* Francia Garcia Hernandez at the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark…
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (8th) called on the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to reinstate Riverside police officer Zenna Ramos, who was decertified as a police officer by the state board in April. […]
Ford said the state board has taken the language of the state law known as Safe T Act as a reason to decertify Ramos after the village of Riverside requested the board waived basic training for the officer. Decertification means she can’t serve as a police officer anywhere in the state. […]
In 2008, Ramos was arrested for allegedly stealing three shirts, valued at a total of $14.99, from J.C. Penney at the North Riverside Park Mall. She was not a police officer then, but rather a 22-year-old single parent struggling with domestic violence-related issues who acted out of desperation.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Ramos said, standing next to Ford, near tears. “I did everything right to better myself for myself and my family so I could be a police officer.”
Ramos is a mother of three and her husband is a Cicero police officer.
* The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board literally stretched the law’s intended reach in its general counsel’s letter to Riverside…
50 ILCS 705/6.1 provides that the Board must review law enforcement officers’ records to ensure no law enforcement officer is provided a waiver if they have been convicted of a felony or disqualifying misdemeanor. Among the listed disqualifying misdemeanors is theft (720 IL.CS 5/16-1). Interestingly, retail theft (730 ILCS 5/16-ag) is not specifically listed, however, P.A, 101-652 (effective July 1, 2021) added the following language to 6: “or any felony or misdemeanor in violation of federal law or the law of any state that is the equivalent of any of the offenses specified therein.” Retail theft is not only the equivalent of theft but is arguably an even more serious offense. Simple theft of property not from the person and not exceeding $500 in value is a Class A misdemeanor, whereas any retail theft of property valued in excess of $300 is a felony. Furthermore, where a literal reading of a statute would lead to inconvenient, unjust, or absurd results, the literal reading should yield. See Kelly vs. Village of Kenilworth, 156 N.E. gd 480 (I* Dist. 2019).
And yet, instead of yielding, the board’s chief lawyer Patrick Hahn went with the unjust and absurd result.
* More from the ILETSB’s denial letter…
Past behavior is a logical predictor of future behavior. In the 2000s Ramos appeared to have a propensity for stealing from stores. In addition to the 2008 retail theft conviction, Ramos was also placed on court supervision in 2003 for retail theft. There’s an old proverb that says, “the person who steals once is always thought a thief”, and while such thinking may be unfair, it is not uncommon particularity in light of today’s jury opinions of police. Ensuring the credibility of prosecution witnesses is a modern-day challenge, which requires the reputation of testifying officers to be above reproach. Maryland v. Brady, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) was the landmark case that established that the prosecution must turn over all evidence that might exonerate a criminal defendant. Brady has been expanded to include evidence that calls into question the credibility of testifying officers. Ramos’ prior retail thefts call her credibility and character into question, which can be exploited to a criminal defendant’s advantage.
That looks to my eyes like a classic example of concern trolling from a SAFE-T Act opponent.
…Adding… Excellent point in comments…
“the person who steals once is always thought a thief”
A SAFE-T Act opponent in a position of power within the Law Enforcement standards agency having this opinion is a wonderful advertisement for why the SAFE-T Act was necessary. Law enforcement and prosecution have deep-seated opposition to believing that anyone who commits a crime can rehabilitate in any way.
* From comments on an earlier post…
If a young person commits a petty crime, and then leads an honorable life, they deserve not only our forgiveness, but our appreciation. They become a role model for other young people who do stupid stuff.
Holding a petty theft committed at the age of 22 over the head of a 37 year old person who has lived an honorable life is ironically not petty. It is malicious and contrary to the whole concept of reform. Rather than being able to go out into the schools and streets and tell young people, “I know your struggle, I have been there, and I can tell you there is a better way,” it appears the ILETSB would prefer to not provide role models for troubled youth.
* ILETSB Chair Sean Smoot has set up a waiver review committee chaired by Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to deal with over-reach by legal staff, etc. Maybe Kelly can straighten this out.
…Adding… Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid says he delivered this statement at last month’s Riverside village council meeting…
I stand with Ms. Ramos and the Village of Riverside in calling on the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to reverse its decision to decertify her. The charges against her were dismissed and vacated. She worked hard to turn her life around, to support her family, and to serve her community. I hope the IETSB promptly reviews its decision, and that the State’s Attorney’s Office removes her name from the Do Not Call list. This is simply the right thing to do.
*** UPDATE 1 *** The ILETSB’s website has a complete list of decertifiable offenses. Retail theft is not on it.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Gov. Pritzker…
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times…
The White Sox have fired Ken Williams and Rick Hahn.
