* I’ve put off getting one of these, so this is good news for me…
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the federal REAL ID deadline an additional two years, from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025. With this extension, current standard Illinois driver’s licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports for domestic air travel until May 7, 2025.
Illinoisans interested in applying for a REAL ID are encouraged to visit REALID.ilsos.gov and use the interactive document checklist. This checklist is designed to help ensure REAL ID applicants gather all the documents required by the federal government to obtain a REAL ID before visiting a Driver Services facility. First-time REAL ID applicants are required by DHS to visit a Driver Services facility in person.
Not everyone needs a REAL ID, and in Illinois, the Secretary of State’s office gives Illinoisans a choice. Illinoisans who do not fly domestically do not necessarily need a REAL ID. Additionally, a valid U.S. passport is a compliant REAL ID document; therefore, those with valid U.S. passports do not necessarily need a REAL ID.
As of Dec. 1, 2022, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office has issued more than 3 million REAL IDs.
* Daily Herald | Who decides on making Route 53 extension land a state park? Enter Pritzker, and road bumps: After decades of agitation, a task force is poised to vote on whether to convert $54.3 million of Lake County land purchased for a highway into a greenway and possible state park. It took 48 years for the Illinois Department of Transportation to amass 1,100 acres for a Route 53 extension from Cook County into Lake County intended to relieve traffic. But in 2019, with Lake residents divided on building the $2.7 billion road, its last sponsor, the Illinois tollway, marooned the project shortly after Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office.
* Daily Herald | Muslim Civic Coalition marks historic firsts: The celebration recognized the election of 23-year-old Palatine native Nabeela Syed, the first Indian American woman and, along with state Rep.-elect Abdelnasser Rashid of Justice, one of the first Muslims, to the General Assembly. Syed will represent the 51st state House District. Rashid is the first Palestinian American to be elected to the state legislature, representing the 21st House District.
* Belleville News Democrat | COVID-19 cases spike in St. Clair County, across Illinois. Here’s the latest data: More than 60 Illinois counties are at elevated COVID-19 community levels, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency rated 51 counties at a medium level and 12 counties at a high level. Medium level counties include St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton, Washington, Marion and others. Randolph County is at a high COVID-19 community level, along with Pike, Williamson, Johnson and others.
* WBEZ | Thanks to the ‘tripledemic,’ it can be hard to find kids’ fever-reducing medicines: If you stroll the cold and flu medicine aisle these days, you might notice shelves that are bare, or nearly so. Some medicines that can be particularly hard to find are fever reducers for kids, like children’s Tylenol, Motrin or Advil. Drug manufacturers point to a big spike in demand. That’s not surprising, given the surge in three respiratory viruses right now: COVID, RSV and influenza, what has been termed a “tripledemic.”
* Law Street Media | CVS Sued Over ‘Fraudulent’ Donations to American Diabetes Association: A consumer filed a class-action complaint in the Eastern District of New York against CVS Health Corporation for a purportedly deceptive charity campaign it held last year, which the plaintiff asserts was more like a reimbursement to CVS than a charitable donation. According to the complaint, prior to the completion of a customer’s transaction, the checkout screen would prompt the customer with several boxes of pre-selected amounts (and an opt out option) to donate to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The plaintiff alleges that CVS did not merely collect the customer’s donations and forward them to the ADA, but instead, counted the donations toward a legally binding obligation of $10 million that CVS had made to the ADA.
* Sun-Times | All aboard the Christmas tree ship: A special Christmas delivery aboard an icebreaker ship arrived Thursday at Navy Pier not from the North Pole but from northern Michigan. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw, also known as the “Christmas Ship,” docked with 1,200 trees onboard from Cheboygan, Michigan.
* Crain’s | The wild ride for weed companies isn’t over: Marijuana companies have experienced far more harsh than mellow this year. Weed stocks dropped twice as fast as the overall market. Sales growth has slowed as customers feel the pinch of inflation. New markets in Illinois, New Jersey and New York are opening more slowly than expected. The cost of borrowing is up 50% because of rising interest rates.
* Pantagraph | How can Peoria’s airport be called ‘international’?: As Gene Olson, the Peoria airport director, explained it to the Peoria Journal-Star: It an extension of an international port of entry that has existed in Peoria since 1856. Peoria’s long history as a distilling hub (Hiram Walker, Pabst Blue Ribbon, etc.) necessitated the establishment of such back then. And Peoria has clung to its distinction ever since. Downing, by the way, was a four-star Army general who died in 2007 at age 67.
* Axios | Walter Burnett takes over as Chicago’s longest-serving alderperson: Burke is the latest veteran alderperson to bow out, creating a brain drain of experience and political knowledge. Burke frequently started meetings by regaling his colleagues with stories of Chicago’s political past. Now, only 9 alders in the next council are expected to remain from the days of Mayor Richard M. Daley, who retired in 2011.
* Tribune | Chicago Red Stars will be put up for sale in the latest fallout from the incendiary Yates report: “For the last 15 years, my family and I have proudly poured our hearts, time, resources and efforts into founding the NWSL and transforming the Chicago Red Stars into one of the top women’s soccer clubs in the world. It is clear now that we needed to provide greater support for our players and we deeply regret that we didn’t do more sooner.“
* Sun-Times | Battle over Ryan Field in Evanston could be a seminar for the Bears: “We’re not opposed to redeveloping Ryan Field. What we’re opposed to is just completely upending the zoning code that has protected our community for years,” he said. DeCarlo said the university is proposing “a tax-exempt booze-and-entertainment center” that will upset the quality of life in north Evanston and south Wilmette. This part of the North Shore welcomes the football scene because the interruptions are infrequent and mostly fun. Local lore has it that the main exception is when Buckeye Nation descends and threatens the social order.
* Daily Herald | Justices spar in latest clash of religion and gay rights: The Supreme Court ’s conservative majority sounded sympathetic Monday to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, a dispute that’s the latest clash of religion and gay rights to land at the highest court. The designer and her supporters say that ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their faith. Her opponents, meanwhile, say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black customers, Jewish or Muslim people, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants, among others.
* As of 12:30 today, our LSSI fundraiser had reached $19,743. While needs vary for each child, $25 is the average cost of a Christmas gift. A big thank you to all who have donated. Let’s keep this going!
The Illinois State Board of Elections on Monday certified the results of the Nov. 8 General Election, in which more than 4.1 million voters cast ballots for a turnout statewide of 51.06 percent.
The certification also confirmed passage of an amendment to the Illinois Constitution guaranteeing workers the right to collective bargaining. The amendment passed with 53.42 percent “yes” votes among all ballots cast.
Based on pre-election ballot reports, the State Board of Elections estimates that more than 39 percent of the ballots cast in the 2022 General Election were cast before Election Day, with about 18 percent cast by mail and 21 percent cast early in person. By contrast, the 2018 midterms had roughly 34 percent of ballots cast before Election Day, with 9 percent of the total vote cast by mail and 25 percent cast early in person. (See chart below for details.)
The 51.06 percent statewide turnout — 4,144,125 ballots cast by 8,115,751 total registered voters – was the fourth lowest midterm turnout of the last 40 years. (See chart below for details.)
Official vote totals for the 2022 General Election can be found on the Board of Elections website’s Election Results page. The official Vote Totals Book is available as a downloadable pdf file in the Vote Totals section of the website’s publications page.
The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 108 election authorities.
* Midterm election turnout, 1982-2022…
* Vote-by-mail and early voting totals, 2004-2022…
On June 13 and 21, 2019, the Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG) received complaints alleging that after [IDOC Employee 1] ticketed an inmate for sexual misconduct, Lt. Adrian Corley required [IDOC Employee 1] and another employee to draw a picture of the incident on a fictitious IDOC form, which was then distributed and shown to other IDOC employees.1 The complaints alleged that following this incident, Pontiac Correctional Center staff harassed [IDOC Employee 1] and treated him differently based on his sexual orientation.
The evidence gathered in this investigation revealed that Lt. Corley created a fictitious IDOC form that was used to conduct pranks and haze newer employees at IDOC. In this instance, Lt. Corley’s intended target was his subordinate, [IDOC Employee 1], who had been working at IDOC for [Identifying Information Redacted]. On October 26, 2018, [IDOC Employee 1] encountered an inmate who put his genitals through the cell bars and was masturbating towards [IDOC Employee 1]. After [IDOC Employee 1] wrote the inmate a sexual misconduct ticket, Lt. Corley directed [IDOC Employee 1] to draw a picture of the incident and sign his name to the fictitious IDOC form. Unbeknownst to [IDOC Employee 1], this fictitious IDOC form was not part of IDOC protocol but instead was done for Lt. Corley’s and others’ amusement. The fictitious form was shared with an extensive number of other IDOC employees, including other Lieutenants, Majors, Assistant Wardens and the Warden, without anyone taking any timely action to stop the dissemination or correct the wrongdoing. In the months following the widespread dissemination of the form at Pontiac, [IDOC Employee 1] experienced numerous incidents of harassment, including anti-gay slurs, prank calls at work, graffiti with sexual connotations about him, and one incident in which a coworker pressed his body against [IDOC Employee 1]’s.
[IDOC Employee 1] repeatedly reported the harassment he experienced, to high-level managers at Pontiac, as well as to IDOC administrators. Although [IDOC Employee 1]’s written submissions detailing the prank and subsequent harassment were referred to IDOC’s Office of Affirmative Action, and specifically stated that [IDOC Employee 1] believed he was being harassed based on his perceived sexual orientation, Affirmative Action elected not to open an investigation, on the basis that no covered class had been established. While [IDOC Employee 1]’s complaints were pending with Affirmative Action, he was reassigned to duty in the towers, and the harassment continued. On multiple occasions he requested a hardship transfer to another IDOC facility, but those requests were denied, and he ultimately left IDOC employment.
Based on this investigation, the OEIG found that Lt. Corley and other Pontiac managers engaged in conduct unbecoming of IDOC supervisors; [IDOC Employee 1] was subjected to a hostile work environment at Pontiac, for which IDOC is responsible; a Pontiac Correctional Officer sexually harassed [IDOC Employee 1], the Warden mismanaged Pontiac Correctional Center, and the Affirmative Action Administrator committed misfeasance by failing to investigate [IDOC Employee 1]’s harassment complaints.
Regarding the culture at Pontiac, Maj. Wheat agreed that some hazing is done to test [Identifying Information Redacted] and see what they are made of and build camaraderie, and added that the “teasing never ends.” […]
Maj. Cooper said that hazing has been going on at Pontiac for years, but that the incident with the Fictitious Form went “above and beyond” the “everyday” hazing because Lt. Corley took the time to create a form. He said that it was inappropriate for Lt. Corley to direct [IDOC Employee 1] to complete the Fictitious Form. When asked if, as a higher-ranked officer than Lt. Corley, he had a duty to report the inappropriate conduct, Maj. Cooper said, “I’d probably say we all have a duty to do that.” However, Maj. Cooper said he never had any discussions with Lt. Corley about the impropriety of his actions, other than that the group in the Shift Commander’s office on October 26, 2018 might have told Lt. Corley that he was stupid. Maj. Cooper said he did not recall Warden Kennedy attempting to stop the spread of the Fictitious Form. […]
Asst. Warden Ruskin said she did not know who [IDOC Employee 1] was at that time, and that when she saw the Fictitious Form she laughed and thought it was funny that [Identifying Information Redacted] would fall for a prank like that.
Asst. Warden Ruskin said that news of the prank “went like wildfire,” and that it was “probably considered the most epic prank in Pontiac history.” […]
Asst. Warden French said that he thought the Fictitious Form was just a prank, but that in hindsight he should have talked to Lt. Corley or imposed discipline. […]
In her interview, Warden Kennedy recalled seeing the Fictitious Form for the first time in a text message when she was at a sporting event on a Saturday, and believes she may have received the text message from Asst. Warden Ruskin; she said she did not recall any dialogue about the image at that time.56 She acknowledged in her interview that it was not an official IDOC or Pontiac form. However, Warden Kennedy said she did not pay too much attention to it when she received it, and said that it “probably struck [her] as funny” because of the exaggerated male genitalia on the image.
[IDOC Employee 1] told OEIG investigators that after the Fictitious Form was circulated throughout Pontiac, he experienced multiple harassing incidents at work, and that he submitted multiple incident reports and memoranda about them. He also submitted multiple requests to transfer to another facility, based on hardship. […]
[IDOC Employee 1] said that on one occasion, when he was leaving at the end of a shift, he was between the locked Gate 3 doors waiting for them to open, when [IDOC Employee 27] approached him from behind on [IDOC Employee 1]’s left side. He said [IDOC Employee 27] said, “hey [IDOC Employee 1]” in a lower- toned voice, then pressed his torso against the left side of [IDOC Employee 1]’s body, and touched his ([IDOC Employee 27]’s ) genitals against [IDOC Employee 1]’s left hand. [IDOC Employee 1] said [IDOC Employee 27] whispered, “do you want to draw this one?” into his ear. [IDOC Employee 1] said that this contact was unwelcome and unwanted, and that he immediately moved away from [IDOC Employee 27] . He said that another officer was also waiting for the gate to open, and asked [IDOC Employee 27] why he was standing so close to [IDOC Employee 1], and then [IDOC Employee 27] moved away from him.35 [IDOC Employee 1] described another incident, in which he heard someone shout from the East Catwalk, “[IDOC Employee 1]’s a fag,” so that inmates and other employees would have been able to hear; [IDOC Employee 1] said he did not see the person, but recognized the voice as [IDOC Employee 27] ’s. […]
[IDOC Employee 1] said that after he filed complaints against Lt. Corley, he was segregated from other Pontiac staff and inmates by being continuously assigned to Tower 21. He said that while he was working in Tower 21, he received many harassing telephone calls, which he said sounded like were [IDOC Employee 27] ’s voice. OEIG investigators obtained copies of [IDOC Employee 1]’s multiple incident reports dated November 24, 2018. The reports stated that [IDOC Employee 1] had received multiple calls that day in Tower 21, including calls in which the callers asked, “Are you done fingering your b*tthole yet?,” referred to him as a “f*ggot *ss b*tch,” and said, “I’m not f*cking with you.” […]
[IDOC Employee 1] also described several incidents of graffiti at Pontiac, which contained sexual references to him. He said he observed that someone had written on a refrigerator in Tower 20: “[IDOC Employee 10] wants [IDOC Employee 1] to call him and do butt stuff,” and that the name “[IDOC Employee 10]” was crossed out and “[IDOC Employee 21]” was written in. [IDOC Employee 1] said he saw [IDOC Employee 21] standing in front of the refrigerator, and then a short time later he observed that the name “[IDOC Employee 21]” had been crossed out and “[IDOC Employee 10]” was written in again. [IDOC Employee 1] said that he also observed that someone had written on the West Tower wall: “[IDOC Employee 10] wants to eat [IDOC Employee 1]’s tiny little butt hole.”
Investigators obtained copies of [IDOC Employee 1]’s two incident reports, which were dated March 18, 2019, described each incident of graffiti, and indicated that [IDOC Employee 1] observed both incidents on that date. The OEIG also obtained copies of photographs taken of the graffiti. The incident reports and the photographs were consistent with [IDOC Employee 1]’s description of the graffiti incidents in his interview.
* IDOC’s Office of Affirmative Action Administrator Fernando Chavarria was no help at all…
Mr. Chavarria said that as a result of [IDOC Employee 1]’s refusal to name a covered class in the interview, he made the decision to refer the complaint to Internal Affairs. Mr. Chavarria initially said that a complainant had to say the “magic words” in order for Affirmative Action to open an investigation, that is, the complainant had to tell him that he or she is in a specific covered class or is alleging sexual harassment.
