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Mayor to announce school board appointments on Monday

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Media advisory…

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO ANNOUNCE INCOMING APPOINTMENTS TO THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with fellow elected officials, faith leaders and community partners, will announce seven new appointments to the Chicago Board of Education on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Sweet Holy Spirit Church, 8621 S. South Chicago Ave. in Chicago.

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Reader comments closed for the weekend

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Randy Newman will play us out…

You just remember what your old pal said

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans…

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is proud to announce a collaboration with members of the Native American Community during the 2024 Columbus Day Parade to be held on Monday, October 14, 2024. A press conference will be held on Friday, October 11 at 11am to commemorate the partnership between the JCCIA and the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA).

“This is an initiative that has been a long time coming,” said Ron Onesti, President of the JCCIA. “We have been working together with tribal communities to dispel mistruths about Christopher Columbus, while at the same time promoting mutual respect, peace and unity between the two ethnic groups.”

Leaders from the Dakota Sioux, Creek Sioux, Navajo, Cherokee and Chippewa tribes will come from around the country to participate in the parade. They are members of the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), an organization against the “Cancel Culture” environment and promotes Native American history and heritage.

“We are all Americans…Native Americans, Italian Americans, all Cultural Americans united as one,” said Tony Henson, President of NAGA. “I am looking forward to coming to Chicago in peace and harmony. We are excited to promote the values of the Iroquois Great Law of Peace that is the basis of our U.S. Constitution.”

Several cultural groups will also perform traditional Native American song, dance and spoken word.

Also in attendance will be Rafael Ortiz, author of several adult and children’s books about Christopher Columbus, including “Christopher Columbus The Hero.” He is Hispanic of Indigenous (Taino) descent and is a speaker in great demand about the topic.

The Chicago Columbus Day Parade will kickoff at Noon on Monday, October 14 on State Street at Wacker Drive.

* WGEM…

Makers are on the move again in the Land of Lincoln as the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) kicked off their third annual “Makers on the Move” bus tour at Ace Sign Company in Springfield Friday morning.

“Without you, Illinois would not be the powerhouse it is today,” IMEC President David Boulay said.

He said that powerhouse comes from manufacturers across Illinois. […]

According to the IMA, the industry contributes $580 billion to the state’s economy annually, the largest of any industry to Illinois’ gross domestic product. It also directly employs 662,298 workers and supports as many as 1,771,928 jobs, which is nearly one-third of all jobs in the state. […]

The bus tour continues across the state through Oct. 12. In total, the bus will travel more than 2,500 miles making roughly 40 stops according to the IMA.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WCIA | Illinois AG leads coalition supporting minimum staffing for train operations: Unsafe railroad conditions have cost train workers their lives, and the Illinois Attorney General is part of a movement pressing to put an end to the problem. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of attorneys general in favor of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rule that requires freight and passenger trains be staffed with at least two crew members to ensure safer conditions for workers., according to a release on Wednesday.

* Capitol News Illinois | Jury selection begins next week in corruption trial of former Speaker Madigan: The 82-year-old ex-speaker faces 24 counts of bribery and racketeering — along with his longtime friend and powerful Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain — in a case that frames Madigan’s power in government, politics and as a partner in his law firm as a criminal enterprise. The trial, which is scheduled to last through mid-December, is the culmination of more than a decade of digging by the FBI and prosecutors, and it’s the final in a series of related cases that have played out in Chicago’s federal courthouse over the last few years.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Head of CPD drug investigations is finalist for Iowa police chief job — and is saddled with mountain of debt: A Chicago police commander of major narcotics investigations was struggling with almost $840,000 in debt earlier this year, including more than $30,000 in taxes he owed the IRS, according to bankruptcy records. Joshua Wallace, 50, is one of the two finalists to become the next police chief in Des Moines, Iowa. On Wednesday, the Des Moines Register newspaper first reported on Wallace’s bankruptcy filing in February.

* Block Club | Garfield Park Conservatory Starts Charging Entry Fee For Non-Chicagoans: Starting Oct. 16, people who do not reside in Chicago will be charged an entrance fee to the conservatory, with prices depending on age. Non-resident adults will be charged $10, while children 7-17 will get in for $5 and kids younger than 7 will be admitted for free, according to an announcement. College students and people 65 and older will be charged $5.

* Sun-Times | U.S. Supreme Court to hear appeal of Patrick Daley Thompson, heir to Chicago political dynasty: The high court’s deliberations are not expected to completely undo the former City Council member’s conviction for tax crimes, regardless of how things play out. But 2025 could be the second year in a row that the justices hear arguments about how the feds pursue local politicians in high-profile cases.

* Sun-Times | Schwinn led the bicycle industry from Chicago for a century before losing its way: The pioneering bike company was sold long ago and no longer is based in Chicago. But it left behind a huge legacy that even missteps of the ‘70s and ‘80s can’t erase.