In a surprising move — despite the Sox’ awful performance on the field this season — the team announced Tuesday that Williams, executive vice president, and Hahn, senior vice president/general manager, were relieved of their duties effective immediately.
“This is an incredibly difficult decision for me to make because they are both talented individuals with long-term relationships at the White Sox,” chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Ken is like a son to me, and I will always consider him a member of my family.’’
The Sox will begin a search for a single decision-maker to lead the baseball-operations department and anticipate having someone in place by the end of the season, which is six weeks away. The organization embarked on a rebuild in 2016 that failed, leading to two postseason appearances, but the Sox have suffered a significant decline the last two seasons.
* Meanwhile, from Crain’s…
[11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee] could have a huge impact on whether parking lots around the field are redeveloped for a new stadium or an entertainment area. Local neighbors traditionally have opposed the latter. […]
Lee, the local alderperson, says she’s open to a discussion about improvements in and around Guaranteed Rate Field, including adding entertainment and retail options that the team appears to want.
“I’m looking for a mutually beneficial outcome,” Lee said in a phone call. “I think all options are on the table.”
Added Lee, “I’m a lifelong fan of the Sox. I don’t want to see them leave. They’re a cornerstone of our ward. . . .I’m looking forward to being part of the conversation.”
I think a big problem in the past was the local political powers that be didn’t want reliable and machine-friendly Democrats pushed out of the ward while opening the door to wealthier, independent types if the area became more like Wrigleyville.
* The Question: What’s your take on these two developments?
…Adding… Make that three developments. Bob Nightengale is an MLB columnist for USA Today…
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Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Aug 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Auditor General…
The Illinois Office of Comptroller prepares the State of Illinois’ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report is the State’s official annual report, which provides the readers with the financial position of the State as of June 30, 2022, and its results of operations during the fiscal year. […]
The GAAP basis financial position of the General Fund improved at June 30, 2022, from June 30, 2021. The fund balance in the State’s General Fund improved by $4.6 billion on a GAAP basis. The June 30, 2022, balance was $1.5 billion. Exhibit 2 reflects the General Fund balance for Fiscal Years 2015 through 2022.
…Adding… From the governor’s office…
The last time we had a surplus on the general fund was 1985, and it was only $19 million.
Wow.
Exhibit 2…
* Cook County receives an upgrade…
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today applauded Moody’s Investors Service upgrading Cook County’s bond rating from A2 to A1. This marks the second ratings upgrade in less than two years.
“We are incredibly proud of Moody’s Investors Service’s decision today to upgrade Cook County’s bond rating from A2 to A1. This step shows once again that we are on the right track and our efforts to create long-term fiscal stability are being rightfully recognized,” said President Preckwinkle. “Today’s recognition is proof of concept that local governments can both invest in our communities and remain responsible stewards of our residents’ tax dollars.”
Moody’s noted the upgrade to A1 reflects the County’s accumulation of sound reserves and considers pension reform legislation recently signed by Governor JB Pritzker. Improved financial operations have been driven by a willingness and ability to raise revenue, robust growth in sales tax receipts, operational improvements and an influx of federal aid.
* This prediction may very well turn out to be accurate, but excuses won’t be enough come convention time. The White House really needs to step up its act, including the source of much of the problem: Venezuela itself. Fran Spielman…
Chicago could experience a fivefold increase in arriving migrants — up to 10 busloads a day — sent here by Republican governors trying to embarrass and strain Democratic sanctuary cities in the run-up to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a top mayoral aide said Monday.
Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s deputy chief of staff, predicted the burgeoning crisis that has seen more than 13,000 migrants descend on the city over the last year will intensify the closer it gets to the Chicago convention next August.
In the last week alone, the number of new arrivals sleeping on the floors of Chicago police stations has increased 6% to 1,100, even though Johnson has made it a priority to “decompress” police stations. Another 170 new arrivals have taken up residence at O’Hare International Airport.
There is $150 million in migrant funding that “the feds have not appropriated,” and City Hall is “trying to make the case that we should be getting a large chunk of that because we have not closed our doors, and we are forecasting for next year with the DNC,” Pacione-Zayas said.
“We have to plan for the increase. They’re gonna do everything they can because this is all political, and they want to make the case that Democratic-led cities are not capable of living up to the values that we have … You know how it works in campaigns. That’s all that’s motivating this,” the deputy chief of staff said.
