected school board.

The committee will host a public hearing online at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 at www.ilga.gov to explore suggestions on how the transition can be done in a way that ensures equitable representation for all of Chicago’s diverse communities. Recent hearings have raised questions about a number of provisions required under current law, including the hybrid period in which some districts will be represented by members who are elected and others will be represented by members who are appointed, as well as the petition and election process for prospective board candidates.

Comments can be submitted prior to the hearing via email at ChicagoERSBCommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov, or online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. That website also hosts an online map-making portal where anyone can draw and submit proposed district boundaries for consideration.

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker joined local and state leaders today to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Eli’s Cheesecake expanded facility. The $10 million investment and 42,000 square-foot expanded facility will increase space for packaging lines and bakery operations for the famous Chicago cheesecake company while creating 50 new jobs for the area.

“A family-owned bakery — three generations strong, Eli’s Cheesecake is an iconic Chicago-staple,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to a $10 million investment and competitive hiring incentives from our EDGE tax credit program, Eli’s Cheesecake was able to complete a 42,000 square foot expansion—bringing this facility size to a whopping 104,000 square feet. And, of course, more capacity brings jobs for the people of Illinois. More jobs, more customers, more cake: it doesn’t get much better than that.”

“With more than three decades of serving communities, the expansion of Eli’s Cheesecake is an example of how Illinois continues to grow,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We have the talent, the business and the infrastructure to keep our communities moving forward.”

The expanded facility – which is the company’s first expansion in almost 30 years – almost doubles the size of its bakery, allowing for increased bakery operations, including additional production and packaging lines, warehousing, and welfare areas. With a total of 104,000-square-feet, the expanded facility includes Eli’s Corporate Offices and the Eli’s Cheesecake Bakery Café, which is open to the public.

* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…

* Sun-Times | Pritzker says Illinois ‘unequivocally stands’ with Israel in battle with Hamas: The Democratic governor, who is Jewish, acknowledged that there are “peace-loving Palestinians, and we must honor them,” but he called Hamas an “Iranian-backed army of murderers” at a Jewish United Fund solidarity event in the parking lot of the North Shore Congregation Israel.

* SJ-R | Five county inmates face delayed transfers to mental health treatment centers: What to know: At the Sangamon County Jail, there are currently five inmates who have been deemed unfit that have stayed beyond the 60-day standard- one spending an additional 110 days behind bars. All told, the sheriff said 31 inmates have been kept in jail after 60 days since Jan. 1, 2023.

* Iowa Capital Dispatch | Navigator pulls its pipeline permit application in Illinois: Navigator CO2 on Tuesday moved to withdraw its carbon dioxide pipeline permit application in Illinois, effectively halting its project. The motion comes about a week before the Illinois Commerce Commission was set to hold an evidentiary hearing for the application.

* Crain’s | The rocky path for Black and Latino homebuyers in Chicago: Lenders are denying a higher percentage of Black Chicagoans’ mortgage applications (27%) than they are of Latinos’ (20%) and whites’ (11%). And of those who are approved, African American and Latino borrowers are generally paying more for their loans through what lenders call loan level pricing adjustments, or LLPAs.

* Daily Herald | ‘They can’t get people to work here’: U-46 drivers call for better pay to attract more workers: Days that start at 5:15 a.m. and end at 4:45 p.m. Workplace temperatures that hit 120 degrees in the summer. The possibility of being kicked, punched or slapped. Confrontations with students in possession of illegal drugs. Take home pay of $585 every two weeks.

* Block Club | Fewer Migrants Staying At O’Hare’s Bus Center As More Shelters Open: The makeshift shelter at the airport, which on Friday hosted 828 migrants, now has 632 people, according number released Tuesday morning from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

* Daily Herald | Why Elk Grove Village is going to court over O’Hare Fly Quiet plan: Village leaders on Monday announced they’ve filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., to compel the agency to analyze “reasonable” alternatives as part of an environmental review of changes to the Fly Quiet Program, which first was implemented in 1997.

* Naperville Sun | 95% of Naperville residents give city a positive quality of life rating, find little to criticize, survey shows: “If you’re looking (for) … the place where we’re screwing up and dropping the ball? Frankly, when I went through the data, I could not find (any),” Naperville City Manager Doug Krieger told council members.

* Sun-Times | Anti-abortion activist climbs Accenture Tower, gets arrested: Des Champs has climbed eight other buildings with the same goal, including the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, according to a news release from Let Them Live. The climbs usually end with Des Champs being arrested.

