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Pritzker campaign says new Proft ad is “a lie”

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new ad, “Pritzker Must Go!” featuring retired Major in the U.S. Army, nurse, and lifelong Democrat Beverly Miles, who ran against Pritzker in the 2022 primary election for governor.

Miles claimed Pritzker tried to get her fired from her job as a nurse for daring to run against him saying she was told to quit her job or drop out of the campaign.

Miles said in a recent Joliet Patch article, “I’m tired of Black people dying and my community being a food desert. The West and South Sides remind me of a war zone and some days like a large psych facility with no walls. And it appears, JB is only concerned about checking the boxes to run for president, as opposed to the issues we’re dealing with in the state of Illinois.” […]

The new ad is available on YouTube, the PBR PAC Facebook Page and directly on a new website called www.PritzkerMustGo.com which just went live Wednesday.

:30 YouTube: https://youtu.be/fkOzgZsY71s
TV Script:

Miles: “As retired military, the words ‘duty and honor’ mean everything to me. Those values mean nothing to Governor Pritzker, who tried to get me fired from my job as a nurse. People like me and you need to STAND UP to J.B. Pritzker’s mafia politics. I’m a lifelong Democrat. I believe in serving others. We are less safe in our neighborhoods. Our tax burdens are up. Our job opportunities are down. WE put Pritzker in office. HE FAILED US.”

* The spot…

Proft’s spokesperson says the ad is going up on TV. Miles is a nurse at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital.

* I asked the governor’s campaign for a response to the claim that Pritzker tried to get his opponent fired. Here’s Natalie Edelstein…

The claims being asserted in Dan Proft’s latest ad are a lie. Full stop. Like nearly everything else his propaganda network produces, Proft relies on ill-informed smears to make whatever half-baked point he is pushing at the moment. Illinoisans shouldn’t trust him or anything that has his name near it

* Miles addressed the issue on her most recent Facebook post…

The ghost whispers informed me, Jay Robert took the three million dollars away from Chuy Garcia and allegedly he is no longer using black men/women in Chicago to further is campaign for Governor and his upcoming bid for president. We all know Jay Robert is not Governor’s material and no would he be a candidate for the presidency. I really feel sorry for those who fight hard against me to include putting a video in Jay Roberts hand to create a narrative to suite him. However, I combat crime from the street oppose to sitting beside a desk and or black biding his dirty work

Chuy Garcia and the Hispanic community and black leaders and the black community you all do not need Jay Robert Pritzker, Jay Robert needs you! Know your power when you stand together. It was also mentioned Jay Robert hired a team of Caucasian’s from another state to lead up his Governor’s campaign, that should tell each of you something…… “He does not trust you and he does not trust your abilities outside of doing grimy work. with this said, stop allowing him to use his money as leverage! He needs to black and Hispanic votes because white people are not thinking about him. All the evil things ya’ll did He did, still I rise in-spite of the legal challenges I still face to include the office of special counsel seeking to have me remove as a nurse for the veteran’s administration. It is of my personal belief Robert grubby phat fingers is all over! Black leaders on all levels it is time you stop this man from exploiting you!

To Jay Roberts handing who watches my social media page, it is time you go work for someone with integrity because if I was a Caucasian woman, JB would have never put his foot on my neck! I hope this post put my non-working brothers back on the payroll…… Thank me later and Peace and blessing

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…Adding… Ziff Sistrunk was described in a legal proceeding as the Miles campaign’s “lead organizer.” The Pritzker folks point out that Sistrunk is now a Bailey person…

…Adding… Since she’s a federal employee, Miles is likely barred for running for partisan office by the Hatch Act.

58 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** AG Raoul says SAFE-T Act needs changes

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Attorney General Raoul negotiated an agreement with local law enforcement to reform the police certification and de-certification process around the time of the SAFE-T Act’s passage and demanded that his legislation be kept separate from the broader SAFE-T Act bill. He’s a former county prosecutor and has supported several penalty enhancement bills in the past. So, this is not a huge surprise…

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday acknowledged he has concerns about potential ambiguities in a sweeping criminal justice law that has become a major election year issue, and also spoke of the need to discuss clarifying some provisions, including one that eliminates cash bail, before they take effect Jan. 1. […]

Speaking at a campaign event on Chicago’s South Side, Raoul spoke of the need to have an “ongoing conversation” on what the threshold should be for determining what defendants are a threat to public safety, “whether it’s a specific threat to an individual or a community.”

“There are a number of issues that I think deserve discussion. I’m not going to have the debate about them here at a podium, but I think again like most legislation, we often revisit because we pass legislation that requires a lot of debate,” said Raoul, a former state senator who represented parts of Chicago’s South Side. “We are often clarifying ambiguity or uncertainty in … countless laws. Is the SAFE-T Act worthy of that discussion? It is.”

While opening the door to tweaking the law, Raoul also said he’s confident it leaves enough judicial discretion for lower level crime suspects and that he doesn’t think the bill is too confusing or contradictory.

