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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Governor JB Pritzker…

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $26.5 million in funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) for Public Infrastructure and Housing Rehabilitation. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. […]

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Public Infrastructure

Public infrastructure grants are designed to provide communities with funding to improve public infrastructure, public health and quality of life. These projects include construction of storm sewer pipes, waterline replacements, and water storage tank construction, and other critical projects that help mitigate flooding and support sewage management, water delivery and other public water necessities.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Housing Rehabilitation

Housing rehabilitation grants are designed to assist low-to-moderate income homeowners with improvements to ensure safe and sanitary living conditions. Eligible uses of funds include structural work, lead remediation, electrical, plumbing, new appliances, flooring, ADA, and accessibility accommodations, and more.

An additional $1.9 million is available for Economic Development projects funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) on an as-needed basis. This grant funding opportunity includes up to $1 million for economic development projects. This includes construction, reconstruction, and installation or rehabilitation of commercial or industrial buildings, structures and other real property. […]

Eligible applicants can apply for Public Infrastructure grants from $300,000 to $1 million and Housing Rehabilitation grants from $300,000 to $650,000. Applications for both grants will be accepted until December 4, 2024, at 5 p.m. Applications for economic development funding will be accepted on a rolling basis. DCEO will be hosting an Administration and Application Workshop for grant applicants on October 1, 2024, and October 2, 2024, at the Northfield Center in Springfield at 8:30 to12:30. p.m. Interested applicants can register and find more information on the DCEO website. Applicants can also view the Public Infrastructure and Housing and apply for the grants, on the DCEO website.

*** Chicago ***

* Tribune | CTA begins using gun detection system powered by AI: The $200,000 ZeroEyes test run, which has been in place for about a month, will run through summer 2025 to start, CTA Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan said. The program uses the CTA’s existing cameras to detect guns once they have been exposed, and is now installed on more than 250 of the agency’s roughly 30,000 cameras, he said. […] So far, the program has detected guns carried openly by law enforcement officers and toy guns, including large electronic water guns, he said. ZeroEyes alerted Chicago and CTA officials to the toy guns, noting they were not believed to be lethal weapons, and then it was up to local officials to determine how to respond, Ryan said.

* Block Club Chicago | The Race To Build Quantum Campus Is On — And South Siders Won’t Be Left Behind, Officials Say: The quantum campus is the latest proposal for the South Works brownfield, following failed pitches for a movie studio campus, a 20,000-home neighborhood and the mixed-use Chicago Lakeside development, among other ideas. “I know that is very difficult for people” to have seen so many stalled proposals for the site in the past, Angela Tovar, the city’s chief sustainability officer, said last month.

* Sun-Times | NASCAR street race to return to Chicago in 2025: The race has brought tourists to the city but has also been met with complaints by some Chicagoans. Some Sun-Times readers cited traffic woes and that part of downtown being out of commission for other activities as reasons to move or stop the street races. Others welcomed the positive attention and money it brought to the city.

* Tribune | Beach volleyball returns to Chicago on Labor Day weekend — and features Olympic medalists: Fresh off winning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes will headline the AVP Chicago Open on Labor Day weekend. Returning to Chicago is special for the Canadian duo, as they first played together here in 2022. “Technically, this spot was the first time Melissa and I ever played volleyball together,” Wilkerson said. “That event that we paired up for, we weren’t officially a team. We were kind of just giving it a go because obviously we both played on the AVP and our partner situation had changed, so we’re like, let’s just try it out.

* Sun-Times | White Sox just as bad under Grady Sizemore, but players love him – and the feeling is mutual: “I love those guys in there,” Sizemore said of his clubhouse. Love is in the air, unaffected by the glum drum roll of daily defeats in a season headed to 120 or more. Whether Sizemore gets a chance to build his case for the full-time manager’s job for next year and beyond remains to be seen. General manager Chris Getz likes what he has seen, but remains intent on his stated plan to search outside the organization after the season.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WGN | Thornton Township meeting canceled, but Supervisor Tiffany Henyard speaks uninterrupted: With no trustees in attendance, the special Thornton Township meeting called by Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard ended before it began, but Henyard saw an opportunity to speak uninterrupted to the small group of people in the room. […] “That’s what all the hate is about. Your super mayor became too powerful too quick,” Henyard said. “I’m so rare, I’m so unique, and that’s why everybody got problems all about control.”

* ABC Chicago | Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over Fox River in Kane County opens after years-long, $204M project: There is also a bike and pedestrian path. The project, which used federal, state and local funds, cost $204 million. Kane County initially planned to pay for the bridge construction with tolls.

