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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jun 5, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Jon Seidel’s thread on Ex-Ald. Ed Burke’s bid for acquittal or a new trial…   Burke’s sentencing is set for June 24. * In case you missed it…
* WCIA | Governor J.B. Pritzker signs budget: “Overall, our fiscal foundation is getting stronger every year,” Pritzker said Wednesday. The governor was joined by legislative leaders Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch (D-Westchester) and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). Also in attendance was Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton and chief budgeteers Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) and Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago). * NBC Chicago | 3 key components of Illinois’ budget as Pritzker signs legislation: Among the three key components of the bill was to eliminate the state’s 1% tax on groceries, which is paid out to municipalities. The tax is levied on all items “meant to be consumed off the premises where they are sold,” and according to text of the bill will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2026. “If it reduces inflation for families from 4% to 3%, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families’ pockets, it’s the right thing to do,” [Pritzker said] said. * Center Square | Bill allows Illinois local government to get loans from state climate bank: A measure ready to be sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker would allow local governments to apply for loans through the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank in an effort to expand so-called “green energy” infrastructure across the state. State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, advanced Senate Bill 3597, which would allow local governments to apply for loans through the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank for projects including solar power installations. * WCIA | Illinois state parks face off in fundraising competition: A competitive fundraising effort is underway for Illinois state parks. Throughout June, every donated dollar will equal one “vote” towards your favorite parks. […] Illinois is one of only seven states that do not require an entrance fee for state parks. Officials say donations help make this possible. * Streetsblog | At 2nd People’s Lobby Transit Town Hall, politicians and riders discussed how to create a world-class system: The panel of elected officials concerned with transit at the event included State Representative Kam Buckner (D-26th), who has introduced several bills designed to improve transportation in the Chicago region. “What I’ll just say about a transit system that works for the people is that it’s a system that’s irresistible,” he said. “I mean, the system where it makes way more sense for you to get on the Green Line, or the Jeffery Jump than it does to get in a car or call an Uber. This is, to me, not just about buses and trains. This is about mobility, and mobility is a human right.” * Block Club | Not All Peaceful Protests Constitutionally Protected, Police Chief Says Ahead Of DNC: Police Supt. Larry Snelling warned organizers that not all peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment ahead of August’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, drawing immediate criticism from local civil liberties groups. “First Amendment protection is only there if you’re not committing a crime, and you can be acting out peacefully but still breaking the law,” Snelling said at a press conference Tuesday to discuss safety at the political convention. * Sun-Times | 4 Chicago police officers face dismissal for allegedly stealing cash and drugs, lying about gun seizures: Officers Daniel Fair, Jeffery Morrow, Kevin Taylor and Rupert Collins are accused of engaging in misconduct the Civilian Office of Police Accountability deemed “substantial and irrefutable.” In one case, Fair and Taylor took cash and marijuana during a vehicle search, COPA said in a report dated Jan. 26. GPS records show they drove to Fair’s block after the search and the contraband was never inventoried. * Block Club | Homeless Residents Relocated In Humboldt Park For Fest Season: On Tuesday, people living in 12 tents at the central and south ends of the park were moved to the north end near North Avenue, where there was already a cluster of at least 30 tents. City officials, Park District staff, Ald. Jessie Fuentes’ (26th) office and Chicago Union of the Homeless volunteers helped relocate people’s tents and belongings, officials said. The move was to make room on the southern end of the park for the Puerto Rican Festival and Parade this weekend and to “streamline the process of serving and connecting our unhoused neighbors with housing services” in closer proximity, Fuentes said in a release. * WBEZ | The transfixing, cathartic experience of rocking out in a Chicago cemetery: When Kim Gordon comes to Chicago on Saturday to perform songs off her new record The Collective, she won’t be appearing at Metro or the Riviera or even a summer music festival. Instead the iconic former leader of Sonic Youth, now two albums into an acclaimed solo career, is performing in