* NBC Chicago | With Savannah Bananas coming to Chicago for 1st time, here’s how to enter the ticket lottery: The Bananas, who have pioneered a style of baseball called “Banana Ball” will play at Guaranteed Rate Field against the Firefighters on Aug. 15-16, 2025. Fans interested in purchasing tickets must sign up for a ticket lottery via the team’s website. Only one city can be selected when entering the lottery.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WGN | Judge warns Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard to comply with rulings: Trustees opposed to Henyard returned to court Thursday, claiming Henyard disobeyed the order by instructing a vendor to cut off Keith Freeman’s access to village license and permitting software. Freeman was Henyard’s top adviser in both Dolton and Thornton Township before he fell out of favor for cooperating with Henyard’s opponents and she attempted to fire him.

* Shaw Local | Kane County offering $755K in ARPA funds to food-related businesses: The Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Grant Program is now open for applications, offering $755,000 in financial assistance to local food-growing businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced in a news release. The funds are available through Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds created through the American Rescue Plan Act.

* Beacon-News | $26M Dauberman Road extension in Kane County nearly complete: A $26 million Kane County project to extend Dauberman Road over Route 30 and the nearby railroad tracks in Big Rock is nearly complete, county officials announced Tuesday at a ribbon cutting. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dauberman Road Extension Project comes around a year and a half after construction began on the project, according to a news release about the ceremony. County officials said during the ceremony that the road extension project will improve accessibility and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in the area.

* Daily Herald | ‘Best day ever’: Wheaton man grows 2,000-pound pumpkin : His 2,021-pounder took first place at the Illinois Giant Pumpkin Growers Association weigh-off on Saturday. Adkins didn’t know how much it weighed until it went on the scale during the event in Minooka. “It was so unbelievable,” he said Thursday. “I’ve been shooting for this for the longest time, so I can’t even tell you the excitement I felt. It still feels so incredible. Best day ever.”

* WGN | Wildlife expert describes pulling python from woman’s car in Kane County: Brad Lundsteen of Suburban Wildlife Control says the job was among the top 10 strangest scenarios he’s encountered. The reptile was first spotted in a neighborhood in Geneva on Tuesday before it made its way under the vehicle. After multiple efforts to remove the reptile, the car was driven to an area body shop where it could be lifted to grant Lundsteen easier access.

*** Downstate ***

* WSIL | 80 vacancies for 12 job positions posted in connection to Choate in Anna: 80 vacancies for job positions are posted on an Illinois official state website with dates ranging from mid-September to early October for Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna. On the Illinois Department of Human Services website are employment opportunities linked to the Work For Illinois page with a number of positions posted across the state. In Anna, a total of 12 jobs are posted from dates starting from September 16 through October 3 in connection to Choate Mental Health and Development Center.

* State Week | What changes might come from Sonya Massey’s death?: Sonya Massey was an unarmed Black woman who was shot and killed by a former sheriff’s deputy in Sangamon County this summer. The case drew outrage and placed more focus on police hiring and training. It could lead to new legislation. Massey’s mental health struggles also showed how a law designed to prevent such individuals from having police confrontations has failed to get up and running.

* PJ Star | Runaway trucks, tornadoes and millions of pies: Beloved Peoria bakery had long, colorful history: The fondly remembered Kitchen Made Pie Co. has a storied, if turbulent, history. It supplied more than 10,000 pies to the 1951 Eureka Pumpkin Festival, when that was a thing. It weathered a runaway pie truck in 1963, a safecracking and tornado in 1965, and a worker dismemberment in 1972. For decades, the company supplied restaurants and groceries across the Peoria area.

* WCIA | Champaign’s Promise Healthcare receives $600K for mental health, substance abuse services: A new grant for $600,000 has been received by Promise Healthcare after applying in June. They were one of 16 clinics in Illinois to be chosen by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 400 clinics were selected nationwide.

*** National ***

* NPR | Storm damage closes N.C. factory that makes vital hospital supplies: The Baxter International factory in Marion, N.C., about 35 miles outside of Asheville, was evacuated right before the worst of the storm passed, according to social media posts from employees. It’s now shut down and covered in mud — like a lot of western North Carolina. Bridges leading to the facility were also badly damaged. The facility is one of the largest suppliers of IV fluids in the country, the Food and Drug Administration says. Baxter says it will spare no expense to get the factory back online, but the company doesn’t “have a timeline for when operations will be back up and running.”

* Vox | Get used to more absurdly hot Octobers: Palm Springs, California, hit a staggering 117 degrees Tuesday, setting a new October record for itself, and matching the highest temperature that’s ever been documented in the US in October. Other places in California, Arizona, and Wyoming have also experienced some of their hottest October temperatures ever, with San Jose reaching a temperature of 106 degrees, Phoenix hitting 113, and Cheyenne reaching 85 degrees.