* Daily Herald | Kane GOP outraged at ‘First Amendment area’ at county building: A First Amendment brouhaha is brewing at the Kane County Government Center, with Republicans accusing Kane County Board Chairman Corinne Pierog of violating their free speech rights by creating a “First Amendment area” away from the main building’s front door.

* Naperville Sun | Demolition for Block 59 development in Naperville nearly finished: Block 59 is a $53 million, 91,000-square-foot venture. When complete, the complex will bring a slew of new dining options to the city, including Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheesecake Factory, Piccolo Buco by Cooper’s Hawk, Shake Shack, Stan’s Donuts, First Watch, Fresh Fin, Crisp & Green and Velvet Taco.

*** Downstate ***

* WSIL | A Dozen Staff Members at Menard Correctional Center Taken to Hospital After Experiencing Symptoms: Authorities said all Menard Correctional Center staff members have since been released from the hospital. The Illinois Poison Control Center, along with the St. Clair County EMA’s Hazmat Team, is assisting with the investigation. The Menard Correctional Center is placed on a level 1 lockdown and all personal protective equipment (PPE) is available to the staff members there.

* SJ-R | More than a kicker: Glenwood’s Mia Gerger has passion for football: Ask Mia Gerger what she loves most about being a kicker on the Chatham Glenwood football team, and she rattles off several things. She says the football team, including the coaching staff, is a large family and she’s happy to be part of that. She loves making kicks that help her team win games or advance in the postseason, such as she did in a Class 6A second round playoff game last year at Oak Lawn Richards. But what she truly embraces is the pressure.

* WSIL | 100 Blankets Donated to Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois: The Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois received another donation, this being one which will help keep everyone comfortable during their flight to Washington D.C. The Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois stated they are beyond grateful for the donation of 100 travel blankets for their 13th flight coming up.

*** National ***

* CBS | Bugs, mold and mildew found in Boar’s Head plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak: The outbreak has grown to 57 hospitalizations in 18 states linked to recalled products from the plant. At least nine deaths have now been reported, including two in South Carolina and one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York. […] Records released by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to CBS News through a Freedom of Information Act request tally 69 records of “noncompliances” flagged by the agency over the past year at the Jarratt plant.

  7 Comments      


Tollway settles lawsuit for $25 million after neglecting to follow state law

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. Marni Pyke

After months of construction delays on a massive interchange project, Illinois tollway board directors Thursday approved a nearly $25 million settlement to a lawsuit filed by a contractor.

Tollway leaders also acknowledged that the agency made an administrative error when it awarded a $323 million contract to New York-based Judlau Construction in 2023 to repair the I-290/I-88 interchange.

As a result, officials canceled the contract in May without any explanation to Judlau. The firm promptly sued for breach of contract, noting it had already hired workers, bought materials and was actively excavating and grading.

About $15 million of the settlement covers actual construction costs incurred by Judlau, and $10 million is related to damages. The tollway board also agreed to pay Judlau’s subcontractors $6.5 million for construction work performed on the interchange.

The contract was “canceled because a relatively new provision in state law that provides a bid preference for companies based in Illinois was inadvertently excluded from the original contract bid evaluation,” tollway officials said in a statement.

“Judlau is satisfied with the settlement and notes that the Tollway did not terminate the contract as a result of any performance issues on the part of Judlau.”

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition (Updated)

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Another dire DNC prediction didn’t come true

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. August 13th

The DNC was supposed to fill hotels — one week out, that hasn’t happened

* Today

Downtown hotels enjoyed a lucrative week during the Democratic National Convention, with occupancy levels as much as 20% higher than the same period last year and rooms rented at much higher rates to the tens of thousands of visiting delegates, lobbyists and other convention attendees, according to data from CoStar, a real estate analytics firm.

“It’s economics 101. If demand goes up, prices go up,” said Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar. “These are very healthy numbers, so I think it was a very successful week, at least from a hotel perspective.” […]

Hotel room occupancy in Chicago’s central business district increased between 9% and 20% on the days of the convention when compared with the same time last year, according to CoStar data, with the largest boost happening on Aug. 18, the night before the DNC began.

The true windfall was the amounts per night that hotels were able to charge thousands of eager convention goers. The average daily rate at the same time last year hovered at $200, but last week hit a high of almost $375 on Aug. 20, the second night of the convention, a hike of more than 76% over the same day in 2023, CoStar found.

