In memoriam
Saturday, Aug 15, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
[Comments are now open on this post.]
* Gov. Jim Thompson’s family…
The Thompson family is mourning the loss of a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Jim Thompson’s love and devotion to his family mirrored his lifelong dedication to his beloved State of Illinois.
His guiding principle in public and private life was to help people and do what he could so they could have an opportunity to succeed. In that process, he achieved big things for Illinois that matched the life he lived.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Thompson family said it will be impossible to hold a public wake that would accommodate all those who would want to express their condolences and respect for the Governor and his life. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Other arrangements are pending.
* Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider…
Today the Illinois Republican Party mourns the loss of a great leader in Illinois’ storied history. Governor “Big Jim” Thompson exemplified a state government that worked, treated others with legendary kindness, and created lasting positive change for Illinois over his 14 years as Governor. He helped send a corrupt Governor to jail as a prosecutor, rebuilt the state’s infrastructure, saved the White Sox, and presided over a healthy and prosperous Illinois. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jayne and his family at this time.
* Governor JB Pritzker…
On behalf of the entire state of Illinois, MK and I offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Governor Jim Thompson. As the longest-serving governor in Illinois history, ‘Big Jim’ was known to treat people he encountered with kindness and decency. He dedicated himself to building positive change for Illinois, and he set an example for public service of which Illinoisans should be proud. He will be remembered and revered as one of the titans in the history of state government.
* Shirley and Michael Madigan…
The passing of Jim Thompson brings great sadness to our family. He was a cherished friend. Jim Thompson should be credited with the modernization of Illinois government as best illustrated by the structure that bears his name. His pioneering commitment to the arts strengthened the fabric of our state. He was a hard-nosed political figure and a compassionate leader. We were honored to serve with him. On behalf of our children, Lisa, Tiffany, Nicole, and Andrew, we offer our deepest sympathies to Jayne and Samantha. We offer them prayers of comfort and strength in these sad times. Illinois is a better place because of Jim Thompson’s work.
* Illinois Senate President Don Harmon…
No one enjoyed being governor more than Jim Thompson. Our state lost a true giant, and he will be missed. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
Governor Thompson was a friend, mentor and an exemplary statesman who loved Illinois. He was a hands-on Governor who loved the process of getting things done in Springfield, and his accomplishments still stand strong today. Our state was fortunate to have such a dedicated leader.
* Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady on the passing of former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson.
Jim Thompson was a man of integrity and a man of many talents who always put the people of Illinois first. As a former US Attorney, he worked tirelessly to root out public corruption in Illinois. As our governor, he strived to find common ground and build consensus. That ability to bring people together, despite a difference of opinion, is a testament to the type of leader he was and is a reminder of what can be accomplished when Illinoisans work together for the betterment of our state. My thoughts and prayers are with Jayne and his family during this difficult time.
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
Governor Jim Thompson dedicated many years to serving the people of Illinois and working toward making our state a better place to live and work. My thoughts and prayers are with Jayne Thompson and all who knew and loved Governor Thompson.
* Comptroller Susana Mendoza…
Former Governor Jim Thompson leaves a proud legacy of working across party lines to make Illinois a great state. Thank you for your service and for keeping the White Sox in Chicago, Big Jim. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
* Terry Cosgrove at Personal PAC…
Governor Thompson was a proud pro-choice leader who vetoed 34 of 34 anti-abortion bills that came to his desk from the General Assembly. Accompanying one such bill he vetoed in 1977 was a stinging rebuke of how cruel it was to end Medicaid funding of abortion for low-income women. Forty years later, in 2017, HB 40 corrected this injustice, which included getting rid of the “trigger” law that stated abortion would become illegal the day Roe v. Wade was overturned. Governor Thompson was on the right side of history.
* Secretary of State Jesse White…
I served as a member of the Illinois General Assembly while Jim Thompson was our state’s governor. He was a Republican and I’m a Democrat but we worked together for the betterment of the people of Illinois. I’m saddened at his passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and many friends.
* Sheila Rock, wife of the late Illinois Senate President Philip J. Rock…
On behalf of our family, we offer our deepest condolences to Jayne and the entire family of Governor James R. Thompson. Phil and “Big Jim” worked well together to pass historic legislation benefiting the people of the State of Illinois. Sharing 14 years in leadership, they may not always have seen eye-to-eye, however, they had the utmost respect for each other and worked well together; a Republican and a Democrat interacting as statesmen and always enjoying a beer and a laugh at the conclusion of each session.
* Winston & Strawn…
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former Chairman, friend, and colleague, Governor James R. Thompson. The Governor led the firm as Chairman for 13 years, overseeing a period of tremendous growth. The impact of his leadership was profound. He had an unshakeable belief in the importance of doing the right thing that helped establish a culture for the firm that still guides us today. He led the effort to diversify the firm and provide opportunities for all to succeed.
The Governor was a legal lion – arguing more cases in the Illinois Supreme Court than any lawyer other than Abraham Lincoln. Whether it was his ongoing zeal to improve the city where he was born and raised, his fight to break the chokehold of corruption in Chicago politics in the 1970s, or his determination to find justice for victims of 9/11 as a Presidential appointee to the 9/11 Commission, the Governor always led with his principles. Illinois, Chicago, and Winston & Strawn have lost a true leader.
The Governor made an indelible impression on everyone around him, as shown here in a video tribute to the Governor at the firm’s 2015 Partners Conference, thanking him for his many years of service and friendship to the firm. We extend our sincere condolences to Governor Thompson’s family.
* Former Gov. Pat Quinn…
“From the time he signed the Political Honesty Initiative – to stop legislative conflicts of interest, double dipping, and advance pay for politicians – when he was first running for Governor in 1976, Gov. Jim Thompson stood for cleaning up corruption in Illinois politics and government.
“As US Attorney, he brought to justice scores of corrupt public officials. As Governor of Illinois for a record 14 years, Jim Thompson always remained true to his conscience and convictions.
“Jim Thompson generously helped me when I was Governor of Illinois from 2009 to 2015.
“For the past four decades, he has strengthened the annual conference of US midwest states and the people and businesses of Japan, an international legacy of friendship that created and maintained thousands of jobs in Illinois.