a cemetery. In front of a mausoleum. Surrounded by 1,500 adoring and utterly alive fans. * Tribune | WNBA rescinds 2nd technical foul on Angel Reese after Chicago Sky rookie’s ejection during loss: Coach Teresa Weatherspoon said the officiating crew declined to explain the decision to the Sky coaching staff. “I tried to get an explanation and I did not,” Weatherspoon said during her postgame news conference. “I don’t know at this moment what has happened.” * Daily Herald | ‘Unprecedented demand’: Proposed 160-acre data center would be the largest in Lake County: Based on a rough estimate of construction costs, the T5 proposal when built out would represent an investment of $2.25 billion or more, according to Richard Gatto, executive vice president of the Alter Group. […] “Demand for data centers is incredibly high with the rapid evolution and integration of AI (artificial intelligence) into all aspects of business operations,” explained Ron Lanz, business development director for Lake County Partners, the county’s economic development arm. * Aurora Beacon-News | Pay increased for many elected county offices in Kane County: In a split vote on May 29, the Kane County Board approved an increase in pay for four elected positions — circuit clerk, recorder, auditor and coroner — to $109,242, with 2% yearly increases for the following three years. This will equalize the positions’ salaries, which previously varied by around $2,000, and will match the current salaries for the treasurer and county clerk, which were set in 2022. * Daily Herald | Hundreds of acres in Huntley to become Kane County forest preserve — but some land set aside for development:: Hundreds of acres of open land in Huntley could soon become a Kane County forest preserve, though the village has asked that some of the property be set aside for future development. The potential new forest preserve, southwest of where Route 47 meets Interstate 90, would consist of a shelter and trail looping around the property, in addition to parking, Kane County Forest Preserve District Executive Director Ben Haberthur said. * SJ-R | Vietnam War veteran, proponent of veterans issues around Lincoln and central Illinois dies: Joe Schaler, a U.S. Marine who served in the Vietnam War and championed veterans issues in the Lincoln, Ill., area after moving there in 2005, died May 29. […] Schaler was one of the proponents of and later chaired the Veterans Assistance Commission, which assists with individual Veterans Administration claims and points veterans in the direction of VA benefits, including job-training programs. The Commission also helps veterans and their families with short-term emergency assistance. * Reuters | World hits streak of record temperatures as UN warns of ‘climate hell’: Speaking about the findings, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized how quickly the world was heading in the wrong direction and away from stabilizing its climate system. “In 2015, the chance of such a breach was near zero,” Guterres said in a speech marking World Environment Day. With time running out to reverse course, Guterres urged a 30% cut in global fossil fuel production and use by 2030.
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- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Jun 5, 24 @ 2:49 pm:
I will be very surprised if Alderman Burke or Speaker Madigan do anytime at all in a prison. Maybe some home confinement or probation
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jun 5, 24 @ 3:10 pm:
“First Amendment protection is only there if you’re not committing a crime, and you can be acting out peacefully but still breaking the law,” Snelling said”
Very smart by the Police Supt, getting on the record and showing CPD is planning on trying to keep the peace. I hope for the best but the college campus protests presages what may happen at the DNC.
- Bigtwich - Wednesday, Jun 5, 24 @ 3:53 pm:
“The police are not here to create disorder, they’re here to preserve disorder.”
Richard J. Daley
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Jun 5, 24 @ 4:43 pm:
“State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, advanced Senate Bill 3597″
Senator Ventura really has been the best thing to come out of Joliet in a long time, government-wise. To be clear, I’ve never personally met her nor have any connection to any of her campaigns. Her track record of accomplishments has done the speaking for her, quite well.
It’s no wonder many of the entrenched local politicos disliked her so much when she was running, and were calling her names like ‘radical’ and ‘hard to work with’. She didn’t come out of their mold.
Nice counter example to the events happening in Will County this week, with the supposed democratic county executive acting in a way which gave republicans exactly what they wanted. A county executive who also happened to once be a democratic state senator, and took a pass on voting for HB40, and voted against cannabis legalization during her time in office.
To sum up my ramblings, I’m grateful we finally have a democratic state senator now who actually advances the direction of the democratic platform, instead of someone who just claims to be a democratic official to get elected and then just repeatedly ends up supporting county board republicans.