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*** UPDATED x3 *** Rauner on homeless shelter’s closing: “Change is hard”

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE 1 ***  The actual question, which you can hear at about the 5:30 mark below, was about several different topics, not just the homeless shelter, and was actually a follow-up to a question about whether Rauner had a fall-back plan in case the GA didn’t pass a real budget…

*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless…

Hey, Rich.

Just a note on the Northside homeless shelter. As we understand it, it wasn’t necessarily the lack of state money that forced Northside to announce they needed to close the program. It was more driven by the city having too low of a per bed rate for providers. The city has level funded the shelters since 2012. The city gets the money that comes from the Emergency and Transitional Housing line item in the state budget. The city then contracts with Chicago providers. Chicago has been covering the state’s portion of the funding since the budget crisis set in. Back in the summer, the city had told Northside that if the state budget mess didn’t get fixed that they would not be issuing contracts for 2017.

None of this is to say the state budget doesn’t play a huge factor. There is a $100k budget deficit for the program, but that is a structural deficit and it doesn’t necessarily correlate to the state’s portion. So, while theoretically, they could raise $100k to fill the whole, they don’t have confidence they can do that in a sustainable fashion that won’t undermine the rest of the work they do.

Some advocates (not us) have oversimplified the message to it being a $100k hole created by Rauner. There is truth in there, but, like everything, it is more complicated. All that being said, showing up to feed the homeless at the same building this program is slated to shut down was terrible planning on Rauner (and the Food Depository’s) part. And Rauner’s response was even worse. I’m not giving him a pass at all.

Just thought you might want some additional background. If you have questions, let me know.

Doug

Doug Schenkelberg
Executive Director
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

*** UPDATE 3 *** A person representing a wealthy Chicagoan (Democrat) did reach out to the shelter and was told this…

We have been operating the program at a deficit for several years now. We approached the city for additional funding for over a year now but they were not able to provide the additional $100,000 needed each year to balance the program’s budget. We made the announcement about the closing late summer and at this point don’t even have a contract for next year. We’ve already removed most of our equipment and furniture and have about 14 residents remaining.

Unfortunately the shelter will be closing in the next week or so. I do appreciate you reaching out however and wish I had better news for you.

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* NBC 5

A group of advocates for homeless residents of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood are blaming the state’s lingering budget impasse for the impending closure of a homeless shelter that’s set to shutter just before the holidays.

The group, which consists of homeless residents, community organizers and clergy, claimed the state’s inability to come up with $100,000 to fund the North Side Housing & Supportive Services shelter is directly tied to the ongoing budget stalemate in Springfield, faulting Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan. […]

Rauner responded to concerns about the state’s precarious economic situation and the shelter’s funding during a Monday press conference.

“Change is hard,” Rauner said. “We didn’t get into the mess we’re in in a few years, we got here over the last 35 years. So changing the structure takes a little time. I’m frustrated. I’m not the most patient person in the state, but I’m very persistent.”

“We have to do the right thing for the long term,” he added.

* On the day before he was inaugurated governor, Rauner and his wife showed up at the building that houses the shelter, which provides 72 beds for men with 24-hour access, 365 days a year, to help feed the homeless…


Those two piles of mats stacked behind Mrs. Rauner are apparently used by the homeless men as beds.

Somebody needs to pony up that $100,000. And soon.

  86 Comments      


*** UPDATED x2 - Purvis responds - Thumbs down from Cullerton *** Koehler: Shut the schools down until we get a budget

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was interviewed by a local TV reporter about the budget

“There’s gonna be a difference this year, though. Last year, when we separated out the K-12 budget, we passed a whole-year budget on that. It took all the pressure off of the rest of the budget talks.

“If you don’t open schools on time, everybody is upset. If you shut down social services or cause some pain to universities, somehow that doesn’t affect everybody. It’s still serious, but the immediate effect isn’t seen throughout the state.

“I’m a believer this year that if we’re really serious about getting the budget done, we don’t separate out and fund K-12 for a whole year and then have a mess with the rest of the budget. I say: ‘Shut the schools down until we get a budget.’”

