* You gotta figure there’s gonna be a constitutional challenge to this if it becomes law. Half the city will be disenfranchised by appointed board members for two years. Press release…
The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus today introduced legislation outlining the electoral process for the new Chicago Elected School Board and establishing ethics requirements and conflict of interest provisions for members.
Under the attached proposal, 20 districts will be created for the 2024 election. Of those, 10 districts will be up for election in 2024, and 10 districts plus the Board Chair will be appointed by the mayor. A map detailing which districts will be elected and which districts will be appointed is available here and online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. Beginning in 2026, the 10 districts with appointed members will be up for election.
The public is encouraged to review the proposed district boundaries and provide additional feedback via the website or through email at ChicagoERSBCommittee@senatedem.ilga.gov. School board districts must be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act, which ensures districts are crafted in a way that preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power. The draft map, its demographic data, and shape files can be found at www.ilsenateredistricting.com.
“During public hearings, we heard concerns about ensuring the Board represents all of Chicago’s unique and vibrant communities,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “By establishing 20 districts for the 2024 election, our goal is to maximize diverse representation in a way that would not be achievable with just 10 districts.”
In addition, the legislation establishes ethics requirements for Board members which mirror those for other school boards across the state, as well as conflict of interest provisions in line with the state’s existing Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. The measure also calls for the creation of Black Student Achieve Committee within the Board, following feedback from education advocates, parents and community members about the need to focus on the disparity in academic performance among Black students.
“These ethics provisions establish important guardrails for Chicago Public Schools leadership, adding an extra layer of accountability,” said Sen. Robert Martwick, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board and sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. “Our communities deserve leaders who always place the best interest of the people first.”
“These changes are a reflection of the insight offered over the course of numerous public hearings,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “Just as we want a new Board to be responsive to the community, we must also adjust to provide more equitable representation for all of Chicago.”
#BREAKING Finding that “even the most important personal freedoms have their limits” the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the state of Illinois in the pending appeal on the state’s assault weapons ban. More info to come. pic.twitter.com/hExCeyRo8x
The Second Amendment to the Constitution recognizes an individual right to “keep and bear Arms.” Of that there can be no doubt, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008); McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010); Caetano v. Massachusetts, 577 U.S. 411 (2016) (per curiam); and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111 (2022). But as we know from long experience with other fundamental rights, such as the right to free speech, the right peaceably to assemble, the right to vote, and the right to free exercise of religion, even the most important personal freedoms have their limits. Government may punish a deliberately false fire alarm; it may condition free assembly on the issuance of a permit; it may require voters to present a valid identification card; and it may punish child abuse even if it is done in the name of religion. The right enshrined in the Second Amendment is no different.
The present cases, which we have consolidated for disposition, relate to the types of “Arms” that are covered by the Second Amendment. This presents a line-drawing problem. Everyone can agree that a personal handgun, used for self-defense, is one of those Arms that law-abiding citizens must be free to “keep and bear.” Everyone can also agree, we hope, that a nuclear weapon such as the now-retired M388 Davy Crockett system, with its 51-pound W54 warhead, can be reserved for the military, even though it is light enough for one person to carry.3 Many weapons, however, lie between these extremes. The State of Illinois, in the legislation that lies at the heart of these cases, has decided to regulate assault weapons and high-capacity magazines—a decision that is valid only if the regulated weapons lie on the military side of that line and thus are not within the class of Arms protected by the Second Amendment. Several municipalities have done the same. The plaintiffs in these cases challenge that conclusion. Using the tools of history and tradition to which the Supreme Court directed us in Heller and Bruen, we conclude that the state and the affected subdivisions have a strong likelihood of success in the pending litigation. We therefore affirm the decisions of the district courts in appeals No. 23-1353 and 23-1793 refusing to enjoin these laws, and we vacate the injunction issued by the district court in appeals No. 23-1825, 23-1826, 23-1827, and 23-1828. […]
We conclude with a few remarks about several additional issues in some of these cases that do not require immediate attention, and a reminder about the limits on our ruling.