* Tribune | CTA Brown, Orange Line schedules down more than 25%, even as other cities rebuild transit levels: As the CTA has cut back on schedules, facing a shortage of bus and train drivers that limits the amount of service it can run, the Tribune analysis of CTA data and a separate analysis of federal data by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning show exactly how much service has been cut, and where the CTA is trimming schedules the most.

* Block Club Chicago | Water Taxi Fully Back On Chicago River For First Time Since Pandemic: ‘I Hope The People Come Back’: The Chicago Water Taxi fully reopened last month, with service to Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie Transportation Center and Chinatown’s Ping Tom Park. Tickets are $6 each way. The scenic trips will run “until the river freezes,” Chyna said.

* AP | Alabama library mistakenly adds children’s book to “explicit” list because of author’s name: “Read Me a Story, Stella,” a children’s picture book by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay, was added to a list of books flagged for potential removal from the children’s section of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library because of “sexually explicit” content.

* AP | Biden is trying again on student loan forgiveness. Here’s where the process stands: President Joe Biden is making another attempt at student loan cancellation after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that his administration couldn’t forgive $400 billion in student loan debt using a 2003 law called the HEROES Act.

* NYT | Women Could Fill Truck Driver Jobs. Companies Won’t Let Them.: Trucking companies often refuse to hire women if the businesses do not have women available to train them. And because fewer than 5 percent of truck drivers in the United States are women, there are few female trainers to go around. The same-sex training policies are common across the industry, truckers and legal experts say, even though a federal judge ruled in 2014 that it was unlawful for a trucking company to require that female job candidates be paired only with female trainers.

* Sun-Times | 104-year-old skydiver, Chicagoan Dorothy Hoffner, dies days after becoming oldest person to parachute from a plane: Hoffner spent her entire life in Chicago, first living in the Humboldt Park area and later in Jefferson Park, and worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Co., Conant said. She made 25 cents an hour when she started the job. At age 104, Hoffner had spent as many years retired as she had spent working, Conant said.

35 Comments

- Laura - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 2:51 pm:
–the resulting “clarifications” issued by at least four of Rashid’s own co-signers–

It looks like AOC and the Democratic Socialists are starting to worry about their quick statements and rallies as well.

Rich - Thank you for explaining that “From the river to the sea’ means a one-state solution with no room for Israel. it’s simply a more sophisticated way for declaring that Israel does not have a right to exist.

- Lurker - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 2:55 pm:
You need a knee replacement because you’re old. Retire(bp)

- wowie - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 2:56 pm:
If you call yourself a “progressive” and are on the side of Hamas then you need to examine your progressivism

- wowie - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:02 pm:
Let’s just call a spade a spade here: If you are saying “From the river to the sea” in the wake of a terrorist attack then you are admitting you hate Jews.

I know that’s harsh, I know that the situation is complicated. But evil is evil, wrong is wrong. For the head of an “inclusive” organization like UWF to spew that as thousands of innocent people are being buried… You just hate Jews. Own up to it at the very least.

- P. - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:02 pm:
That must be nice to be able to master City Hall in four months something to think about as good people with better judgement who have been around 50 times that long are leaving.

- clec dcn - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:03 pm:
The article on lenders and the issue of Black and Latino is interesting. Certainly, home ownership is critical for stabilizing people and communities. However, we had a huge financial crisis in 2008 all due to problems with home loans in some cases. I can appreciate why this is troubling for Blacks and Latino’s, but it is all about income and credit. To make the situation better it will require more work on everyone’s part. I would like to see folks’ own homes but have to be able to cover cost. There is another side to the equation that the article leaves out.

- NotRich - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:11 pm:
Kennedy Bartley and her UWF group are socialists who want to turn Chicago into a 3rd world failing socialistic city.. she has followers in the Illinois GA..

- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:13 pm:
Darren never looks behind him. How is he to know anything about what he is directly speaking in front of? A map of Israel/Palestine only identified as Palestine or Jesus as Punisher or whatever that whole thing was.

===way for declaring that Israel does not have a right to exist.

It’s a call for genocide. You didn’t deny that, but I think it needs to be clear. It’s offensive and does exactly what the individual accuses Israel of. There needs to be a serious discussion of her continued role in the Mayor’s administration.

===side of Hamas then you need to examine your progressivism

I don’t disagree, but let’s not equate Hamas with all of those in Gaza. Nearly half of the population is under 14.

The point being, no one should be promoting genocide and this is an incredibly complicated situation.