“We’re already getting two buses a day … New York has been getting 10 buses” per day, she said, adding, “I wouldn’t be surprised” if Chicago also started getting 10 per day.
“They want to stretch our resources. They want to basically topple our operation. Then they can make the case that Democratic-led states are not fit. That they’re incompetent. It draws the contrast. Then, they seem to come off in a way that they’re righteous and they’ve always said, ‘This is impossible work, and we have no business doing it,’” Pacione-Zayas said.
* Staying on politics, here’s the NRCC…
Hey Rich,
As mentioned via text, the NRCC is launching a national ad campaign targeting 21 vulnerable House Democrats regarding increasing gas prices.
Included in the campaign is Eric Sorensen.
Please consider the following quote as well:
“Rising gas prices are a fresh gut punch to millions of Americans already struggling under Bidenomics,” said NRCC Communications Director Jack Pandol. “Every trip to the pump is a reminder that extreme House Democrats put their radical war on American energy ahead of working families’ wallets.”
It’s a five-figure buy across 21 districts…
* Tollway news…
The Illinois Tollway is launching around-the-clock Hot Weather Patrols to more quickly locate and assist customers stranded along its roads during the dangerously high temperatures and humidity expected to continue through Thursday.
The Illinois Tollway typically operates special Hot Weather Patrols whenever temperatures or heat indexes indicate conditions could be hazardous for stranded drivers. The 24-hour patrols search for drivers stranded in disabled vehicles and respond to calls that come in to *999 motorist assistance, Illinois Tollway dispatch or Illinois State Police Troop 15.
* From the Office of the Executive Inspector General…
The OEIG received a complaint that an Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) employee had listed on an employment application that he had graduated from high school when he had not done so. The OEIG obtained four separate employment applications for the employee dated August 27, 2013, October 27, 2013, March 12, 2015, and June 25, 2017 (for different positions). All of these applications in the employee’s name were marked with a handwritten “X” in the “Yes” box in response to the question “High School Graduate?” During his OEIG interviews, the employee said he had not graduated from high school, nor had he passed the General Educational Development test. The employee admitted that the applications were his and that the signature and handwriting on the applications were his. The employee was terminated as a result of the investigation.
Seems a bit harsh. More here.
* UIUC Chancellor Robert Jones sat down for an interview with the News-Gazette. Here’s the first part of his answer to a mascot question…
Well, let me just say that, I think people maybe lost sight of the whole underlying core principle around a mascot. I’ve had to contend with this during the whole seven years that I’ve been chancellor.
Our core principle has been around inappropriate use of Native American imagery. That’s always what it has been about for us, not whether they have a mascot or not. To me, that’s secondary to the fact that it is highly inappropriate, from where I sit and where most of my colleagues sit, to use Native American imagery in the way that we have historically used it.
There have been NCAA rules about that, and we moved away from that 20-some years ago, but there still persist images.
People expect me to be the fashion police. I’m not the fashion police. I can’t tell people what to wear, and I won’t spend my time trying to reprimand folks for wearing whatever they feel like. But that does not mean that our core principles don’t remain the same, that Native American imagery has no place as a part of intercollegiate athletics here at the university. That’s full stop. That’s the core principle.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Crain’s | Glendale Heights hospital ending birthing services — joining a national trend: In its filing, Glen Oaks argues that the planned closure of the primary obstetrics unit, services from which are already suspended, will have minimal impact on access to birthing services in the area because they are still available at nearby hospitals. The closest available sites for full-range obstetrics services are eight miles away at Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital and about nine miles away at Ascension Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove Village, which has a 28-bed obstetrics unit, according to the filing.
* Sun-Times | Johnson OKs deal to raise tax on high-end home sales, use funds to combat homelessness: Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed off on a compromise plan to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end home sales to generate $100 million in annual revenue to combat homelessness, but in a way that will reduce the tax for homes sold for less than $1 million. Zoning Committee Chair Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), the mayor’s City Council floor leader, predicted that the 11th-hour concessions would minimize opposition from Chicago developers and guarantee City Council approval of a binding referendum on the March ballot. He also predicted overwhelming voter approval. … Properties sold for under $1 million that currently account for 94% of all sales will see a decrease in the real estate transaction tax owed. The new tax rate would be 0.60%, down from the current rate of 0.75% — a 20% cut. Sales of $1 million or over, but under $1.5 million, will pay a 2% tax — more than 21⁄2 times what they pay now. And sales of $1.5 million and higher will pay 3%, which is four times the current rate.
