* I’ll be back the Monday after New Year’s Day. Thanks for everything this year. Thanks for subscribing, for reading, for commenting and for just being you.
…Adding… I just looked at the numbers and this blog raised nearly $40,000 in donations this year. Thanks!
…Adding… A more precise total…
More precisely, we've raised $39,689 for worthy causes during 2019. Can we get to an even $40K? This LSSI fundraiser is still active (hint, hint) https://t.co/Vdx3eKq1Yphttps://t.co/NwA1hw5Fnz
UPDATE: John Amdor, who was awarded the 2019 Golden Horsehoe for Best Use of Social Media, just made a generous contribution to LSSI and helped https://t.co/qiMpDXTIvZ reach $40,000 in donations to worthy causes this year. Thanks, @JohnAmdor!!! Happy holidays to one and all! https://t.co/yyjhvBwxTk
…Adding… I almost forgot to say thanks to everyone who helped Greta Lindall with her school science project. She and her project partner Orla Byrley have advanced to the area competition. Congratulations to both! After that, it’ll be the city and then the state competition, so keep your fingers crossed!
* The 2019 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Use Of Social Media goes to John Amdor…
John Amdor and it isn’t even close. He literally goes through old debate transcripts in order to find funny moments to share on twitter. Plus: Rob the Dog, videos of cars driving in bike lanes, and genuinely insightful and humorous takes on whatever is going on. The man is a must follow. He even commented on this thread - that’s how prolific he is.
Not to mention the never-ending saga of his stolen recycling bins. Dude is an Illinois treasure and he’s not even from here.
* From 37th House District candidate Tim Baldermann’s (R-New Lenox) Facebook page on December 5…
So many people dislike politics because of the lies and dirty tactics used by far too many political campaigns. These smear tactics are most frequently employed by candidates who don’t have a real platform or record to run on.
Today, the Will County Gazette, which is nothing more than a prop used by unscrupulous political consultants for their own personal profit, posted another fake story in order to help my opponents campaign.
Baldermann faces Tim Ozinga in the Republican primary. This is an open seat contest created when GOP Rep. Margo McDermed announced her retirement. The Republicans have been worried that the Democrats might try to make a run for the seat, and some Republicans worry that Baldermann is too easy of a target..
He receives $71,000 a year in disability from Chicago Ridge as former police chief there, a salary of $206,000 as superintendent of the tiniest school district in the state, and an $18,000 salary as mayor of New Lenox (which he says he donates to charity). He also received $15,000 as a Metra director until stepping down in August when he announced he was running for the state House seat.
The total package for the superintendent of Union School District 81 includes a $10,000 annual bonus, a car allowance and health insurance. The district also picks up the cost of his pension contribution.
The amount was questioned last fall in a report by Fox 32 Chicago.
“Two-hundred-thousand a year to run a school district isn’t extraordinary,” the story said. “But what makes Baldermann’s salary stand out is the size of the district: one building, 11 teachers and about 100 students, with as few as 92 a couple years ago.”
I wanted you to hear from me personally that my name will not appear on the ballot for State Representative.
I have served as an elected official locally for 18 years. Seeing the dysfunction in our state capitol drove me to consider a run for State Representative. With my experience and passion for good government, I believed we would be able to run a successful campaign focused on the issues. Unfortunately, in today’s political climate that’s not enough.
Recently, Illinois Republican leaders expressed concern that an expensive and exhaustive primary in the 37th District could leave the winner vulnerable to Mike Madigan and the Illinois Democratic machine in a general election. I do not have the personal finances and resources necessary to sustain these all-too expensive campaigns. Additionally, the House Republican Organization doesn’t have the funding to finance this campaign in a general election. Finally, there were concerns about me remaining on as mayor and superintendent. We have accomplished so much at the village and school district that I’m not willing to give that up.
I don’t fault the Illinois Republican Leadership for their position. They have to put the Party’s interest ahead of any individual candidate. This is not a reflection on the other candidates in this race.This is a systemic issue.I have issues with the process. Until there is change that includes open primaries, meaningful campaign finance reform and term limits, elections will be out of reach for many who wish to serve at a higher office.
Additionally, politics beyond the local level have become far too negative, polarizing and expensive. I will not tear another person down just because they are my political opponent. Furthermore, I will not subject my family and friends to that same all-too common treatment. Many campaigns and special interest groups engage in unscrupulous activity just to further their agenda.
Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens has ended his primary bid to run as the Republican candidate in Illinois’ 115th House District.