*** UPDATE *** Two more supporters address potential changes, but that’s buried at the bottom of a story published by the same media company which prints and mails those Proft papers…

State Sen. Elgie Sims, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the SAFE-T Act, said those with concerns about the law should work with lawmakers to address them, rather than file lawsuits or start online petitions to repeal it. […]

Sims acknowledges there are some things — such as how some of the changes will be funded — that need to be addressed and is confident lawmakers will tackle those issues.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said while he agrees there are some areas of the law that need to be tweaked, he is confident those concerns will be addressed and he continues to prepare for Jan. 1 and the implementation of cashless bail. He also believes the new law will accomplish the task of keeping violent defendants behind bars and protecting victims.

* Related…

* ‘Threat to public safety’: McHenry County state’s attorney sues Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois attorney general over SAFE-T Act

33 Comments

Live coverage

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

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Harmon wants Sen. Jones to resign from leadership, chairmanship

Tuesday, Sep 20, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Senate President Don Harmon on the bribery charges against Deputy Majority Leader Emil Jones III…

“I have asked for and expect to receive Senator Jones’ resignation from his leadership post and committee chairmanship.”

“These are grave allegations. Members of the Senate and all public officials need to hold themselves to a high ethical standard for the public to have trust and faith in our work.”

Thoughts?

…Adding… I’m told that there’s no “want,” by the Senate President. Jones is out. But he’s being given the chance to step aside.

39 Comments

*** UPDATED x2 *** Another corruption case

Tuesday, Sep 20, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* All I know about this is rumors have circulated for a little while, so I guess we wait to see if Pratt’s right…

Another Illinois corruption case: Expect State Sen. Emil Jones III to face charges tied to red light cameras.

— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) September 20, 2022

*** UPDATE 1 *** And here we go…

///BREAKING/// State Sen. Emil Jones III has been hit with federal bribery charges alleging he took money from a red light camera company executive to kill legislation requiring traffic studies for camera systems. He’s also accused of lying to the FBI. Story to come pic.twitter.com/MYeBIgo1Tp

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) September 20, 2022

*** UPDATE 2 *** The charge is here…

The Illinois Department of Transportation (”IDOT”) approved the installation and operation of red-light cameras within the State. In or around February 2079, JONES introduced a bill, namely, Senate Bill 1297, that would require IDOT to conduct a statewide study of automated traffic law enforcement systems, which included red-light cameras. Senate BIII1297 would require IDOT to report on the overall operation, usage, and regulation of automated traffic enforcement systems, and to propose any recommendations IDOT deemed necessary concerning such systems.

In or around 20L9, JONES agreed that, in exchange for benefits provided by Individual A to JONES and Individual B, JONES would oppose legislation that required the study of automated traffic enforcement systems located outside of Chicago, and would limit any legislation regarding IDOT’s study of and recommendations concerning automated traffic law enforcement systems to those automated traffic enforcement systems utilized in Chicago, thereby excluding from study and recommendations automated traffic enforcement systems utilized in numerous other muncipalties that Company A served.

Beginning in or around April 2019, and continuing until in or around September 2019, at Chicago, in the Northern District of lllinois, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, EMIL JONES, III, defendant herein, as an agent of the State of Illinois, corruptly solicited, agreed to accept, and accepted things of value from Individual A, namely a $5,000 payment and money for Individual B, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a business, transaction, and series of transactions of the State of Illinois involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more, namely, legislation in the Illinois General Assembly concerning the operation of red-light cameras; […]

On or about JuIy 17, 2019, JONES told Individual A that he would protect Company A and Individual A from legislation in the Illinois General Assembly concerning the operation of red-light cameras in exchange for $5,000 for JONES and a job for Individual B.

On or about August 8, 2019, JONES told Individual A that if Individual A contributed $5,000 by sponsoring an event, JONES and Individual A would not have to report that contribution on Illinois campaign contribution reports.

On or about August 12, 2019, JONES and Individual A discussed how much money Individual A would pay Individual B.

And then he allegedly lied about it to the FBI.

…Adding… Sun-Times…

The state senator allegedly lied to the FBI about his role in the scheme Sept. 24, 2019.

That was the same day federal agents raided the home and offices of state Sen. Martin Sandoval, including in the state Capitol building.

Holy moly. The G was busy that day. Also…

The feds filed their charges against Jones in a document known as an information, which typically signals a defendant’s intention to plead guilty.

…Adding… Leader Durkin…

elow is a statement from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) on the Indictment of State Senator Emil Jones III:

“The Democrat Party of Illinois has become an organized crime family whose only purpose is to shakedown Illinois taxpayers. Today’s indictment once again shows Illinois residents why Democrats refuse to pass real ethics reform; they are too corrupt.”

…Adding… Leader McConchie…

Below is a statement from Leader McConchie regarding the indictment of Sen. Emil Jones III:

“Even in a post-Madigan-era, Illinois continues to have a systemic corruption problem—one that Democrats continue to enable,” said Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie. “Democrats have refused for years to allow our anti-corruption proposals to move forward. If the Democrats won’t allow us to do the right thing, it’s time for voters to step in and make the change this November.”