“The people of Illinois owe a permanent debt of gratitude to Gov. James R. “Big Jim” Thompson.
“May God rest his eternal soul.”
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Big Jim
Saturday, Aug 15, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
[Comments are now open on this post.]
* RIP…
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* Greg Sapp…
Oral arguments are to be heard October 14 in the case of St. Rep. Darren Bailey vs. Governor J.B. Pritzker in its new venue.
The case was moved from Clay County to Sangamon County and consolidated with similar cases from Edgar County, Bond County, Clinton County and Richland County. The plaintiffs in all of the cases are represented by Greenville attorney Thomas DeVore. Each case basically charges that the governor exceeded his authority in continuing to issue disaster declarations after his initial order issued in March.
Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow has ordered the defendants to file responses to the charges by August 31, then the plaintiffs have until September 21 to file any responses. Defendants then will have until October 5 to respond to those filings.
This is how a real judge operates, unlike in one little county that won’t be named.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Question of the day
Friday, Aug 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Cal Skinner…
Watching State Rep. Allen Skillicorn’s disengagement from the Illinois political stage over the last couple of months puzzled me.
His tweets are most likely to be able national politics than that of Illinois.
He did not show up at the Algonquin-Grafton Township fundraiser on Monday.
The two townships contain a majority of Republican primary voters.
Now comes a report that Skillicorn is leaving Illinois after his term expires in January, that he tried to withdraw his name from the ballot last Friday.
Subscribers know more, but lots of people have been trying to reach Skillicorn lately to find out what he intends to do and when he intends to do it. I mean, there’s only like 82 days until the election is over.
* This may explain some things…
* The Question: Caption?
*** UPDATE *** Sigh…
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* Some heavy-hitter lawyers have filed suit to stop the federal government from collecting the $200 million ComEd fine because, they claim, it violates federal victim restitution law…
Their argument is that ComEd effectively admitted to bribery, but at the same time CEO Joseph Dominguez and others separately have argued before state regulators and others that ratepayers suffered no financial damage in the scheme. The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago, meanwhile, has failed to follow federal requirements that should favor restitution of victims over a fine that goes to the U.S. Treasury, according to the motion. […]
Federal law requires restitution of victims to take precedence over any fine payable to the government, the plaintiffs argued. “In the parties’ proposed resolution of this case, however, not a penny is going to alleviate any crime victim’s losses, including the state of Illinois and ComEd ratepayers,” according to the motion.
ComEd agreed with federal prosecutors’ assertion that its scheme provided the utility with at least a $150 million benefit.
“Illinois ratepayers have funded the $150 million ‘benefit’ defendant admits it sought as the quid pro quo for the multiple payoffs ComEd made in its bribery scheme,” the motion said. “It is noteworthy that the government had the opportunity to press restitution claims against ComEd, but it did not do so. By its inaction, and without lawful authority, the government apparently proposes to forfeit statutory restitution claims the non-federal victims have against ComEd, because the DPA provides not a cent for restitution. Essentially, the federal government is, without authority, monetarily preferring itself.”
Go read the rest.
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Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Jefferson, Kane, LaSalle, Moultrie, Perry, Union and Will counties put on warning list
Friday, Aug 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 14 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
Fourteen counties are currently reported at a warning level – Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Jefferson, Kane, LaSalle, Moultrie, Perry, Union, Will.
These counties saw cases or outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, birthday parties, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, bars, sports camps, and spread among members of the same household. Public health officials are seeing people in some communities are not wearing masks, or if they are, they are being worn incorrectly. Local health departments are finding it challenging to obtain the information necessary to halt local transmission, by quickly identifying exposures from contacts of cases and businesses. Inconsistent messaging from local elected leaders are contributing to on-going transmission in some communities where there is little public concern for consequences or enforcement of social distancing, banning large gatherings, or quarantine/isolation orders.
Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation measures to help slow spread of the virus. Examples include increasing the availability in testing in their community and working with local businesses to educate and spot check mask wearing and guideline adherence.
IDPH uses numerous indicators when determining if a county is experiencing stable COVID-19 activity, or if there are warning signs of increased COVID-19 risk in the county.
• New cases per 100,000 people. If there are more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the county, this triggers a warning.
• Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly number of deaths increases more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a warning when the 7-day test positivity rate rises above 8%.
• ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20% of intensive care units available in the region, this triggers a warning.
• Weekly emergency department visits. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly percent of COVID-19-like-illness emergency department visits increase by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly number of hospital admissions for COVID-19-like-illness increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Tests perform. This metric is used to provide context and indicate if more testing is needed in the county.
• Clusters. This metric looks at the percent of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand large increase in cases.
These metrics are intended to be used for local level awareness to help local leaders, businesses, local health departments, and the public make informed decisions about personal and family gatherings, as well as what activities they choose to do. The metrics are updated weekly, from the Sunday-Saturday of the prior week.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the IDPH website at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,264 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 25 additional confirmed death.
- Bureau County: 1 female 80s
- Cook County: 1 female 30s, 2 males 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- DeKalb County: 1 female 60s
- DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 90
- Iroquois County: 1 female 50s
- Madison County: 2 females 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Morgan County: 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
- Will County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 202,691 cases, including 7,721 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 49,541 specimens for a total of 3,285,348. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from August 8 – August 14 is 4.1%. As of last night, 1,612 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 345 patients were in the ICU and 126 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Region 4 (Metro East) of the 11 COVID-19 Regions is seeing increases in test positivity rates and could surpass the resurgence metrics in the coming days. If the region experiences three consecutive days of 8% test positivity (7-day rolling average), the State will implement mitigation measures. A list of mitigation options can be found on the coronavirus.illinois.gov website.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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* Background is here if you need it. WTWO…
A local school district named in a lawsuit by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for not mandating masks alters their return plan pending an upcoming court date. […]
During a Thursday meeting of the Hutsonville school board, by a vote of 4-3, the board decided to comply with guidelines from the state.
“We had a lot of discussion and have gotten advice from our attorneys that if we don’t exactly follow the guidelines then our tort immunity disappears and that’s what the major concern was,” Kraemer said.
Kraemer said the school district does have a court date next Tuesday, and their battle over who should make decisions for schools is not over yet.