* Bond Buyer | Illinois defies Midwest’s downward issuance trend: Municipal bond issuers in the Midwest largely tracked their national peers in the first half of 2023, with volume down 19.4% compared to the first half of 2022. They sold $32.6 billion of debt spread over 1,223 deals in the first half, down from $40.5 billion in 1,764 deals in the year-ago period, according to Refinitiv data. Nationally, municipal bond volume was down 17.1% to $180.8 billion.
* Crain’s | Despite years of affirmative action, Black student enrollment percentages remain low at local universities: A Crain’s analysis of changes in enrollment demographics at six area schools since 2012 shows modest increases in the percentage of Black students at some and declines at others. During the same time frame, Asian and Hispanic numbers rose, while the share of white students fell.
* 21st Show | Freedom Caucus Member Rep. Adam Niemerg on the Illinois Republican Party in 2023: On the eve of the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2024 election cycle, we delve into the party’s rebuilding phase here in Illinois. We hear from a representative from the Illinois Freedom Caucus. Join us as we explore what voters want from the modern-day party, how Illinois Republicans negotiate with a Democratic majority on the state floor, and the Freedom Caucus’s future role in the party.
* Our Quad Cities | Quad City area towns receive water infrastructure loans from Illinois EPA: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim has announced that more than $571 million in water infrastructure loans will be provided to local governments and water districts for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans to fund wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects. Over $53 million in loan forgiveness will be provided to recipients who meet the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate. Illinois EPA issued over $803 million in low-interest loans for water infrastructure in total for fiscal year 2023. Illinois provided nearly $54 million in funding for lead service line replacement over the last 12 months, in addition to the SRF loans.
* Daily Herald | How suburban school districts are dealing with extreme heat this week: Downers Grove School District 58 postponed the start of classes from Wednesday to Friday. “Unfortunately, our classrooms and most areas of our schools are not equipped with air conditioning nor modern HVAC systems,” Superintendent Kevin Russell told parents in a message Monday. “By postponing the start of school by two days, we aim to provide a more favorable environment for effective teaching and learning.”
* Tribune | Field Museum researchers enlist hundreds of home gardeners in fight to save the iconic monarch butterfly: The gardeners, who range from beginners with one milkweed plant to veterans with hundreds, have collected detailed data on monarchs, eggs and caterpillars in their yards, decks, community gardens and balconies — contributing up to 1,800 records each summer.
* WCBU | Copi in the spotlight at Illinois State Fair as fish’s popularity as a food source increases: Copi, the Midwest waterways nuisance fish formerly known as Asian carp, is enjoying a surge in popularity as a human food source in the United States. Don’t believe it? Just ask Brian Schoenung, an aquatic nuisance species expert for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Schoenung has tracked the habitat-destroying “silverfish” since well before IDNR’s June 2022 rebranding of Asian carp as “Copi,” which is short for “copious” and an adequate description of the invasive, habitat-destroying fish whose presence is threatening crucial food sources for sportfish in Midwestern waterways
* AP | From MLK to today, the March on Washington highlights the evolution of activism by Black churches: “The issues are multiracial. It’s too simplistic now to say, “Black church/white church,’” said the Rev. William Barber, who in 2018 became co-chair of a national anti-poverty initiative called The Poor People’s Campaign. It took its name from a movement launched by King and other SCLC leaders in 1968 shortly before King’s assassination. Barber, now director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, admires King immensely yet is critical of those who “water down the March on Washington to one man, one speech.”
* SJ-R | Springfield man punches ticket to World Championship Chili Cook-off on fair’s last day: Les Eastep of Springfield said Sunday at the Illinois State Fair Chili Cookoff that he was hanging it up as far as competitive cooking. But by virtue of his first-place finish in the homestyle category on the final day of the fair, Eastep, 86, was guaranteed a spot in the World Championship Chili Cook-off in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 2024.
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* This is just awful…
* From the Tribune story…
Several libraries across the northern suburbs received bomb threats Thursday afternoon, and while police found no bombs, the libraries responded by shutting down in order to calm shaken employees and patrons.
Libraries in Morton Grove, Park Ridge, Gurnee and Wilmette have reported receiving threats, prompting Glencoe Public Library, which did not receive a threat, to close its doors, citing a building emergency. […]
Libraries have been facing increased scrutiny across the country, as well as in Lincolnwood and other local suburbs, with some individuals or organizations pushing for book bans or bans on events such as drag queen story hours. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in June designed to combat book bans in Illinois by withholding state funding from libraries that remove books and other materials from their shelves for “partisan or doctrinal” reasons. […]
At the Lincolnwood Public Library, which did not receive a threat, Library Director Susan Dove Lempke said, “My understanding is that the threats came through libraries’ chat functions on their website, and we don’t have that on ours.” […]
“It’s very upsetting,” Illinois Library Association Executive Director Cynthia Robinson said. “Public libraries are available to everybody and it is one of the few places where you can go and not spend any money. It is scary, as libraries work very hard to be safe spaces for their patrons.”