12 Comments

Question of the day (Updated)

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Desi Anderson: Rep. Chung’s Racist Mailings Beyond Accepted Political Attacks

In response to recent campaign mailings from Rep. Chung, paid for by the Democratic Party of Illinois, Desi Anderson, candidate for State Representative released the following statement:

“I’ll be the first to admit that political campaigns often enter the territory of truth-stretching during the heights of election season, and I truly believe our campaigns should stay focused on the issues important to our residents.

Unfortunately, recent mailings across the district from my opponent go beyond even the most egregious attacks related to policies and personalities. Our Representative, Sharon Chung, is currently sending racist altered images of me that purposely change the color of my skin, in an attempt to erase the heritage I am very proud of.

This race should be a bright spot for political campaigns in Illinois and across the nation, with two female minority candidates vying to represent their shared community. It is disgraceful that Rep. Chung would stoop to this level of attack and she should be ashamed.

I ask all of our residents and local media members to review these images and then ask Rep. Chung why she would engage in such racist tactics to win a political campaign.”

###

For Media Use: Attached is a graphic that shows a recent photo of Desi Anderson in comparison to two images used on recent mailings by the Chung campaign.

* However, Isabel and I scrolled through Desi Anderson’s Facebook page and found these…

* From Anderson’s campaign website…

* From the actual Democratic mailers in question sent to me by the HGOPs…

* The Question: Your take on this?

…Adding… From Democrats for the Illinois House…

The images of Anderson used in campaign materials are the same ones her campaign provided to the Peoria Journal Star, as well as other outlets. They are also being utilized extensively by her own campaign on social media and fundraising flyers. The lighting of these images was not altered in any way.

15 Comments

Ahead of mass school board resignation, some mayoral opponents ask Pritzker to step in, but he says he has no legal authority (Updated x5)

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sun-Times…

The entire Chicago Board of Education is resigning, a stunning development after months of acrimony that clears the way for Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint a new board that will follow his orders — fire schools CEO Pedro Martinez, make a contract deal with the Chicago Teachers Union and take a loan to cover a city pension payment and the teachers’ contract this year.

Johnson confirmed Friday in an exclusive interview that the expected resignations of all seven board members will come later this month. This will be announced in a joint statement from the School Board and Chicago Public Schools, he said. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times first reported the possibility of resignations on Monday.

* Mayor Johnson’s spin…

Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of the Chicago Board of Education are enacting a transition plan which includes all current members transitioning from service on the Board later this month. With the shift to a hybrid elected and appointed Board forthcoming, current Board members and Mayor Johnson understand that laying a strong foundation for the shift is necessary to serve the best interests of students and families in Chicago Public Schools.

Together, Mayor Johnson and the Board fulfilled many objectives of the Johnson Administration’s vision for Chicago’s public schools, including shifting away from inequitable student-based budgeting, completing the change to a school safety model that does not rely on school resource officers and focusing on Black Student Success. Their partnership also improved special education services, increased charter school accountability in the renewal process and embarked on a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes continued progress, investing in neighborhood schools and expanding the Sustainable Community School model in lieu of school closures.

None of the members leaving the current Board planned to continue onto the hybrid Board, and none are running for election. With the unprecedented increase in Board membership, transitioning new members now will allow them time to orient and gain critical experience prior to welcoming additional elected and appointed members in 2025.

The new board doesn’t take office until next year. Nothing in that joint release from the mayor and the board says what they’re gonna do after this month ends.

* Press release from Johnson opponents…

Today, community leaders and elected officials will call on Governor Pritzker to step into the CPS crisis created by Mayor Johnson and CTU’s power grab as Board of Education members resign to give Johnson full control of the Chicago Public Schools one month before voters elect independent school board members.

A Press Conference will be held today at 5 pm in front of CPS, 42 W. Madison St. with elected officials and community leaders.

“Johnson has confirmed the rumors circulating in Chicago that he is seeking the ouster of Pedro Martinez as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools at all cost,” states Gilbert Villegas, Alderman of the 36th Ward. “Today’s resignation of school board members is nothing more than a power grab by Johnson and his benefactors at CTU leaving Chicagoans and taxpayers without a leader to look out for their interests - their children. We need a neutral party to step in. We ask our Governor JB Pritzker to step in on behalf of parents and taxpayers.”

“We are calling on Governor Pritzker to step up to provide the kind of leadership he has shown across the state and give parents and taxpayers a neutral arbiter in CTU contract negotiations and budget approval,” states George Cardenas, Commissioner of the Board of Review. “Taxpayers are fed up having to pay the bills for money being squandered with no return on their investment for their children.”

“Johnson campaigned on a pledge to bring an elected school board to Chicago that will represent the interests of parents not City Hall,” states Juan Rangel, CEO of The Urban Center. “Yet, Johnson is doing everything to undermine an independent elected school board just as voters start going to the polls to vote. We need to restore check and balances. We looking to Governor Pritzker’s leadership to provide that.”