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Uber Partners With Cities To Expand Urban Transportation

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Uber is leading the charge to close critical transportation gaps, ensuring reliable access to its services in places that need it most, such as underserved areas like Englewood. This is a part of Uber’s broader commitment to augment and expand the reach of Chicago’s transportation ecosystem, focusing on overcoming the first-mile/ last-mile hurdles that have long plagued residents in farther afield neighborhoods. Uber aims to extend the public transit network’s reach, making urban transportation more accessible and efficient for everyone. Discover the full story on how Uber is transforming city transportation for the better.

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Woke alert!

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* I’ve seen a lot of excitement since yesterday’s announcement. However, Illinois Freedom Caucus member Rep. Adam Niemerg isn’t too keen on a new state flag



* Here is part of the video’s transcript

There’s an issue that I’m coming to you tonight about that I didn’t want to be missed, something that’s really important to me. There was a bill that passed last year, and it was to have a commission to change the Illinois state flag. And, you know, I put some press out about this, talked about it at the time.

But the reason that it kind of came back to me was last month when Kamala Harris chose the Minnesota Governor to be her running mate. I noticed that he had a commission to change the Minnesota State Flag. And as much as the liberal media and everybody want to say it doesn’t look like the Somali flag, it went from a very beautiful flag, to a flag that somewhat resembles the Somali flag, given the influence in Minnesota and what the radical left is doing in that state.

So it got me thinking, what is this going to look like in the state of Illinois? Because those two governors, the governors that run Illinois and Minnesota, they think alike.

So here in Illinois, there’s going to be a commission. This commission has met already, and they’re drafting, are going to draft, or have folks draft, a new Illinois state flag that will come to the General Assembly this December, to be discussed, worked on, approved, denied. [I] don’t know exactly where it’s going, but if you look at the makeup of this commission that the governor has ran this bill and who’s chosen to be on this commission, I’m very worried that our new Illinois State Flag could be very, very woke. And you should be worried too. Because the folks on these commissions that put these together, and I’ve heard some rumblings already about what’s going on in this commission, are radical leftists that are looking for equity, inclusion, DEI, all the key words that throw up very red flags to everybody outside and some folks also inside the city of Chicago.

So I’m coming to you tonight to discuss that with you. We need to preserve our state flag, at the very least. We need to make our voices known that we don’t want a woke ideology changing the Illinois state flag to make it something it shouldn’t be.

We should be talking about our history. I love history. You folks know that about me, but to change the flag into what the woke left want it to be is unacceptable.

* I added a bit more context to some of the members of Illinois’ flag commission

Senate Republican Appointees

    - Sen. Terri Bryant (R)
    - Former Sen. Tom Rooney (R)
    - Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens

House Republican Appointees

    - Rep. Tom Weber (R)
    - Former Rep. Tim Butler (R)
    - Kendall County Clerk Matthew G Prochaska
    - George Howard

Senate Democratic Appointees

    - Sen. Doris Turner (D)
    - Interim Director of SIUE’s Institute for Community Justice and Racial Equity Dr. Tandra Taylor
    - Cristina Colunga from the Elgin Hispanic Network
    - Tim Mellman

House Democratic Appointees

    - Rep. Dave Vella (D)
    - SIU Professor of studio arts and art history Najjar Abdul-Musawwir
    - University of Illinois at Chicago Asst. Professor and Reference Librarian Benjamin Grantham
    - Lincolnshire Social Studies teacher Andrew Conneen

Appointed by the Governor

    - Gabrielle Lyon of Illinois Humanities
    - Michelle Renae Smith
    - Pastor and veteran Sherrell L. Byrd, Jr.

Appointed by statute

    - Illinois State Archives Director Dave Joens
    - Graphic Designer at ISBE Sierra Force

For more on how these members were picked, click here.

* This Somali flag stuff comes from posts like this

* Reuters

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s selection as the Democratic vice-presidential contender spurred false suggestions on social media, that he changed the state’s flag to resemble that of Somalia.

The new Minnesota flag, adopted in May, includes symbols specific to Minnesota and was not inspired by Somalia, the flag’s designer and a flag expert adviser on the redesign told Reuters.

Students, raised concerns about Minnesota’s previous flag design in 2017. The concerns were shared by vexillologistswho advised on the new design. The Minnesota State Emblems Redesign Commission (SERC), established in 2023 by a state house bill, presented its design for a new state flag in December 2023. […]

During a committee hearing about the flag’s redesign, a co-author of the bill pointed to the seal, which is displayed on the flag, depicting a white settler displacing a Native American. […]

Minnesota resident Andrew Prekker’s submission to the SERC’s design contest inspired the final flag design. In an email, Prekker said his design drew inspiration from the state’s history and culture. […]

The dark blue field is the shape of Minnesota, and the light blue field represents the significance of water to the state. The eight-point star represents the North Star, which is also the state motto “L’etoile Du Nord,” and is seen on the floor of the state Capitol’s Rotunda.