* Tribune yesterday…
The Oak Park Public Library is set to reopen Tuesday after being closed Monday “out of an abundance of caution” following a threat, officials told Pioneer Press.
According to village of Oak Park spokesman Dan Yopchick, library officials made a decision to close all three village library branches Monday after getting an ominous online message.
The message, “There will be a big explosion all over Cook county’s highways and librarys including Chicago gurnee and oak park. It will explode sometime tomorrow 8/21/2023,” was received by the library over the weekend, Yopchick stated in an email to Pioneer Press Monday. […]
Yopchick said the Oak Park police noted that several libraries across the northern suburbs received similar threats on Aug. 17 and that no explosives were ever found or detonated.
These acts are designed to instill terror, so I hope the feds are taking this seriously.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…
As the State’s Librarian, I strongly condemn these threats of violence and intimidation that are unfortunately becoming all too common at libraries in Illinois and across our nation. The bomb threats received by Illinois libraries during the past several days represent a troublesome and disturbing trend that has escalated from banning books, to harassing and criminalizing librarians and now to endangering the lives of innocent people.
I wholeheartedly support our libraries, which are committed to serving our communities as safe, welcoming havens to learn and access ideas and especially our librarians who are dedicated public servants devoted to treating people with dignity and respect. Libraries and librarians protect our First Amendment right to free speech and our constitutional right to read. We must join together to stand up to fringe elements that resort to threats of violence and seek to destroy the fundamental freedoms that our nation was founded upon.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications, at the ACLU of Illinois…
Public libraries are sanctuaries for communities to gather to read, study, go online, get out of the heat and explore new ideas. They are places to build community. For this reason, the recent bomb threats targeting public libraries across the Chicago area are sad and deeply troubling. But these disturbing events cannot be a trigger for giving into those seeking to ban materials and displays from our public libraries.
We should all be clear. The recent threats result from ideologically driven attacks on libraries, attacks from a small handful of loud voices who seek to ban books and displays that reflect and elevate the experiences and views of LGBTQ+ people, people of color and other voices too often ignored in our society. The language and misinformation driving these book bans sadly lead some to believe that threats of violence are an appropriate response to children’s books they do not like.
Threats of violence against libraries make clear that each of us must support the work of all librarians across Illinois. It is time that we unite as a state in opposing the voices of anger that want to ban books and not allow ourselves to be coerced by threats. We encourage everyone to show support for their public library by increasing your patronage, attending a library board meeting or sharing a message of support with your local librarians. It is time to speak up.
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Afternoon roundup
Monday, Aug 21, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hollywood Reporter…
Broadcast and cable networks made up less than half of all TV use in July — the first time linear TV viewing has fallen below 50 percent in Nielsen’s two-plus years of tracking viewing time by platform.
While overall TV use in July edged up from the previous month, the growth came in streaming — which hit an all-time high of 38.7 percent of all TV usage — and the “other use” category, which includes video games played on a TV screen and physical media playback, among other things. That made up 11.6 percent of usage.
Streaming was up from 37.7 percent of TV viewing in June, marking its third consecutive month of an increased share of viewers’ time. July was also the third straight month that streaming’s share of TV use hit a high.
…Adding… Access the full project list and more from the press release by clicking here…
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim is announcing the issuance of more than $571 million in water infrastructure loans to local governments and water districts for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 (April – June 2023). The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans which fund wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects. More than $53 million in loan forgiveness was also provided to those recipients meeting the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate. In total for fiscal year 2023, Illinois EPA issued over $803 million in low-interest loans for water infrastructure. In addition to the SRF loans, Illinois provided nearly $54 million in funding for lead service line replacement over the last 12 months.
…Adding… I missed this one earlier…
Samantha McClain has been hired as chief of staff for the Illinois AFL-CIO, working to advance the organization’s strategic vision to support working families across Illinois.
“We are excited to have Samantha join our team at the Illinois AFL-CIO,” remarked President Tim Drea. “Samantha is one of the most talented strategists that I have worked with, demonstrating her expertise when she managed the Workers’ Rights Amendment campaign. Samantha understands the diverse needs of working families fighting for equitable wages, safety conditions and the ability to bargain and will bring a unique perspective to the table to advance the needs of working people in our state.”