“We encourage our community to show up at that court date,” she said. “We will continue to try to fight. We’re not just giving up. We’re just going to go ahead and follow those guidelines until we can get there and present our plan.” [Emphasis added.]
* Meanwhile…
Herrin High School sent home about two dozen students Thursday morning after one tested positive for COVID-19.
District Superintendent Terry Ryker said that as soon as the school was notified that the student had tested positive, officials reviewed class assignments and seating charts and quickly moved to quarantine the other students while contacting their parents to notify them and arrange for transportation.
…Adding… With thanks to a commenter…
The Springfield District 186 school board voted 5-2 Thursday to adopt remote learning for most students when classes begin Aug. 31.
Thursday’s special meeting was called after the board first voted 4-3 for a hybrid/blended model at its Aug. 3 meeting. A surge in coronavirus infections across Sangamon County forced the board to reconsider starting the school year with remote learning.
The vote included an amendment that the hybrid/blended model cannot begin until at least Oct. 26.
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* From a July 17th Tribune profile of a Canadian company called Red, White and Bloom that operates a huge hemp growing facility in Illinois and wants to get into the cannabis growing business here…
In addition, one full-scale growing license remains from the original 21 medical marijuana licenses that Illinois awarded in 2015. One license was given for each of the state police districts in the state, but the last license was for the district that patrols the tollways. State regulators said they would not give it out because it lies on tollway land, and would be impossible to use. Red White and Bloom pushed for legislation to force the state to award that license, but the measure was never voted on and is seen as a long shot.
At the same time, the company has applied for new craft grower licenses in Illinois. But those licenses are limited to 10,000 square feet. Competition is fierce, with 455 applications for only 40 available. The Illinois Department of Agriculture has indefinitely delayed awarding those licenses, citing the coronavirus.
State regulators may also create licenses for new full-scale recreational pot growers after July 1, 2021, based on supply and demand.
That tollway land bill was originally sponsored last year by Sen. Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago), but she eventually handed sponsorship over to Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). You’ll recall that Van Pelt was running a “marijuana millionaires” company which attracted some unwanted attention. The bill, which would’ve allowed the state to open a grow facility outside the tollway area, never moved out of the Assignments Committee and never picked up another co-sponsor.
According to the governor’s office, the tollway land was on federal property, making it impossible to use as a grow center. And because of the pandemic, only very limited cannabis legislation advanced out of the GA in May. Even a tiebreaker provision wasn’t dealt with, which resulted in a new rule that finally took effect this week to allow licensing of 75 new dispensaries.
* Anyway, that brings us to this somewhat bizarre Sun-Times story today…
A former celebrity publicist for R. Kelly and confidante of Kanye West has jumped into Illinois politics, lobbying for a major Canadian cannabis firm that wants to start growing weed here.
But Trevian Kutti has already ruffled feathers in just a short time in the fray, lodging a series of incendiary and profanity-laden attacks against Toi Hutchinson, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s top adviser on cannabis issues. While both women are Black, Kutti has vowed to “keep my knee on Toi W. Hutchinson’s neck” and has referred to her as a “slave.”
Kutti says she is furious over the state’s delays in awarding the next round of licenses prioritized for so-called social equity applicants, saying “those in greatest need are being screwed with again.”
* OK, one thing at a time. First, here’s Kutti’s full statement on Hutchinson…
Charity Greene with the Pritzker administration handled the response…
As the nation continues to reckon with the tragic murder of George Floyd and countless other black lives lost to police violence, comments regarding kneeling on someone’s neck are especially insensitive and abhorrent. Invoking violence and hurling insults and profanities at a State of Illinois employee is the antithesis of everything this administration stands for. Governor Pritzker remains committed to ensuring the cannabis industry in Illinois is equitable and will continue working towards that goal in spite of these misinformed, callous remarks.
* Red, White and Bloom is a publicly traded company with an all-white board of directors.
The angle here, supposedly, is that Red, White and Bloom wants to sell reasonably priced product to social equity retailers. But it can’t do that without a grow license.
* Ms. Kutti has a truly different concept of lobbying than most. Back to the Sun-Times…
“I’m sure that like most lobbyists, I have my share of allies and my share of disparagers,” she said in an interview. “Those who fall in the latter camp quiver hearing my unapologetic truths.”
That’s… a novel approach. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.
* The Sun-Times story veers all over the place, even touching on Kutti’s support for President Trump. Meh. It’s a free country.
But the bottom line here is a person with no apparent lobbying experience is setting off rhetorical bombs after failing to move her bill forward an inch and, according to the story, her employer believes the approach can actually work. Again, it’s a free country, but that lack of experience may show in her state disclosure reports. Note the dollar amounts reported on these filings…
The Illinois Gift Ban Act bars lobbyists from spending more than $75 on food or refreshments on a legislator during a single calendar day.
She probably submitted the entire amount for everyone at the table. I mean, spending $260 at Springfield’s Wyndham hotel restaurant on only one person would be really tough. Still…
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Secretary of State’s website…
All lobbyists must refrain from harassment, sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination of any person. “Harassment” means, as set out in the Illinois Human Rights Act, any unwelcome conduct on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge from military service, or citizenship status that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, a hostile, or an offensive working environment.
A working environment “Does not require an ‘employment’ relationship between the alleged harasser and victim.”
After an investigation, the offenses can be referred to a circuit court by the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. Violations are treated as a business offense “and subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each violation.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** A spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White told me that this matter has been referred to the inspector general.
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* The Sun-Times takes a close look at how the McCormick Place was stood up in a big hurry with mostly federal funds. Remember the times we were in then, with New York City setting up tent hospitals to handle the overflow and patients were waiting for days to be admitted…
Taxpayers spent nearly $66 million fashioning McCormick Place into an emergency coronavirus hospital with 2,750 beds this past spring amid fears that COVID-19 patients would overwhelm hospitals in the Chicago area.
Those fears turned out to be unfounded. Just 38 patients were transferred to the sprawling convention center — meaning taxpayers’ cost for the makeshift hospital turned out to be more than $1.7 million per patient, on average.
But top aides to Mayor Lori Lightfoot say her decision to initiate the project with the federal government and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority was an important “insurance policy” at a time of “immense emergency.”