I mean… Minnesota’s flag is blue and has a star?…

* Somalia’s flag for reference…



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IDOT ought to pay attention to its annual survey

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From IDOT’s 2024 Illinois Traveler Opinion Survey Key Findings Report

Respondents were asked whether the current public transportation, air travel, highways, and bike and pedestrian paths were at adequate levels or should be expanded.

For public transportation, two-thirds (66%) of respondents believe that public transportation should be expanded in Illinois. In terms of air travel, 47% of respondents believe that airport facilities in Illinois are currently meeting the needs of travelers, while 41% report the airport facilities in Illinois need to be expanded.

Furthermore, 42% of respondents believe that Illinois should focus on maintaining the current highway system, while 36% believe Illinois should focus on expanding the highway system. Lastly, 56% of respondents believe Illinois should expand its pedestrian and bike paths.

As was the case in Section I, when asked to prioritize projects, respondents prioritize the highway system, though support has increased for the expansion of bicycle and pedestrian trails. Collectively, this possibility suggests that Illinois residents would like to see an expansion in other areas of public transportation, but not at the expense of deprioritizing the Illinois highway system.

* From the full report

Looks like the public, including those who live in Downstate, is way ahead of the politicians. The handful of people we hear constantly carp about public transit is just that: A handful.

* It appears the public is also noticing the massive upgrades to roads and bridges and the topic is just no longer as urgent

* IDOT really needs to take note of this

If you’ve ever had to park your car across a wide, busy street from a business, the feeling of taking your life into your own hands is something you don’t soon forget. We’re all pedestrians at some point. We all want to live.

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News coverage roundup: Chicago faces $982 million budget shortfall for 2025

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Crain’s

Facing a budget shortfall of $982.4 million for 2025, Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering temporary freezes and permanent reductions in the city’s workforce while potentially going back on a campaign pledge to not raise property taxes.

The 2025 gap must be bridged before the City Council approves his second annual spending plan later this fall, even while city officials seek to close out a $222.9 million deficit remaining in 2024. This year’s shortfall is tied to a reduction in corporate tax revenue and a $175 million pension payment Chicago Public Schools refused to include in its own budget, despite Johnson’s insistence it’s the responsibility of the district.

Johnson won’t release his plan to address the $982.4 million shortfall until October, but in a call with reporters yesterday he said, “There are sacrifices that will be made.”

“Our focus is to minimize, as much as we possibly can, the impact on city services, programs and of course our workforce,” he said.

Click here for the city’s full budget forecast.

* Sun-Times

Johnson’s hand-picked Chicago Board of Education approved a $9.9 billion budget that does not include the $175 million pension payment for non-teaching school employees. The city absorbed that payment until Johnson’s predecessor off-loaded that cost to the Chicago Public Schools.

In an unprecedented rebuke, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and the CPS board rejected the mayor’s request to take out a short-term, high-interest loan to cover the pension payment and the cost of a new teachers contract. That’s why the mayor is laying the groundwork to dump Martinez. […]

Johnson is still holding out hope for a reversal on the school pension issue.

He noted CPS has absorbed the payment for non-teaching members of the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund “for the last four years.”

* Block Club

But during Wednesday’s briefing, the mayor and other city officials declined to say if an increase is on the table to balance next year’s budget.

“This is just a forecast, it’s a moment in time, and so no decision will be made just based upon a forecasting,” Johnson said. “But what I will say is that I’m very much committed to our overall vision of investing in people, and making sure that we address the structural damage that has been in place for some time.”

Pressed by a reporter if that means he’s not ruling out a property tax hike, the mayor again did not give a definitive answer.

“What I can say is that there are plethora amount of options … we’re going to continue to work with City Council and all stakeholders to come up with viable solutions that will [offer] sustainability,” he said.

* Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson…

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson released the City of Chicago 2025 Budget Forecast, offering a comprehensive financial outlook that addresses the City’s current year-end estimates and outlines projected revenues, expenditures, and fiscal challenges for fiscal years 2025-2027. These projections are informed by historical revenue and expenditure data, current economic and expense trends, and other factors expected to impact the City’s finances.  