Stephens was a late addition to an already competitive race and announced through a Facebook post Sunday that he would be withdrawing his name from candidacy in the spring primary. […]
Stephens wrote in his post that his petition was challenged by fellow primary candidate Zach Meyer. Stephens wrote that Meyer objected on a host of reasons, including that a few people who signed his petition didn’t live in the district, while others were not registered voters or had signed other candidates’ petitions. […]
“Though we likely could have overcome some of these challenges, it became uncertain as to whether I could retain enough of my signatures to remain on the ballot,” Stephens wrote in his Facebook post.
The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus threatened Thursday to try again to delay recreational marijuana sales in Chicago for six months after accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office of backing off from a commitment made to African American aldermen demanding a piece of the pie.
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) said “seven or eight” black and Hispanic aldermen voted against a six-month delay based on the promise they were told the governor’s office made to earmark two medical marijuana dispensary licenses — in Hyde Park and Chinatown — for social equity applicants. […]
Hours after a divided City Council voted to let recreational marijuana sales begin as scheduled Jan. 1, the governor’s office disavowed any such guarantees about the two new licenses. […]
On Thursday, Ervin accused the governor’s office of backing away from a commitment made to the Black Caucus during marathon negotiations brokered by aides to Mayor Lori Lightfoot that continued up until and during the tension-filled City Council meeting Wednesday.
“The governor’s office … made commitments for two medicinal social equity licenses — one in the Hyde Park area, one in the Chinatown area — relayed to us by the mayor and her staff. They [said] they had to adjust some rules or do something to make that happen,” Ervin said.
This is just so ridiculously ill-informed by so many people on so many levels.
* First of all, the state created several medical cannabis dispensary licenses years ago. But not all of them were awarded. This year, a law was passed to apply social equity requirements to the owners of the not yet awarded licenses. But before that happened, way back on May 20thin 2014, the state published some new rules that specified the locations of those dispensaries. Among those newly specified locations back in Maywere these…
Hyde Park Township shall be a Dispensing Organization District and shall be allocated two registrations. […]
South Township shall be a Dispensing Organization District and shall be allocated one registration.
That South Township location contains Chinatown. One of the Hyde Park registrations is already taken.
…Adding… My bad. This rule with the locations was actually first adopted in July of 2014.
I don’t know if the mayor and her people messed up by claiming that these dispensaries were part of some “new” offer by the governor, or if the aldermen misunderstood the mayor, or what. But those locations have existed in state rules for seven months.
Currently, there are five more medical dispensary licenses available in Illinois. The state authorized 60 medical dispensaries under administrative rules and established districts with a set number of licenses available to geographically disperse them.
Districts in Chicago are organized by townships. Two dispensaries are allowed in Hyde Park Township, and one is authorized in South Township, which includes Chinatown. One medical dispensary, Mission Chicago South Shore Medical Marijuana Dispensary, 8554 S. Commercial Ave., exists in Hyde Park Township; there are none in South Township.
Revisions made to the Medical Cannabis Act in the spring added social equity standards to the medical cannabis program, but rulemaking is required to incorporate them into the application process. Abudayyeh says the rulemaking process is going on now.
“The state is working to finalize social equity standards for the remaining medical licenses and has to work through the rule-making process to get that done,” she said in a statement. “When the rules are approved, applications for the remaining medical licenses will be opened for applicants, and we will follow the application process to award those licenses.”
On Dec. 18, Ald. Jason C. Ervin (28th), who chairs the Black Caucus, said in an interview that he had not reviewed all the nuances of the administration’s plan, “but in principle, that is what was agreed to.”
Wait a second. On Wednesday, December 18th, Ald. Ervin was shown the actual facts and said it was what he had agreed to. But on Thursday Ervin threatened to bring his implementation delay ordinance back to the council floor.
This really makes it look like Ald. Ervin is up to something completely separate from minority involvement in the cannabis industry.
* Rick Nielsen is getting more than he bargained for…
In response to our reporting, the Secretary of State Jesse White’s office tells me their Inspector General is investigating to find out why Rick Nielsen did not register as a lobbyist. https://t.co/BUsp2QLrHj
This after WCIA’s Target 3 investigators dug into Senator Syverson’s connections to a proposed casino in Rockford. One of his ties was to Rick Nielsen, who he brought onto the chamber floor in violation of senate rules. Nielsen handed out guitar picks with the words ‘It’s time for a casino in Rockford’ stamped on them to legislators.
The Inspector General wants to find out why Nielsen did not register as a lobbyist. Syverson insists Nielsen wasn’t lobbying on the floor.