“It’s something I’m incredibly proud of,” says Samir Mayekar, Lightfoot’s deputy mayor for economic and neighborhood development who says the money was “not spent in vain.”
He also notes that the medical equipment is being stored and can be redeployed if needed.
Aside from the headline and the lede, the story is very informative, so click here to read it.
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Gaming analyst to Chicago: Time to get moving
Friday, Aug 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mitchell Armentrout at the Sun-Times…
Although Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s opening roll for a Chicago casino came up snake-eyes, a new tax structure keeps her in the game.
But it’s too early to tell whether she winds up making her point or sevens out.
That’s according to the Las Vegas consulting firm that previously declared that the “exceptionally onerous” taxes originally written into state law last summer would mean no dice for the city as it tried to attract developers to the table for a shot at the long-sought megacasino.
Union Gaming Analytics now says the revised Chicago structure that passed the Legislature during a shortened spring legislative session in May is “significantly more palatable for potential developers,” lowering the effective tax rate on gaming revenue from a whopping 72% to about 40%.
That should be “attractive enough” to draw proposals from gaming developers — and the city should start soliciting information from them, analyst Grant Govertsen wrote for Union Gaming in a report released this week.
There’s more to this story, so click here.
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Pritzker warns against Missouri travel
Friday, Aug 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* St. Louis Business Journal…
llinois Governor JB Pritzker has a message for residents who go to Missouri during the pandemic.
He posted the following message along with Belleville News Democrat’s article ‘As COVID cases soared in Missouri, more from southwest IL went to visit, data shows’ on Facebook,
“Folks, we’re in the middle of a pandemic.
“Missouri may be more ‘open’ today, but if you cross the border and let your guard down, you’re putting the future of the Illinois economy at risk.
Harsh.
* The BND article…
(T)raffic doubled from metro-east to the Missouri side of St. Louis from July 2019 to July 2020, according to an analysis of smart phone tracking data by Saint Louis University researchers. They looked at travel from St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Calhoun and Jersey counties in the metro-east to St. Louis city, St. Louis County, Jefferson and St. Charles counties.
Two counties accounted for the biggest increase in travelers: St. Charles and Jefferson counties, which don’t have mask mandates and allowed businesses to open in May.
“This is highlighting the arbitrary borders our infectious diseases don’t care about,” said Enbal Shacham, associate director of the Geospatial Institute at Saint Louis University. “We’ve seen this in STDs and HIV and now we’re seeing this even worse, I would say, in COVID because of the activity and how easy it is to transmit.” […]
Additionally, the average number of cases per 100,000 residents in counties bordering Missouri was double that in counties that shared no borders with other states, according to an analysis of U.S. Census and Illinois COVID-19 data.
* Positivity rates and the number of new tests coming back positive as of Wednesday…
St. Charles County, Mo.: 12.7%, 16.6
Jefferson County, Mo.: 11.9%, 17.5
St. Louis County: 6.4%, 21.1
St. Louis City: Insufficient data, 20
Monroe County: 9.7%, 157
St. Clair County: 8.6%, 175
Madison County: 6.6%, 131
Calhoun County: 6.2%, 1
Jersey County: 4.8%, 46
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Open thread
Friday, Aug 14, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Please keep it Illinois-centric and polite. Thanks.
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* I’ll post the press release when I get it…
…Adding… More…
The one-page criminal information filed in U.S. District Court accused Link, of Vernon Hills, of failing to report income on his 2016 tax return to the IRS.
Defendants are typically charged via an information if they intend to eventually plead guilty.
* And…
*** UPDATE 1 *** From John Patterson…
President Harmon has accepted Senator Link’s resignation as a member of the Legislative Ethics Commission.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Coverage roundup…
* State Sen. Terry Link charged with federal income tax evasion: Also involved in Arroyo’s alleged scheme was businessman James Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County assessor and county Democratic Party boss Joseph Berrios, whose house was raided by the FBI shortly before the charges against Arroyo were unsealed, the Tribune has reported.
* Illinois Sen. Terry Link Charged With Felony Income Tax Fraud: Thursday’s filing makes Link the latest Illinois politician to be charged in a widespread criminal corruption probe in the state. He is the third Democratic Illinois senator to face federal charges in just over a year.
* Federal Prosecutors Charge Illinois State Sen. Terry Link With Tax Fraud: On Thursday, Republicans quickly seized on Link’s legal troubles. “Another member of the IL Democrat Crime Ring bites the dust,” the state Republican Party posted on its Twitter account. “In unsurprising news, Sen. Link is a member of the ‘Ethics Commission.’ Go figure.”
* State Sen. Terry Link charged with felony tax evasion: Link is now the third state senator to be charged with a federal crime in a little more than a year.
* Longtime lawmaker Terry Link hit with federal tax charge: Following the charges against Arroyo, Link denied he was the unnamed senator. He first denied it to WBEZ, and then again to reporters in Springfield the next day while helping pass bills in the legislature. “I said, what’s your source? You answer me. You’re a reporter,” Link said that day when asked if he wore a wire on Arroyo. “I answered the question yesterday. I’m not going to continually answer this every day of my life. I’m down here to do a job that I was elected to do, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Daily Herald…
A day after he was charged with federal tax evasion, state Sen. Terry Link remained publicly silent on the matter Friday, refusing to respond to interview requests or issue a statement.
Meanwhile, the chorus of voices from the Lake County political community criticizing Link or calling for his resignation has grown.
“He owes an immediate explanation to the people of the district,” said state Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican. “And if he doesn’t provide a comment, he should resign.” […]
Shortly after the charge against Link was filed Thursday, state Sen. Melinda Bush, a Grayslake Democrat, suggested Link step down. So did state Sen. Dan McConchie, a Hawthorn Woods Republican, and state Rep. Daniel Didech, a Buffalo Grove Democrat, among others.
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* Press release…
In the rush to reopen college campuses nationwide and in Illinois, the safety of students, faculty, and staff who teach and learn in our institutions is being overlooked. This is particularly true at Western and Eastern Illinois Universities, where the administrations have moved forward with plans for in-person learning without having adequate safety precautions in place or bargaining in good faith such plans with the union, as required by law.