McClain is a political veteran and most recently served as State Director to successfully pass the Workers’ Rights Amendment in Illinois. The ballot measure added the right to collectively bargain to the state constitution and was the first of its kind in the nation. Prior to that campaign, Samantha served as Research Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in the 2020 election cycle, helping Democrats hold the House majority. Samantha was also Deputy Research Director in the historic 2018 cycle, and Southern Regional Research Director in 2014.
Samantha’s previous experience also includes Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and the campaigns of Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. She is a native Michigander and graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s in economics and communications.
* The fellows are getting together…
The Edgar Fellows Program is having its second annual fundraiser dinner at the Sheraton Grand in downtown Chicago on August 31. Gov. Jim Edgar started the program in 2012 to foster relationships and understanding between people involved in public policy from all corners of the state, ethnicities and political backgrounds. It promotes bi-partisanship and compromise over political expediency.
The keynote speaker for the 2023 event is David Axelrod, founder of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. This event is not just for Fellows; all are welcome. For more information and to reserve your place at this special event, go to https://givebutter.com/EFChicago23. The RSVP deadline is August 24.
* The State Board of Education has been leaning on CPS to clean up its act on physical restraint. From a press release…
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced today that all District-run schools have met the first-day-of-school benchmark for training staff on physical restraint and time out (PRTO), as agreed upon with the Illinois State Board of Education. Over the past several months, CPS prioritized PRTO training to ensure personnel at every school were properly trained by August 21, 2023, a deadline that was set in collaboration with ISBE. This marks the first milestone in the District’s efforts to reduce incidents of physical restraint or time-out procedures, and build a sustainable plan for training and support.
“I appreciate the partnership on the part of CEO Martinez and his team at Chicago Public Schools since April to meet the goal of training staff at every school in the safe and appropriate use of restraint and time out. Having appropriately trained staff is critical in the rare situations when a student’s behavior puts them or others in imminent danger,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “The Illinois State Board of Education will continue to work with CPS to provide additional support and to maintain this level of training on an annual basis.”
As of today, all 517 District-run schools are in full compliance with having at least two staff members trained to de-escalate and manage student safety.
Two doesn’t seem like a lot.
…Adding… NASW IL…
* Politico…
— Rep. Eric Sorensen is getting support from high-profile Democratic donor Fred Eychaner in his reelection bid. Eychaner, a huge donor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, is headlining a fundraiser for Sorensen on Tuesday. Details here.
— Rep. Lauren Underwood headlines a fundraiser tonight for her reelection bid. Details here
— Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes is running for committeeperson in the 26th Ward. She’s holding a fundraiser Wednesday.
* PCC…
The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) applauds Governor Pritzker for signing HB2898 into law. We are grateful for the Governor’s and the legislature’s leadership for this step toward holding for-profit colleges accountable for practices that harm students. The bill requires for-profit colleges with a final judgment or determination against them for operating with unfair or deceptive practices to reimburse the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) funding they received during the period of their deceptive practices.
“We were proud to work alongside Representative Maurice West and Senator Celina Villanueva this past legislative session to get this bill passed,” Government Affairs Manager Danielle Stanley said. “Now that Governor Pritzker has signed it into law, for-profit colleges will finally be held accountable for their deceptive practices, but our work won’t stop there. We look forward to continuing to work with the legislature and the Governor to create and pass legislation that will protect Illinois students and make higher education more accessible for all who seek it.”
In the last 15 years, Illinois has given more than $255 million of MAP funding from taxpayers to these institutions. Four of the ten for-profit institutions that received MAP in 2017 have since closed, leaving many former students with unmanageable debt and limited options to complete their college degrees.
* Speaking of higher ed…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to welcome students back for a new school year. He was joined by state officials, Chancellor Robert Jones, students, and faculty to celebrate the back-to-school season and wish students, teachers, and families across Illinois a successful year ahead.
“It’s been my mission as governor to make higher education more affordable for every Illinoisan, no matter their background. And I couldn’t be prouder to say we’re doing exactly that,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By restoring public funding directly to our universities, we’re eliminating the need for major tuition hikes, so students know what to expect semester after semester.”
During the event, Gov. Pritzker shared his administration’s recent FY24 budget investments to improve college affordability. This includes increasing funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to an all-time high, ensuring awards for all eligible applicants. With these new investments, every student at or below median income will be able to attend community college for free in Illinois. The budget also included an additional $115 million to in-state scholarship funding, bringing the total amount to a record-breaking $750 million.