Except, the employee’s statement included the phrase “sexual orientation.” And then there was this…
Mr. Chavarria was asked if he reviewed [IDOC Employee 12]’s report of her interview of [IDOC Employee 1], documenting that [IDOC Employee 1] had stated, among other things, that:
• on one occasion, [IDOC Employee 27] got “real close” to [IDOC Employee 1] and asked “Do you want to draw this one?”;
• [IDOC Employee 1] heard someone yell “[IDOC Employee 1] is a f*g” from the East Catwalk, and received calls referring to him as a “f*ggot *ss b*tch”; and that
• he felt like a target because of his perceived sexual orientation, and that he felt harassed and that it was making a hostile work environment.
Mr. Chavarria said that he did not catch the above statements in [IDOC Employee 12]’s interview report and memorandum to him, and added, “bad one on me”; however, he said he still would have needed [IDOC Employee 1] to want Mr. Chavarria to use that information as a covered class.
Prisons are already difficult and dangerous working environments, where staff face challenges posed by inmate misconduct on a daily basis. It is entirely unacceptable that staff at Pontiac Correctional Center also suffer mistreatment at work by their own coworkers and supervisors, due to the unprofessional working environment that flourishes there.
As Warden, Teri Kennedy was responsible for setting a professional tone at Pontiac, and promoting a working environment that ensured that all of her staff could successfully meet the significant challenges of their jobs. Instead, she turned a blind eye to a culture where pranks and sexual jokes were commonplace, and that apparently allowed virtually the entire upper management at the facility to think such behavior by some staff at the expense of others was acceptable.
Even accepting Mr. Chavarria’s erroneous view that an Affirmative Action investigation is not warranted unless a victim explicitly states “magic words” such as “sexual orientation,” the information provided to his office did exactly that. Affirmative Action should have opened and conducted an investigation to determine whether [IDOC Employee 1]’s allegations were substantiated, but Mr. Chavarria failed to do so. Nearly six months elapsed between Warden Kennedy’s initial referral of [IDOC Employee 1]’s complaints to Affirmative Action on November 28, 2018, and [IDOC Employee 11]’s reopening of her investigation after Mr. Chavarria declined to open an Affirmative Action investigation, and during that time [IDOC Employee 1] continued to experience harassment at Pontiac. It is difficult to understand what purpose the Office of Affirmative Action serves if its staff do not recognize allegations received of harassment based on a covered class or are allowed to ignore such allegations unless a victim verbally states the “magic words.”
Based on these findings, the OEIG recommends that Lt. Corley, Asst. Wardens French and Ruskin; Majs. Cooper, Prentice, Shelton, and Wheat; [IDOC Employee 27]; and Warden Kennedy be disciplined up to and including discharge, along with any other personnel IDOC determines to have engaged in similar misconduct regarding these incidents. The OEIG further recommends that IDOC remove Mr. Chavarria from his role pertaining to Affirmative Action matters, and train all Office of Affirmative Action staff on their obligations under the Administrative Directives. The OEIG also recommends that IDOC implement written procedures or formal practices governing hardship transfer requests.85 Finally, the OEIG recommends that the current Pontiac administration take any and all necessary steps to promote a professional working environment and culture for all staff who work there, and to ensure that any future similar misconduct is immediately addressed and eradicated.
A house cleaning is most definitely in order here. And, by the way, I only hit the high points. There’s more.
I have asked the governor’s office for a response.
*** UPDATE *** From IDOC…
“This behavior is entirely unacceptable and IDOC took the most severe disciplinary action possible against involved employees, including senior leadership. This included terminating multiple employees. IDOC takes this matter extremely seriously and has brought in new leadership at Pontiac and retrained the affirmative action unit on conducting thorough investigations to build an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees moving forward.”
Background:
Ruskin-terminated 3/16/2021
French-terminated 3/16/2021
Prentice – Pursued termination, Discharge reversed via the grievance process; retired in lieu of return on 10/31/2021
Shelton- Pursued termination, Discharge reversed via the grievance process; served 25 day suspension
Chavaria- served 30 day suspension; resigned 8/31/2021
Kennedy- retired prior to termination 12/31/2020
Wheat – Retired prior to discipline 6/30/2020
Cooper – Pursued termination; Retired 11/30/2021
The affirmative action unit investigates harassment and discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. They also investigate sexual harassment and evaluate requests for reasonable accommodations. Additional trainings served to reinforce knowledge and skills related to conducting investigations in as thorough a manner as possible.
State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) released the following statement announcing his retirement from the Illinois Senate.
“I have chosen to retire from the Illinois Senate, effective at the end of my current term, which expires on January 10, 2023.
“I have now served in the Illinois House and Senate for twelve years. My oldest son was born during the final days of my first legislative session, which quickly taught me about the sacrifices that would burden my family as I chose to serve. Those who know me are well aware of the priority I have continually attempted to place on my family. However, my other obligations have only increased, bringing further sacrifices. Throughout my time in the legislature, I have also had the honor to work as a full-time attorney, an adjunct college professor, and more recently as a partner in a real estate company that has grown much faster than I could have hoped for.
“Kristin and I have been blessed with a growing family, and our children deserve more of my time, attention, and involvement. My children are at special ages when parental involvement is critical, and I owe them my best attempt to make them the priority they deserve to be. However, for too long, Kristin and our kids (Augie, 11; Wally, 9; and Lia, 5) have tolerated a father who has had more obligations than time. I want to now give them more of me and am looking forward to getting more of them. My mom, dad and brother have also supported me at every turn. Now is a chance for me to give them more of my time as well.
“At the same time, the wonderful people of the 53rd Senate District need a representative who can make them the priority they deserve to be. Representing central Illinois, first in the House and then in the Senate, has been an incredible honor and privilege which I have never taken for granted. During my time in office, I have had the opportunity to play a role in historic changes in our state. My passion has been to serve as an independent voice in favor of limited and responsible governance for our State. I’ve tried to demonstrate that there is space for independent and thoughtful representation, even in our increasingly polarized political climate. Solving problems legislatively, and just as importantly, working to address constituent issues, has given me an opportunity to prove that our government, as frustrating as it can be, can actually still work.
“Throughout my career in public service, Kristin and I have met countless individuals who have become and will remain our closest friends. I am especially grateful to my colleagues in the Senate, and to the incomparable staff on whom we all rely. Kristin and I will be forever blessed by the kindness and friendship shown by far too many people to name here.
“What’s next for me includes more time with my kids - fishing, outdoor activities, traveling, participating in their activities, shuttling them around, and hopefully avoiding many of the phone calls, meetings and conflicts that have too often pulled me away from my family.
“I am announcing my retirement now to give the Republican Party leadership in my district time to fill this vacancy so that a new Senator can be seated at the inauguration of the new 103rd General Assembly in January 2023. I am very excited for this next chapter of my life to begin, and I wish nothing but success for the next Senator to represent the 53rd District. May God bless Illinois.”
…Adding… Press release…
On December 5, State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) announced he will step down from the Illinois Senate at the completion of the 102nd General Assembly on January 10, 2023. Upon learning of Sen. Barickman’s decision to retire, Senate Republican Leader-Elect John Curran issued the following statement:
“I spoke with Senator Barickman and wished him the very best as he leaves the Illinois Senate after 12 years of distinguished service. The Senator has been an instrumental voice and advocate for the 53rd Senate District in Central Illinois.
“Senator Barickman has been a fierce advocate for his constituents on a variety of important issues and has always led with a respectful tone and a willingness to reach across the aisle and work collaboratively.
“As a father myself, I admire his commitment to his family and wish them tremendous happiness.”
…Adding… Press release…
In response to Senator Jason Barickman’s announcement that he is retiring from the Illinois Senate at the end of his current term, Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie issued the following statement:
“While we’ve been colleagues since 2016, it wasn’t until the summer of 2017 that I really had the opportunity to get to know Senator Barickman as partners in negotiations over school funding reform. During those long days and nights, I observed firsthand just how privileged the state has been to have him in elected office.
“Senator Barickman possesses a unique mix of traits. When dealing with a legislative adversary, he is committed to his philosophical worldview while simultaneously being a reasonable voice with the ability to bargain. In committee and on the Senate floor, he is a strong debater while maintaining a collegial demeanor and the ability to further relationships across the aisle. Behind the scenes, he always looked for opportunities to selflessly advance the interests of the state while ensuring he was taking care of his constituents at home. He has a keen sense of the political dynamic in Illinois and knew where the Republican Party should be going so it could best serve the people.
“In short, Senator Barickman was never simply a politician, but a statesman. The Illinois Senate will miss his presence and his impact on our great state.”
Dave Dahl: A second straight gubernatorial election with all Democrats on the whole statewide ticket. I mean, not even Dan Brady could make a dent. Does that mean we’re maybe a bluer state than you and folks who are with you can handle?
Darren Bailey: I don’t think so. I think that people, we saw that across the nation. You know, this is the same thing that we saw all over the nation. So I don’t think that we’re alone here in Illinois, although we do have our … trials and our pitfalls here. But, no, I certainly have hope that in the days ahead I think the Republican Party has got to regroup. A lot of people are saying rebrand, no, I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying let’s stick to our platform. We have the message of what we need, is men and women who with working moral compasses, as the Illinois Family Institute said, and spines of steel to stand up against this nonsense and quit wavering with some of the stuff that’s destroying our state.
* Republican DuPage County Board Chair Dan Cronin held on four years ago during a big Democratic wave and then decided not to run again this year. Here’s his analysis during a Politico interview…
“There were good people on the ballot that didn’t even get a look from a lot of voters because our nominee for governor had an offensive brand,” said Cronin. It was the same around the country, adds Cronin. “Candidates around the country lost because they looked like our candidate. We have to get away from that.”
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Campaign Staffer - Illinois Senate Democrats is a tie. Kevin Romo and Dana Stoerger with the Doris Turner campaign…
They were an incredible team and pulled off an amazing feat for Sen. Turner. I don’t think she could have won without them by her side. They didn’t take no for an answer when things got tough. They made you feel welcome and supported anytime you walked into their offices.
That was one amazing win.
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Campaign Staffer - Illinois House Democrats goes to Craig Willert…
Craig Willert developed a strategy to win 78 seats. He’s the Republican slayer. People questioned the Dems decision to go on broadcast and to focus solely on abortion issues, but that gamble paid off. Craig knows how to develop and execute a winning plan. He also knows his limitations and has always given his trusted sidekick, Kylie Kelly, the opportunity to grow and show her real talents. I feel sorry for the GOP in 2024 because Kylie is going to crush it.
He also had a big hand in drawing the winning map.
* On to today’s categories…
Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Republicans
Best campaign staffer - Illinois Senate Republicans
Please nominate in both categories if you can, and don’t forget to explain your votes. Thanks.
Thanks to a generous donation from former state Sen. Susan Garrett, we’re now above $19,000 raised. Just remember, though, that the average gift price is $25, so every little bit helps. Thanks!
The state legislative debate last week over amending the Pre-Trial Fairness Act provisions within the controversial SAFE-T Act featured many of the same obfuscations and outright misinformation that characterized the fall campaign by Republicans, and many of the same insufficient answers by Democrats.
One of the problems tthe super-majority Democrats have in both chambers is that when they know their bill is going to pass, they usually don’t take the Republicans’ objections seriously enough to fully engage with them. But on bills like this, misinformation can spread when points aren’t adequately rebutted.
For just one example, during the House debate, Republican Leader Jim Durkin and his leadership successor, Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), repeatedly blasted the Democrats at length for forcing victims of violent crime, via the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, to be dragged into court for hearings within 48 hours of an arrest.
Durkin has been making this argument in public venues for months, so the Democrats had to know this was coming.
Durkin appeared furious that the Democrats didn’t fix what he claimed was their egregious mistake in drafting the original bill back in 2021 and claimed it directly violated the Illinois Constitution’s protections for crime victims. He predicted it would have a horrible impact on victims by victimizing them all over again.
But the only answer provided by the sponsor, Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago), was that some victims’ rights organizations supported the law.
McCombie amped up the rhetoric even further than Durkin by asking if her 8-year-old niece was abducted by two men, brutally raped, buried alive and rescued, then would she be compelled to go to court for a detention hearing?
After saying the bill “didn’t make that possible,” Slaughter then said the law would make it more difficult for that to happen. McCombie said what Slaughter claimed wasn’t true, and that claim was followed by more emotional and unenlightening back and forth.
Slaughter was right, but the actual explanation he could’ve offered and didn’t is pretty simple. Before the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, judges were given full discretion to compel a victim to appear at a hearing on a defendant’s culpability and dangerousness. That’s no longer the case.
The law was changed in 2021 to force judges to explain why they were granting a request, and then they could “only grant the request if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will be materially prejudiced if the complaining witness does not appear.” That’s one reason why victims’ rights groups supported the overall reforms.
Before the changes were first made in 2021, judges were admonished to “be considerate of the emotional and physical well-being of the witness,” and that particular statutory language was not altered.
The Pre-Trial Fairness Act even eliminated previous statutory language that gave accused criminals “the right to present witnesses in his favor” at those hearings. So, to claim this revision is a horrific sop to accused violent criminals just doesn’t make sense.
The Democrats decided to exclude legislative Republicans from the revision talks, perhaps because they believed the GOP was more interested in theater than responsibly negotiating the new bill. Rarely does one negotiate with someone who will undoubtedly wind up being a hard and public “no.” That’s understandable on one level. I get it.
But, again, this problem is not just about the Pre-Trial Fairness Act or the SAFE-T Act. Time and time again I’ve watched the Democrats stand mute while Republicans lambasted their legislation, which was drafted without GOP input and then jammed through with Dems’ superior numbers. It’s an arrogance of power, and it resulted in a whole lot of scrambling during this past election season as wild claims were made about the bill they had passed.
On the other side, though, the fact this amendment was not officially opposed by any statewide law enforcement groups (which tend to be dominated by Republicans) should’ve prompted an attempt by at least some legislative Republicans to find common ground and maybe steer the end product even further in their direction. Maybe they just didn’t have anyone who was open minded enough or who was brave enough to confront their fellow Republicans by negotiating. Neither is a good sign.
I guess what I’m arguing for here is more respect by both parties for each other, for the legislative process and for the state we all inhabit and the people they all represent.
* Tribune | Illinois’ gun debate: Legislation, litigation and emotion fuel one of the state’s most polarizing conflicts: On Thursday, Democratic state Rep. Bob Morgan, who was marching in the Highland Park parade when a mass shooter opened fire in July,, filed legislation that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and eliminate the ability for most people under 21 to get a gun permit in Illinois. It was the first step in what could be a long debate, if history serves as a guide, that could stretch well into next year, when Syed will be seated.
* Crain’s | With SAFE-T Act amended, Dems turn to gun legislation: Liberal as the proposed bill is, though, the General Assembly has balked at such measures in the past. Votes could come in the January lame duck session, but more likely in the spring when Democrats will have larger majorities.
* Tribune | Confronted by GOP critics and confused constituents, Democrats made fixes to their sweeping criminal justice law: “We actually moved from saying … throw out the SAFE-T Act totally to, ‘Let’s work on it and make it better.’ And that’s actually progress,” said Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat who backs the law. While some prosecutors took part in crafting the amendment, a lawsuit challenging the law brought by more than half of the state’s 102 county prosecutors is still pending, with a decision possible later this month.
* Herald and Review | With SAFE-T Act changes, prosecutors take ‘two-pronged’ approach: In general, state’s attorneys across Illinois have, at the very least, expressed concerns over some of the SAFE-T Act’s provisions. Many have gone further, with more than 60 — including some Democrats — having filed lawsuits against Pritzker and top Democrats. They argue that the process by which the law was passed violated the state constitution.
* SJ-R | Beyond the SAFE-T Act: These bills passed during the Illinois General Assembly veto session: In total, 12 bills passed both chambers ranging from the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund to more local interests with the Springfield High-Speed Rail Corridor Improvement Project. The bills will be sent to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk within the next 30 days who will then have 60 days to sign.