“We have filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board requesting an injunction against the administrations of both Eastern and Western Illinois Universities,” said University Professionals of Illinois (Local 4100) President John Miller. “We had hoped to avoid taking such action, but their unwillingness to faithfully bargain with us to develop comprehensive safety plans on these campuses left us with no other choice.
“The safety of our students, faculty, staff and their families must be the top priority, and these universities are showing a blatant disregard for our well-being and that of the communities they serve,” Miller said.
The disregard for safety is particularly concerning in Coles County, where Eastern Illinois University is located. This week, the county was put on the IDPH warning list due to rising numbers of cases. Bringing students to live on campus will undoubtedly worsen the situation.
With that in mind, Jeannie Ludlow, president of the Eastern Illinois University Chapter of Local 4100, explained that EIU’s so-called safety plan is not comprehensive. “EIU’s return to campus plan focuses on individual actions like mask wearing but does not address larger safety considerations like systematic testing or air purification,” she said. “In other words, EIU’s plan puts the responsibility for safety on our students, faculty, and staff and not on the institution. We want to give our students the best possible chance for success this school year, and that means reducing potential COVID exposure and allowing everyone involved to determine what safe work and learning looks like for them.”
Bill Thompson, president of the Western Illinois University Chapter of Local 4100, said the situation is just as concerning at WIU. “The university has asked me to pledge to wear a mask, maintain social distancing, and clean frequently used surfaces, but in return they haven’t pledged to provide students and employees with safe places and ways to work, to test everyone adequately, and to provide a metric so that we can see whether WIU’s plan is working. That gives me no confidence in how my students, myself, and my colleagues will be kept safe.”
The IELRB will now review the charges in the ULPs. The universities will be given time to respond; the union remains hopeful that the administrations will choose to bargain an acceptable plan with the faculty for a gradual and safe return to in-person instruction. If not, the IELRB can request the Attorney General seek an injunction requiring the universities to continue remote learning until they have bargained in good faith with the union or until an arbitrator has resolved the issue of whether the universities’ reopening plans violate their duty to provide a safe workplace.
“We are hopeful that WIU and EIU administrations will sit down with us to negotiate in good faith a truly safe path forward for the start of the upcoming semester. Short of that, our union stands ready to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the safety of our members, their students, and the communities surrounding these campuses,” Miller said.
“Our lives are not a social or laboratory experiment, and even one death would be an unacceptable outcome.”
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* Pekin Daily Times…
With concerns prevalent about online election meddling in the United States, ensuring cyber-security has become a priority for election officials throughout the country.
“There are threats that are attacking us,” said Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman. “Iran, China and Russia are hitting counties the size of Tazewell County. Domestically, there are also individuals who have attacked local (election systems). Tazewell County has been attacked since I’ve been in office. We’ve received several (attacks), but ransom attacks seem to be (the most common). The procedures we have in place have stopped every single one of them so far.”
In an effort to enhance security procedures for election officials throughout the state, the Illinois State Board of Elections organized a one-hour webinar on Facebook Elections Integrity and Best Practices Tuesday. The training, tailored specifically toward Illinois election officials and their staffs, covered such topics as safety and security, proper channels for reporting misinformation, and the latest Facebook tools, products and resources election officials can use to keep accounts safe while connecting with voters. […]
“(Changing votes in Illinois) would take such an astronomical amount of work that it’s nearly impossible,” Ackerman said. “You would have to break into 109 separate, independent election authorities throughout the state and manipulate their electronic records all at the same time in order to manipulate the vote. What the Russians wanted to do (in 2016) was not to change the vote, but to change people’s opinions through misinformation. Unrest is what the Russians and other foreign agents want to sow in the United States.”
An election-day ransomware attack would most definitely not be a good thing for a county clerk. Whew. I mean, I shudder to think.
* Speaking of Facebook…
Google, Facebook, Twitter and other major tech companies met with U.S. government officials on Wednesday to discuss their plans to counter disinformation on social media in the run-up to the November election.
In a joint statement, the companies said that this was the latest in a series of meetings “on what we’re seeing on our respective platforms and what we expect to see in the coming months.” The statement said today’s meetings focused on the upcoming political conventions and “scenario planning relating to election results.” […]
In an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the company is working harder than ever to combat such efforts, saying the goal is to make sure voters receive accurate information.
“I think I actually want to make the act of trying to tell a lie, or misleading people, more difficult,” Gleicher said.
I’ll believe that when I see it.
However, I did notice that they were blocking some false stories today when I went to look up a local public official who’d allegedly posted something pretty vile on Facebook and also saw this…
That’s from the Marion County coroner’s personal FB page. I’m not on Facebook much any more, so I don’t know if that’s common. Also, if you have the stomach for the vile post, click here.
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* AP
The number of Americans applying for unemployment dropped below 1 million last week for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S. five months ago, but layoffs are still running extraordinarily high.
The figures show that the crisis continues to throw people out of work just as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in federal jobless benefits has deepened the hardship for many — and posed another threat to the U.S. economy.
Applications for jobless benefits declined to 963,000, the second straight drop, from 1.2 million the previous week, the government said Thursday. That signals layoffs are slowing, though the weekly figure still far exceeds the pre-outbreak record of just under 700,000, set in 1982.
22,387 filed initial claims in Illinois last week, down 2,887 from the previous week. Another 3,704 filed PUA claims last week, down 811 from the previous week.
* But…
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* Wait. Didn’t Wirepoints just declare that Illinois had “decoupled” hospitalizations and deaths from infections?…
A top federal health official is issuing a dire warning: Follow recommended coronavirus measures or risk having the worst fall in US public health history.
Coronavirus has infected more than 5 million people and killed over 166,000 nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. On Wednesday alone, there were 55,910 reported new cases and 1,499 deaths — the highest number of fatalities since May.
“For your country right now and for the war that we’re in against Covid, I’m asking you to do four simple things: wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands and be smart about crowds,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I’m not asking some of America to do it,” he told WebMD. “We all gotta do it.”
Without following the recommendations, this could be “the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we’ve ever had,” he said. In addition to taking measures to combat the pandemic, people should also get a flu vaccine.
* A big flu outbreak is something that’s really scaring public health types…
Redfield said the CDC is urging people to get a flu shot, and the agency has purchased an extra 10 million doses of the vaccine — compared with the typical 500,000 — to make sure states have enough to cover uninsured adults.