* I reached out to the governor’s office earlier today. From Alex Gough…

The Governor doesn’t have the legal authority to intervene in this situation. As he’s stated previously, Governor Pritzker’s focus is first and foremost what’s good for Illinois students. The administration will continue to work with our partners in the Illinois General Assembly to invest in public education across the state.

…Adding… WBEZ…

Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez, 25th Ward, a close ally of Johnson’s, pushed back against the idea that this is an embarrassment for Johnson. Instead, he shifted blame to the state, arguing that if Illinois allocated enough money to CPS, the city wouldn’t have to consider taking out a loan in the first place.

“The mayor is doing what the majority of Chicago would like to see: changes in CPS that actually deliver results,” he said. “This is an embarrassment for the state of Illinois that we have a governor who is unwilling to work with the city of Chicago … it’s an embarrassment for our political system that we are failing our students and our teachers and our communities.” […]

The power struggle playing out in a messy back-and-forth through opinion pieces, statements and news conferences, is an unnecessary distraction that will breed mistrust among state lawmakers who both City Hall and CPS will be asking for funds, said state Rep. Kam Buckner, an ally of Johnson’s in Springfield.

“We’re now talking about personalities and personnel and politics, which I think is the wrong stance,” Buckner said Wednesday ahead of the resignations. “My advice is to address and resolve these leadership challenges behind closed doors, where the key stakeholders can meet, deliberate and present a unified plan, because effective governance and clear communication will go a long way in gathering support from Springfield.” […]

“It needs to be very clear who is leading the district, what their plan and what their vision is. You can’t come to Springfield asking for more resources if leadership is in disarray and we don’t know what’s going on one day to the next,” Buckner said.

…Adding… Jennifer Custer, candidate for School Board in District 1, who is endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Unioin…

Yet again Brandon Johnson has played politics at our schools resulting in chaos and putting our kids’ education at risk. Chicagoans are already voting for their first elected school board on November 5th. Voters should decide who runs our schools, not the Mayor. As a Board member I will never run from a fight and will always place the interests of our children first. Whether that is fighting Mayor Johnson’s reckless policies or the special interests that our trying to gut public education.

…Adding… INCS…

INCS Calls for an End to Political Brinksmanship and A Renewed Focus on Students

October 4, 2024 – Chicago Public Schools students deserve better. The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) is disappointed to hear the news of the mass resignations of the full Chicago Board of Education only a month before the city’s first school board election. This ongoing political saga does nothing to serve students and is a revealing illustration that city leaders are putting politics ahead of student interests.

At a time when our city’s students and schools need leadership, we are met with continued chaos from Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union, and Chicago Public Schools. This political maneuver to force resignations of the full Board of Education before an elected school board takes power is fundamentally undemocratic. It also paves the way for the district to take out a high-interest, short-term loan Mayor Johnson demands to finance a costly CTU contract that will spiral our city’s schools into even more debt. These decisions will impact our students and school district for years to come and should be made by a democratically elected school board.

This is the perfect illustration on why INCS’ sister entity, INCS Action, is fully engaged in the city’s first school board election on November 5, supporting candidates who will prioritize high-quality schools and put students first. Chicago Public Schools’ future will only be sustainable if we have school board members elected who are willing to make educational quality, not politics, the district’s north star. Now more than ever, Chicago needs independent, student-centered school board members who listen to families and prioritize students over special interests. And that is exactly who INCS Action will help elect in November.

* Also…

Today, Kate Doyle, candidate for the newly established elected school board in District 2, expressed her concerns upon learning of the resignation of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board members.

“The mass resignations from the current CPS board are a cause for concern during an already critical period for Chicago’s students and families,” said Doyle. “I am disappointed to see leaders step away at a time when stability and careful decision-making is critical. CPS faces significant challenges, and with ongoing contract negotiations with the CTU and looming fiscal responsibilities, the focus must be on making responsible, sustainable decisions that keep our schools functional and our students’ needs front and center.”

…Adding… Illinois Latino Agenda…

The following is a statement from the Illinois Latino Agenda in response to news that all seven members of the Chicago Board of Education will resign:

“Today’s news puts at risk the stability of Chicago Public Schools. At this unprecedented moment for the fourth largest school district in the country, we hope that all of the involved stakeholders, the Mayor, the Board, and the CEO will continue to do what is in the best interest of CPS students – nearly half of whom are Latino – so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

…Adding… Another CTU-endorsed candidate…

Yesenia Lopez Responds to Chicago Public Schools Leadership Crisis

Chicago, IL — Yesenia Lopez, candidate for the Chicago Board of Education in District 7, expressed deep concern today following the mass resignation of the entire Board of Education.