* Greg Hinz | Garcia faces crypto questions in mayoral race: Those congressional races now are history. But not the race for mayor of Chicago, where U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is running for a new job and has $200,000 in crypto baggage to explain… How and why did a PAC heavily funded by Bankman-Fried—he gave Protect the Future PAC at least $27 million before his company hit the rocks—come to spend $199,853 on ads and mailers this spring urging a vote for Garcia in a Democratic congressional primary race in which he was unopposed? Are Chicago voters really expected to believe that the money sort of fell off a truck and had absolutely nothing to do with Garcia’s service on the House Financial Services Committee, which regulates crypto?
* Sun-Times | Illinois keeping the spotlight on uplifting the wrongfully convicted: Wrongful convictions and exonerations of men and women who spent years wasting away in prison have made countless headlines in Illinois over the years…Recently, more than 20 cases handled by former Chicago Police Det. Reynaldo Guevara have been overturned, based on allegations of abuse and his refusal to answer questions on the stand about past trials.
* Sun-Times | CTA employee charged with stealing over $350,000 from the agency’s pension fund : Ayanna Nesbitt worked as a retirement clerk handling pension payments for the CTA. She allegedly created and approved fraudulent requests for death benefit payments and refunds on pension contributions, according to the federal charges. She then wired the money into bank accounts she either controlled or that were held by her family members, then used the funds for personal expenses for herself and others, according to the charges.
* WMBD | Illinois representatives, organizations fight for harm reduction resources: Illinois lawmakers and community organizations are pushing for more help in the fight against the opioid epidemic. State leaders said it’s an uphill battle but the status quo isn’t working. They’re advocating for more resources such as de-criminalization legislation of drugs and more harm reduction support.
* Crain’s | Pritzker pins electric vehicle hopes on subsidies: Compounding those disappointments is concern about the fate of existing Illinois auto plants in an all-electric future. Ford’s assembly plant on Torrence Avenue in Chicago and Stellantis’ Belvidere factory have anchored auto production in Illinois for generations, supporting thousands of well-paid jobs that send economic ripple effects across their communities. Yet neither company has committed to converting its Illinois plant to electric vehicle production. In an ominous sign for Ford’s Chicago plant, industry insiders expect an Ontario factory to make the initial electric versions of the Explorer SUV, a mainstay of Torrence Avenue.
* WSIU | Cannabis education programs are sprouting up at Illinois colleges: There are currently nine Illinois junior colleges offering certificate or degree-bearing cannabis education programs, according to Matt Berry, chief of staff for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) in Springfield. Courses can cover everything from plant cultivation to retail management aspects of the burgeoning cannabis industry, which accounted for $445.3 million in tax revenue for Illinois in 2021. Other higher learning institutions, such as Illinois Central College (ICC) in Illinois, offer free, non-credit bearing continuing education courses in cannabis education in partnership with local dispensaries.
* KWQC | 90-year-old Geneseo resident set to graduate from Northern Illinois University: 90-year old Joyce Viola DeFauw grew up a farmer’s kid in Geneseo, Illinois. At that time education looked much different than it does in 2022. “I went to a one-room country school, they’re were probably eight to thirteen of us at the most,” DeFauw said. “I was always in the class myself … The older grades would help the teacher with the younger grades.”
* Harvest Public Media | Bobcats made a big comeback in the Midwest. But not everyone is happy they can be hunted again: For 44 years, Illinois banned bobcat hunting. That changed in 2016, when the state started a lottery for permits to hunt the predators. And every year since Illinois has hosted a bobcat hunting season. So far, the state has hosted six hunting seasons and hunters have nabbed more than 1,600 bobcats. Stan McTaggart with Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that the lottery for hunting permits limits the numbers that get killed.
* The Southern | Three candidates file petitions to run for mayor of Carbondale: Three candidates filed nominating petitions to run for mayor of Carbondale in the spring Consolidated Election. They are city council member Carolin Harvey, who has been acting as interim mayor, Nathan Colombo and Harold J. Visser.
* Sun-Times | Illinois COVID-19 hospitalizations near 10-month high: Hospitals across the state were treating 1,509 COVID patients Thursday night, the highest number seen since Aug. 15 — and a figure that’s poised to hit a nearly 10-month high by next week. Admissions have jumped more than 26% in the last week alone, putting them on pace to hit numbers not seen since mid-February, when Illinois was on the way down from its worst surge of the pandemic.
* US Rep. Underwood turned 36 a couple of months ago. Here’s Lynn Sweet…
Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., poised to start a third term after a big November win, was elected to a spot in House Democratic leadership Thursday, the first Black female to win an elected position on the team since Rep. Shirley Chisholm, D-N.Y., back in the 1970s.
Underwood snared one of three co-chair positions on the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, known as the DPCC. Other winners in the field of seven who sought the posts were Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas., and Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.
Underwood is now on a path paved by Chisholm, who in 1969 became the first Black woman in Congress, embracing a motto that became famous — “unbought and unbossed.” Underwood often cites Chisholm, who ran for president in 1972, as a role model. From 1977 to 1981, Chisholm was secretary of the Democratic Caucus — and that’s the last time, Underwood noted, that a Black woman was in an elected position — not appointed — at the House leadership table.
The centrist New Democrat Coalition in the House on Thursday elected Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., of Highland Park, to be a vice chair and freshman Rep.-elect Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., from Springfield, to be the representative of the freshmen members who joined the group.
* Bummer…
The office lottery drawing didn’t go so well, okay it went terrible but in the words of a future colleague the most important office is the elected office my district send me to represent… looking at the bigger picture lol 🙄
There are 74 members of this year’s freshman class, but Rep.-elect Jonathan Jackson of Illinois was a no-show, meaning he defaulted to the last pick. (Members could send aides in their stead, but no one piped up for Jackson during the roll call.) The real work began later Friday morning, with each member-elect choosing an office space from whatever options were left. That happened during designated 5-minute slots, like a slower, less exciting version of the NBA draft being held immediately after the draft pick lottery.
United Working Families is launching a fundraising campaign to prevent what it calls “Chicago’s corporate donor class” from becoming an outsized influence in next year’s aldermanic elections.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this week that Mike Ruemmler, who managed former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2015 reelection campaign, is chairing an independent expenditure committee bankrolled by business leaders to elect alderpersons who want to “be part of the solution and not lob bombs from the sideline.”
Ruemmler said he hopes to raise “into the seven figures” — enough money to “play in … somewhere between 17 and 23” wards. Former Sun-Times investor Michael Sacks, CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management, has agreed to be one of the donors. During Emanuel’s eight years in office, Sacks was his chief fundraiser and all-purpose adviser.
More than a decade ago, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued an executive order that prohibited him and future mayors from taking any campaign money from lobbyists.
This year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has accepted more than $53,000 in 39 individual campaign contributions from 14 companies owned by Carmen A. Rossi, a registered city lobbyist.
Rossi — who is also a city contractor and restaurateur and nightclub owner and who holds the liquor license for the Lollapalooza music festival — didn’t make any of the contributions to Lightfoot in his own name.
It isn’t clear whether Lightfoot’s taking the contributions from his companies would violate the ban Emanuel imposed on mayors taking political money from lobbyists.
Hello friends. Gary passed away today from complications due to ALS. He was at peace and surrounded by his family. I want everyone who took the time to post a note to him to know that he really enjoyed hearing from all of you. We read every message to him, some of them multiple times. We were astounded by the heartfelt voices from his past; so many of you wanted to reach out to share your memories of him from years ago. We tend to get caught up in the day-to-day of our lives and forget that we are shaped from the people, places and experiences of our past. I know Gary treasured his time in Illinois politics and government. Your names were not unfamiliar to my kids, who heard the stories many times over the years.
Gary was the ultimate people person. His friends in Maryland and DC who visited with him these past few days said things about him that will sound very familiar to those of you who knew him back in another life: He was the most generous guy I ever met; he was the life of the party; he took care of everyone on the block; I owe my career to him. That is the Gary we all knew. I am blessed beyond measure that through him I also experienced the joy of knowing all of you.
On behalf of Joe, Sam and Grace and my daughters-in-law Ally and Irina, thank you for sharing your remembrances of your time with Gary. Thank you for your prayers. We are forever grateful.
Love,
Chris LaPaille
LaPaille was Speaker Madigan’s chief of staff, chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois and a state Senator.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* My Journal Courier | Legislative tool has its place, experts say: The Illinois Freedom Caucus said it wants to do away with the consent calendar that allows bills to be bundled and voted on in a single roll call. However, a longtime observer of Illinois politics thinks the consent calendar has a place in the General Assembly and that doing away with it would make the legislative process more cumbersome.
* St Louis Public Radio | Rural America is getting older, with a fifth of the population now over the age of 65: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Rural America at a Glance report shows more than 20% of rural residents are over age 65 compared to 16% in urban areas. “The aging of the baby-boom generation will continue to contribute to the loss of working-age adults through the end of this decade,” the report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service stated.
* CBS Chicago | Illinois Secretary of State-elect Alexi Giannoulias brings opponent Dan Brady onto transition team: Brady: “I was pleasantly surprised. I thank the Secretary-elect, and I look forward to helping him in every way I can. People say: ‘Wow – that’s a great idea! That’s novel!’ We went as Illinoisans – we have people who are going to try and find a common ground. We know there are issues we disagree on – but how about the common things that we can come together on; the things that we can help improve in office, and efficiency?”
* Patch | Outgoing State Rep Denyse Stoneback Introduces ‘Truth In Politics Act’: “The voters have the ultimate authority to hold politicians accountable for what they say and do, exactly as it should be. Free and open elections are the foundation of our democracy,” said Plummer, the assistant Senate GOP leader.
* Block Club Chicago | 242 Cars Towed On First Night Of Winter Parking Ban, Highest Number Since 2019: Violators face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket and a storage fee of $25 per day their car remains at the auto pound, according to city officials. That means the unlucky car owners will spend at least $56,870 in penalties and fees to retrieve their cars. Many Chicagoans call the practice “predatory” as the mistake can set people back over $200, but city officials have continuously argued the ban ensures plows can quickly respond to unexpected snow on major roads.
* Patch | 5 Illinois Local Heroes Show Bravery, Selflessness, Compassion: When times are tough or there’s a community in need, we see them emerge: Compassionate local heroes who go above and beyond to help, serve and give back. Here at Patch, we’ve launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. And we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding people.
The nation’s employers kept hiring briskly in November despite high inflation and a slow-growing economy — a sign of resilience in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes.
The economy added 263,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate stayed 3.7%, still near a 53-year low, the Labor Department said Friday. November’s job growth dipped only slightly from October’s 284,000 gain.
So far, just three years after Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation legalizing recreational marijuana use, Illinois cannabis workers have voted in 30 elections and reported a healthy 88% win rate, much better than the 61% of elections won by unions across the country in fiscal year 2021. […]
Illinois is one of the nation’s most lucrative cannabis markets, with about 110 dispensaries grossing $160 million in sales each month. Until recently, it has been growing at a frenetic pace, with another 192 dispensaries and 77 small growers — all licensed under the law’s “social equity” provisions — in the pipeline. […]
A second union — Teamsters Local 777 — has joined the party, winning 15 elections in a row and signing contracts with a company that owns two Chicago dispensaries.
“We can’t keep up with all the calls,” said Teamsters Local 777 President Jim Glimco said. At his union hall in suburban Lyons, bus drivers now mingle with budtenders.
The city’s transit authority plans to fill 650 positions for bus operators and mechanics, and they say thousands have applied.
CTA President Dorval Carter says the key to improving service on the CTA is more employees. There has been a shortage since the pandemic. The agency hopes to fill 30 positions every two weeks to bring staffing up to normal levels.
Candidates got to hear from CTA employees talk about the jobs, benefits and increased wages. A full time driver can make $28.42 per hour, while a mechanic can make $39.42 per hour.
At that rate, hiring all 650 people will take almost 11 months, if the CTA can keep up the pace. And last month , and also back in September, the CTA said it had about 1,000 vacant positions. So, that hiring won’t solve the problem, even if they follow through.
Speaking of the CTA…
Yesterday, the blue line only ran 68% of its scheduled trains. Riders deserve more accurate schedules.
Illinois’ public health departments are receiving a funding infusion from the federal government, a move aimed at strengthening the state’s public health workforce and infrastructure.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is providing $86 million to the Illinois Department of Public Health through the American Rescue Plan Act, according to a statement from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office and IDPH. Some of those funds will be shared with other local health departments in Illinois. Chicago’s Department of Public Health got its own allotment: $28 million.
The money will be used to recruit, retain and train public health workers, like epidemiologists, contact tracers, laboratory scientists, community health workers and data analysts. The grant is intended to address public health needs in economically depressed areas, as well as in communities with people from racial and ethnic minority groups.
While mostly focused on gutting your local news outlet, during the pandemic [Randall Smith, co-founder of the hedge fund Alden Global Capital] moved into one more investment area that’s having a devastating effect on working people’s lives: mobile home parks.
While Smith enjoys flitting between mansions in places like West Palm Beach and the Hamptons, his low-income tenants face rent hikes and evictions.
Smith Management, under names like Big Oaks MHP LLC, has acquired some 20 mobile home parks in North Carolina, where it immediately raised rents and threatened evictions. […]
Tenants at Big Oaks Mobile Home Park in North Carolina were immediately hit with 90-day rent increase notices during the height of the pandemic.
Smith’s company offered to buy tenants’ homes if they couldn’t afford the 60% increase. Worse, owners are prohibited from selling their homes to any other buyer, allowing Smith to set the price.
SIMON: And Alden uses other companies to buy up these properties, according to your reporting.
REYNOLDS: Yeah, I have discovered scores of these around the country. I’m still counting. And they were bought up last year by a company called Homes Of America LLC. It’s an Alden affiliate. In all of these communities, I saw the same pattern. There were stories in local media. They were raising the rents 40 to 60%, putting up eviction notices. They were even evicting people in quite a few cases where the rent had already been paid. And I’ve seen the bills. I’ve seen the proof of payment. And these park managers are also refusing to do repairs. And a couple of weeks ago, the water was shut off at Massie’s Mobile Home Park in Virginia because they didn’t pay the bill.
SIMON: Does Alden want to be in the mobile home park business, or do they have another plan, best as you can tell?
REYNOLDS: It’s a little hard to tell. They bought most of these parks in 2021 using these LLCs that belong to other LLCs. They’re all under Homes Of America, and its financing arm in turn is actually owned by an entity called Tribune 2 Finance 1 LLC. And this led me to wonder if they’re actually using the Tribune newspaper money to pay for all of this. This follows Alden’s pattern of buying distressed businesses.
SIMON: Their interest is real estate, not the actual business.
REYNOLDS: Well, it’s also ringing out the cash until the business itself gets to the failure point, and then they can also profit from the real estate. I worked for an Alden paper for 10 years, the Monterey County Herald, and it was a similar situation. The hot water went off, they never fixed it - things like that. So this is a pattern for them.
SIMON: And can you tell how many properties, mobile home parks, they’ve purchased?
REYNOLDS: My count is up in the 80s, but I’m still counting. So I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more than 100.
Many residents of a Montgomery County mobile home park, which has been purchased by a company linked to hedge fund Alden Global Capital, have received notices to vacate, or notices to face eviction unless back charges are paid. Some of the tenants are disputing the charges. A tenants’ meeting has been scheduled for Saturday at Belview United Methodist Church, according to a tenant organizer. […]
The new owner is listed in county records as Massie MHP LLC, care of Homes of America LLC, care of Tom Del Bosco, located in Englewood, New Jersey.
A 2008 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission notice of sale of securities, found online, identified Alden Global Capital as a division of Smith Management LLC. Thomas Del Bosco and Randall Smith are listed among the executive officers of Alden.[…]
“And when you look at the letter, it’s not an eviction letter, it’s a notice to quit,” Rupp said. “And it said, you basically have to pay up … $700 by Oct. 28, or you will be evicted. And she didn’t owe any money. She had been paying all of her rent on time.” The next day, another aide told Rupp that three other students’ families had also received similar notices.