First, we briefly comment on Herrera’s challenge to the constitutionality of the registration requirement that implements the grandfather exemption. He regards it as a burden on his Second Amendment rights, and he worries that it may in the future lead to confiscatory acts on the part of the state. If we are correct in our prediction that the state will prevail in its defense of the Act against the Second Amendment arguments, then the registration requirement will be valid as long as it can withstand rational basis review. At this juncture, we see nothing particularly onerous about it, though as with everything we have said, this is a preliminary assessment. Herrera has until the end of 2023 to file the necessary forms, and if he does so, he may retain all of the covered weapons he already owns; the Act will prohibit only his acquisition of additional assault weapons or high-capacity feeding devices. For its own reasons, the dissent agrees with us that the registration requirement should not be enjoined.
Second, in this court none of the parties has developed any coherent argument that would distinguish restrictions on possession, on the one hand, from restrictions on sale or manufacture, on the other. One of the parties in Bevis is a gun store, but the implications of that have yet to be addressed. We thus have no comment on it.
Finally, we have no need to decide whether an alleged Second Amendment violation gives rise to a presumption of irreparable harm, and if so, whether any such presumption is rebuttable or ironclad. Given our decision that the plaintiffs have not shown that they have a strong likelihood of success on the merits, we think it best to save this point for another day. We also have no comment on the other two parts of the Winter inquiry: where the balance of equities lies, and what the public interest dictates.
We close with an important reminder. Nothing that we have said here indicates that any state or municipality must enact restrictions on the ownership of assault weapons or high-capacity magazines. Unless preemptive federal legislation requires otherwise, this is an issue for the political process in each jurisdiction. The people of some states may find the arguments in favor of a lack of restrictions to be persuasive; the people of other states may prefer tighter restrictions. As long as those restrictions do not infringe on the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear the Arms covered by the Second Amendment, either choice is permissible. In the cases now before us, however, the plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits, based on the fact that military weapons lie outside the class of Arms to which the individual right applies.
In Nos. 23-1353 and 23-1793, we AFFIRM the district courts’ orders denying preliminary injunctive relief. In Nos. 23-1825, 23-1826, 23-1827, and 23-1828, we VACATE the district court’s order granting preliminary injunctive relief. We also confirm that the stay we issued in these appeals will remain in effect until our mandate issues.
…Adding… React…
Today, Protect Illinois Communities President Becky Carroll released the following statement in response to 7th Circuit Court ruling upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act:
“Today’s 7th Circuit Court decision on the Protect Illinois Communities Act is another critical legal affirmation of both the law as well as common sense – assault weapons are designed for use on the battlefield, not on our streets or in our communities. We are grateful for their decision and to the work of AG Raoul in representing the State of Illinois on this matter.”
* Rep. Morgan…
State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), the chief sponsor of the Protect Illinois Communities Act, celebrated this important decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the Illinois assault weapons ban that was signed into law on January 10, 2023. The 7th District Court was responding to six consolidated lawsuits challenging the ban.
“This ruling is a huge win for anyone committed to reducing gun violence. With the 7th Circuit upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act, this common-sense gun reform law continues in full force despite the efforts of the gun lobby,” said Rep. Morgan. “As mass shootings in the U.S. are on a record pace in 2023, this law has already prevented the sales of thousands of assault weapons and high capacity magazines in Illinois, making our state safer. We must renew our calls for a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines in order to make mass shootings a thing of the past.”
The Protect Illinois Communities (PIC) Act bans the sale of assault weapons, which have been the lethal instruments used in multiple mass shootings, as well as large capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun or more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns. Prior to today’s Seventh Circuit ruling, the Act had already survived multiple constitutional challenges. On May 4, 2023, the Seventh Circuit Court blocked a temporary injunction that a lower court judge in East St. Louis issued on April 28. This most recent defense of the PIC Act’s constitutionality comes on the heels of an Illinois Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban.
On May 17, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court also declined to block the law in Illinois.
Morgan, who is the Chair of the House Firearm Safety & Reform Working Group, is recognized as a legislative champion of gun safety in Illinois and is working with other national leaders to reduce gun deaths. Morgan witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that gun violence can have on a community. Highland Park, IL is a part of his 58th District, and he was present at the July Fourth mass shooting with his wife and children, during which 83 rounds were fired in less than 60 seconds, killing seven and injuring 48 people.