“I am deeply concerned with the chaos threatening Chicago’s public schools following today’s mass resignation. The instability and turbulence in CPS leadership create real risks for our schools and are diverting attention from the critical needs of our students,” Lopez stated.

Amid this uncertainty, Lopez warned of outside influences, saying, “Republican billionaire donors are putting their wealth into play, and shady political players are ready to exploit this uncertainty. Their agenda comes straight from the Project 2025 playbook, which attacks public education.” She emphasized that voters are ready to reclaim control of the conversation, saying, “Voters are ready to take control of the conversation. I pledge to be a steady independent voice, advocating for high-quality education, equitable resources, and the long-term success of every child in Chicago.”

As Chicagoans prepare for the first elected Board of Education, Lopez reiterated her commitment to ensuring the voices of parents, educators, and communities are at the forefront.

About Yesenia

Yesenia Lopez is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools and a passionate advocate for equitable education. With experience serving under Governor JB Pritzker, Rep. Chuy García, and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Yesenia has built a career dedicated to improving opportunities for students and families. She is the only candidate endorsed by labor unions, and community organizations, reflecting her commitment to working families. Yesenia is running for the Chicago Board of Education to ensure every student has access to the high-quality education they deserve. Her full list of endorsers can be found here.

43 Comments

Governor’s office says Senate Republicans are “spreading falsehoods” with their calls for DCFS audit (Updated)

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* On September 20, Injustice Watch published a story alleging cases of abuse at Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center…

Soon after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took office in 2019, his administration elevated Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center on Chicago’s South Side as a model for how Illinois would serve abused foster children with mental health diagnoses. […]

But in a stunning move this summer, the Pritzker administration abruptly shut down the facility amid well-publicized allegations of sexual assaults by two staffers beginning as early as August 2023. […]

“None of A-Alert’s staff have been cleared through the DCFS background check/clearance process,” wrote Raul Garza, Aunt Martha’s CEO, in a three-page letter to Mueller in March.

Brian Dougherty, DCFS general counsel, fired back his own four-page internal response to Mueller saying Garza was unfairly criticizing the state’s background checks.

“This is not true, but DCFS acknowledges that a misunderstanding likely existed,” Dougherty wrote to Mueller. “The department is now requiring a full CANTS and LEADS check” — a reference to checks of Illinois’ Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System and the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

A former Walmart worker, Hopkins was hired as an A-Alert guard despite prior arrests for domestic violence and child endangerment, as well as an order of protection by his wife, court records show.

* Senate Republican Leader John Curran held a press conference today calling for an audit of DCFS to investigate the allegations…

Leader Curran: The governor’s office has refused even comment on the horrific findings of this investigative report, and as a result, we are stepping up and calling for the Auditor General to conduct an audit of DCFS handling of contracts and administration related to Aunt Martha’s in A-Alert Security Services.

This includes abuse background checks, staff hiring back dating of protected plans to determine the extent to which contracts were monitored, whether staff were properly screened and hired, and whether all allegations of abuse and mistreated mistreatment were properly investigated.

We are also asking for an examination of the spending of state funds at Aunt Martha’s in A-Alert Security Services, and whether Illinois State officials acted outside the law regarding the allegations of abuse and oversight.

* Greg Bishop asked Curran why there hasn’t been more local or state criminal investigations into the allegations…

That article was recent. The last two weeks, we are calling for that investigation. This should have already occurred. It appears from the article that the governor, within the governor’s administration, they’re conducting an investigation.

But I think what we want to see is an actual investigation outside of the governor’s administration into this, and that’s why we’re we filed this resolution requesting that the Auditor General take a look at this.

* Pritzker Press Secretary Alex Gough…

The protection of our most vulnerable children is a responsibility that must be taken seriously. So, it’s disappointing that Leader Curran would rather play political games by spreading falsehoods in public than have meaningful conversations with the Director he and his caucus voted to appoint

The administration has made investments in the agency not seen in a generation. After supporting Bruce Rauner’s disastrous cuts and failing to support any of Governor Pritzker’s major investments, Senate Republicans have no legs to stand on and must result to grandstanding.

They know full well that many of the claims in the article that are prompting this action are demonstrably inaccurate and misleading. The insinuation that DCFS improperly or nefariously acted to obscure facts in its administrative paperwork is false. It is up to department grantees to earnestly and diligently oversee their own subcontractors. So, once confidence in the model and operations were lost, the administration took decisive action and terminated the contract with Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center.

…Addding… Leader Curran’s response…

“Histrionics aside, will the Governor support an outside independent investigation of these serious allegations?”

…Adding… DCFS response…

The Injustice Watch story misrepresents key facts and makes allegations of misconduct on the part of DCFS staff that are demonstrably false. Many of the accurate facts were communicated on multiple occasions to the reporter, David Jackson, while working on this story and were largely ignored in the published article. DCFS relies upon its grantees to earnestly and diligently oversee its own contractors. In this instance, DCFS carried out its responsibilities related to background checks and oversight of Aunt Martha’s ICC. DCFS made the decision to cease operations with ICC when confidence in the model and the operations was lost.