Gov. Pritzker also highlighted notable investments that will directly impact students attending institutions within the University of Illinois system, including a total state investment of $632 million ($41 million more than FY23). Other public universities across Illinois will also see funding increases, as the investments for higher education institutions grew by 7%, the largest increase in more than 20 years.
The Pritzker Administration is also investing in higher education infrastructure through the historic Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. Campuses across Illinois will see nearly $2.8 billion dedicated to public universities and community colleges. The U of I system specifically will receive $504 million of those allocated funds.
Upcoming renovation projects in progress at UIUC include:
• New science and data analysis research facilities to support the Department of Mathematics and Statistics
• Repairs to lab infrastructure, including masonry and chimneys at Wohler Hall, Madigan Laboratory, and Noyes Laboratory
• Replacement of approximately 11,000 square feet of roofing on the Armory building
As affirmative action in higher education takes a national spotlight following June’s Supreme Court decision, Governor Pritzker ensured students of his intentions to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in Illinois.
“Here in the Land of Lincoln, our institutions will continue to be inclusive of all students, including those who have been historically left out of or locked out of postsecondary education,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “To every single student: you are among the best of the best. And as your Governor, I’ll continue to have your back. I can’t wait to see all that you will accomplish.”
* LG Stratton…
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton celebrates the newly signed Senate Bill 646 that creates the Healing Centered Task Force, signed by Governor JB Pritzker. The Lieutenant Governor will chair the Task Force as a driver of transformative change and help create a more equitable Illinois.
“The new Healing Centered Task Force will ensure Illinoisians who have experienced trauma can get the support that they need,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. “Overseeing the Justice, Opportunity, and Equity Initiative housed in my office, I am committed to the collaborative work to foster healing mechanisms for communities to thrive. Senate Bill 646 is a testament to our mission of joining forces to repair intergenerational harm, and I thank Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly for their support to create this Task Force that will benefit all residents.”
The Healing Centered Task Force in Illinois created by SB 646 will develop recommendations to bring more cohesion, coordination, and consistency to this important and transformative work. The Task Force will be a driver of diversity and equity within Illinois, composed of expert trauma informed stakeholders and people who have experienced trauma. This Task Force is a result of the collaborative work of Governor JB Pritzker, the General Assembly, and advocacy groups such as the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition, and the Center for Childhood Resilience, among others.
The goal of the Task Force will be to design a state-level comprehensive and equitable strategy for addressing and supporting communities who have experienced trauma. This will be a significant step forward, with a trauma-informed and healing-centered lens that will support Illinoisians across our state.
* WCIA…
Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released its 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report, which is meant to raise awareness about factors that can impact health outcomes and disparities nationwide. […]
In Illinois, just 15% of adults reported excessive drinking, which is smaller than the U.S. average of 19%. However, a handful of Illinois counties reported 19% of adults excessively drinking. Those include Calhoun, Clark, Clinton, DuPage, Greene, Grundy, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Moultrie, Putnam, Tazewell, Washington, and Woodford Counties.
The University of Wisconsin also reviewed the number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths per state and county.
Even though Illinois reported a below-average rate of adults drinking excessively (15%), the state still reported almost 30% of motor vehicle crash deaths involved alcohol between 2016 and 2020.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* NPR | It’s illegal for police to fine Illinois students for truancy, but it still happens. Here’s how schools are trying to make truancy less punitive.: In a few northern Illinois districts, police have issued dozens of truancy tickets worth hundreds of dollars. In Mendota, students have paid $100 truancy tickets as recently as this May — nearly four and a half years after the state prohibited the practice. According to public records obtained by WNIJ, Mendota police have written students 45 truancy tickets since 2019.
* Bond Buyer | Pritzker strikes P3 authority for local Illinois governments: Non-home rule local governments in Illinois will not be able to pursue public-private partnerships after Gov. JB Pritzker struck the provision from a larger P3 bill that lawmakers passed in the spring. House Bill 2827 is an omnibus procurement bill that made various changes to the state’s existing Transportation Public-Private Partnerships Act, including allowing tolls on highway P3s, a move that paves the way for a high-profile Interstate-55 managed lanes proposal.
* Chalkbeat | More early childhood workers are attending colleges and university, report says: The Illinois Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity’s first annual report, released on Wednesday, found that since 2020 about 500 additional students who already work in early childhood education have enrolled in bachelor’s degree and applied associate programs, an increase of about 18%. The report also found an increase in the number of Latino and African American child care professionals who enrolled in college since 2020.