Rupp provided Cardinal News with two documents. One is a “Notice to Quit” that requires the tenant to vacate the premises within 30 days due to an “incurable lease violation” described as an account delinquency of $20.
Another tenant received a “Material Noncompliance Notice For Failure To Pay Rent” stating that the tenant owed $713.49 in rent for the period Aug. 1 to Oct. 18. The tenant was given five days to pay in full or face termination of the lease.
After water was briefly cut off to residents by the new owners of Massie Mobile Home Park in Montgomery County, some tenants are suing the park with the assistance of Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society.
A hearing is set for Jan. 6 in Montgomery/Christiansburg General District Court. At issue is a shutoff of water to park residents for a few hours on Nov. 15 by the county’s Public Service Authority due to nonpayment. The bill was owed by the park management, not by the individual residents.
Kristi Murray is a staff attorney with Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society. She specializes in housing and is based in the organization’s Christiansburg office.
“We started getting some phone calls from residents that morning that they had no water service. So we started calling our other tenants that we were already assisting … and we found that most all of our residents there did not have water service that day,” Murray said. […]
It is not clear why the park’s owner, Massie MHP LLC, delayed paying the bill. Creasy did not return a message requesting comment.
Nearly a year after Homes of America, LLC began buying mobile home parks in Minot, the issues and complaints being raised by residents remain the same. Communication remains a problem, with some waiting weeks or months for a response to their queries and requests. […]
Despite making contact with past and present employees of Homes of America, none were willing to speak on the record. Further attempts to contact Homes of America leadership directly were not responded to.
While Homes of America LLC was formed in Delaware, its filings with the North Dakota Secretary of State lists a New Jersey address that it shares with the firm Smith Management LLC, the parent company of the hedge fund Alden Global Capital. The COO of HOA is a man named Bryon Fields Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to Fields’ Linkedin page. Based on public records scraped by the website corporatewiki.com, Fields is also an officer of three other mobile home park LLCs located in Florida. His fellow officers include Alden President Heath Freeman, Smith Management Executive Vice President and CFO Tom Del Bosco, and Alden CFO Joshua P. Kleban.
A call to Alden Global Capital’s New York City office was answered, with the receptionist offering to direct the call to those overseeing Homes of America. After being transferred, no speaker announced themselves, and promptly hung up.
* NYT | Investors are buying mobile home parks. Residents are paying a price: Across the country, manufactured-housing park residents like Ms. Clement are finding their homes at the center of a bull’s-eye, as a deluge of investment companies expand their mobile-home park portfolios at a breakneck pace, threatening the stability of one of the nation’s few remaining sources of affordable housing.
* Axios | Newspapers shudder at threat of recession: Alden Global Capital has abandoned its bid for Lee Enterprises, at least for now, in part due to rising interest rates and a tougher market to finance deals, sources told Axios.
* From the bird app…
The Tribune had $250m in savings when the "destroyer of newspapers" Alden Global Capital bought it, then saddled it with heavy debt. One guess how Alden used that $, from @NPR: https://t.co/UnVX1tvi1F
The Chicago Tribune has been at the negotiating table with @tribpub even longer than 20 months and we’ve hit headwind after headwind with our hedge fund owners …🤔 https://t.co/TKFEQfS7XF
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best State Senate Staffer - Non Political goes to Policy and Budget Analyst Meredith O’Brien…
Meredith O’Brien is the gold standard when it comes to staffers who know their issues and how to get things done.
She handles some of the most complex issues in human services, including the sometimes dreaded Behavioral Health and Addiction bills that are never easy to write or pass. She has multiple groups and lobbyist in her ear from the first day of session until adjournment.
Everyone from her members to advocates to other staffers and lobbyist know if you have a human service related bill in the Senate, you had better have had a conservation with Meredith long before you try moving the bill.
Like most staffers, she works ridiculous hours during session but always has time to answer questions or provide input.
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best State House Staffer - Non Political goes to Deputy Legal Counsel Kendra Piercy…
She is smart (without being condescending), self-aware, calm and can be counted on to handle many major issues for the House Dems. She was recently promoted to Deputy Counsel and is a strong asset to her caucus.
Congratulations to both winners!
* Let’s move on to today’s categories…
Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Democrats
Best campaign staffer - Senate Democrats
Please nominate in both categories if you can. Also, make sure to explain your nominations. Thanks!
* Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley (R) in a September Rockford Register-Star op-ed…
On Jan. 1, 2023, it is estimated that more than half of the inmates in the Winnebago County Jail will walk out the door. Approximately 400 criminal defendants will be released back into our community because our Illinois legislators passed the “SAFE-T Act” back in 2020. […]
Let’s hope that action can be taken during the post-election “veto session” in early December. Please call your legislators and advocate for such action — but don’t call me — or the sheriff.
We aren’t responsible for letting over half the jail population walk out the door on Jan. 1.
* Earlier this week, before the SAFE-T Act revisions were passed…
[Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley] wrote an op-ed in September stating that beginning January 1, “about 400 criminal defendants will be released back into our community.”
Hanley said both parties have delved into misinformation and acknowledged his role.
“I regrettably probably contributed to this in a way that I do regret,” Hanley said. “It’s not going to be a purge.”
[Hanley] said counties throughout the state will face hard times financially with the loss of cash bond.
“If I’m arrested for a crime, I post my $5,000, I end up pleading guilty, and let’s say I get probation, my fines and costs might equal $3,000,” Hanley said. “That’s taken from the bond that I posted. And so, it’s almost more of a collection issue.”
Though Illinois is considered to have some of the strongest gun laws in the country, national researchers are recommending additional steps to ensure the public is safe from firearm violence.
A 16-page report by Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, released Thursday, recommends barring gun permits — even with parental or guardian sponsorship — for those younger than 21,banning large-capacity magazines and strengthening the state’s red flag law.
The report comes five months after a mass shooting in Highland Park, in which a man with a history of threatening violence and posting violent gun-related images online allegedly opened fire with a military-assault-type weapon, killing seven people and wounding dozens of others at an Independence Day parade. Three 30-round magazines were recovered.
The report also lands as the Illinois legislature is set to consider gun safety laws.
Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Illinois State Police shall conduct other investigations as provided by law, including, but not limited to, investigations of human trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, and illegal firearms trafficking. Provides that the Division of Criminal Investigation shall provide statewide coordination and strategy pertaining to firearm-related intelligence, firearms trafficking interdiction, and investigations. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Eliminates provisions that permit a person under 21 years of age who is not an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the Illinois National Guard to obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card with parental consent. Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that when a person under 21 years of age is hunting under the supervision of a adult, the adult must possess a Firearm Owners Identification Card. Amends the Firearms Restraining Order Act. Provides that the State’s Attorney of the county where the petition is filed may act as a friend of the court in any action filed under the Act. Provides that a petitioner may request a one-year (rather than 6-month) firearms restraining order. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes it unlawful to manufacture, deliver, sell, or purchase or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, or purchased or cause to be possessed by another, an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly possess an assault weapon, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge 300 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, except possession of weapons registered with the Illinois State Police in the time provided. Provides exemptions and penalties. Prohibits the manufacture, delivery, sale, purchase, or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Defines terms. Provides exemptions and penalties. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
* From Rep. Morgan…
Illinois Democrats today introduced the Protect Illinois Communities Act into the state House of Representatives; HB5855 is a comprehensive legislative package that they hope will set a national standard for gun safety laws.
The package, introduced by House Firearm Safety & Reform Working Group Chair, State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), will:
Ban assault weapons immediately, require registration of existing weapons, prevent future sales of ammunition magazines with 10+ rounds, and prohibit rapid-fire devices that turn weapons into fully automatic guns;
Hold gun manufacturers or retailers responsible who market firearms products through deceptive marketing practices;
Establish an interdisciplinary state-wide strike team within the Illinois State Police, in concert with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to combat the influx of illegal guns across state lines into Illinois;
Remove the ability for people under 21 to own firearms and ammunition, with exception for those serving in the U.S. Military or the National Guard, as well as allowing hunting and sports shooting for minors with guardian supervision;
Strengthen Firearm Restraining Order laws to keep firearms from dangerous persons.
Rep. Morgan, who represents Highland Park and several other northern suburbs, led the Illinois State House Firearm Safety and Reform Working Group, which met with gun violence survivors, policy experts, faith and community leaders, and law enforcement officials across the state in crafting the legislative package.
“Gun violence is destroying families and communities from East St. Louis to Highland Park to Chicago, and this moment demands urgency,” said Rep. Morgan. “It is time that we had the political courage to admit that guns are a problem, and that we can do something about it. This gun reform package will reduce gun deaths in Illinois, and it is long past time for us to step up and reform the laws which have enabled this gun violence to continue.”
“Whether you’re in the city, or the suburbs, or in a rural area, the reality is gun violence is affecting every corner of our state,” said Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, who serves as part of the working group. “Particularly when it comes to our youth, we are losing an alarming number of our children every year. Every loss is a lasting tragedy that permanently scars families, friends and communities. We have to take action.”
The legislation will be discussed at several subject matter hearings, and will first be heard in early December, more details to follow. Those interested in supporting the legislation are encouraged to submit witness slips in support in advance of the hearing. Status updates on the bill and steps supporters can take can be found at: https://www.repbobmorgan.com/firearm-safety-and-reform-working-group/
* Press release…
Today, the Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC), Giffords, and Brady released the following statements in response to the introduction of a new bill that would ban the sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in Illinois. The introduction of the possible new measure comes five months after the devastating July 4th tragedy in Highland Park. Illinois has experienced about 55 mass shootings this year, so far, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of the tireless work being done by Illinois’ gun safety advocates, who continue to lead the fight for the future of our communities,” said Kathleen Sances, President and CEO of G-PAC.“We applaud Representative Bob Morgan and the working group for stepping up to address the gun violence epidemic. In the absence of a federal ban, Illinois is long overdue for a statewide ban on weapons that continue to kill so many, not only in Chicago or Highland Park, but in Crest Hill, Decatur, East Saint Louis, Elgin, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, Romeoville, Wheeling, and Yorkville. We don’t have to live like this, and we certainly don’t have to watch our neighbors die senselessly. We look forward to reviewing the bill and continuing to work in support of needed gun safety solutions – too many lives are on the line.”
Earlier this year, G-PAC launched #HaltTheAssault, a new campaign dedicated to calling on Illinois state lawmakers to ban the sale and possession of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. The initiative hopes to make Illinois the eighth and ninth state, respectively, to enforce these measures.
“Months after the nation watched a small community’s 4th of July parade end in a senseless and horrifying mass shooting, the Illinois legislature is finally acting to prevent more tragedies,” said Sean Holihan, state legislative director for Giffords. “Giffords stands with the people of Highland Park, GPAC, and Rep. Bob Morgan, who are working towards banning assault weapons and large capacity magazines - the same weapons of war that were used on the 4th of July.”
“Brady applauds the introduction of these common-sense, comprehensive policies that will better protect communities across Illinois,” said Brady President Kris Brown. “Illinois already has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, and the policies in this bill, including new age restrictions and extended restraining orders, will add to that strong record. Most importantly, an assault weapons and large capacity ban would help prevent tragedies like Highland Park from occurring again. Weapons of war have no place in our communities, and every day we wait to renew and reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban, more lives will be lost. Brady thanks Representative Bob Morgan for his leadership on this important issue.”
Assault weapons and large-capacity magazines make mass shootings deadlier in Illinois. Research finds that in shootings where assault weapons or high-capacity magazines are used, 155 percent more people are shot, and 47 percent more people are killed.
Studies on both the lapsed federal assault weapons ban and state-level assault weapons bans show that such laws help prevent mass shooting deaths and decrease the diversion of assault weapons to criminal use.
I’ll post opposing viewpoints if/when I receive them.
*** UPDATE *** Richard Pearson with the Illinois State Rifle Association…
With the filing of HB5855 it seems Christmas has come early for G-PAC and other groups that are committed to taking away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Illinois Citizens. We have consistently heard from anti-Second Amendment legislators that they “don’t want to take away your guns, we only want common sense gun reforms.” Under HB5855 their first step is to take away your magazines and force law-abiding citizens to register their firearms. The legislation goes beyond magazines used in semi-automatic rifles to also include magazines used in millions of commonly owned handguns. Their next step is to use that very registry to take away your firearms. The anti-gun crowd’s agenda has always been to incrementally peal back the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Illinois citizens. The Illinois State Rifle Association will not be entering into any negotiations on this piece of legislation. Elections have consequences. We will see the State of Illinois in court should this bill be enacted into law.
* WTVO | Illinois Senate tweaks SAFE-T Act weeks before it becomes law: The Senate Democratic Caucus says any person charged on or after January 1st will have their pre-trial release determined under the new system. Anyone charged prior to then will remain under the current system, but they can try to have their case heard under the new rules.
* Daily Herald | Legislation would create safe spaces for using opioids: State Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat, introduced the measure last year, before the country’s first injection sites opened in New York City. At a news conference Thursday in Springfield, Ford insisted that setting up safe spaces and bolstering other overdose prevention strategies would “save taxpayer dollars while saving lives.”
* WQAD | Illinois lawmakers advance $1.8 billion unemployment fund bailout: On the final day of their fall veto session, Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced a pair of bills that would infuse $1.8 billion into the state’s unemployment trust fund, which was depleted during the economic shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Crain’s | Bill boosting EV incentives is headed for Pritzker’s desk: Under a measure approved by the House this evening and sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, both the amount and length of payroll tax credits for eligible employers will be increased, lasting as long as 30 years.
* Politico | Biden’s first state dinner brings out glamour and guests galore : Biden’s first state dinner comes nearly two years into his first term, after Covid put such pageantry on pause. The president’s selection of France as the guest is a testament to Biden and Macron’s close relationship — on full display Thursday as the two leaders referred to each other as “friend” in their chummy interactions, which included the French president frequently patting his U.S. counterpart on the back and referring to him as “Dear Joe.”
* FOX 32 | CPD whistleblower: ‘I did what was right and I got screwed.’: In his second day on the stand in a whistleblower case against CPD, Lambert choked up several times as he described his reaction to being “dumped” from his hard-won position as a detective sergeant and sent to work the midnight shift in patrol division after he refused to alter reports to list Officer Khalid Muhammad as a victim in an off-duty shooting of 18-year-old Ricardo Hayes.
* Illinois Times | Is this the best use of prime farmland?: What should be grown on central Illinois’ prime farmland, seeds or solar panels? That’s the quandary facing central Illinois and other areas of the nation that grow the majority of the country’s crops. A new solar energy installation, labeled the Double Black Diamond Solar project, is now being built and takes up more than 4,000 acres of land in Sangamon and Morgan Counties. That land, until now, has been used to grow corn and soybeans.
* Chicago Mag | HBO’s South Side: Finally, a Chicago sitcom that actually feels like Chicago. South Side, originally on Comedy Central and now streaming on HBO Max, is returning December 8 for its third season. (Keep an eye out for Chicago magazine’s cameo in episode 5.) Hyperspecific settings and insider references make this show a celebration of not just Chicago but Black Chicago. It’s also hysterically funny. Here’s a catch-up in case you missed the first 20 episodes. But, to paraphrase the CliffsNotes disclaimer, you are only denying yourself by not watching them.
* The Guardian | Largest LGBTQ+ health center in US midwest to lay off 15% of staff: Howard Brown Health, a nonprofit community health center in Chicago that is the largest provider of health and wellness care for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV in the midwest, has announced it wants to lay off at least 100 employees, or about 15% of staff.
* Southern Illinoisian | Gallatin County native helps decorate the White House: York is from Equality, a small village in Gallatin County. He was selected as one of more than 150 volunteers chosen from across the nation to assist in the three-day process of decorating the White House as part of a “We the People” theme, which features 77 Christmas trees, 25 wreaths and more than 83,600 lights, according to the office of first lady Jill Biden.
• SB 2801 (Harmon) – Clean UI Trust Fund agreement appropriations bill.