The headline-grabbing news Wednesday was about the graduated income tax. But the chatter from lawmakers was about the sports luminaries walking the halls of the Capitol. Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, retired Bulls star Horace Grant, and former White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen posed for selfies and waved at lawmakers who cried out “Go Sox” and “Go Bulls” at every turn. The sports trio was in Springfield [on May 1] to schmooze lawmakers who are debating a sports-betting bill.
Senate President John Cullerton introduced the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, along with Ozzie Guillen and Horace Grant, on the senate floor by saying,
So, if they’re going after Nielsen, what about Reinsdorf and Guillen? At minimum, they probably shouldn’t have been invited on to the Senate floor. But, I don’t think they were handing out White Sox swag promoting sports betting.
After more than a year of delay, the two-Republican majority at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has told mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM how it must revamp its $10 billion-per-year capacity market. And at first glance, it could be even more harmful to state-subsidized renewable energy than previously imagined.
Thursday’s order would force almost all future state-subsidized resources in PJM’s 11-state territory to use a “minimum offer price rule,” or MOPR, that would limit how low they can bid. Because almost all state subsidies and incentives are for zero marginal-cost clean energy, this would create an artificial floor that masks their true cost-effectiveness — and effectively forces them out of the market — against existing coal, nuclear and gas-fired generation, critics say. […]
[FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee], a former senior aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), defended Thursday’s order as an attempt to “level the playing field” for all resources amidst a rising tide of state incentives for clean energy that are “suppressing prices in capacity markets.”
Except there’s no evidence that this is happening, but they’re intent on propping up coal-fired generators.
So, how does this impact Illinois?
* The cost projections in this press release are based on a study which can be found here. From the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
A federal ruling today will increase Illinois power bills by $864 million – believed to be the largest electricity increase in state history – unless the General Assembly takes immediate action to offset the controversial ruling by two federal regulators appointed by President Trump.
In a 2-1 ruling earlier today, two of the Trump-appointed members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted a policy that will force people in Illinois and other states to pay extra for electricity generated from coal and other dirty sources not needed to serve local demand for power.
To avoid Illinois electricity consumers paying more for unnecessary generation, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition urged state lawmakers to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Cristina Castro. The legislation would give the state more control of its energy future, avoid the $864 million in higher bills for customers and instead secure lower bills for them.
“The impact of this ruling on ComEd customers would be nothing short of devastating, but the General Assembly has the power to prevent it from happening,” said David Kolata, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board and Coalition member. “Illinois lawmakers must take action before their constituents are hit with jarring increases in power bills.”
A new analysis, “Consumer Impacts of FERC Interference with State Policies,” by Michael Goggin and Rob Gramlich of the consulting firm Grid Strategies, estimates that FERC’s decision could raise costs for consumers across the power grid by up to $5.7 billion a year. Northern Illinois would be one of the hardest hit areas: Electric customers here could pay up to $864 million a year extra.
The FERC decision comes amid an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration to prop up coal-fired power plants struggling to compete in the electricity market. Fossil fuel generators have been pushing for such a change for more than a year, as it becomes more difficult for their outdated plants to compete in the face of more modern technology, like solar and wind farms, and state policies that promote cleaner forms of energy.
Specifically, FERC’s ruling applies to PJM, an organization that manages the power grid and plans for long-term electricity needs—especially when demand is highest. The nation’s largest grid operator, PJM covers a vast territory that includes northern Illinois and all or parts of a dozen other states. PJM assembles this long-term power supply – known as “capacity” – from electricity generators that participate in a competitive auction that it conducts. Illinois customers pay for these capacity costs through the supply charge on their electric bills.
The new rules approved by FERC will change auction rules in a way that rewards polluters that generate power from coal- and gas-fired plants, giving them the license to charge inflated prices and then foist the added costs on customers in northern Illinois and throughout PJM’s territory.
As a result of the FERC decision, electric customers across the Chicago region and most of northern Illinois are facing an imminent increase in the amount they pay to reserve enough power – known as the “capacity price” – to meet projected future demand for electricity. FERC’s action also undermines the state’s 2016 passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act that promotes clean energy goals and consumer savings through increased investments in energy efficiency and zero-carbon emissions sources, such as wind, solar, and nuclear power.
To shield electric customers from the higher bills, the Clean Energy Jobs Act would authorize the state to assume the responsibility for managing its capacity needs. Instead of Illinois relying on PJM’s capacity auction, a state agency, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), would be put in charge of running Illinois’ own capacity auction.