* Crain’s | The Week Ahead: An old transit reorganization idea might be revived for the RTA: A new report scheduled to go to the board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on Sept. 6 is expected to seek to revive the idea. But what’s different now is that the concept has some backing from the heads of the six counties that comprise the RTA region, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
* WBEZ | How Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has prioritized his first 100 days: Johnson’s first 100 days have been peppered with meetings, some perhaps more superfluous than others: a meeting with rapper Lil Durk four days after taking office, lunch at a luxury hotel with former NBA star Dwyane Wade, but also recurring meetings with the Chicago Police Department, one with the Fraternal Order of Police soon after his election, two with the NFL Bears organization and a meeting, lunch or ward visit with at least 46 of the city’s 50 council members, according to his daily calendar as of last Wednesday.
* Tribune | Chicago homicides in 2023: 395 people slain. Here’s how that compares with previous years.: After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022. In 2021, 797 people were slain — 25 more than in 2020.
* Block Club | Irving Park Alderwoman OKs Plan For Affordable Apartments For Native Americans: Affordable housing developer Full Circle Communities is partnering with Native American-led nonprofit Visionary Ventures for a seven-story building with 45 apartments at 2907 W. Irving Park Road tailored to Indigenous people. The site is an empty lot that was downzoned by former Ald. Deb Mell in 2018, so the developer needs a zoning change from the alderwoman to move forward.
* Sun-Times | Here are 5 things to watch in the CPS year ahead: Some of the most vexing questions facing the board and the district revolve around facilities: How many schools does the district need given declining enrollment, and how many can it afford? What should happen to schools with a lot of unused space? How can the district ensure all students have access to a quality, fully funded school? What is the role of publicly funded, privately managed charter schools?
* Tribune | As CPS reopens this week with extreme heat forecast, will schools be cool enough for learning?: With temperatures forecast to hit the 90s during the first week of school, Pedraza said she’s grateful the district committed to providing portable air conditioners in classrooms without functioning AC by Monday, the first day of the new CPS school year. But she said there’s no timetable for repairs to permanent units — and the ongoing problems are symptomatic of why the East Side community has been advocating for a new, green school.
* Fox 2 | Illinois congressman hosting ‘Take Your Congressman to Work Day’ at Mount Vernon truck stop today: U.S. Congressman Mike Bost of Illinois is having a ‘Take Your Congressman to Work Day’ at a truck stop in Mount Vernon on Monday. He’s highlighting the need for more safe, accessible parking for tractor-trailer trucks.
* Crain’s | Illinois Center owner braces for departure of largest tenant: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services confirmed it will vacate its roughly 170,000-square-foot office at 233 N. Michigan Ave. when its lease expires in November. The department said in a statement that it will move its downtown employees into available space in federally owned buildings at 230 S. Dearborn St. and 77 W. Jackson Blvd. […] It’s unclear what is prompting the federal government to leave behind its Illinois Center regional office, which it has occupied since 1999. An email from the department said the move is “in accordance” with policies of the General Services Administration, which manages real estate for the federal government.
* ABC Chicago | Plainfield woman charged with threatening to kill former President Donald Trump, son Barron: Fiorenza, who lives in Plainfield, allegedly emailed the headmaster of a school in Palm Beach County in May, saying, “I will state that I will shoot Donald Trump Sr. AND Barron Trump straight in the face at any opportunity that I get!”
* Tribune | After an 85-0 drubbing by Michigan in 1939, the University of Chicago decided football and academia were not a good mix: Hutchins’ nickname was the “Boy Wonder.” He was 30 when he became president of the university. Wondrously cerebral, he had little interest in athletics. “When I feel like exercising I just lie down until the feeling goes away,” he once said.
* WICS | Seasonal workers: The ‘backbone’ of the Illinois State Fair: Patti Walbaum works the main gate. She’s one of the the first faces fairgoers see when they get in. She’s doing this to help non-profit Pleasant Plains Community. The money she makes greeting fairgoers will be used in part to fund food banks and scholarships that her organization provides.
* Springfield Business Journal | Mark Mahoney joins ALPLM as chief of staff: Mahoney most recently worked for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, serving as the chief administrative officer from 2019-2021 and then assistant director. Prior to that, he was the director of the Office of Public Works for the city of Springfield for eight years. Mahoney also served on the Springfield City Council from 2003-2011 as the Ward 6 alderman.
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