“I’m trying to tell the American public, please don’t leave this important accomplishment of American medicine on the shelf,” Redfield said.
“We’re going to have COVID in the fall, we’re going to have flu in the fall,” he added, saying if people get vaccinated against the flu, they could potentially be freeing up a hospital bed for someone infected with COVID-19.
Redfield said conditions will depend on whether people follow the guidelines: wearing face masks, staying six feet away from others, washing hands often with soap and warm water and avoiding large crowds, especially indoors.
A bad flu outbreak coupled with a spike in COVID hospitalizations would absolutely slam the healthcare system.
* And it’s not just the flu…
Pediatricians are sounding the alarm about a concerning side effect of the coronavirus. They say immunization rates have plunged since the start of the pandemic.
But, yeah, let’s all stand with IPI and spread falsehoods on social media and stick up for businesses that stubbornly refuse to do their part. Rah rah.
…Adding… Maybe we should be more like Tennessee…
…Adding… Former CDC director…
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,834 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 24 additional confirmed death.
- Adams County: 1 female 100+
- Cook County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s
- DuPage County: 1 female 90s
- Lake County: 1 female 90s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 80s, 2 female 90s
- Madison County: 1 female 60s
- Peoria County: 1 female 40s
- Shelby County: 1 female 80s
- Tazewell County: 1 male 80s
- Washington County: 1 male 80s
- Will County: 1 male 80s
- Winnebago County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 200,427 cases, including 7,696 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 46,006 specimens for a total of 3,235,807. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from August 6 – August 12 is 4.0%. As of last night, 1,628 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 383 patients were in the ICU and 127 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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* Press release…
In the wake of the numerous, ongoing federal investigations involving bribery, influence peddling and insider-trading impacting state government officials and lobbyists, a broad coalition of lawmakers gathered today to announce their support for nine specific ethics reform measures that they believe could receive bi-partisan support in the upcoming veto session.
* The specific proposals…
Lobbying Reform
1. Prohibit legislator-lobbyists. We would prohibit any sitting legislator from simultaneously lobbying other units of government, including city, county or federal entities. This ban should apply to lobbying elected officials; performing legal or regulatory work should still be allowed.
2. Stop the legislator-lobbyist revolving-door. We would establish at least a one-year prohibition on legislators and senior management within each caucus (those who file statements of economic interest) leaving their offices and immediately going to work as lobbyists.
3. Better define who is a lobbyist. We urge the Joint Commission to consider changing the current definition of what constitutes a lobbyist to cover additional individuals or consulting firms. Consultants and lawyers should not be able to use loopholes to perform lobbying and skirt registration as a lobbyist.
Legislative Reform:
4. Fuller disclosure of outside income. We would expand current requirements for legislators to disclose the sources and amounts of their outside income and increase penalties for those who refuse to comply in full. This must be done in a way that protects confidentiality rules of professional conduct, and avoids disproportionately impacting legislators and candidates who are not independently wealthy.
5. Initiate an official censure. We would establish a process to officially censure a legislator who has violated ethics laws, similar to that which is practiced in the United States Congress.
6. Strengthen the Legislative IG. We encourage changes to the Legislative Inspector General’s Office to increase its independence, such as allowing the IG to self-initiate investigations and making it an independent agency for the purposes of budgets and hiring.
7. End exemption from Human Rights Act. We would remove the current exemption of legislators’ direct employees from the state’s Human Rights Act, so those employees receive the same protections afforded to other employees.
Leadership Reform:
8. Term-limits for leaders. Establish term-limits for the period that legislators can serve in leadership positions, including the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House and the President and Minority Leader of the Senate.
9. Removal of leaders and committee chairs. We urge creation of a policy calling for the temporary removal of a legislative leader or committee chair during any criminal investigation relevant to job duties involving that member or an actual charge/indictment. The individual can be reinstated upon completion of said investigation or upon their acquittal.
Most of these aren’t new except maybe the censure idea and removing leaders and chairs during a criminal probe. That last one would seem to apply to House Speaker Michael Madigan, but I was told by two legislators at the presser today that it would depend on how the legislation was actually written. However, Sen. Melinda Bush said it would apply to MJM.
…Adding… Sen. Andy Manar…
Strict interpretation yes provided there is an affirmative communication from the investigatory authority. What if there isn’t? How that then sets the temporary removal (via automatic/resolution etc) is another question. Like many of these, these details are very important and the impact will be determined by the final language. This one will be a challenge to draft if the commission recommends. At least that’s my take. Others may disagree.
* List of legislators…
Senator Melinda Bush
Representative Lindsey LaPointe
Representative Kelly Cassidy
Senator Kimberly Lightford
Representative Daniel Didech
Senator Andy Manar
Representative Mary Edly-Allen
Senator Iris Martinez
Senator Sara Feigenholtz
Representative Bob Morgan
Senator Laura Fine
Representative Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer
Representative Robyn Gabel
Representative Delia Ramirez
Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Senator Heather Steans
Of the Democratic House members, Reps. Didech, Edly-Allen, Morgan, Gabel and Ramirez have not yet called on Madigan to immediately step down.
The House members were asked about whether Madigan should step down at the presser today. Rep. Morgan avoided the specific question, saying he preferred to talk about the larger issue. Sens. Bush and Martinez then stepped in to stress that the proposed reforms aren’t about one person.
…Adding… Press release…
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, issued the following statement on ethics reform:
“While I agree the legislature must take action on ethics reforms, we need to evaluate each proposal carefully and objectively. Any proposal that flies in the face of due process for anyone sets a dangerous precedent. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass a strong ethics package.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform…
Today, a coalition of legislators laid out suggestions for the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to consider in their final report. In response, Co-Chairs of the Joint Commission, Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. and state Representative Greg Harris and commission members Senator Cristina Castro and state Representative Kelly Burke released the following statement:
“We received recommendations from a group of members of the General Assembly that included ideas and suggestions to be considered in the final report of the commission. Many of these ideas have already been discussed over the course of the commission’s hearings, and they will be included in the list of items we’ve heard throughout the year and submitted as part of the commission’s report.