The IPA already manages the power purchases of the state’s biggest electric utilities, and part of its mission is to protect consumers from unnecessary increases in their supply costs. The agency is better positioned to run Illinois’ capacity auction and ensure that northern Illinois consumers save money while the state’s clean energy goals are advanced.
Capacity market reform is one part of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, the most comprehensive and consumer-friendly energy bill in Springfield. The legislation also:
Aims for a carbon-free power sector by 2030, and provides financial and other assistance to communities and workers impacted by coal plant retirements;
Moves Illinois towards 100% renewable energy by 2050, attracting $39 billion in clean energy development;
Develops transportation electrification to give Illinoisans access to cleaner and more affordable forms of transportation;
Expands energy efficiency programs that have already cut utility bills by billions of dollars;
Sparks business development, workforce training and jobs so all Illinois residents can benefit from the clean energy economy.
* From the Environmental Defense Fund…
Because of this decision by federal regulators, Illinois consumers will be forced to pay more than $864 million in higher energy bills, and all of us will be forced to breathe dirtier air. It underscores the urgent need for members of the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. Pritzker to take swift action on the Clean Energy Jobs Act, which will lower bills for consumers, create jobs and empower Illinois to take control of its energy future. Rather than be stuck with an obsolete system imposed by out-of-state decision-makers, it’s time for to Illinois set its own course by developing an energy mix that prioritizes carbon-free resources and puts money back in the pockets of consumers.
Other groups, however, aren’t so sure about CEJA, including a group made up mostly of clean energy generators. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is mostly activists. Exelon/ComEd was also supportive because it has all those nuke plants.
*** UPDATE *** Path to 100…
While FERC’s order may have an impact on renewable energy and for consumers, we need to make sure that Illinois’ doesn’t rush to enact policies that could make the situation worse.
The renewable energy industry in Illinois is focused on the immediate funding crisis facing the state’s renewable portfolio standard. Passing the Path to 100 Act will allow renewable energy to continue growing while we evaluate potential action on capacity markets.
The FERC order has not been published yet and it’s impossible to estimate its impact on consumers. In the coming months, PJM will respond to FERC’s order. At that time, the state can begin the process of carefully considering proposals that would fundamentally reshape Illinois’ energy market. Any proposals for Illinois must include a plan to maximize capacity from all of Illinois’ diverse renewable energy sources and provide financeable solutions for a deregulated market.
[Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow], addressing the Springfield City Council, said adult residents over the age of 21 will be able to consume marijuana products in their homes and on any structures attached to it, such as a porch, deck, patio, stoop or stairs. […]
According to WMAY radio, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder earlier this month said city attorneys told him that an adult could smoke on their front porch or in their own yard without legal consequence, a view that Winslow wanted further clarification on.
“We tried as law enforcement to get these addressed in the veto session and couldn’t get a direct answer,” Winslow said. “So, these are things that the legislators have created, they are aware of these issues and our concerns in law enforcement. Hopefully they will go back in the spring session and correct some of these or clarify. Until that time, we will do our best we can to get through this.”
Until that clarification comes, it was determined that the city would be slightly more restrictive, allowing it in places like a porch but not necessarily in a backyard.
Not necessarily? So if someone is sitting on their back deck all is well, but if they step off the deck into their back yard it could result in a police response?
C’mon, man. How about just letting people consume their own legal products on their own property.
And, yes, I may live to regret this post since I reside in Springfield. But this is nonsense.
“Public place” does not include a private residence unless the private residence is used to provide licensed child care, foster care, or other similar social service care on the premises.
The Springfield police chief is trying to define “residence” as only the structure, not the land. Your back yard is definitely part of your residence, so they’re just trying to nitpick this for whatever reason.
Despite a push by the Black Caucus, recreational weed will be legally sold in Chicago come Jan. 1.
In a dramatic City Council meeting, the ordinance that would’ve delayed recreational weed sales until July 1 was narrowly defeated by a 29-19 vote. […]
When the votes were counted, six Black Caucus members voted against the proposed ordinance they had co-sponsored: Alds. Pat Dowell (3rd), Michelle Harris (8th), Walter Burnett Jr. (27th), Chris Taliaferro (29th), Emma Mitts (37th) and Matt Martin (47th). They were joined by 23 other aldermen. Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Maria Hadden (49th) were absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
Ald. David Moore (17) set the tone for the intense debate by accusing Gov. JB Pritzker of threatening to block projects funded by the state’s $45 billion capital bill in ward represented by aldermen who voted for the ban.
Emily Bittner, the director of communications for Prtizker, immediately took to Twitter to say that assertion was false.