The forecast is built on a robust analysis that integrates these various data points, ensuring that the 2025 budget is developed with a full understanding of the City’s financial state and a forward-looking perspective. This approach allows the City to strategically consider long-term fiscal consequences. The forecast primarily focuses on the City of Chicago’s Corporate Fund — its general operating fund responsible for funding basic City operations and services — where the largest disparities between revenues and expenditures have historically occurred.  

The collective work of the City’s fiscal teams, made up of the City Budget Office, Chief Financial Officer, and the Department of Finance, has identified an estimated year-end budget deficit of $229.9 million for 2024, and a projected 2025 fiscal year budget gap of $982.4 million. These gaps are largely driven by rising personnel, pension, and contractual costs, alongside a decrease in specific revenue streams. 

“The 2025 Budget Forecast presents a significant challenge for our City, with a nearly $1 billion gap that we must address thoughtfully and strategically,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “My administration is committed to finding solutions that balance fiscal responsibility with our obligation to invest in the people of Chicago. Together, we will ensure our budget reflects the values of equity, fairness, and shared prosperity.” 

Budget Director Annette Guzman added, “The forecasted budget gap is a clear indication of the financial pressures facing the City of Chicago. It also highlights the critical need for structural solutions that address these challenges not just for the
coming year, but for the future. We will continue to explore all options to close this gap while minimizing impact on essential services and making prudent investments in our city’s future.” 

Year-End Estimate 

The year-end projected shortfall is driven by a decline in specific revenue streams, including the State Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT) and the City not receiving the budgeted $175 million reimbursement for pension contributions for Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) non-teacher staff.  

Local tax revenues have remained resilient, with an estimated 0.8 percent increase over budget projections, buoyed by stronger-than-expected performance in transaction taxes and ground transportation taxes. However, these gains were offset by lower-than-anticipated utility taxes and other revenue sources. The City continues to leverage fund balances and explore additional cost-saving measures to ensure fiscal responsibility and an end-of-year balanced budget. 

While economic conditions may fluctuate throughout the remainder of the year, potentially impacting the City’s finances in either a positive or negative direction, Mayor Johnson and his fiscal leaders are laser focused on containing expenditures through disciplined spending and by maximizing available resources in the months ahead. 

2025 Budget Forecast 

Looking ahead, the 2025 forecast projects a substantial budget gap of $982.4 million, reflecting the City’s ongoing revenue challenges and rising costs. The forecast anticipates continued pressure from lower PPRT revenues and the expiration of one-time funding sources that helped close gaps in previous years. Additionally, rising personnel costs, driven by contractual wage increases, cost-of-living adjustments, and updated pension contributions, are significant factors contributing to the projected gap. 

The forecast also highlights an increase in contractual services expenses, expected to rise by $16.1 million from 2024 levels, due to inflationary pressures and planned enhancements in information technology services.  

The 2025 Budget will mark the sixth year for the City’s Police and Fire Pensions, and the fourth year for the Municipal and Laborers Pension Funds, in which contributions will be based on actuarially calculated, statutorily required contributions. The City plans to make advance pension payments totaling $272 million in 2025, further demonstrating its commitment to addressing long-term pension liabilities. 

“While the road ahead may be challenging, I am confident in our ability to navigate these difficulties with the strength and resilience that Chicagoans are known for,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “Together, we will build a budget that not only addresses our current challenges but also lays the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future for all.” 

* WBEZ

Despite savings this year, the nearly $223 million end-of-year deficit in the city’s corporate fund is affected by a $417.7 million underperformance of revenue, primarily from a decline in personal property replacement taxes and the refusal of Chicago Public Schools to make a pension payment that the city was counting on. The new end-of-year deficit comes after budget officials had passed a $16.77 billion dollar budget to close a previously estimated $538 million gap for 2024.

“We’re not overspending our budget,” Budget Director Annette Guzman said. “We have lagging indicators with some of our revenue sources.”

While Johnson stressed the ultimate goal is to not implement hiring freezes, the city would take into account “a number of factors” Guzman said. The Chicago Police Department faces a shortage of officers, and Guzman noted some positions within the police and fire departments are required by the federal consent decree and union contracts. […]

Guzman said Wednesday the city currently plans for $150 million to go toward supporting asylum seekers next year. That was the amount Johnson initially included in his 2024 budget — and he later returned to a testy City Council to ask for $70 million more from city reserves to continue the city’s support of migrants.

* Tribune

ast November, Johnson proposed a $16.8 billion 2024 budget that passed with relative ease, even as critics sounded the alarm on one-time fixes for plugging in the projected $538 million deficit at the time.