• SB 2953 (Lightford/ Smith) – Increases ME/coroner’s cremation fee
• SB 4244 (Lightford) – Eliminates residency requirement for county school treasurers in Cook County
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch…
“I want to thank the diligent work of all members, staff, and everyone who had a hand in this successful veto session. I’m incredibly proud we were able to work together to pass important clarifications to the SAFE-T Act and reach a bipartisan agreement to eliminate the Unemployment Trust Fund debt accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though we are traveling back home for some much-needed time with our loved ones, our work continues. When we return for the lame duck session in January, our legislative body will have important and time sensitive issues to consider. I look forward to what 2023 will bring and I wish everyone a very happy holiday season.”
* Gov. Pritzker…
Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement after the conclusion of the 2022 legislative session.
“As we conclude the 2022 veto session, I want to congratulate the lawmakers and advocates who came together on behalf of the people of Illinois and made this session a success. Government is at its best when we come together across party lines to make Illinois the best it can be.
“For almost six months, working groups of legislators have been hard at work with victims’ advocates, state’s attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement partners and others to clarify language in the SAFE-T Act, which goes into effect January 1st. I’m pleased that the General Assembly has upheld the principles we fought to protect, including bringing an end to a system where those charged with violent offenses can buy their way out of jail, while others who are poor and charged with nonviolent offenses wait in jail for trial.
“I want to particularly thank the legislators who came together to make this work possible, with a special note of congratulations to Leader Gordon Booth, Representative Slaughter, Leader Sims and Senator Peters.
“This week a historic bipartisan agreement was reached to fully restore our unemployment system after the worst recession since the Great Depression. And the plan also includes adding $450 million more to our still under-resourced Rainy Day Fund. Earlier this week it was my privilege to stand with the leaders in both chambers from both parties who tirelessly sat at the table with business and labor to get this done. “Thank you again to: Leaders Cunningham and Holmes, Senators Rezin and Stoller, Leaders Evans and Hoffman, and Representatives Marron and Ugaste.
“Additionally, we were able to bolster the Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act by adding provisions which will give manufacturers the ability to ramp up production of EV parts and provide additional flexibility as the market evolves. By continuing to pass innovative measures that support the emerging electric vehicle industry in Illinois, we are well on our way to meeting our goal of 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030.
“There’s still more work to do, so we’ll be hard at work getting big things done in the 103rd Illinois General Assembly.”
* Comptroller Mendoza…
Today’s vote to pay the remaining $1.3 billion owed to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund will save the state $20 million in interest payments and will shore up the state’s Rainy Day Fund in the long term. This is responsible budgeting that shows what can happen when business and labor leaders come together with legislators and state leaders to work out an agreed plan. My Office will collaborate with the Dept. of Employment Security to make the required fund transfers from state funds that will complete this loan. I am also supportive of strengthening the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund with an additional $450 million to help with future demands on the program and redirect payment back into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. I encourage legislators to also pass my Rainy Day Bill, HB 4118, to require annual payments into the Rainy Day Fund and the Pension Stabilization Fund.
* Cook County Public Defender…
Today, Illinois lawmakers passed technical amendments to the state’s SAFE-T Act, a historic reform that takes the next step in creating a more fair and equitable criminal legal system. The SAFE-T Act, which includes the Pretrial Fairness Act, puts our state in the national vanguard on one of the most important issues of our day – ending wealth-based pretrial jailing that weakens communities and is fundamentally unfair. On Jan. 1, 2023, Illinois will become the first state to fully eliminate money bond, which has made us less safe by needlessly destabilizing the lives of our most marginalized residents.
The passage of trailer bill HB1095, SA2 means that these badly needed reforms are fully ready for implementation on Jan. 1, 2023. The bill contains amendments and clarifications that are in line with the law’s original transformative intent and avoids worsening racial disparities or increasing pretrial jailing. The SAFE-T Act was passed in January 2021, allowing two years for preparation and clarifications ahead of implementation.
“We are immensely proud of the joint work by advocacy and community groups, lawmakers, stakeholders from every part of government, faith-based organizations and system partners who fought back against fearmongering and misinformation and preserved the essence of this landmark justice reform,” said Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.
* McCombie…
State Representative and House Republican Leader-elect Tony McCombie called the SAFE-T Act cleanup bill “flawed” and says it continues to ignore the blatant errors and disrespects law enforcement and victims of crimes.
“Once again, the Democrats chose to go it alone without involving viewpoints of Illinoisans around the state,” said McCombie. “While this is the fourth attempt to clean up a bad bill, it keeps zero cash bail in place, increases taxes, jeopardizes due process for police officers, and decreases penalties for repeat offenders — making our communities less safe. It is unacceptable to abuse victims in the way the SAFE-T Act allows.”
The SAFE-T Act “cleanup bill” was filed as Senate Floor Amendments 1 & 2 to House Bill 1095. The bill was passed through both the State Senate and State House this week.
“A sincere effort at a bipartisan fix would have involved the minority party, but Democrats chose to go it alone to continue to mislead Illinoisans. This bill does nothing but support criminals, make residents less safe and exploits victims of crime,” said McCombie.
McCombie voted NO on the Amendments to HB 1095, which ultimately passed the Illinois House by a vote of 71-40. Governor Pritzker has indicated he will sign the legislation ensuring the SAFE-T Act and its “zero cash bail” provisions will still go into effect on January 1, 2023.
* INPJ…
The following is a statement from the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice (INPJ) about their coalition’s success in protecting the Pretrial Fairness Act and ensuring that Illinois will end money bond on January 1st:
“Today, the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate passed House Bill 1095 Senate Amendment 2, a SAFE-T Act trailer bill that amends portions of the Pretrial Fairness Act. The passage of HB1095 SA2 is a testament to the fact communities across Illinois have stood by this legislation even as right-wing operatives sought to mislead them through a multi-million dollar misinformation campaign rooted in racism and outright lies.
“After nearly two full years of intense struggle led by communities across Illinois, we have successfully defended the Pretrial Fairness Act from being rolled back or repealed. On January 1, 2023, Illinois will become the first state in the nation to completely eliminate the jailing of people who are awaiting trial simply because they’re poor—a practice that has devastated Black, Brown, and poor communities across our state for decades.
“From the moment the Pretrial Fairness Act was first passed in January 2021, conservatives and some members of law enforcement have engaged in bad faith arguments and spread outright lies about how the law was developed and passed and the impact it would have on our communities. During this year’s election cycle, right-wing operatives spent tens of millions of dollars spreading anti-Black fearmongering and sending fake newspapers to homes throughout Illinois, attempting to turn Illinoisans against the elected leaders who fought to make Illinois criminal courts fairer. Those attempts to preserve the money bond system—one of the primary drivers of mass incarceration—have failed.
“In addition to protecting the law, the trailer bill passed today includes some significant wins for our movement. Over the last two years, the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice has worked with stakeholders from every branch of state government to prepare for the successful implementation of this historic law. During that time, we identified clarifications that we believe were needed in order to effectively implement the Pretrial Fairness Act and protect the rights of accused people in the new system. While we took a neutral stance on the legislation as a whole due to some provisions that our Network did not fully support, we are pleased to see many important measures we advocated for included.
“These amendments to the Pretrial Fairness Act are in line with the law’s original intent to lessen racial disparities and decrease pretrial jailing in our state. In addition to these changes, there were also some changes made to the safety and willful flight standards of the law, as well as making some charges previously only detainable under the willful flight standard also detainable under the safety standard. The trailer bill also allows for detention hearings to occur over video in some instances. While we do not support these changes, we do not believe they were significant enough to oppose this bill or delay the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act.
“For the last six years, the Coalition to End Money Bond and Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice have worked with people of all walks of life across our state to secure this monumental improvement to our criminal legal system. We want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who took action with us and made this vision a reality. This transformation of our pretrial justice system is only possible because of the thousands of people who worked to educate and advocate with their friends, neighbors, and elected officials.
“We so deeply appreciate the work of our champions in the Illinois House and Senate that have worked so hard to ensure that our efforts were not in vain. We thank the chief bill sponsors Representative Justin Slaughter and Senators Elgie Sims and Robert Peters, working group leader Representative Jehan Gordon Booth, and Governor JB Pritzker and his staff, whose actions will positively impact the lives of millions of Illinoisans for years to come. We want to especially recognize the hard work and contributions of the legislative staff who shepherded this effort forward: Office of the Senate President Deputy Chief of Staff Ashley Jenkins-Jordan and Chief Counsel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives James Hartmann.
“In this moment, it is important that we remember this change became possible because of the national Black Lives Matter movement in response to police murders of Black people across our country. In 2020, millions of people throughout the United States and the world demanded that governments begin the essential work of addressing the systemic racism that permeates every aspect of our society. Pretrial jailing and unaffordable money bonds became a focal point of that movement following the earlier deaths of Kalief Browder and Sandra Bland. In Illinois, the 2020 COVID-19 spring deaths of Nickolas Lee, Jeffrey Pendelton, Karl Battiste and others awaiting trial in Cook County Jail exposed the potentially deadly consequences of pretrial jailing and increased the pressure to end money bond.
“While we celebrate this moment, we know that our fight is not over. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to ensure the law is implemented as intended. We look forward to working with people across the state to implement this law and continue the fight to protect our communities!”
* Freedom Caucus…
Chris Miller, the chairman of the Illinois Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on the changes to the SAFE-T Act the Legislature approved today.
“The people of Illinois asked for changes to the SAFE-T Act but as is often the case, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. What we as Illinois residents got was not safer streets and real reforms but rather one of the most far-left pieces of legislation ever passed in Illinois history.
The SAFE-T act now includes provisions to allow criminals charged before the effective date on Jan. 1st to be charged under the new SAFE-T Act rules. It also reduces penalties for repeat offenders and makes consecutive sentencing permissive rather than mandated which means a criminal who awaiting trial could conceivably commit the same crime again and serve both sentences concurrently. The legislation also could put victims of sexual assault in the same room as their abuser within 48 hours of the assault for a detainment hearing.
The changes to the SAFE-T Act are not wholesale changes. They are cosmetic at best. The original intent of the legislation was to radically transform our judicial system and that is still the intent. We don’t need a new criminal justice system. We need a system that is fair and one that protects honest citizens. The concerns about the SAFE-T Act have always been centered on the ramifications this law would have on public safety. Nothing about what the Legislature did today alleviates any of those concerns. The intent has always been to codify the radical policies of far-left prosecutors like Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx into law and that is exactly what this legislation does despite the so-called improvements to the bill.”
The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Chris Miller (R-Oakland); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) and Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability and integrity in government.
* Yesterday, I poked my head into Secretary of State Jesse White’s office and it looks like it will be getting a fresh coat of paint before Alexi Giannoulias moves in. White’s staff is removing dozens of awards from the walls that White himself put up. Thanks to spokesperson Henry Haupt for these photos of some of Secretary White’s walls before they took everything down…
* More…
* Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White Spreads the Warmth With Coat and Sock Giveaway for Those in Need: On Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will host his final public appearance with a coat and sock giveaway to those in need at the Jesse White Community Center at 11 a.m. Chicago-based entrepreneur Ann Jhin, CEO of Jinny Beauty Supply, the largest multicultural and ethnic beauty supply distributor in the world, graciously purchased and donated all 500 coats and 200 Bombas socks for this giveaway to the local community. Following the giveaway, there will be a performance by the internationally renowned Jesse White Tumblers, who have been helping impact the lives of thousands of young Illinoisans for more than 60 years.
* WGEM | Retiring Secretary of State Jesse White reflects on his legacy: “We have put in place a process by which individuals can come to the Secretary of State’s office and be treated in a highly respectful manner and receive the documents that they’re seeking in a timely manner,” White said. White noted that a lot has changed in driver services facilities since he first took over the Secretary of State’s office. People can now avoid long lines at the DMV by setting up appointments over the phone or online. White said he is glad that his offices have the policy to allow seniors, disabled people, pregnant people and military veterans to get to the front of the line for services.
* WLS | Alexi Giannoulias: “I am Thrilled for What We Are Going to do in the Secretary of State’s Office”: Alexi Giannoulias, IL Secretary of State Elect, joins the John Howell show. They discuss Giannoulias’ win, the state of politics today, and plans for the Secretary of State office. Giannoulias also speaks on the launch of the Rev Up Illinois website, a place for IL residents to give their input as to what they want to see in our state.
The IL House just voted 95-11 to pre-authorize 12-year renewals for 8 TIF districts, including 4 in Chicago: • 111th/Kedzie • Galewood/Armitage • Canal/Congress • Madison/Austinhttps://t.co/zasnfEdIKH
On the Illinois GOP’s divisions between conservative and moderate views, Bailey said he wishes the party would unite around conservatism — even in wake of losses in the midterms that favored moderates. He acknowledges, however, that the party needs to find a unified message on certain issues, including abortion.
The party already has a unified message on abortion and that uniformity has cost it dearly.
* What apparently passes for an oppo dump at Illinois Review…
Here in Illinois, Dot Foods, Inc. – a family-owned company that employs more than 6,000 people in the US and Canada – is the nation’s largest distributor of food and related products. Headquartered in Mt. Sterling, IL, the company is owned by twelve siblings, including IL GOP chairman Don Tracy.
Tracy is very proud of the family business, where he is an owner. He brings it up frequently in speeches and it’s even on his bio on the IL GOP website under the section, “Meet Our Chairman.” […]
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, owners made a $6,193 donation to Joe Biden.
By contrast, in 2018, owners made a $250 donation to President Donald Trump.
And in 2022, owners made a $3,900 donation to US Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R.; a $4,900 donation to US Rep. Rodney Davis, R.; and a $51,000 donation to the Republican Party of Illinois. […]
In 2020, US Rep. Rodney Davis was one of 35 House Republicans to support the January 6th Commission to investigate the attack on the US Capitol – a move that angered Trump.
Several names have surfaced in the last week as potential candidates to replace Tracy, including state central committee member for the 8th District, Dean White; state central committee member for the 15th District, State Sen. Jason Plummer, 54th District; Will County grassroots activist and founder of Illinois Patriots group Christina Clausen; former US Senate candidate Peggy Hubbard; and businessman and former candidate for governor Gary Rabine.
Peggy Hubbard? The person who claimed, with zero actual evidence, a massive conspiracy to steal the Republican primary from her? Who the heck is floating that name?
In the last election cycle, federal campaign disclosure reports show Tracy gave more than $400,000 to various Republican candidates and causes including $93,300 to Trump Victory, the joint fundraising committee for Trump’s reelection, the Republican National Committee and 11 state GOP organizations. He also gave another $2,800 to the president’s personal reelection fund, $92,200 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and $100,000 to the victory committee established by Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell.
Tracy has donated more than $400,000 to state candidates and causes since 1999, campaign finance records show, primarily to himself and his sister-in-law, but also to local GOP causes and candidates in Springfield. He also gave $25,000 to the successful effort to defeat Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s effort to have voters approve a graduated-rate income tax amendment to the state constitution on Nov. 3.
Tracy also has given more than $10,000 over the years to Family PAC, a socially conservative group that has fought abortion and gay rights in Springfield, state records show. Tracy has long opposed abortion rights and has touted his support of gun-owner rights.
Q: What happens to those currently detained on Jan. 1?
A: Those currently detained can request to have the new system applied to their situation. To make this manageable for courts, there will be a tiered system for granting hearings on these requests. These hearings are to determine whether they should be released.
• Lowest level offenses (example: petty shoplifting) hearings must be within 7 days of request.
• Those detained but considered flight risks would get hearings within 60 days.
• Those considered to be potential threats to safety get hearings within 90 days.
This system is designed to give the court extended time to examine requests involving more serious cases.
Trespassing
Q: Can police detain or arrest someone from trespassing?
A: Yes. The Pretrial Fairness Act always allowed this. This amendment clarifies that a police officer can arrest someone for trespassing if …
• The person poses a threat to the community or any person;
• *Arrest is necessary because criminal activity persists after issuance of the citation; or
• The accused has an obvious medical or mental health issue that poses a risk to their safety.