“The commission’s charge is to come up with ideas and suggestions. After conducting multiple public hearings and getting input from many stakeholders, including our fellow legislators, the commission will submit a final report. However, the commission cannot file legislation. Only members of the General Assembly can do that. We look forward to working with our colleagues on their suggestions as we work together to develop a strong package of ethics reforms.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
State Representatives Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) and Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), who serve on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, are offering their reaction to a press conference held by Illinois State Senate and House Democrats today touting a “new” package of ethics reform legislation.
The legislative fixes suggested by Senate and House Democrats include multiple ideas already introduced and sponsored by House Republican Caucus members. These include legislative fixes under three categories: lobbying reform, legislative reform, and leadership reform. Specific items include:
* No legislator lobbyists
* Revolving door prohibitions
* Clearer definitions of “lobbyist”
* Fuller disclosure of outside income for legislators
* Establishing an official censure process
* Strengthening the office of the legislative inspector general
* Ending the exemption for GA Employees from State Human Rights Act
* Establishing term limits for legislative leaders
* Allowing for temporary removal of leaders from leadership positions or committee chairs if they are indicted
“Senator Manar actually said the Joint Commission on Lobbying & Ethics Reform is working hard, when in truth, we haven’t met since March 5th! We haven’t met in person and we haven’t met on Zoom. Other state committees, commissions and panels have met multiple times since early March, but the Joint Commission on Lobbying & Ethics Reform has not. We did not finalize our work and we did not finalize our report,” said Rep. Wehrli. “Today’s press conference was completely out of touch with the reality on the ground. Every House member that took part in today’s press conference voted to put Mike Madigan in the Speaker’s chair and voted to accept his Rules of his House. While I applaud those who went on the record again today saying the Speaker should resign, this is merely political theater and window dressing. Until these members demand that the Governor call a special session to address ethics legislation and take real steps to remove Mike Madigan as Speaker, this is all just political cover.”
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst says he led an effort to send a letter to Ethics Commission Co-Chairs Senator Elgie Sims and State Rep. Greg Harris, both Chicago Democrats.
“I think Rep. Wehrli and I were well ahead of our colleagues in asking for the Ethics Commission to resume its work. We haven’t met since March,” Windhorst said. “Many of the legislative fixes proposed by House and Senate Democrats today have been introduced in bill form since November 2019. I just wonder where they have been. Corruption in Springfield has been rampant, and the House Speaker is implicated in a serious scheme involving bribery for taking official action. I believe we should return to Springfield in a Special Session to address the state’s serious plague of public corruption.”
On July 24, the Republican members of the General Assembly serving on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform issued a letter to the co-chairs of the Commission requesting to meet to finish its work and finalize its report that was due at the end of March.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Gov. Pritzker…
I commend lawmakers for taking the initiative to propose a strong set of ethics reforms, including many of measures that I have prioritized since January. We need to restore faith in government, which is why I have worked hard to achieve important ethics reforms like stringent lobbyist transparency to end the practice of hiding influence from the public. And it’s why I have laid out priorities like closing the revolving door, expanding disclosure and ending the practice of lawmakers acting as paid lobbyists, among other proposals. I look forward to the report of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform, as well as working with members of the General Assembly to ensure public servants live up to their obligation to represent the interests of the people of Illinois, and not their own interests. I believe we should accomplish these important objectives during this fall’s veto session.
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Another day, another lawsuit
Thursday, Aug 13, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background is here if you need it. Center Square…
An attorney suing the governor on behalf of businesses impacted by COVID-19 executive orders that shut down parts of the economy said when the government takes something, it must pay just compensation and he wants a jury to determine what the compensation should be.
Attorney Alan Bruggeman of Mokena represents businesses impacted by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home orders and subsequent COVID-19 restrictions. He said it’s about fairness.
The federal lawsuit includes restaurateurs, salon owners, vehicle maintenance shops and others who claim they were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 executive orders in Illinois. Bruggeman said the case is important because the state can’t just decide what business is and isn’t essential as the orders did. […]
The state through the Illinois Attorney General motioned to have the case dismissed. In one count in the motion to dismiss, the Illinois Attorney General said “Plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the Eleventh Amendment as Plaintiffs cannot seek damages in Federal Court against the State or the Governor in his official capacity.”
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* Forbes…
Matt Wolking, the Trump campaign’s rapid deputy communications director, slammed Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) for disparaging QAnon, signaling the Republican establishment’s increasing willingness to accommodate the fringe conspiracy as its adherents have multiplied and even emerged victorious in GOP congressional primaries. […]
The exchange comes a day after Marjorie Taylor Greene – a vocal QAnon believer condemned by GOP leaders for Facebook videos disparaging Muslims, repeating anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and comparing Black Lives Matter to neo-nazis – won the GOP primary runoff in Georgia’s 14th Congressional district.
Shortly after winning her primary, Greene was welcomed by party leaders, with Trump calling her a “future Republican Star” and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) saying in a statement “we look forward” to Greene joining Congress – a likely scenario given that her district gave for Trump more than 75% of the vote in 2016. […]
The FBI has labelled QAnon a domestic terrorist threat, according to a report from Yahoo News in August 2019. A document from the Bureau’s Phoenix field office reportedly describes “conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists,” as a growing danger, specifically referencing QAnon.
* The exchange…
* USA Today…
QAnon is a baseless conspiracy theory that alleges that there is a “deep state” run by political elites, business leaders and Hollywood celebrities with ties to a child sex trafficking ring. In addition to claiming that “deep state” members are pedophiles, the theory insists that they are actively working against President Donald Trump.
The online movement started in the fall of 2017 on internet message boards, with posts from a self-proclaimed government insider who calls himself “Q,” presumably who Kinzinger was referring to. […]
The Washington Post reported this month that the Trump campaign has been courting QAnon followers more explicitly.
* Related…
* Is QAnon the Most Dangerous Conspiracy Theory of the 21st Century? - “It’s a collaborative fiction built on wild speculation that hardens into reality.”
* How three conspiracy theorists took ‘Q’ and sparked Qanon - Pushing the theory on to bigger platforms proved to be the key to Qanon’s spread — and the originators’ financial gain.