The challenge for the City Council and Johnson now is to try to balance the 2025 budget without hiking property taxes, a red line Johnson drew during his mayoral campaign. Doing so could raise much more money than other revenue ideas but would also subject elected officials to the ire of Chicagoans weary of living under high levies and other rising costs. This year’s property tax levy was $1.77 billion, up from $1.47 billion in 2019 and $860 million a decade ago, according to the forecast.

Other efforts by Johnson to boost revenue failed in his first year in office.

The mayor campaigned on a bold agenda of taxing the rich, but his to-do list that included bringing back a corporate head tax, hiking the hotel levy and raising the real estate transfer tax has stalled. The third pitch, known as the Bring Chicago Home campaign, was rejected in a March tax referendum that signaled voter reluctance to entrust elected officials with more public money.

This year’s massive but not unexpected $982 million gap has already been in aldermen’s crosshairs.

* CBS Chicago

Last year, Johnson plugged a $538 million budget gap for 2024 without layoffs or tax increases, but relied a great deal on one-time financial fixes, including declaring a surplus of tax increment financing funds, and rolling over a $50 million budget surplus from 2023.

In addition to rising costs for city employee salaries and pensions, the mayor’s budget team pointed to dropping revenue from two key tax sources as key factors in the $982 million projected shortfall for next year.

Budget Director Annette Guzman said the city is expecting continued drop in revenue from the personal property replacement tax – a tax on corporations collected by the state and passed on to local governments. The city saw a drop of $169 million in revenue from that tax in 2024, and is expecting an even bigger drop in 2025. […]

Another factor putting pressure on the city’s budget for next year is ongoing contract talks with the union for the city’s firefighters and paramedics, who have gone more than three years without a new contract.

* More…

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It’s just gonna keep getting worse

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times

For the White Sox’ 102nd loss, a couple of hundred can say they were there.

For their 103rd loss hours later, quite a few more can say they saw one of the catches of the year by Rangers left fielder Travis Jankowski, who skied high above the wall to take a walk-off homer away from Andrew Vaughn in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss carrying the Rangers to their second win of the day.

Finishing a game suspended by rain after only four pitches the night before, the Sox lost 3-1 to the Rangers before the sparsest of crowds in the first of two games Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The 4:10 p.m. start, scheduled just 19 hours earlier, figured to attract a small crowd and had about 150-200 fans on a 77-degree afternoon at the first pitch. The loss in the second game left the Sox needing to go 12-16 over their last 28 games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets (40-120) for most losses in major league history.

The Sox, 4-32 since the All-Star break, fell to 72 games below .500.

  38 Comments      


Open thread

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  3 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Aug 29, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Stateville begins transferring out prisoners amid concerns over conditions. Tribune

    - So far, 75 people in custody have been transferred out of Stateville, Illinois Department of Corrections spokesperson Naomi Puzzello said Wednesday.
    - A federal judge earlier this month ordered most Stateville inmates be moved out by Sept. 30 after civil rights lawyers argued the conditions were too hazardous.
    - As of the end of June, IDOC reported Stateville’s total population was 568.

* Related stories…

At 11:30 am Governor Pritzker will give remarks at ribbon cutting for new Longmeadow Parkway Bridge. At 1:45 pm the governor will be at the opening of Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. Click here to watch.

* Envision Unlimited…

An anonymous donor has stepped forward with a $25,000 contribution matching 1:1 all contributions to a GoFundMe campaign launched for Envision Unlimited by three board members who are also family members of the organization that provides a full spectrum of care for people with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities in Illinois. The Envisioning More for People with Disabilities campaign to raise $100,000 was prompted by recent insensitive and insulting comments about the very people and families that Envision Unlimited serves. When the organization took a stand this past weekend it came with much positive feedback from people across the country, as well as parting ways with a major contributor whose words and actions were inconsistent with the organization’s mission and values.

To make up for a large gap in fundraising the departure created to continue to support services and care for thousands of members (how clients prefer to be known) and their caregivers, a group of board members with family ties to Envision Unlimited initiated a GoFundMe campaign that has brought in nearly $7,000 in the last 24 hours. When the campaign reaches its $100,000 goal, it will be met with a matching donation of $100,000 from another anonymous donor.

Proceeds are to support the opening of new homes in the community so more people with disabilities can live to their fullest potential. This includes a completely accessible home for people with physical disabilities allowing older members to age in place, and many other people transitioning out of state-run institutions to find a safe, fully supportive home in a real community.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Sun-Times | Legionella bacteria, lead found in EPA Chicago offices’ drinking water: The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the drinking water of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Loop offices, and employees are demanding the problem be fixed. High levels of lead and copper were also found in a pair of water sources at the offices.