Koehler said the reason the Exelon bailout bill passed was because of a believable threat to shut down two nuclear power plants.

Senate President John Cullerton made a similar threat a year ago and it never materialized. Doing such a thing in an election year was just way too dangerous.

Your thoughts?

*** UPDATE 1 ***  From Cullerton’s press secretary…

“The Senate President remains focused on a full, fair and balanced budget for all of Illinois, one that rightfully prioritizes education. It’s a focus that he believes the other legislative leaders and governor all share and is why he remains optimistic that a deal can be reached.”

Doesn’t look like Cullerton agrees with Koehler.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From an e-mail to Illinois School Funding Reform Commission members…

Colleagues,

On behalf of Governor Rauner, I would like to wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season. In these final days of the calendar year, I hope that you will reflect on and appreciate the importance of your work.

On Wednesday, the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission will hold its 11th meeting. Over the last several months, the 25 commission members, along with countless advocates and staff have worked to understand the necessary requirements for an improved PK-12 funding formula. These bi-partisan, bi-cameral meetings have featured spirited, yet professional, discussions to determine how to both increase funding to our most at-risk students and set an adequacy target that recognizes the unique strengths and needs of each community.

I appreciate greatly the willingness of every commission member to engage in thoughtful – and sometimes tedious – analysis of each issue. Given the unprecedented investment of the FY2017 PK-12 budget that was enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor, these efforts afford cautious optimism for the future. I thank all of you who have attended meetings, given written feedback, or spoken with members of the commission.

In light of the commission’s work, comments made recently by Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that Illinois should “shut the schools down until we get a budget” are irresponsible so we are not commenting on his intent. This is not, nor will it ever be, the position of Governor Rauner who has made it clear that funding PK-12 education is the number one priority of his administration. The Governor will continue to push me and the rest of his team to find a pathway to funding that will meet the needs of all Illinois residents. Right now, that includes working to ensure that backlogged FY2016 Q4 payments are released by Comptroller Mendoza’s office.

Again, thank you for work and dedication on behalf of Illinois children.

Best,

Beth

Dr. Beth Purvis
Secretary of Education

  72 Comments      


Today’s number: -37,508

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* US Census Bureau

Utah’s population crossed the 3.0 million mark as it became the nation’s fastest-growing state over the last year. Its population increased 2.0 percent to 3.1 million from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau national and state population estimates released today.

“States in the South and West continued to lead in population growth,” said Ben Bolender, Chief of the Population Estimates Branch. “In 2016, 37.9 percent of the nation’s population lived in the South and 23.7 percent lived in the West.” […]

Following Utah, Nevada (2.0 percent), Idaho (1.8 percent), Florida (1.8 percent) and Washington (1.8 percent) saw the largest percentage increases in population. […]

Eight states lost population between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, including Pennsylvania, New York and Wyoming, all three of which had grown the previous year. Illinois lost more people than any other state (-37,508).

…Adding… More…


  78 Comments      


Kennedy mocked for elevator comments, Madigan ties

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You just had to know this was coming sooner or later. From the Illinois Republican Party

Ouch.

…Adding… Press release

“Chris Kennedy comes from a legendary American family with a history of public service, but instead of following in their footsteps, Chris Kennedy chose to serve corrupt politicians like Mike Madigan.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe

Chris Kennedy has reportedly started hiring staff for a gubernatorial run. But before he did so, Kennedy made sure to ally himself with Mike Madigan.

This summer, Kennedy dodged questions about his secret meeting with Madigan.

After the meeting, Madigan endorsed Kennedy as “a very good candidate for Governor.”

Then, Kennedy gave Madigan’s political front group $50,000, helping Madigan run advertisements attacking Gov. Rauner’s plans to reform Illinois through term limits, a property tax freeze and economic growth.

Chris Kennedy has already shown his hand – he’s just another politician who kisses up to Mike Madigan.

Chris Kennedy may have the name, but he doesn’t act like it.

  59 Comments      


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