If the above conditions are not present, a citation would be issued.
*Note: This provision was added to clarify the intent of the initial Pretrial Fairness Act.
Dangerousness standard
Makes consistent throughout the entire act what a prosecutor must show to detain an individual on grounds the individual is a threat. This “dangerousness standard” is: the person poses a real and present threat to any person or persons or the community, based on the specific, explainable facts of the case.
Detention net
Adds non-probationable felonies, forcible felonies, hate crimes, attempts of crimes that are otherwise detainable, and others to the list of crimes that qualify someone for detention. The underlying goal for all of this is that dangerous people should be detained while those who merely lack resources and do not pose a threat should not.
Judicial arrest warrants
Clarifies that judges can issue arrest warrants or summons when someone misses their court date. They currently lack this flexibility.
A summons is an official notice to appear in court.
An arrest warrant tells police to arrest and detain.
Also clarifies what constitutes “willful flight” to stress that the intent is to detain those who are actively evading prosecution, not someone who failed to appear in court because, for example, they missed their bus.
Religious Action Center of Illinois, Labor Council, Troopers Lodge 41, Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, ACLU of Illinois, Live Free Illinois, Chicago FOP Lodge 7, IL Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois Council of Chief Defenders, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, Illinois Justice Project, Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, Illinois Assn of Chiefs of Police, SAFER Foundation, Cabrini Green Legal Aid, Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
FOP and the ACLU. Not bad.
No groups have registered in opposition as of this writing. The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation has registered as a proponent.
…Adding… Good point…
Illinois Senate Republicans raise objections to the revised SAFE-T Act leaving non-violent burglary out of the list of detainable offenses. The bill allows judges to detain suspects accused of home burglary or "burglary where there is use of force against another person." pic.twitter.com/86dM7lmQbH
*** UPDATE 2 *** Senate President Harmon just said there was a “technology issue” that kept members from voting. Could be a redo…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Harmon moved to reconsider the vote. Motion passed. They’re checking the equipment now.
*** UPDATE 4 *** New roll call…
*** UPDATE 5 *** Press release…
Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement today after the Senate passed legislation clarifying certain portions of the Pretrial Fairness Act:
“Our goal when we passed the Pretrial Fairness Act nearly two years ago was to overhaul a broken criminal justice system, one in which dangerous people could buy their way out of jail while people accused of non-violent crimes remain detained as they await their day in court simply because they lack resources.
“The measure we passed today preserves that goal while providing clarifications to eliminate any misunderstandings and ensure the implementation of this groundbreaking reform is smooth.”
*HB1095 is now pending before the Illinois House.
*** UPDATE 6 *** Since this topic was repeatedly mentioned during the debate…
Re-upping this because of another press conference: The Pretrial Fairness Act makes it *harder* for defense attorneys to call victims to the witness stand in detention hearings. #twillhttps://t.co/cYxf1Fc51r
*** UPDATE 7 *** Just barely passed. Democratic Reps. Tarver and Yingling did not vote…
…Adding… Very close…
Dem Reps. Fred Crespo+Jawaharial (Omar) Williams were the two last-minute aye votes that pushed the bill to the 71-vote threshold required for an immediate effective date. Was a long open roll call (not the longest I’ve ever seen). Dem Reps. Curtis Tarver+Sam Yingling didn’t vote https://t.co/Zq2SEEcZjC
Just a year after passing major new tax incentives to lure electric vehicle makers here, the Pritzker administration is aiming to sweeten the pot.
Legislation introduced in Springfield today that [quickly passed the Senate 49-5] would both widen and extend to up to 30 years payroll tax credits for those who work here under the existing Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois law, known as the Rev Illinois Act. […]
Mark Denzler, who heads the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and worked on both Rev Illinois and the new plan, said the state has learned something from those losses and by talking to other companies whose plans are not yet final.
“We’ve seen we’ve come up short in some cases, so we’re tweaking,” Denzler said after testifying on behalf of the bill. “It means we’re listening to what we’ve heard from the companies that didn’t choose Illinois, and from companies that are still considering if they want to come here.”
Fact sheet from the Pritzker administration…
HB 5189, SA#3 is an initiative to provide improvements to the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) Act. The changes in this amendment are in direct response to conversations with industry stakeholders as we aggressively recruit companies in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle sector for Illinois investment.
Updates the Definition of “Component Parts Manufacturers” to Reflect Current Market Conditions
20 ILCS 686/10
In response to the reality of market conditions, these changes support existing Illinois manufacturers in the ramping up of their production of EV component parts while giving them flexibility to decrease their more traditional lines as demand decreases.
• Removes the need for a component parts manufacturer under the Act to primarily produce EV component parts
• Removes the “substantially” portion of definition of “retained employee” for component parts manufacturers
• Allows production of any component part of an electric vehicle to be considered eligible for the credit
Supports Existing Illinois Automakers to Transform Their Current Plants to EV
20 ILCS 686/30
• Improves the REV retention credit by increasing the tax credit available against incremental income tax attributable to retained employees at applicant’s project to 75% (from 25%) statewide or 100% (from 50%) for those locating or expanding in an Underserved or Energy Transition Area
Allows for Renewal of REV Agreements
20 ILCS 686/15 & /40
• Enacts a renewal clause that allows for businesses to renew the incentive for one additional term
• Allows the Department to put in parameters (i.e new & retained jobs, capital investment) for renewal
Allows Businesses Flexibility in Determining Which Incentives Work Best for Them
20 ILCS 686/20
• Provides the authority for EDGE recipients who are REV eligible to trade in their EDGE agreement for a REV agreement and receive REV benefits
• Provides that if a manufacturer falls out of compliance with REV because they are no longer producing EVs or component parts, but they are otherwise meeting employment and investment thresholds, then they can receive EDGE benefits without having to restart the process
Note: HB 5189, SA#3 also includes a technical change to ensure 120% wage requirement is met utilizing quality data compensation calculation under REV
The Predatory Loan Prevention Act instituted a 36% interest rate cap on loans in Illinois, but some lawmakers say pawnbrokers are skirting the law.
A Sangamon County judge issued a preliminary injunction against the cap after pawnbrokers filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Legislation is pending in Springfield that would close the loophole and require Illinois pawnbrokers to charge no more than 36% APR for their loans.
A Woodstock Institute investigation showed that Illinois pawnbrokers were overcharging active-duty service members on loans with interest as much as 240%. Federal law is also supposed to cap those interest rates for service members. […]
Kelly Swisher, president of the Illinois Pawnbrokers Association, said the loans they deal with are usually short term.
“Typically 30 to 60 days, so we are captured under [the Truth in Lending Act], so we have to put down the 240%, but in actuality, it is a very short period of time,” Swisher said.
Woodstock Institute notes that nationally, annual interest rates on pawn loans are as low as 12%, much lower than the proposed 36%.
Moving to Chicago last year, content creator Jazmine Thompson needed some extra cash to cover rent and expenses. She pawned her laptop computer and three professional cameras, receiving with it two $800 loans.
The interest rate on the loans was about 150% requiring her to pay $8,000 in loan fees over the course of 12 months. Not able to cover those expenses, Thompson decided to stop paying back the interest on her loans and has not regained her property. […]
“I’d like to point out that during COVID, the shutdowns, we were considered an essential business by this government,” Swisher said, who owns a pawn shop in Arlington Heights. “Now, all of a sudden, we are the enemy.”
IPA represents more than 200 pawnbrokers with a variety of specialties throughout the state, including three in Springfield, which makes setting a statewide standard a challenge. Above all, Swisher claims the measure will cause many shops to go out of business.
* Center Square on a bill that has been stuck in House Rules Committee since April…
A measure some at the Illinois statehouse hope to advance would give voting rights to incarcerated individuals serving time in county jails or state or federal prisons.
Senate Bill 828 is sponsored by state Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, and, if passed, would overturn current law that states anyone serving a sentence in a federal or state prison, county jail, or on work release is ineligible to vote. […]
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, claims the legislation was brought forward for the wrong reasons.
“A voter block such as this raises some questions about the unintended consequences of this piece of legislation,” Niemerg said. “Perhaps, they are the intended consequences of this being a Democratic voter drive, so to speak.”
By framing it this way, isn’t he also saying he’s opposed because he’s protecting Republican political interests?
* Politico on the measure to implement the unemployment insurance trust fund agreed bill…
As we mentioned Wednesday, this would be a supplemental budget that might prompt lawmakers to try to tack on additional goodies. But Republicans are saying they won’t be on board unless the measure is strictly focused on paying off unemployment debt. That will be fine with Pritzker. He wants the measure to have bipartisan support and doesn’t need the drama of add-ons.
Watch for hiccups: The proposal will be part of a supplemental budget, which could become a Christmas tree for lawmakers who want to negotiate items or bills for their own purposes.
This is an agreed bill. There’s no mucking around with agreed bills. And it’s also not an appropriations bill, supplemental or otherwise. We’ll see a supplemental approp next year.
…Adding… There is an approp bill, and the Senate is debating it now. However, there was no mucking around with it.
…Adding… The actual implementation bill passed the House by a wide, bipartisan margin.
Ricardo is a tireless civil servant who dedicates himself to the 68th district constituents both on and off the clock. He has overseen one of the most engaged and active offices I have ever seen, hosting hundreds of community events and services annually. Outside of the office, Ricardo serves on several boards for local organizations, and can always be spotted out-and-about supporting his community. This guy is amazing and the definition of above and beyond when it comes to civil service!
Runner-up is awarded to Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s chief of staff Torrence Gardner.
An incredible advocate for constituents, Megan is not afraid to ask tough questions to get results for those she’s helping. She’s organized and tireless, tenaciously digging into complex issues to get questions answered or issues rectified. The result is a professional operation that does a tremendous job serving constituents on a diverse set of issues in an area where services and resources are sometimes in short supply. It would be difficult to estimate how many folks she’s helped in the western part of the state in this role.
Runner-up is awarded to Carrie Andre with Rep. Steve Reick’s district office.
Congratulations!
* On to today’s categories…
Best State Senate Staffer - Non Political
Best State House Staffer - Non Political
Communications staff will have their own category this year, so save those nominations for later. Please try your best to nominate in both categories and don’t forget to explain your nominations. The object is to sell your pick to the rest of us.
* And, if you get a minute today, please consider clicking here and donating to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to help buy presents for foster kids like these…
The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. Domestic actors and foreign terrorist organizations continue to maintain a visible presence online in attempts to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland. Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence, citing factors such as reactions to current events and adherence to violent extremist ideologies. In the coming months, threat actors could exploit several upcoming events to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the midterm elections, the holiday season and associated large gatherings, the marking of two years since the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and potential sociopolitical developments connected to ideological beliefs or personal hostility. Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, the LGBTQI+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents.
Duration
Issued: November 30, 2022 02:00 pm
Expires: May 24, 2023 02:00 pm
Additional Information
• Several recent attacks, plots, and threats of violence demonstrate the continued dynamic and complex nature of the threat environment in the United States.
• Some domestic violent extremists who have conducted attacks have cited previous attacks and attackers as inspiration. Following the late November shooting at an LGBTQI+ bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado—which remains under investigation—we have observed actors on forums known to post racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist content praising the alleged attacker. Similarly, some domestic violent extremists in the United States praised an October 2022 shooting at a LGBTQI+ bar in Slovakia and encouraged additional violence. The attacker in Slovakia posted a manifesto online espousing white supremacist beliefs and his admiration for prior attackers, including some within the United States.
• Recent incidents have highlighted the enduring threat to faith-based communities, including the Jewish community. In early November 2022, an individual in New Jersey was arrested for sharing a manifesto online that threatened attacks on synagogues. The individual admitted to writing the document, in which he claimed to be motivated by the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) and hatred towards Jewish people.
• While violence surrounding the November midterm elections was isolated, we remain vigilant that heightened political tensions in the country could contribute to individuals mobilizing to violence based on personalized grievances. Over the past few months we observed general calls for violence targeting elected officials, candidates, and ballot drop box locations.
o In October 2022 in San Francisco, California, an individual allegedly broke into the home of a Member of Congress and attacked their spouse with a hammer. The individual arrested for this crime was allegedly inspired by partisan grievances and conspiracy theories.
o Several elected officials, candidates, and political organizations received threatening letters with suspicious powders, which, while found not to be dangerous or toxic, were likely intended to target the political process. Voting for the midterm elections has concluded, but certifications for some elections will continue through December 2022, and some social media users have sought to justify the use of violence in response to perceptions that the midterm elections were fraudulent, citing technical difficulties at voting sites and delays in certifications.
• Perceptions of government overreach continue to drive individuals to attempt to commit violence targeting government officials and law enforcement officers. In August 2022, an individual wearing body armor and armed with a firearm and a nail gun attempted to forcibly enter the Cincinnati, Ohio Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). When uniformed officers responded, the individual fled the scene, resulting in a pursuit and eventual shots fired by responding officers. In the days preceding the attack, the individual called on others to acquire weapons and kill federal law enforcement, claiming he felt he was fighting in a “civil war.”
• Some domestic violent extremists have expressed grievances based on perceptions that the government is overstepping its Constitutional authorities or failing to perform its duties. Historically, issues related to immigration and abortion have been cited by prior attackers as inspiration for violence. Potential changes in border security enforcement policy, an increase in noncitizens attempting to enter the U.S., or other immigration-related developments may heighten these calls for violence.
* AP | Illinois Dems tighten parts of criminal justice overhaul: More crimes would be added to a list that could disqualify defendants in court from being released while awaiting trial under follow-up legislation to a contentious criminal justice overhaul
* Tribune | Illinois lawmakers file amendment in effort to clarify SAFE-T Act’s most controversial elements: It was unclear if the amendment pitched by Peters had enough support to pass both chambers of the General Assembly, but legislators were expected to take up the issue before Thursday’s scheduled adjournment for the year. Under the proposal, defendants charged before Jan. 1 would have the option to remain under the old bail system, or be moved to the new system.
* Crain’s | Pritzker moves to bulk up state’s EV tax incentives: Other provisions would loosen the definition of an EV worker and appear aimed at existing automakers in Illinois, especially Stellantis and Ford. They have huge conventional auto assembly plants in Illinois that could be converted to EV production, but likely only after years of preparation and work.
* Northwest Herald | Unemployment fund solution an apparent win-win: On Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker had a press conference to announce plans to resolve the remaining balance. Subject to lawmaker approval, $1.36 billion will directly pay off the outstanding balance and the state will loan $450 million, interest free, to the fund. Over the next decade, the fund can pay back that money, and the state will funnel it to reserve funds.
* Crain’s | Billionaires are getting their tax bills, too. Here’s what they owe.: Crain’s took a look at the biggest residential bills in the city for the full tax year. If your tab feels big, take heart: Citadel chief Griffin, by far the biggest residential property taxpayer in the city, is on the hook for a little more than $1.96 million.
* Tribune | State commemorates Barack Obama’s 2007 presidential announcement with marker at Old State Capitol: The roughly 47–by-44-inch marker, which stands on the southeast corner of the Old Capitol grounds in downtown Springfield, also commemorates Obama’s 2008 announcement that then-Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware would be his running mate. It adds historical resonance to a building most famous as the site of Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech to the 1858 Republican State Convention.
* WBEZ | As Mayor Lori Lightfoot runs again, a look at who’s backing her and who’s looking elsewhere: Acree’s endorsement, along with the support of several other prominent figures, helped Lightfoot gain the support she needed within the city’s Black communities — building on the momentum she garnered among white liberal voters along Chicago’s lakefront. Lightfoot will likely seek support from Black community leaders again as she works to build a base among voters on Chicago’s South and West Sides in her 2023 reelection campaign. But Acree is one of many who endorsed Lightfoot in 2019 and is not sure whether he’ll make the same choice again.