Moore said after the meeting that he had heard the threat “third-hand” and had not directly been warned to expect repercussions by the governor’s representatives. Ervin said after the meeting that his negotiations with the governor’s office were “cordial” and the vote on the ban was never linked to capital bill spending.
C’mon, man. Can anyone honestly imagine Mr. Laid-Back himself foaming at the mouth while screaming into his phone threatening to kill capital projects on the South and West sides if aldermen don’t obey his commands? I’d actually pay to see that.
“I do not think it is wise to poke our governor in the eye,” Lightfoot said [of the Black Caucus]. “Gov. Pritzker is an important ally for the city of Chicago.”
Um, OK. Perhaps she could take her own advice now and then?
Some black aldermen said Wednesday they were persuaded by last-minute intervention by the governor’s office with specific assurances that some new medical marijuana licenses would go to social equity applicants. But in a twist late Wednesday night, the governor’s office publicly disavowed any such guarantees. […]
What changed overnight?
A lot of arm-twisting by the mayor’s office and — aldermen and the mayor say — an assurance from Gov. J.B. Pritzker to earmark two of five new medical marijuana dispensary licenses — to be located in Hyde Park and Chinatown — to so-called social equity applicants. […]
“Perhaps the aldermen came to understand that there was a law already on the books that encourages social equity applicants to apply for medical licenses,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh told the Sun-Times.
Hilarious.
* The number of aldermen spouting off with uninformed opinions yesterday was quite something to behold…
I am sure that everyone involved in the drafting of the most equity centric piece of cannabis legalization in the country - including myself, Toi Hutchinson, and Kim Foxx - are stunned at the level of ignorance and the number of falsehoods being spewed at City Council right now
We have this thing called the Constitution. The cannabis law is the most equity based piece of legislation in the Country, and it was done in a constitutional manner. Here’s hoping common sense prevails in that City Council.
The irresponsibility of the Chicago City Council debate is jaw dropping. We spent years crafting legislation that puts social equity at the core of the recreational cannabis market. Those who say otherwise are patently wrong and are insulting to me and my colleagues.
Tension only escalated from that point. There were multiple votes to establish whether to vote on the pot delay at all because there was not a consensus on the rules.
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward), the sponsor of the ordinance, was speaking on the floor about his support for a delay. Right before he was set to use a procedure to delay the vote until Thursday morning, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), a mayoral ally, cut him off to use a motion to call for a vote.
“I have the floor sir,” Ervin said to Reilly.
“I thought you were concluding,” Lightfoot said to Ervin.
“We have rules of order,” Ervin said. “I would ask that we all respect the rules of this body …. I mean, to take the floor, it’s just … if you need it that bad, take it.” He then slammed his mic down to his desk.
Ervin could not believe what had just happened to him. He had the floor, he was speaking, there was no timer issue, but he was still shut down. You don’t see that sort of thing on the House or Senate floors. The Tribune would write thundering editorials for decades if Madigan did something like that.
The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus threatened Thursday to try again to delay recreational marijuana sales in Chicago for six months after accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office of backing off from a commitment made to African American aldermen demanding a piece of the pie.
Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) said “seven or eight” black and Hispanic aldermen voted against a six-month delay based on the promise they were told the governor’s office made to earmark two medical marijuana dispensary licenses — in Hyde Park and Chinatown — for social equity applicants.
In an email sent Tuesday to top mayoral aide Samantha Fields, Illinois weed czar Toi Hutchinson made what appears to be a vague promise about the social equity licenses.
“Please accept this letter as my confirmation that we will ensure that the 5 remaining medicinal licenses will not be let until there is proper equity language attached to the rules governing how the licenses can be awarded,” Hutchinson wrote in the email obtained by the Sun-Times.
The Governor and members of the General Assembly worked hard to ensure that the social equity provisions of the adult-use cannabis effort would also apply to the existing medical industry, including the five medical licenses that have yet to be awarded. The Governor was pleased to expand the social equity application benefits to the medical license process earlier this summer. The ultimate awardees of the medical licenses will be determined through a regulated process, but social equity applicants will receive the same additional points in the medical application scoring that they receive in the adult-use process.
Background
Those who are awarded medical licenses cannot be determined in advance, and must be drawn from the pool of all applicants, according to laws governing licensing.
Two of the five outstanding medical licenses will be awarded to locations in Chicago, according to the state law that established the medical cannabis program in 2013.
The change to the medical application process – adding a social equity component – is currently going through the state’s rule-making process to be finalized.