Key Points - many of these facts were communicated to Jackson on 07/23/24; 09/04/24; 09/10/24; 09/13/24; and 09/16/24, all prior to the article’s publication:

• Upon becoming notified of issues at the ICC via a hotline call in August of 2023, DCFS
responded immediately including the institution of a protective plan and regular check-in
meetings with Aunt Martha’s. Prior to and following August of 2023, DCFS engaged in
regular monitoring of the facility.
• Aunt Martha’s had unilateral authority and responsibility for terminating the contract
with A- Alert – not DCFS. As issues were raised with A-Alert, DCFS worked with Aunt
Martha’s to ensure that all security needs were being properly met.
• Pursuant to its contract with DCFS, Aunt Martha’s staff was required to supervise youth
in care at all times – such supervision could not be satisfied by third-party security
contractors like A-Alert. As the DCFS contract with Aunt Martha’s was structured, A-
Alert security should never have been alone with youth at any point and therefore were
not required to undergo background checks pursuant to regulation.
• The story implies malintent behind a DCFS staff worker’s administrative clean-up of
comprehensive protective plan documentation which is inaccurate and misleading.
• The story portrays all unusual incidents are dangerous; an “unusual incident report”
(UIR) as anything that is outside the treatment plan for the youth (e.g., refusal to take
medication, misuse of social media, allergic reaction, involved in an accident,
etc.). DCFS providers file such UIRs as a means to communicate with DCFS staff and
document what is happening with youth.

Lots more at the link.

14 Comments

Meanwhile… In Opposite Land

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* News Channel 9 in July…

Repeat juvenile offenders in Tennessee are now no longer the only ones who could find themselves in legal hot water.

A law now in effect in Tennessee aims to also punish their parents.

The Parental Accountability Act took effect July 1st.

It fines parents whose children are found delinquent by a court more than twice up to $1,000.

[Republican Rep. John Gillespie] says the fines will start at $250 dollars for a misdemeanor, $500 for a felony act, and can go up to $1,000 if a judge decides it’s warranted. The law also offers the option for the parent to do community service.

More on the Tennessee law is here if you’re interested.

* Governor Pritzker was asked at a news event yesterday if he’d consider signing any legislation that would target parents of repeat juvenile offenders…

Reporter: We saw an uptick in juvenile arrests last year in Peoria, and it’s been mentioned by our police chief that a lot of those kids are repeat offenders. And it’s been pondered by some on the City Council if it would be realistic to see legislation out of Springfield that could possibly hold parents accountable for children who are repeat offenders in the crime system.

Is that something you would view as reasonable or realistic if the General Assembly would put something like that on your desk?

Governor Pritzker: Look, parents absolutely have responsibility to raise their kids as best they can in the circumstances that they’re in, but you’ve got to recognize that there are a lot of circumstances that are traumatic and can be challenges that parents face and it’s very difficult for a parent to overcome some of those circumstances all on their own.

So the idea they we are going to hold them criminally liable, which is what I think is the suggestion you’re putting forward, doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Obviously, there are unusual circumstances they might be taking into account but it would be hyper-unusual from my perspective.

What we really need to do is to give parents the resources that they need so that they can help their kids get through these challenging circumstances. They come up in traumatic, you know, communities, or communities that cause trauma for their children, and then there’s nothing for them to do with their children to try to overcome those circumstances.

So we need to elevate sometimes in the early childhood world we call it Two-gen solutions. These are two generation solutions. You can’t just address this with the child, but [you need to address it with] the child and their parent or whoever their caregivers are. So I would suggest that we need to provide more support and it’s less about policing than it is about helping parents do their best. Because every parent I think wants the best for their child and so if we can help them get that I think we’d all be better off.

Thoughts?

35 Comments

Open thread

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

6 Comments

Isabel’s morning briefing

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Gov. Pritzker announces $7.9M in grants to grocery stores across Illinois. WGEM…

here

* Related stories…

∙ WMBD: Illinois governor urges more facilities like West Peoria’s Young Minds Center across state
∙ WMBD: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker makes two stops in Peoria
∙ WAND: Carlinville, Urbana receive grant money for grocery stores

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Capitol News Illinois | ADM stops carbon injection as its Decatur facility remains under federal scrutiny: After identifying an underground carbon dioxide leak earlier this year, agribusiness giant ADM found a further “anomaly” in one of the wells at its Decatur carbon dioxide sequestration plant last week. […] As part of the company’s “ongoing diagnostic efforts,” it found evidence of brine – salty water – moving between the underground rock formations it uses for carbon dioxide storage, according to a letter from ADM to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This creates the potential for other underground material to escape its containment zones, although the company’s letter said it has not collected any data indicating that has happened.