* Block Club Chicago | Chicago’s Youngest Mayoral Hopeful, Ja’Mal Green, Wants Cops, Not Taxpayers, To Pay For Police Misconduct: “I spent so many years fighting for a better city for the next generation of Chicagoans and hoping that leaders that I’ve met, consulted with and brought forward ideas to would start to understand the real underlying problems,” Green said. “I’m still at a point where all of my life, I cannot name a time where there was a leader in our city that really did the right thing.”
* ABC 7 | Metra riders closely watching rail strike actions that could affect their service: Six Metra lines could be impacted by a freight rail strike, and riders are carefully watching negotiations and actions by Congress. With so many of the nation’s economy dependent on freight transportation, by some estimates $2 billion a day, a rail strike has the potential to be incredibly disruptive. Congressional action to block a work stoppage is needed to avoid the December 9 deadline.
* Larry Yellen | After a swastika was sprayed on my parents’ headstone, it seems like hatred toward Jews will remain forever: The Jewish cemetery in my hometown of Waukegan, Illinois is so small that I recognize the names of almost everyone there. Many of them danced at my Bar Mitzvah, or played mahjong with my mother. All of them were members of a thriving Jewish community in Waukegan that has since disappeared. But on the Monday following the recent Veterans’ Day weekend, a new name appeared in the Congregation Am Echod Jewish Cemetery. It was spray-painted onto a headstone. “Kanye was rite.” (sic).
* Block Club Chicago | Neighbors Vow To Fight Proposed Black-Owned South Loop Dispensary: Some residents want to block a plan to open a Black-owned dispensary in the South Loop, saying the business would exacerbate crime and traffic. Family Roots is proposing a $650,000 project to convert an old Potbelly’s into a dispensary at 1147 S. Wabash Ave. The proposal received key zoning approval in September but requires signoff from the Zoning Board of Appeals before it’s a done deal.
* WJBC | At the state Capitol, the sights and sounds of the season are in full force: The Rotunda of the state Capitol is starting to fill up with holiday displays. So far there is a tree, a Nativity scene, a menorah, and a poster from the secretary of state’s office explaining the First Amendment. If past is prologue, they’ll soon be joined by a poster from the Freedom from Religion Foundation and a sculpture from the Satanic Temple of Illinois. One year there was even a Festivus pole.
* Politico | Never mind, Musk says — accusation against Apple was a ‘misunderstanding’: Elon Musk publicly retracted his accusations that Apple had threatened to remove Twitter from its App Store — two days after his claim unleashed a tsunami of Republican attacks and threats of reprisals against the iPhone-maker. In fact, the billionaire said in an unusually cordial tweet late Wednesday it was all just a big mix-up that Apple CEO Tim Cook managed to resolve in a “good conversation.”
* From the Tribune’s story about the newly proposed SAFE-T Act revisions…
[Sen. Robert Peters], a sponsor of the original SAFE-T Act, was joined in filing Wednesday’s amendment by Democratic state Sen. Scott Bennett from Champaign, a former prosecutor who drafted his own proposed changes to the SAFE-T Act in September.
That’s hugely important.
The Senate will be taking up the amendment tomorrow morning.
And the bottom line, the bottom line is, frustrating as it is, early mail-in voting is what nailed us. That’s just simply all there is to it.
Mail-in voting would’ve helped, but Bailey lost by something like 12 points. I mean, if it helps convince Republicans to stop behaving against their own interests and start early voting, then fine. But that wouldn’t have won him the race and if that’s the only lesson the GOP learns, then they’ll never amount to much here.
Bailey went on to say some really off the wall things. But since he’s not running for anything at the moment, I’ll just leave it at that. Kinda tired of the rantings.
* Press release…
State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) today issued the following statement regarding his selection to be a part of Secretary of State-elect Alexi Giannoulias’ transition team:
“During the campaign I stressed that the office of Secretary of State should be more about public service than public policy. I have had the unique experience of working with Secretary White on the issues of distracted driving, organ and tissue donation, senior citizen services, and services for individuals with special needs.”
“I am honored that Secretary-elect Giannoulias is rising above party politics by drawing on that experience to make the office the best that it can be. I may be leaving elected office in a few short weeks, but I have always desired to help the people of Illinois in any way that I can. I appreciate this opportunity to use my unique knowledge to help enhance a statewide office that affects the lives of more Illinoisans on a daily basis than any other.”
Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after voting in support of H.J. Res. 100, ratification of the Tentative Agreement, which increases wages and benefits for rail workers, preserves the right-to-strike in the long-term, and ensures American families can access the goods and services they will need this holiday season and throughout the year, and H. Con. Res. 119, which would increase the number of sick days in the tentative agreement from one to seven days:
“I did not take this vote lightly, as I am a strong supporter of collective bargaining, and am proud that the state of Illinois has enshrined the right to bargain collectively into its Constitution.
“Let me be perfectly clear – the leadership of American railroads should be ashamed of themselves. They have spent the better part of a decade hollowing out their workforce, in pursuit of quarterly profits and at the behest of Wall Street, thus creating an untenable situation for many workers.
“This gross mismanagement brought us to where we are today and put Congress in a position it should have never been in. Collective bargaining is sacred, and Congress should not intervene in it unless the circumstances are at least as dire as they are today. The work is never done, and that is the case today. Congress must work to undo the operational changes made by railroads over the last decade that have devastated railroad workers.
“I call on the Senate to support the improvements the House made to the Tentative Agreement as reflected in H. Con. Res. 119, which would provide workers with seven days of paid sick leave.”
Railroad press release 2…
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) released the below statement on her vote to avert a rail strike impacting the agriculture industry:
“Amtrak Joe” promised to be the railroad President, but he failed to bring both sides to an agreement to prevent a catastrophe. I voted today to prevent a railway stoppage that would bring the agriculture industry and the transportation of food in our country to a grinding halt. Farmers rely upon rail and are already suffering from the Biden Diesel Crisis and the Biden Supply Chain Crisis, they cannot face another crushing blow to their ability to operate their farms and provide food to the American people.”
* Three citations in a single day?…
On November 29, 2022, the Illinois State Police (ISP) issued citations in three separate traffic crashes involving move over law violations, (otherwise known as “Scott’s Law”) violations. Two of the three crashes involved Illinois Department of Transportation vehicles. The first crash occurred on Interstate 70 eastbound near milepost 64, near Vandalia (Fayette county) in District 12. The second crash occurred on Interstate 94 northbound near 142nd Street (Cook county) in District Chicago. The third crash involved vehicles belonging to a private contractor performing roadway work on US 67 northbound at US 34 (Warren county) in District 14. Injuries were reported in two of the three crashes. The at fault drivers in all three crashes were cited for violating Scotts Law.
ISP is reminding the public of the requirements of Scott’s Law. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years. All 50 states have mandatory move over laws to protect first responders, roadway maintenance workers, roadside workers, and all motorists traveling on the road.
* Tonight? Already?…
Before you watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on @CBS tonight, here’s my story on how this story was created right here in Chicago:https://t.co/XdSPAL6M3t
* Center Square | This Is the Poorest City in Illinois: Among the 91 places in Illinois with available data and populations of at least 25,000, East St. Louis ranks as the poorest. The typical East St. Louis household earns $24,009 a year, compared to the statewide median household income of $68,428.
* SJ-R | Nativity scene installed at Illinois Capitol, joins menorah; other religious displays to follow: The displays can be placed in the Capitol as the organizers are privately based and not affiliated with the state of Illinois. Indeed, one of the event’s organizers, Julie Zanoza, mentioned that the state called the Christmas tree located next to the display a “holiday” tree, even though most people would recognize the holiday that it represents.
* SJ-R | In Illinois, congressional action to avert rail strike necessary or ‘horrible precedent’: Asked on Tuesday whether he supported congressional action, Gov. JB Pritzker indicated that he supported the president’s decision. “Railroads are extraordinarily important, especially right now because we are having trouble with barges on the Mississippi” he said. “We cannot have a situation in which the supply chain is cut off because there is a mass railroad strike.”
* Sun-Times | Another suburban Chicago resident gets 18 months probation for Jan. 6 role: Dawn Frankowski, 54, was arrested in Naperville in September 2021 and charged along with David Wiersma of Posen, who on Tuesday was also sentenced to 18 months of probation. Both pleaded guilty in late August to misdemeanor parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
* WBEZ | As new federal judge takes over court-ordered reforms, CPD faces blistering criticism over its efforts so far: A new chapter began Tuesday as Dow handed over the gavel to Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer after he was tapped to be Chief Justice John Roberts’ chief of staff. During a court hearing, Dow reflected on his work on the consent decree, which he called “the most challenging, the most vexing, the most time-consuming and, in many ways, the most rewarding case that I’ve had in my 15 years on the bench.”
* WBEZ | Illinois’ weed workers are unionizing at a record pace. Now comes the hard part.: This surge in union election wins in the cannabis industry is a glimmer of hope for organized labor, which has seen its ranks decline for the past half-century, from a high of 35% in 1954 to 12% today. Most of the unionized workforce is now in the more welcoming public sector — and the reason why recent union campaigns at two of the most well-known Fortune 500 companies, Amazon and Starbucks, have captured public attention.
* Axios | Illinois hoping for earlier presidential primary: Members of the Democratic National Committee meet tomorrow to determine a new primary structure and schedule for the 2024 presidential primaries. Why it matters: The DNC has signaled it’s moving on from Iowa as the first Midwest state to hold primary voting.
* WTTW | It Was a Busy Month for Illinois Politics : Between Election Day and more candidates entering the race for Chicago mayor, it was a busy month for politics. Take our November News Quiz to see how much you know.
* Tribune | Meet the winners of the Tribune’s 2022 Holiday Cookie Contest: From a delicious shortcut using Rolo candies in decadently chocolatey cookies, to the sweet cinnamon lacing our third-place sugar cookie recipe, each of the winning cookies has a unique touch that left a lasting impression on our dozen judges from the Tribune newsroom. And yet, two of them can be made in under an hour.
* As of 2:40 today, our LSSI fundraiser had reached $12,725. While needs vary for each child, $25 is the average cost of a Christmas gift. A big thank you to all who have donated. Let’s keep this going!
* You’ve probably seen the news already that Christine McVie has died. I’ve always believed that she wrote one of the best love songs ever. So, let’s take a moment…
And I wish you all the love in the world
But most of all, I wish it from myself
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the terms on which Illinois will finally repay the remaining debt owed by the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund to the federal government. […]
It was political theater — spin and fiction — with lawmakers slapping themselves on the back for yet another supposed triumph of fiscal prudence. […]
Repayment of the loan doesn’t solve the problem. Aside from paying off the loan, the trust fund must be restored to a positive balance sufficient to cover claims. The fund depleted a little over $1 billion that it had before the pandemic, which was already insufficient at the time. It now needs another $1.7 billion to be restored to solvency, which came out in the Q &A at the Tuesday press conference.
Where will that additional $1.7 billion come from? Nobody said and no reporter asked. Pritzker did say that, aside from paying off the loan, the state will provide the trust fund with another $450 million towards that $1.7 billion which, he said, will “replenish the fund for the future.”
But that additional $450 million is only a loan to the trust fund, to be paid off over ten years. In other words, the state is just swapping one debt for another.
And how about the remaining $1.25 billion the fund needs? Nobody addressed that on Tuesday.
I reached out to the business folks from the agreed bill process and was told that the repayment actually does restore the trust fund balance sufficient to cover claims – and then some. I was pointed (not wirepointed, just pointed) to this IDES projection showing the end-of-year net trust fund balances produced by the deal…
This deal was backed by more than 30 employer groups. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s president Rob Karr said the agreement would ensure employers “pay over $900 million less in taxes over the next five years than they otherwise would have.” Mark Denzler at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association echoed the $900 million tax savings and said the deal preserves “the solvency of the Trust Fund at a time of economic uncertainty.”
* Background is here if you need it. From the First District Appellate Court with an opinion authored by Justice Joy Cunningham and Justices Hoffman and Delort concurring…
This consolidated appeal of 10 cases arises from the circuit court of Cook County’s orders finding the appellant, Marc D. Smith, who is the director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), in indirect civil contempt of court. The contempt finding was imposed on Director Smith for not finding appropriate placements for each of the minors in question as ordered by the trial court. This court granted motions to consolidate the cases on appeal because of the similar fact patterns, arguments, and findings by the trial court in each of the cases. Each case is directed against Director Smith in his official capacity. The Office of the Public Guardian of Cook County filed petitions for rules to show cause on behalf of each of the minors in these consolidated cases. The Office of the Public Guardian of Cook County asserted that Director Smith and DCFS did not find appropriate placements for the minors in either a residential treatment center or a specialized foster home as ordered by the trial court. After the issuance of a rule to show cause and a contempt hearing conducted by the trial court, the trial court found Director Smith in indirect civil contempt of court for failing to place each of the minors in appropriate placements as ordered by the court. As a result of the trial court’s contempt finding, Director Smith was initially fined $1000 per day by the trial court. In order to purge the contempt finding and its consequences in each case, the trial court ordered that each minor in the specific case before the court be placed in an appropriate setting.
On appeal, Director Smith argues that the circuit court erred by (1) finding that he should be held in indirect civil contempt in each minor’s case; (2) alternatively finding that the consent decree entered in B.H. v. Smith, 88-C-5599 (N.D. Ill. 1997), an unrelated case, did not bar the court from finding him in contempt; and (3) finding that the Integrated Care Center at Aunt Martha’s (ICC) was not an appropriate placement for the minors in question and therefore did not purge the contempt finding imposed upon him.
For the following reasons, we reverse the judgments of the circuit court of Cook County.
The court then goes over all of the consolidated appeals and the numerous, often failed, efforts made by DCFS employees to place kids in appropriate settings.
In the cases before us, there are no disputes amongst the parties that DCFS did not comply with the trial court’s orders to place each of the minors in an appropriate residential treatment center or specialized foster home, based on the recommended level of care needed by the minor, by a date certain imposed by the court. Therefore, a primafacie case was made in each case that Director Smith did not comply with the trial court’s orders. The parties dispute, however, whether Director Smith and DCFS were unable, through no fault of their own, to place each minor in an appropriate residential facility or foster home in accordance with the court’s orders. Thus, the parties disagree regarding whether Director Smith met his burden of proving his inability to comply with the court’s placement orders within the given time parameters.
Director Smith claims he made every possible effort to place the minors appropriately in accordance with the court’s orders but circumstances beyond his and DCFS’s control prevented the appropriate placements within the time mandated by the trial court’s orders. For example, he cites the unwillingness of various residential treatment centers to take some of the minors, such as R.A. On the other hand, the GAL and the amicus curiae brief focus their arguments on various methods that were not employed by DCFS to secure appropriate placements for the minors in accordance with the trial court’s orders. They argue vigorously that there were other avenues available to DCFS to secure appropriate placements for the minors, yet DCFS continued to employ ineffective methods that it should have known would fail.
Because we believe R.A.’s situation is illustrative of the main issues and arguments regarding whether DCFS and Director Smith’s actions were willful and disregarded the trial court’s order, we focus our analysis of this issue on R.A.’s particular situation. We note, also, that the trial court specifically found that Director Smith had “ignored’ the trial court’s orders in the majority of the cases in which the court made a contempt finding. […]
As explained, the record shows that while DCFS’s efforts were clearly ineffective, the trial court’s orders were not ignored. Accordingly, the court’s ruling that its orders were ignored, thereby resulting in a finding of indirect civil contempt by Director Smith, was erroneous. […]
Further, it should be noted that R.A., like each of the minors in question, presented with very complicated histories, personal circumstances, and specific treatment plans. It was, therefore, appropriate for the trial court to address Director Smith’s argument regarding whether he was able to comply with the trial court’s orders. The trial court did not entertain any such consideration, however.