* Sun-Times | Chicago Archdiocese introduces natural burial plots, first Catholic diocese in state to do so: An area for natural burials will be dedicated this weekend at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine. Natural burials typically avoid the embalming chemical formaldehyde and non-degradable materials such as concrete vaults and metal caskets.

* Crain’s | Here’s just how empty Chicago’s offices were during the DNC: As tens of thousands of delegates, volunteers, media members and more flocked to the United Center for the Democratic National Convention, much of Chicago’s workforce stayed home. In fact, offices in the city were up to half empty during the DNC compared to the same days the week prior, according to the latest data from real estate technology firm Kastle Systems, which tracks badge swipes at commercial office buildings. […] During the DNC, however, those numbers dropped significantly. On Monday, Aug. 19, the first day of the convention, Kastle data shows in-office occupancy was 29.3% relative to pre-pandemic levels. For context, that figure was 46.3% for Monday, Aug. 12.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WICS | Illinois State Treasurer’s Office reports record $1.495 billion earnings in FY 2024: Also in Fiscal Year 2024, which ended June 30, the Treasurer’s Office made a record $1.05 billion in gross investment earnings for cities, villages, school districts, counties and other units of government that take part in the highly rated Illinois Funds local government investment pool the State Treasurer’s Office operates. The Illinois Funds has received the highest rating of AAA from Fitch, a national credit ratings agency.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | For these companies, quantum computing isn’t a far-off dream. It’s now.: As the name implies, this new type of computing draws on the concepts of quantum mechanics in physics. Tiny particles of matter or specialized circuits can effectively be in multiple states at once. Instead of storing information as 1s or 0s, as traditional computers do, quantum machines store bits of data in a quantum superposition, which is neither 0 nor 1. If that explanation strikes you as clear as mud, know this: The result is computers that are uniquely suited to process more data and tackle more complicated problems than current machines. What quantum computers are really good at is tackling multiple problems with lots of ever-changing variables.

* Tribune | Chicago school board race finalized at 32 candidates: The two candidates removed from the ballot are Kirk Ortiz of the 3rd District and Brittany Bailey Preston of the 9th District. Four other candidates who had objections filed against them had their objections dismissed on Tuesday, confirming their spot on the ballot. Those are Bruce Leon of the 2nd District, Jason Dones of the 3rd District, Andre Smith of the 6th District and Raquel Don of the 7th District.

* WTTW | Officials Asked for Public Comment on Proposed DuSable Lake Shore Drive Redesign. They Got an Earful: CDOT provided WTTW News with 308 public comments under a Freedom of Information Act request. Almost all were forms filled out at the open house, with a handful sent via email. Of the 308 comments, 192 say the proposed redesign doesn’t do nearly enough to improve public transportation, with one saying “transit has been given the scraps of scraps.”

* Tribune | Downtown lodging industry was big winner during last week’s DNC, thanks to higher room rates and full hotels: Downtown hotels enjoyed a lucrative week during the Democratic National Convention, with occupancy levels as much as 20% higher than the same period last year and rooms rented at much higher rates to the tens of thousands of visiting delegates, lobbyists and other convention attendees, according to data from CoStar, a real estate analytics firm. “It’s economics 101. If demand goes up, prices go up,” said Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar. “These are very healthy numbers, so I think it was a very successful week, at least from a hotel perspective.”

* WAND | Advocates, riders renew calls for public transit reform in Chicagoland region: Lawmakers continue to hear complaints about delayed services, lack of routes and limited coordination between providers. Yet, transportation is even harder for people with disabilities. “You can’t just jump in a car with a friend when you’re wheelchair bound,” said Kane County resident Ruth Kuzmanic. “So, you got to schedule that bus. That driver does come and get him and get him there, but it’s always additional hassles because that app is not user friendly.”

* Sun-Times | White Sox swept by Rangers; losses mount to 103: Finishing a game suspended by rain after only four pitches the night before, the Sox lost 3-1 to the Rangers before the sparsest of crowds in the first of two games Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The 4:10 p.m. start, scheduled just 19 hours earlier, figured to attract a small crowd and had about 150-200 fans on a 77-degree afternoon at the first pitch. The loss in the second game left the Sox needing to go 12-16 over their last 28 games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets (40-120) for most losses in major league history.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald | Past due: Bills from DuPage County clerk in question again: DuPage County Auditor Bill White said in an Aug. 21 memorandum that the county has been unable to pay 13 invoices totaling $142,823. The reason is insufficient funds in specific budget lines or a lack of documentation to process the bills. All the unpaid invoices are related to election services, including four bills totaling $57,614 from DFM Associates, a company that manages the voter registration program.