* Bolts | In Illinois, a Private Prison Company’s Long Trail of Deaths and High-Dollar Contracts: Sarah Grady, a civil rights lawyer who has represented a number of incarcerated people in lawsuits against IDOC and Wexford, is disappointed in state leaders like Governor JB Pritzker and Latoya Hughes, the governor’s pick to lead IDOC as interim director since March 2023 for awarding Wexford a new contract despite its tumultuous history. “It was a really incredible opportunity for the governor and the state to really think about a model that does not embrace this privatization,” she told Bolts.

* Sun-Times | Want to apply for the new Illinois rental assistance program? Here’s what landlords, tenants should know: The state-funded, court-based rental assistance program started Sept. 20. Tenants and landlords can apply for up to $15,000 in emergency rental payments, which can be applied to past-due rent dating back to March 2020. The funds can also pay up to $500 for court costs and up to two months of future rent payments to prevent an eviction.

* Sun-Times | Mike Madigan, once Illinois’ most influential powerbroker, now faces federal corruption trial: Prosecutors still have one crucial task ahead of them: proving former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan guilty of a racketeering conspiracy. That work finally begins Tuesday, in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge John Blakey, where the once-powerful Southwest Side Democrat is expected to face a jury of fellow Illinois residents whose lives have all been affected by Madigan — whether they know it or not.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Daily Herald | Opponents in 45th District state representative race share their differing top priorities: Democrat and Elmhurst Ward 1 Alderman Martha “Marti” Deuter is running against Republican and Addison Township Supervisor Dennis M. Reboletti, also of Elmhurst, to succeed Democratic incumbent Jenn Ladisch Douglass, who chose not to seek a second term. Reboletti is a former Will County assistant state’s attorney and served as a state representative from 2007 to 2015. He said he considers himself the more effective choice for the seat because of his previous experience and ability to provide a fresh perspective to a Democratic-dominated legislature.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Emboldened by CPS strife, CTU critics pour more cash into school board elections: A month out from Election Day, business and charter school interests that have raised millions of dollars are now infusing cash and stepping up in school board races against the CTU — in three districts dishing out so much money that election officials have lifted the contribution limits. They appear emboldened by the strife at CPS, many of them having spent the past few weeks backing schools CEO Pedro Martinez in his ongoing fight against Johnson and the teachers’ union.

* Tribune | Chicago sees steep drop in number of deaths tied to opioid overdoses: Public health and law enforcement officials point to a variety of factors that could be responsible. Increased community outreach, addiction treatment efforts and less available fentanyl all likely play a role, they said. Through Sept. 20, Cook County had recorded 806 opioid-related deaths this year, according to data from the medical examiner’s office. Of those, 580 occurred in Chicago. In that same time frame in 2023, the county saw 1,363 opioid-related deaths with 1,022 in Chicago.

* Tribune | ‘Make a plan to vote now’: First 2 Chicago early voting sites open: Between June 1 and the end of September, close to 50,000 Chicagoans — more women than men, and the majority were under the age of 35 — registered to vote, according to the city’s elections board. More than 3,600 18-year-olds and over 3,000 19-year-olds, who will be voting in their first presidential election, registered. No ages registered more than those two, which board Chair Marisel Hernandez said was “truly inspiring.”

* Tribune | In an effort to address food deserts, Illinois doles out first round of state grocery funding. An Austin grocer is among the recipients.: The state awarded $750,000 to Forty Acres for its new bricks-and-mortar store at 5713 W. Chicago Ave. Reached by phone while running a produce stand at an Austin farmers market Thursday, Forty Acres founder Liz Abunaw described the state grant program as a “game changer” because unlike many grants which must go toward construction and renovation costs, the program allows funds to go toward first-year operational costs such as labor and inventory.

* Block Club Chicago | Babe’s, A Women’s Sports Bar, Launches Fundraiser To Help It Open In Logan Square: Nora McConnell-Johnson, a lifelong athlete and sports fan, plans to open Babe’s at 3017 W. Armitage Ave. after getting overall positive feedback from neighbors and the alderperson on the idea. Now that the storefront is officially hers, she aims to raise $75,000 to transform the former Music Lounge space, which has sat vacant since 2017 or early 2018.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Southtown | Ford Heights residents voice ire at new mayor’s first meeting: ‘Give us : Frustration erupted Wednesday in Ford Heights as the Village Board met for the first time following the appointment of interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was elevated last week to mayor of the impoverished community despite being in his first term as a trustee. Roughly 50 people were on hand to witness how the Board would move on after their former mayor resigned due to a criminal conviction. After Wilson failed to address former Mayor Charles Griffin’s embezzlement of village funds as well as concerns over his personal ties to Griffin, the crowd became restless.