As a refresher, the SGOP ethics package is SB 3636. One of the proposals in it includes empowering the attorney general to use a statewide grand jury to investigate public corruption.

…Adding… SafeSpeed…

“SafeSpeed’s goal has always been to provide a service that helps save lives. As new developments in federal investigations come to light, SafeSpeed remains both shocked and saddened that one of its former colleagues was engaged in criminal conduct and recruited outside individuals to help further his self-serving activities. Their actions were clearly in their own self-interest and done without SafeSpeed’s knowledge and undercut the important work SafeSpeed does.

“The criminal activity of a few individuals does not and should not reflect the values and integrity of SafeSpeed, its employees, and its clients. SafeSpeed built its business on integrity and ethics, and it holds its employees and representatives to the highest standards of conduct and ethics. SafeSpeed has long since terminated all contact with its former colleague and his associates.

“SafeSpeed remains committed to continuing to assist Illinois municipalities in improving traffic safety. SafeSpeed fully supports the federal government’s investigation into public corruption and will continue to aid their efforts in any way it can.”

* Meanwhile, this dude apparently threw all of his colleagues under the bus while bragging to a potential mark about a broad conspiracy…

A longtime Cook County Board of Review worker pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge Friday, more than a year after the Chicago Sun-Times revealed he was under investigation by the FBI for lowering property assessments in exchange for cash.

Danilo “Danny B” Barjaktarevic, 49, faces a likely prison sentence of up to two and a half years under federal sentencing guidelines. His sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 13.

He is no longer employed with the Board of Review, according to his attorney.

Barjaktarevic’s plea agreement anticipates he will repay $21,000 he received during the investigation. The document also indicates he lied when he claimed that others at the Board of Review helped him lower assessments for bribes.

51 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Report: Proft papers using Daily Herald’s postage permit

Tuesday, Sep 20, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* James T. Norman at Shaw Local News Network…

Criminals set to be released into your neighborhood, sparse advertising and contact information, and an alleged teacher with a fake name pledging to teach critical race theory in class.

Those are some examples of what can be found in a series of publications that have been mailed in recent weeks to homes across the state, as well as in McHenry County. They are drawing attention – including from Gov. JB Pritzker – for being politically charged and containing right-wing talking points just a couple months before the November election.

The publications, totaling 34, include the McHenry Times, the Kane County Reporter, Chicago City Wire and the DeKalb Times. They are under the umbrella of a company called Local Government Information Services, or LGIS. It’s unclear whether each title has mailed out newspapers in recent weeks, but they have a presence online. […]

The press association has received inquiries from residents around the state asking about the mailings and how to get them to stop being delivered, Craven said. […]

[Don Craven, president of the Illinois Press Association] said neither the company nor its publications are members of the Illinois Press Association. The postage permit printed on the front of the papers is registered to Paddock Publications Inc., according to a U.S. Postal Service spokesman.

Paddock Publications Inc. is better known as the Daily Herald. Click here for its latest state corporate filing.

I called Daily Herald publisher Doug Ray and left a message yesterday and followed up with an email early this morning. I had a mutual acquaintance reach out to Ray and others yesterday and today at the Daily Herald and I also reached out to another person at the company yesterday. Silence.

I’ll let you know if anyone responds. I sure would like to know their rationale because, man, this is not a good look. At all. Shameful, even.

…Adding… From comments…

So while decrying fake news on social media, the parent company is profiting off distributing hard copy fake news? Can’t wait to hear what they have to say.

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181004/daily-herald-journalists-talk-about-combating-fake-news

https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20210428/editorial-media-literacy-bill-a-welcome-tool-in-the-fight-against-fake-news

The company did five “Facts Matter” symposiums.

*** UPDATE *** Daily Herald publisher Doug Ray, who is listed as the agent for Paddock Publications, Inc., responds…

Paddock Publications has a large commercial printing operation in Schaumburg. In addition to the Daily Herald newspapers, Paddock handles commercial printing and mailing for a great variety of customers in Illinois, Wisconsin and across the country. The printing operation is a separate and distinct manufacturing business. Its operation has nothing to do with the editorial judgment or policies of the Daily Herald newspapers.

…Adding… This is from just last week…

Stefanie Anderson, a senior vice president of Paddock Publications Inc. and general manager of Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group, is the newest member of the Illinois Press Association Board of Directors.

Prior to moving to southern Illinois to oversee the community newspaper group, Anderson was director of production in the Schaumburg printing facility for the Daily Herald Media Group.

Huh. That’s not quite how Ray explained it.

…Adding… Pearson at the Trib…

So Paddock Publications, publisher of the Daily Herald, is using its mailing operation to send out Dan Proft’s fake newspaper political mailings. It strains belief when trusted media is more important than ever, Paddock’s pursuit for cash outweighs its journalistic responsibility https://t.co/80QhMqqo1c

— Rick Pearson (@rap30) September 20, 2022