* Daily Southtown | Walt’s Food Centers to leave South Holland after 87-year run, closing in late September: Walt’s Food Centers is closing its South Holland store, a community where the small family-owned chain started nearly nine decades ago. In a letter posted for customers Monday outside the store, 16145 State St., the company said the store will close Sept. 28 and it is working to relocate employees to other Walt’s locations.

*** Downstate ***

* STL Today | Wentzville payroll clerk accused of falsifying timecards for years, stealing more than $49K: Prosecutors allege that Whitehead, a payroll specialist for an unnamed St. Charles County company from 2019 to 2022, paid herself for an additional 136 hours of vacation and bereavement time off, even though she was actually working during that time. Whitehead allowed her either overtime or her salary coefficient, but not both, if she worked more than 80 hours during her two-week pay period.

* FOX 2 Now | Illinois lawmaker plans resolution to honor fallen officer: For months, Viola Jonas has been coming up with a plan to honor her late husband, former Centreville police Lieutenant Gregory Jonas. […] Jonas wants a memorial sign in his honor, but after a back and forth with the city, she felt she was not getting anywhere. Lt. Jonas died in the line of duty in 2009, serving in an area now known as Cahokia Heights. With decades in law enforcement, Lt. Jonas is well known there. […] “I believe that the members of the general assembly in the (Illinois) House and the Senate will gladly honor Lt. Jonas,” Illinois State Representative Jay Hoffman (D – District 113) said.

* WCIA | Union for Decatur school custodians delivers intent to strike: Custodians delivered their 10-day strike notice at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. They have been at the negotiation table bargaining for wage increases since February. Workers have spoken at several Board of Education meetings this year about how being underpaid affects them and their families. […] [Amanda Francis, who has worked at the district for 6 years,] also said the board offering only a two-year contract for the custodians gives the workers much uncertainty.

* PJ Star | What to know about the new $44 million justice center expansion coming to Pekin: The annex will be 79,000 square feet across four levels. It will house three fully finished courtrooms, a top floor shelled for an additional three courtrooms, state’s attorney and probation offices, the Circuit Clerk Traffic Division and an information technology data center.

* SJ-R | Springfield sees ‘record breaking’ tourism for third straight year in 2023: Last year, tourism generated a local economic impact of $601.3 million — an increase of more than $70 million from 2022 — per data provided by Tourism Economics, a global tourism research firm, and was part of a statewide increase in visitor spending. This was in addition to the $18.8 million contributed to local tax revenues and the creation of more than 5,000 jobs, per the announcement from the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Springfield on Aug. 22.

* SJ-R | ‘You can’t stop’: Springfield business thriving at new home after East Adams Street fire: It’s been more than two months since a fire ravaged the building at 413 E. Adams St. and almost everything inside of it, including the Electric Quill Tattoo parlor. Equipment and art inside the parlor, which had opened up in May and didn’t have building insurance at the time of the fire, were destroyed. Owner Steve Lima contemplated what he would do next but said receiving support from the community made things easier.

*** National ***

* The Guardian | ‘January 6 was just the warm-up’: the film that tracks three Maga extremists storming the Capitol: “I think January 6th was just the warm-up,” Premo says. “This November, we’re going to see an even more frantic and desperate attempt to attack every level of the electoral system.” He is not optimistic about the US’s current direction of travel. The country, he argues, is effectively on the brink of civil war. Homegrown premieres in the International Critics’ Week sidebar at this year’s Venice film festival. It is one of a number of campaigning political pictures that could put the event at loggerheads with Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing Italian government.

* WaPo | Technical error caused jobs data delay that sparked outrage, BLS says: The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday that a technical issue caused delays last week in the scheduled release of jobs data that carried major implications for the economy and the presidential election. A hitch related to time-stamping prevented the job revisions data from being released on time, according to information provided by the Labor Department, which the BLS is part of. Outside parties, the BLS said, then got the data because of a lack of communication within the agency over how to respond to public inquiries.

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« NEWER POSTS PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* UIC testing lab accused of providing flawed results in 1,600 cannabis DUI convictions
* Today's must-read
* COGFA: Illinois job growth rate is about a tenth of national growth rate since October of 2019
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards
* Roundup: Madigan trial delves into political fight over Chinatown land deal
* It’s just a bill
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Federal appeals court stays Downstate federal judge's gun ruling (Updated)
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