- Shytown - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:34 pm:
The antisemitism of the far left has been exposed for all to see in the wake of this terror attack. It’s a disturbing group think and they fail to recognize the history of the region or acknowledge the role Hamas has had on the livelihoods of the Palestinian people. It’s shameful that so many of them have attempted to justify these attacks, even going so far to call them an uprising of Palestinians, which is a double offense as they too are victims of Hamas.

- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:40 pm:
Can’t imagine that Darren Bailey could locate Israel on a map let alone Ukraine. Bailey has become such an expert on international affairs.

Darren Bailey is the gift that keeps on giving.

- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:41 pm:
There was a pretty abhorent post by BLM Chicago earlier today. At least DSA Chicago hasn’t yet put out an embarrassing tweet.

- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:43 pm:
Re: “From the river to the sea”

Because she opposes Israeli’s actions in Gaza, she jumps immediately to “Israel is an occupier and should not exist.”

It’s worrying that Johnson’s orbit is surrounded by extreme activists who don’t handle nuance and continue to make statewide enemies on a daily basis. I’m sure that will end well for him when budget negotiations hit…

- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:46 pm:
BTW after seeing how often these Johnson-aligned activists call each other “comrade” on Twitter, you really have to wonder how much that word is being thrown around on the 5th floor.

It’s like the local campus activist group is suddenly in charge of the city.

Sorry, got annoyed when checking out Bartley’s Twitter account…

- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:55 pm:
We are living in an era of people continually and purposely telling everyone who they are, and in this era it’s up to this society to rally around what is the good and hold fast against those who show us who they are… by believing them…

Thank you Rich for clarifying the meaning.

- A Jew for Palestinian Freedom - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:55 pm:
The Anti-Defamation League’s definitions of what is or is not antisemitic have been suspect for ages. They have done some good work defending civil rights, but they are extremely one-sided when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Every “definition” they provide should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

Specifically, what is “freedom” in Palestine? For most of those who call for it, it is a secular, democratic state with equal rights for all–as opposed to a government that provides specific privileges for one segment of its residents while dispossessing and disenfranchising the land’s native population.

This is not exterminationist. It is a call for justice throughout the land.

- wowie - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:56 pm:
==let’s not equate Hamas with all of those in Gaza==

100% agree, I don’t believe I did that at all in my comment though so I’m a bit confused by your comment. Feel free to show me where I did if I’m missing something.

- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 3:59 pm:
====, I don’t believe I did that at all in my comment though

You absolutely did not and I’m sorry for being unclear. I think I was trying to succinctly write that those who equate Hamas and all Gazans are problematic and you absolutely did not do that.

- wowie - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 4:09 pm:
@Arch Pundit

Gotcha, totally understand and agree with your sentiments.

- Frida's boss - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 4:24 pm:
28 years old, not from the city, all study, theory, organizing, no real-world experience but hey at least she has a full run of the 5th floor?
Another example of CTU and SDG running the city of Chicago.

Oh, and the whole let’s eliminate Isreal part as well, that’s just great.

- JS Mill - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 4:45 pm:
I am with Bill Maher on this one. Since its inception, Israel has been in a continuous fight for its existence. At times their actions have been heavy handed and even extreme, but that comes from the lens of a person living in the USA his entire life. I have little to nothing to fear in terms of safety.

Hamas and Hezbollah really have one primary goal and that is the destruction of Israel. Yes, they victimize their own people in this ongoing war.

I stand with Israel and their right to exist, I support their efforts to secure their country and hope it comes at little to no collateral damage.

- TNR - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:05 pm:
I would not want to be a UWF-endorsed candidate right now anywhere, but particularly in a district with a sizable Jewish community. Ms. Bartley Israel-erasing statement is going to hurt and hurt bad.

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:06 pm:
=== It is a call for justice throughout the land===

Sure Jan

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:10 pm:
=== It is a call for justice throughout the land===

I was too flippant.

When you post a joyous tweet after a devastating terrorist attack when hundreds upon hundreds of civilians, including children, are killed and kidnapped, you’re not calling for democracy. You’re engaging in blood lust.

- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:14 pm:
Terrorism is never Justice for justice’s sake.

- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:25 pm:
I have to temper my thoughts on this. We all have seen, or at least have heard from a reliable person about the things Hamas has admitted to and posted online. This is ISIS behavior. Anyone who has praised these actions are just as depraved as thos who committed them. I have seen the Far Right, and the Far Left praise these actions from television to their respective websites online.

Just as I felt I was surrounded by the worst in society, I read the commentary here. Thank you immensely for restoring some of my hope for this Country. We may rarely agree politically, but this transcends politics, this is very essence of humanity.