* Daily Herald | New Cook County dashboard tracks opioid, gun and temperature deaths: The Medical Examiner Case Archive Dashboard allows users to access a range of demographic information for Cook County residents who’ve died as a result of opioids, guns or temperature-related deaths, including age, gender, race and ethnicity. The dashboard allows users to filter data by municipality and cause of death. Visitors also can pinpoint which neighborhoods are experiencing higher death rates.

* Daily Herald | Judge’s decision in Barrington Hills horse-boarding case upheld: A three-judge panel on Monday unanimously affirmed Judge David B. Atkins’ decision against James J. Drury III, who’d sued Barrington Hills in 2015 over a zoning ordinance establishing rules for boarding businesses in the equestrian-friendly town. Drury alleged the ordinance was unconstitutional; Atkins disagreed. The appeals court found Atkins made no errors and that the evidence presented at trial “fully supported” his conclusion.

*** Downstate ***

* KFVS | Union members at Choate Mental Health hit the picket line for more staffing: According to AFSCME Local 141, union members hit the picket line over unsafe working conditions and delays in hiring new staff. Union President Ona Rivero Winfield said there has been an increase in staff assaults over the last several months due to insufficient staffing. The union is citing changes in hiring have caused delays in hiring new staff. She said current staff members are assigned to oversee a greater number of residents than has been deemed acceptable by recent policy.

* WCIA | Motorcyclist injured in crash sues former Springfield officer charged with DUI: Court records show Trevor Hopkins filed a lawsuit for negligence against former Springfield police seargent Michael Egan and the Blue Ridge Club on Tuesday. […] Blue Ridge Club is also named in the lawsuit. Under Illinois’ Dram Shop Act, businesses that serve alcohol are liable if they overserve their customers.

* WTVO | Hard Rock Casino donation to help Northwest Communtity Center with outreach programs: Northwest Community Center received a $1,000 donation from the Hard Rock Casino Thursday morning, in an effort to help with employment training and afterschool programs. “This is going to make a tremendous impact on the programming we have here. It’s gonna help further our mission, which is to provide a place for the local community to gather, learn, and actually be social,” said Northwest’s executive director, Nicole Fricks.

* WCIA | Urbana Police letting clergy care for victims at crime scenes in new program: Chief Larry Boone brought this concept with him from his previous job in Norfolk, Virginia. He saw how successful it was there and believes the same results can be achieved here. They overlaid the map of gun violence with churches in the same area, and plan to pull from that pool. “A lot of people are looking forward to it,” Behavior and Health Detective Antwan Funches said. “The community, as well as my department.”

* SJ-R | Remaining Neuhoff owned radio stations officially sold in Springfield area: Woodward Communication, Inc. officially acquired seven radio station brands from Neuhoff Media in Springfield and Bloomington on Sept. 30, according to a press release from WCI. “We are pleased to announce that today we successfully consummated the acquisition of Neuhoff Media’s radio stations and brands based in Springfield and Bloomington, IL,” stated WCI President/CEO Tom Woodward in the news release. “Over the past couple of months, we have gotten to know each other better, shared ideas, aspirations, etc. which in turn has created positive momentum and energy on which we can enhance our capabilities to serve our customers and communities.”

* PJ Star | Here’s the plan to replace the Christopher Columbus statue in Peoria. And how much it will cost: Artist Preston Jackson was tabbed by the Peoria Park District to construct a new art piece to replace the statue of Christopher Columbus, which was removed from Laura Bradley Park in 2020. Jackson’s piece, which the Peoria Park District is paying him $100,000 to create, will pay homage to Peoria’s Native American population.

*** National ***

* Tribune | President Biden’s student loan cancellation is put on hold again after day of legal whiplash: A federal judge in Missouri put a temporary hold on President Joe Biden’s latest student loan cancellation plan on Thursday, slamming the door on hope it would move forward after another judge allowed a pause to expire. Just as it briefly appeared the Biden administration would have a window to push its plan forward, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp in Missouri granted an injunction blocking any widespread cancellation.

* WaPo | Dockworkers’ union suspends strike, ports reopen on East and Gulf coasts: The deal — brokered with the apparent help of senior Biden administration officials, according to a person close to the talks — came on the third day of the strike, sparing the U.S. economy the worst of the disruptions. It also takes a difficult issue for the Biden administration out of play less than five weeks before the presidential election, in which the White House’s stewardship of the economy is a key issue.

* WaPo | With races tight, some House Republicans tout ‘pro-choice’ credentials: Not all of the Republicans using the phrase support the legal protections for abortion that Democrats have championed. But their tone is a significant shift that reflects the Democrats’ success in campaigning on the issue since 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and hints at Republican anxiety about how voters are responding. In the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday, JD Vance (R-Ohio) conceded that the Republican Party has to do a better job in “earning the American people’s trust back” on abortion.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign and court-related stuff

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Friday, Oct 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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