While we recognize that the court could reasonably have been frustrated by the pace of Director Smith and DCFS in finding appropriate placements for the minors, the record belies the trial court’s written finding that Director Smith and DCFS “ignored” the court’s orders. On the contrary, the record bespeaks a great deal of activity by DCFS following each court order, notwithstanding that the activity was, at times, seemingly inefficient and clearly ineffective. Notwithstanding, that activity shows that DCFS made efforts to comply with the court’s order to place each minor by a date certain prior to the trial court’s contempt finding. We note that in L.R.’s case, for example, DCFS did follow up with a residential treatment center to offer services to make the placement feasible for L.R. That residential treatment center still declined L.R., so that effort was fruitless. Although the effort failed to amount to L.R. being appropriately placed, it cannot be said that Director Smith “ignored” the trial court’s order in that case as the court found in its contempt ruling. […]
The only activity that the trial court could consider in determining whether there was compliance with its orders was the activity of Director Smith and DCFS after the date of the entry of the court’s orders for appropriate placement of each minor. Therefore, any arguments regarding how Director Smith and DCFS handled the placements of the minors before the placement orders are irrelevant to a finding of contempt in each of these consolidated cases. […]
While it does not appear that DCFS and Director Smith demonstrated a sense of urgency to find appropriate placements for the minors, clearly some efforts were made. Although we do not condone DCFS’s repetitive use of the same ineffective methods to place minors in these cases, we cannot say, in light of the record in each of these cases, that Director Smith ignored the trial court’s orders to find appropriate placement for the minors. Further, the trial court gave no consideration to DCFS’s ability to comply within the specified time imposed the complexity of these cases, the resources available, and the time parameters imposed by the trial court, it would have been appropriate for the court to consider DCFS’s argument regarding its inability to comply. Accordingly, we find that the trial court abused its discretion in entering findings of indirect civil contempt against Director Smith in each of these consolidated cases. […]
Nevertheless, although we acknowledge that DCFS and Director Smith did make some efforts to comply with the placement orders, those efforts fell woefully short of expectations. DCFS is tasked with providing for some of the state’s most vulnerable youth, who present a wide range of significant challenges. The fact that some of the minors were hospitalized beyond medical necessity or left in inappropriate placements for months, or even over a year in some instances, is absolutely unacceptable. While the trial court erred in the methods it employed to coerce Director Smith into action in these cases, it is clear that the trial court was attempting to address a serious, widespread problem. We note that the trial court ultimately achieved its goal of having all the minors at issue placed in appropriate settings. Thus, the ultimate goal was achieved. […]
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgments of the circuit court of Cook County in each of the consolidated cases addressed in this opinion, except in appeal Nos. 1-22-0233 and 1-22-0540, where we vacate the judgments.
Thoughts?
…Adding… From DCFS…
“We are pleased that the Appellate Court found the contempt orders were erroneous. As the Appellate Court described, DCFS has been actively working to secure clinically appropriate placements for these children. Based on the record of DCFS’ actions, the Appellate Court found it was an abuse of the trial court’s discretion to hold the agency in contempt. DCFS will continue working closely with the trial court to ensure children are placed as quickly as possible in clinically appropriate settings, as we have done with each of the youth cited in the contempt orders. After years of neglect by prior administrations and staffing challenges worsened by a global health pandemic, DCFS has, under the current leadership, continually added therapeutic beds to ensure that children with medically complex conditions and behavioral challenges are placed in the appropriate settings.”
Background:
This administration’s efforts are showing demonstrable results. DCFS has dramatically reduced the number of children who are “beyond medical necessity.” Today, the number of youth who are “beyond medical necessity” is down by more than 80 percent.
Key takeaways from the ruling:
“The court’s ruling that its orders were ignored, thereby resulting in a finding of indirect civil contempt by Director Smith, was erroneous.” (page 42)
“In each case, the trial court held Director Smith in indirect civil contempt while also acknowledging that DCFS actively engaged in trying to find appropriate placements for the minors. At times, the court commented on the activity in which DCFS was engaged in trying to secure appropriate placements for the minors. The trial court, nonetheless found that Director Smith was in contempt for failing to comply with the court’s placement orders, opining that DCFS had ‘ignored’ the trial court’s orders. Such a ruling was inconsistent with the record.” (page 42)
“We find that the trial court abused its discretion in entering findings of indirect civil contempt against Director Smith in each of these consolidated cases.” (page 45)
* McLean County radio station Cities 92.9 organized a bus trip to the January 6 insurrection…
The Cities 92.9 legion is joining with thousands of others expected to descend on the nation’s capitol, and support President Trump’s claims that the election was rigged.
A bill sits and stares gun owners and dealers in the face as fall veto session and lame duck session approaches.
“I have one of these guns sitting on my counter for just under $9,000, so anybody that owns these…is the government going to give you your money back? They pick this one caliber and they get it passed. Is it going to be the .308 next? Where does it end?”asked Matt Garvin, a concerned guns dealer at Guns & Glory in LeRoy, Illinois.
A source within Illinois State Police tipped off Cities and said there is an “assault weapons ban” to be implemented the coming weeks.
* Woodstock Institute press release…
Despite groundbreaking legislation passed into law last year capping consumer loan interest rates at 36%, a Sangamon County court issued an injunction allowing pawnbrokers to ignore the statewide interest rate cap. Legislation is pending in Springfield that would fix the problem and require Illinois pawn brokers to charge no more than 36% APR for their loans.
“Pawnbrokers are not shy about exploiting a loophole that allows them to make predatory loans to our veterans as well as all other Illinoisans,” State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) said. “I’m asking my colleagues in the legislature to close this loophole by voting for my bill.” The legislation is Senate Bill 4241.
State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the same bill in the House (House Bill 5840). A wide swath of organizations and individuals support the legislation, including the Catholic Conference of Illinois, the United Way of Illinois, the NAACP, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (See fact sheet)
Collins and Harper were joined at a press conference today by a woman named Jazmine T., who took out two $800 pawn loans to help her with moving expenses. With a triple digit interest rate, she ended up paying more than $8,000 in loan fees and lost property.
“Enough is enough. Illinoisans are fed up with loans that charge triple digit interest rates and prey on vulnerable families,” State Representative Sonya Harper said. “Fortunately, all we need to do is pass legislation that will fix this problem.”
Earlier this month, Woodstock Institute released the results of an investigation showing that Illinois pawnbrokers are overcharging active-duty servicemembers, who have long been protected (or meant to be protected) by a federal law that caps the interest rate on loans to active-duty servicemembers at 36%. In the course of the investigation, pawn shops charged 240% APR or higher in 19 out of 20 transactions.
“Our investigation shows that this problem is not an isolated incident,” said Horacio Mendez, president and CEO of Woodstock Institute. “The best way to solve it is by requiring Illinois pawnshops to comply with the state 36% interest rate cap. That way, pawnbrokers are relieved from having to determine customers’ military status and all customers, including veterans, are protected from predatory interest rates.”
The state’s 36% interest rate cap was part of the Legislative Black Caucus’s “Economic Access Pillar” created in the wake of the events of 2020 that shined a light on racial inequities across the country. There is considerable evidence that predatory lending disproportionately impacts Black, Brown, and underserved communities. See, e.g., High-interest loans in Chicago target Black neighborhoods (Nov. 26, 2021). In 2020, the average income of a payday loan borrower was only $37,582 according to data published by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
“If the intention of a statewide consumer loan rate cap is to help prevent wealth stripping and and predatory practices, then we need to make sure the state law closes the loophole that allows pawn shops to continue preying on our most vulnerable and historically under-resourced communities,” Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said.
A recent poll regarding the impacts of the state interest rate cap shows that by a margin of more than 2 to 1, Illinoisans oppose “exceptions for pawnbrokers.” Eighty-six percent of Illinoisans support the PLPA rate cap.
State lawmakers are debating a bill to push back the New Year’s Day gas tax hike.
Instead of the scheduled gas tax hikes on Jan. 1 and July 1, 2023, House Bill 5829 pushes back the next inflation adjustment to July 1, 2023. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s election-year budget put off the July 2022 gas tax hike until after the election on Jan. 1.
The House bill is still on First Reading and was assigned to Rules, so they haven’t debated it.
* More…
* Batinick introduces Property Tax Relief Legislation for last week of veto session: Rep. Batinick’s property tax plan would result in an eventual 50% reduction in property taxes in some of the hardest-hit areas of the state. According to the Tax Foundation, Illinois was ranked the second highest state in the nation in terms of property tax rates at 2.05% in 2020. A September 2022 report by The Civic Federation identified that in tax year 2020, property tax extensions for all Illinois taxing districts were $33.8 billion, of which 61.5% was for school districts.
* IL. Rep. Denyse Stoneback Wants To Criminalize Free Speech During Elections: When a politician names something the “Truth In Politics Act” you can bet its actual meaning is the opposite of its title. Illinois State Representative Denyse Wang Stoneback has introduced HB5850 which would criminalize certain speech directed at political campaigns. The bill prescribes criminal and civil penalties for certain election speech and adds speech requirements for political campaigns.
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Democrats goes to the late Ivan Gonzalez…
Ivan Gonzalez was a great guy. Hard worker, knew his politics and genuinely a really nice guy. Always had a smile on his face and could make a joke out of thin air. But he seemed to have at least 40 years of experience in him even though I am not sure he was even 40 yet. I had looked forward to working with him for years to come. A shame he left us too early.
Ivan stomped on the terra.
Runners-up are Jack Lockhart in Senator Gillespie’s office and Mavi Silva in Sen. Castro’s office.
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Republicans goes to Cathy Scaife, mainly based on this strong nomination from Sen. Jason Barickman…
Affectionately known as Mama Scaife around the SGOP caucus and elsewhere, I’d like to proudly nominate Cathy Scaife.
I like to keep a lot of balls in the air and am often asked how I can keep my head on straight. The answer, quite simply, is having top notch staff and Cathy is at the top of my list. Session days can be crazy, yet Cathy takes it all in stride. Her cheerful attitude and attention to details makes my Session days manageable. Her lunch buffet is the best food in the Capitol - many of my colleagues, our staff, lobbyists, and even a few constituents, have repeatedly shown up at my office around lunch because of Cathy’s generosity…and persistence that they eat our food.
My constituents love Cathy and know that if they really want to get something done, they should call her. I’ve heard countless praises from my constituents, thanking me for having Cathy be a part of our team. Her persistence results in constituent issues moving along when they appeared to be stuck. She defies the wildly misguided notion that state employees aren’t hard workers.
And I’ve never seen her have a bad day.
Our State has lots of tremendous employees, and this year, I’m honored to tell you why Cathy is among them.
Runner-up is Sheila Sims in Sen. Anderson’s office.
Congratulations!
* On to today’s categories…
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Democrats
Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - House Republicans
Remember to try and do your best to nominate in both categories. I know that’s not always possible, but give it a whirl if you can. Also, please explain your nominations. That’s the most important thing.
* And after you’ve voted, or even if you don’t vote, please click here and donate to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and help buy presents for foster kids. I mean, just look at the face of this foster child after he received an LSSI present. See how happy he is? You can spread even more of that joy by clicking here and donating…
* WILL 100 | Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch on abortion, the SAFE-T act, labor rights, and more.: Republicans in the Illinois House and Senate have chosen new leaders to begin in January 2023, but Democratic lawmakers are going to continue under their current leaders. In the Illinois House, that means another term for Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. He joined The 21st to discuss cash bail, the recently passed Workers’ Rights Amendment, the state budget, and more.
* Tribune | CEOs of Jewel, Mariano’s parent companies defend proposed megamerger before Senate lawmakers: At a hearing in Washington, D.C., before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s panel on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, expressed concern that the proposed merger would lead to higher food prices at a time when Americans are already facing inflated food costs. Groceries were up 12.4% in October when compared with the same time last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
* Effingham Radio | IL Freedom Caucus Calls for End of Consent Calendar in the Illinois House of Representatives: The Consent Calendar is a list of bills bundled together and voted on in one roll call vote. The list of bills includes ceremonial legislation such as measures to change the name of roads to honor members of the community, but the list also includes substantive legislation. The Illinois Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on the need to end the Consent Calendar.
* WCIA | Sangamon County Father of the Year receives statehouse proclamation : Dave Dahl, the news director of Springfield radio station WTAX, was awarded Father of the Year from the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood back in early October. On Tuesday, representatives from the Illinois House of Representatives recognized Dahl with a proclamation.
* Tribune | As candidates for Chicago mayor jockey for union support, ‘Chuy’ García lands a big labor endorsement: With the business community largely sitting out the mayor’s race so far, union support will be especially critical in determining who sits on the fifth floor at City Hall. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has tried to ally herself with trade unions, while Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson has received support from progressive labor groups including the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU 73 and SEIU Healthcare.
* Daily Southtown | Mokena’s ‘Walking Man’ reaches 25,000-mile goal on eve of 87th birthday: Tom Sullivan’s journey “around the earth” began with a single step back in 2000, when he made a new year-new century goal to walk a thousand miles. Last month, the 87-year-old financial planner — yes, he’s still working — logged his 25,000th mile, the equivalent of the circumference of the earth.
* WSIL | Illinois & Missouri monitoring potential avian flu outbreaks in waterfowl: According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), more than 300 waterbirds, primarily snow geese, have died of suspected avian bird flu at public hunting areas in southern Illinois. The deceased wild birds have been found at Baldwin Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area, Rend Lake, and Carlyle Lake in recent days.
Law enforcement shall issue a citation in lieu of custodial arrest, upon proper identification, for those accused of any offense that is not a felony or Class A misdemeanor unless (i) a law enforcement officer reasonably believes the accused poses a threat to the community or any person, (ii) a custodial arrest is necessary because the criminal activity persists after the issuance of a citationtraffic and Class B and C criminal misdemeanor offenses, or of petty and business offenses, who pose no obvious threat to the community or any person, or (iii) the accused has anwho have noobvious medical or mental health issueissuesthat posesposea risk to the accused’s theirown safety. Nothing in this Section requires arrest in the case of Class A misdemeanor and felony offenses, or otherwise limits existing law enforcement discretion to decline to effect a custodial arrest Those released on citation shall be scheduled into court within 21 days.
Seems reasonable.
…Adding… New language on what happens to people in jail on January 1. The so-called “Purge Law”…
On or after January 1, 2023, any person, not subject to subsection (b), who remains in pretrial detention and is eligible for detention under Section 110-6.1 shall be entitled to a hearing according to the following schedule:
(1) For persons charged with offenses under paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (a) of Section 110-6.1, the hearing shall be held within 90 days of the person’s motion for reconsideration of pretrial release conditions.
(2) For persons charged with offenses under paragraph(8) of subsection (a) of Section 110-6.1, the hearing shall be held within 60 days of the person’s motion for econsideration of pretrial release conditions.
(3) For persons charged with all other offenses not listed in subsection (a) of Section 110-6.1, the hearing shall be held within 7 days of the person’s motion for reconsideration of pretrial release conditions.
That gives the state’s attorneys time to prepare. Section 110-6.1 is here.
…Adding… Cleanup of the constitutional requirement for bail…
Pretrial release. “Pretrial release” has the meaning ascribed to bail in Section 9 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution where the sureties provided are nonmonetary in naturethat is non-monetary.
(b)At all pretrial hearings, the prosecution shall have the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that any condition of release is necessary.Additional conditions of release, including those highlighted above, shall be set only when it is determined that they are necessary to assure the defendant’s appearance in court, assure the defendant does not commit any criminal offense, and complies with all conditions of pretrial release.
(c) When it is alleged that pretrial release should be denied to a person upon the grounds that the person presents a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community, based on the specific articulable facts of the case, the burden of proof of such allegations shall be upon the StateDetention only shall be imposed when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person, or has a high likelihood of willful flight. If the court deems that the defendant is to be released on personal recognizance, the court may require that a written admonishment be signed by the defendant requiring that he or she must comply with the provisions of Section 110-12 of this Code regarding any change in his or her address. The defendant may be released on his or her own recognizance upon signature.The defendant’s address shall at all times remain a matter of public record with the clerk of the court. A failure to appear as required by such recognizance shall constitute an offense subject to the penalty provided in Section 32-10 of the Criminal Code of 2012 for violation of the conditions of pretrial release.
