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Some Joliet Township residents publicly rage about botched migrant grant

Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Chicago’s constant flailing is quite evident to anyone half paying attention, so people see that and understandably fear that it will happen to their communities. But there are ways of getting things done and there are ways that make things worse. Joliet Township’s leadership essentially killed what could’ve been a decent idea…

Residents of Joliet Township packed Tuesday night’s board meeting after the township received the State of Illinois Asylum Seeker Grant.

Some of the residents were outraged and angered over what some said was a lack of involvement.

The $8.6 million grant issued to Joliet Township helps fund municipalities that are welcoming asylum seekers.

* If this truly was about helping people who were already there, then the township should’ve made that clear from the get-go. Instead, they tried to sneak it into existence and spectacularly failed…

Attendees did not mince words as they addressed concerns over the money.

“I don’t believe you’re fixing a problem, you’re creating a problem,” one speaker said.

“We need to take care of our own. We have issues here. We need to strengthen our foundation,” said another.

“The purpose of this grant was to help our community partners who serve individuals beyond the county township and city boundaries,” said Supervisor Angel Contreras. “This is a reactive request grant to address current issues, it was not intended to bring more people to our areas.”

* Rarely do you see such a total botch…

Some speakers supported the township on the grant and supported assistance for asylum seekers.

“Give them a chance to be part of your community, and you’d be surprised,” one said.

Another was virtually booed away from the microphone as she spoke in support of the grant. […]

The Joliet Park District rescinded a pending lease with the township for its Hartman Recreation Center located at 511 Collins St. after learning last week that the building had been proposed as a welcome center. A park official said the township had indicated it planned to use the space for office space and community activities.

Likewise, a spokeswoman for Duly Health & Care said the medical group did not know that its medical office building had been included as a potential welcome center or clinic in the grant application.

* Yeah, this is how to speak to people. Right…

Township Clerk Alicia Morales has claimed “the process was handled in the appropriate manner, nothing was violated.”

“People just don’t understand how government works,” Morales added.

*Facepalm*

* But some of the comments were just so over the top…

During nearly three hours of public comment, hundreds of people showed up both in support and opposition to the proposal, with township officials warning people would be asked to leave if they were disruptive during the meeting.

“We are seeking asylum from crime, from drugs, from gang activity, from homelessness. We have been asylum seekers,” one woman said. […]

The controversy has become so intense, a Joliet City Council member said there has been a threat made against a local social service agency that supports migrants.

And…

Joliet resident Brian Beck said that if the township wanted to come up with solutions, it needed to find solutions of “how to move these people out of here.” […]

Other residents said township officials had gone “out of their bounds” to invite asylum-seekers to Joliet and said that township trustees have no right to dictate where taxpayer money is spent.

Rev. Larry Ellis, a retired deacon from St. Mark CME Church, told trustees that residents were misled about the intentions surrounding the purchase of the Peter Claver Center. He said that he understood the meeting was for community outreach programs but that the “whispers in the neighborhood” said it was instead being used by asylum seekers.

“I’m upset, I’m p*ssed off simply because we have not been told – first of all, we weren’t told about the grant,” he said. “Second of all, we weren’t told about who was coming into our neighborhoods, and I think that’s disgraceful.”

Thanks, reverend.

…Adding… A buddy of mine took a photo outside the event yesterday…

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Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

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City may not get state supplemental; Pritzker avoids question on taking control of aslyum-seeker situation; Governor says White House ‘taking action in a way that they didn’t before’

Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The governor was asked today if he thought a supplemental appropriations bill would be introduced during the upcoming veto session. The City of Chicago is hoping to use such a bill to pry loose more state dollars for new arrivals, which isn’t exactly receiving a hearty welcome. Here’s Gov. Pritzker’s response…

I have not heard of a supplemental that will be introduced. That’s certainly something the legislature might think about doing. But there are plenty of other things to consider, including, as you know, looking at a better nuclear moratorium removal, and a few other things that are, you know, the purpose of a veto session.

Doesn’t sound promising. The governor’s office usually is closely tied to any supplemental. They administer the budget, so they know if they need any additional authority.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

* My associate Isabel Miller was also at the press conference…

Q: Governor, how many asylum-seekers are in the suburbs? And is there any word of the state taking control the situation through IEMA or any other state agency?

A: Let me be clear that the asylum-seekers are not required to tell us where they are moving to. They might choose to go to a suburb or anywhere Downstate, and some have without us even knowing. And so you would find out only if they’re applying for certain kinds of services, where they are. For us, in order to manage the major services that people need, working with the City of Chicago, we need to have them in locations where we can serve a number of people all at once, and not one family here, one family there, because there just aren’t too many services that many people need.

Sounds like he prefers to have them in Chicago. Also, they can track some of those folks who are being sent to the suburbs. [The governor’s office says that if the asylum-seekers leave the city it’s totally on their own volition, so they cannot track them.]

Isabel tried to ask a follow-up because he didn’t address the second part of her question, but got big-footed by a TV reporter. It happens.

* Asked if there was any news this week about the federal government cooperating on the migrant situation, Pritzker said…

A: I will say that they have moved quickly on a number of items. I think you saw that, shortly after our letter went to the White House, that the determination was made to expand the return of refugees who no do not qualify for refugee status. So that’s one thing. Another is very, very close to discussion about buses that are coming here, whether some of those buses are potentially breaking the law along the way, and working with the government about the logistics of those buses. Where would they go? Is Chicago the only place they can go? New York the only place they can go? And so those conversations are going, and the White House is taking action in a way that they didn’t before. So I’m very pleased about that.

Q: Were they breaking that midnight curfew? Is that the law you’re talking about?

A: No, no, no. This is just folks who do not qualify for refugee status. So remember, when they come here, they get temporary asylum status, they’re seeking asylum. And they have to go through a process. If they don’t meet the requirements for someone who could stay, we’re making sure, the federal government anyway is making sure those folks are returned.

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