- NanaCaren - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:35 pm:
Jewish grandmother here. I want to thank the 18 representatives who responded to the horror of the last few days by pointing out that the root cause of continued violence is the ongoing dispossession and oppression of the Palestinian people. My Jewish tradition calls for an end to injustice - whatever the source.

- Former Downstater - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:36 pm:
==Kennedy Bartley and her UWF group are socialists who want to turn Chicago into a 3rd world failing socialistic city.. she has followers in the Illinois GA..==

Late stage Capitalism has been trying to do that to the entire US for at least 50 years, and they’ve damn near done it. What is it, 9 people have as much wealth as 3.5 billion now?

Yes, her comments were abhorrent and she should be removed from her post for what she said.

But don’t conflate what she said on a foreign policy issue with unrelated problems that are hurting many people in our own country.

- Rabbi Brant Rosen - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:37 pm:
The statement signed by 18 legislators is measured, principled and it should be applauded. “We will not be able to achieve peace when millions of Palestinians are denied basic human rights.” This is absolutely correct. There will be no peace as long as justice is not extended to all who live in the land.

- Shytown - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:41 pm:
== Specifically, what is “freedom” in Palestine? For most of those who call for it, it is a secular, democratic state with equal rights for all. ==

You sure about that? Women? gay? Christian? Democracy? I don’t think Hamas is on the same page as you and they run the show there. Let’s see what Amnesty International has to say about this.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/palestine-state-of/report-palestine-state-of/

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 5:54 pm:
Some newbies really have their talking points down. Try to post original thoughts here, not something from a suggested script. Thanks.

- Another Jew for Palestinian Freedom - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 6:00 pm:
– Try to post original thoughts here, not something from a suggested script. –

Just because I’ve given this a lot of thought over the years doesn’t mean I’m posting from a script. Nor am I a newbie here, just not a frequent poster.

- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 6:11 pm:
UWF is taking an indefensible position. BJ’s floor leader is not far behind her.
Today I wish I had voted for Lori in the general & Vallas in the run-off. I’m sickened by what my party is turning into.

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 6:45 pm:
=== doesn’t mean I’m posting from a script===

Not everything is about you. Including this war.

- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Oct 10, 23 @ 7:32 pm:
As a general rule American politicos or really anyone remotely in the political sphere or with any sort of public facing role should avoid commenting on international affairs, especially with something that is a slogan that they’ve heard someone else say.

An easy example of this is that the phrase “All lives matter” has a political context that someone not steeped in US Domestic politics would pick up, and by not fully understanding the context someone could accidentally say something they do not mean. I have seen a lot of people, especially younger people, make public statements in the last several days that will mean that October 2023 will be a “read all the posts by hand” month for vetting for Democratic campaigns.

The official US position is a two state solution. That remains the case and has remained our country’s official policy positions for decades.

Hamas is a terrorist organization and this is our country’s official designation.

Stepping away from those two positions is something an elected official or anyone else does at their own peril. Equating Hamas to Palestine, Palestinians, or any general population is also something a politician does at their own peril.

No one needs to let themselves be drawn into a false equivalency regardless of what a member of the legislature or a friend of theirs posts on the internet.

No one has to make a post or write a statement. Sometimes the best thing you can do, especially if you’re not a US Diplomat is just not have a complicated position beyond what the President’s official position is and our country’s position has been for decades.

- Yiddishcowboy - Wednesday, Oct 11, 23 @ 6:42 am:
The commenters, many of whom claim to be Jewish, speaking in favor of Palestinian rights and the “root cause” of the Hamas terrorist attack forget (or purposely choose to ignore) one thing: But for Hamas and Company’s deep-felt hatred for Israel, i.e., Jews, the Palestinians could’ve already had an independent state.

But, no…that didn’t happen. Because whether it’s the various Arab states, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Y. Arafat or now M. Abbas, the only goal of Palestinian “leadership” (among others) has always been (and still is) to destroy Israel/Jews at any cost, even at the cost of a viable Palestinian state and a better life for Palestinians.

Sadly, when the hatred for “the Jew” is greater than any other emotion, desire or goal, even as related to the Palestinians’ well-being, that does nothing but leave current day Israel continuing to fight to protect/defend its people and for its right to exist as a sovereign nation. All people, especially Jews, would be well served to remember the foregoing.

So, whether you’re a bubbe (grandmother), a rabbi commenting or (fill in the blank), to forget the above…or to fail (refuse?) to mention (and condemn) in your comments the unspeakable atrocities Hamas has committed/is committing against Israeli civilians, doesn’t make you a better, more righteous person, more progressive or more Jewish; it just makes you shamefully hypocritical, pitiful and biased.

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