* Facebook Finds Millions of QAnon Supporters on Site, NBC Says
* QAnon Followers Are Hijacking the #SaveTheChildren Movement - Fans of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory are clogging anti-trafficking hotlines, infiltrating Facebook groups and raising false fears about child exploitation.
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* Tribune…
After statements by some Black Lives Matter Chicago leaders in support of looting, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday tried to separate illegal acts from support for the movement’s larger goal of restorative justice.
* There have been a lot of statements from various folks, but here’s BLM organizer Ariel Atkins via WBEZ…
A lot of people are really attacking our pages. They’re like, ‘Oh, you support the looters.’ And yeah, we do, 100%. That’s reparations. And like however people choose to protest, especially if it was definitely in line with what happened with the shooting, which would be powerful to see people reacting … without organizers just being like, ‘We’re angry and this is what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna take the power back.’
I feel like these stores, these Macy’s, these Guccis, the PNC Banks, they’re not here for us. The city puts way more money and investment into spending time and protecting their spaces and making sure that they exist. And yet our people are constantly being pushed out of the city. … Unemployment is incredibly high, like we are in an incredible situation, and the fact that anybody gives a s*** about these businesses over what is happening in this city right now and the pain that people are in and the suffering that is taking place, I don’t care. I will support the looters ‘till the end of the day. If that’s what they need to do in order to eat, then that’s what you’ve got to do to eat.
* Gov. Pritzker’s quote…
First of all, anybody who is looting, or shooting or breaking the law should be held responsible. Period. End of sentence. So, let’s set that as a baseline.
People who are protesting, and voicing their concerns and standing up for people’s rights and doing it in a peaceful fashion, they have every right to do that, but those are two very different things.
And we need to at least recognize that all of us who have stood up for Black Lives Matter, who care deeply about the city are standing up for the right to peacefully protest and standing up for the fact that Black communities, frankly, all communities of color have been disinvested from, and that it’s time for us to step up and do the right thing. This is part of what you’re hearing us do here with the BIG program.
More info on the referenced program is here.
* Back to the Tribune story…
Black Lives Matter Chicago has held several demonstrations in recent days, with leaders saying the weekend’s downtown looting was a reaction to a police-involved shooting in Englewood.
Latrell Allen, 20, was shot and wounded by police in Englewood on Sunday after he allegedly shot at officers investigating a report of a man with a gun at a playground where children were playing, according to prosecutors. Allen is being held on $1 million bond.
There was no body-camera footage of the shooting, which Black Lives Matter Chicago has pointed to while questioning the details provided by police.
* You may have read about a confrontation in Englewood earlier this week when groups dominated by younger people (like BLM) were shouted down by Englewood-based activists and told to leave their neighborhood. Click here for a good explainer by Will Lee. And this is from Block Club Chicago’s coverage…
With news cameras rolling, they didn’t want the protesters to be the only ones speaking for the people of Englewood. And when outside protesters get the police upset, they leave neighborhood residents to deal with angry police, [Darryl Smith, Englewood Political Task Force president] said.
“Y’all see the riot gear? This the s— we gotta deal when y’all leave,” he said. […]
They think Englewood residents are being largely blamed for the Downtown looting that took place overnight Sunday, noting Police Supt. David Brown said the first reported incident of looting happened at 87th and the Dan Ryan, outside of Englewood.
“Why would a person from Englewood, from 63rd Street, go to 87th Street and start a caravan to go Downtown? We would just get on the expressway and go downtown.” Smith said.
Good point.
* There is definitely a generational thing happening here…
West Side political elders on Wednesday condemned recent looting — even though they understand the pain behind it — and warned it would only hurt the quest to rebuild impoverished neighborhoods.
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis said he feels every bit as much “anger,” “frustration” and “rage” about “what the country has done to my ancestors — to me, to my neighbors to my friends” as the young people who answered a social media call to start looting downtown Chicago, fueled by erroneous details about a police shooting in Englewood.
Stacy Davis Gates of the CTU responds to the article…
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* Background is here if you need it. Press release…
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is calling on Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to take enforcement action against Medicaid providers for failing to meet fair contracting goals for minority- and women-owned businesses.
“It is unacceptable that most partners in the Illinois Medicaid program, the largest health insurance program in Illinois, fail to meet fair contracting standards for equity and inclusion by minorities and women,” Welch said. “As the chief legal officer of our state, Attorney General Kwame Raoul must take enforcement action to ensure that fair contracting agreements are followed and respected.”
Welch sent a letter to Raoul demanding that he enforce fair contracting agreements between the state and its Medicaid providers by suing the providers to recover taxpayer funds or by fining the providers. Data from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), which manages the Illinois Medicaid program, indicates that its six partners met just 52% of their combined fair contracting goals. Only one of the six providers, IlliniCare, met or exceeded fair contracting goals. Without the inclusion of IlliniCare, the other five providers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CountyCare, IlliniCare, Meridian, Molina, and Next Level, met less than 40% of their combined fair contracting goals.
“Illinois needs to put Medicaid providers on notice that they will be held accountable for their failure to live up to fair contracting agreements,” Welch said. “Enforcement action from the Attorney General will not only help show the state is serious about advancing economic and racial justice, but it will also protect taxpayers from unreliable business partners who don’t honor contracts with the state.”
Asked if AG Raoul can sue to enforce these goals, Rep. Welch replied with three basic points: 1) The MCOs all signed contracts containing clear minority and female-owned contractor goals, with acknowledged consequences for failure; 2) Raoul represents the state; 3) The MCOs are in breach.
The letter is here.
…Adding… Meanwhile…
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Durbin finds a way around the Madigan question
Thursday, Aug 13, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bernie…
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said Wednesday that he’s not sure that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, can do his job leading the House and the Democratic Party of Illinois, given an ongoing federal investigation. […]
Asked if the investigation hurts the party, Durbin said, “Of course, the cloud of suspicion is going to be raised, as you just did.”
“You start with the presumption of innocence,” Durbin added. “Then comes other questions. Can you do your job? What impact does your legal problem have on other people, innocent people in the process? That’s why I think, as this progresses, if it progresses before the election, other questions will be raised.”
Asked if Madigan can now do the jobs of speaker and party leader, Durbin said, “I don’t know the answer about that at this moment.”
Go read the rest.
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