* Gov. Pritzker…
Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement concerning the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act:
“The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed what gun safety advocates have said from day one—the Protect Illinois Communities Act is a commonsense law that will keep Illinoisans safe. Despite constant attacks by the gun lobby that puts ideology over people’s lives, here in Illinois we have stood up and said ‘no more’ to weapons of war on our streets. This is a victory for the members of the General Assembly who stood alongside families, students and survivors who worked so hard to make this day a reality. Now Congress must act so Illinois is not an island surrounded by states with weak protections.”
* LG Stratton…
Today, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that Illinois is on the right side of history when it comes to protecting our communities from the dangers of gun violence by upholding the Protect Illinois Communities Act. Upholding the ban of assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines, and more, we are continuing on our promise of building safer, stronger communities. I thank Governor Pritzker, the General Assembly and the thousands of advocates who came together to say, “enough is enough.”
There is more work to do, and while we acknowledge the significance of this ruling, may we never forget the countless lives lost and disrupted by senseless gun violence. In Illinois, we will continue to look forward, reinforcing this common-sense law and I hope that Congress will do the same
* AG Raoul…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit’s decision in the consolidated cases challenging the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
“I am pleased with the 7th Circuit’s decision in these critically-important cases, which means my office has now successfully defended the Protect Illinois Communities Act in appeals before the 7th Circuit and the Illinois Supreme Court. Assault weapons were intended for military use, and the Protect Illinois Communities Act is a tool to prevent them from being used to cause devastation in our schools, places of worship and recreation spaces. This decision is the result of many hours of work by the staff of the Attorney General’s office, and I thank them for their dedication and service to the people of Illinois.”
* Mayor Johnson…
“I welcome today’s decision by the 7th Circuit Court to uphold the Protect Illinois Communities Act. This landmark legislation is an important step for our communities, providing common-sense gun control measures that have been so desperately needed in our city and throughout the state.
This decisive measure will aid in keeping weapons of war out of our neighborhoods and off our streets, creating safer communities for all.”
Our Congressman, Mike Bost. A steadfast conservative, Mike voted for the Secure the Border Act to increase the number of border patrol agents and complete the border wall. A budget hawk who has saved taxpayers by voting against a $1.4 trillion debt limit increase. Bost reigns in out of control spending to secure a stronger future for our families. Mike Bost stands with our farmers to take on the Biden administration’s Waters of the US policies that would put family farms out of business. An advocate for Southern Illinois families, Mike Bost voted for the parents Bill of Rights Act so parents have a say in their children’s education. A leader, Mike introduced a law ensuring veterans who appeal for their benefit, get them more quickly. Congressman Mike Bost. Southern Illinois’ conservative leader who gets results.
Paid for by official funds. Authorized by the House of Representatives.
I am disheartened and profoundly disappointed by the actions that took place on November 2nd at city council, led by Floor Leader Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, against Councilwoman Emma Mitts.
Alderman Ramirez-Rosa physically obstructed Alderwoman Mitts and other council members from entering the chamber to carry out their duties as elected representatives on behalf of their constituents.
This repeated behavior by Alderman Ramirez-Rosa in city council is unacceptable and requires immediate action. No one should be prevented from fulfilling their elected responsibilities on behalf of their constituents. No one should endure disrespect, threats, or have to live in fear of intimidation or retaliation while simply doing their job.
True leadership involves uniting others with transparency and finding common ground, even in the face of disagreements. Those in positions of leadership should not misuse or abuse their power.
Furthermore, no woman should ever be made to feel uncomfortable due to a colleague’s abuse of power, regardless of their position or title.
Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must be held accountable for his actions. This behavior calls for his resignation as Floor Leader. I hope this matter is resolved immediately.
I’ve asked the alderperson for a response.
…Adding… Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus…
The bullying by Floor Leader Ramirez-Rosa to Chairwoman Emma Mitts, City Council’s current longest-serving woman, was unprofessional and unbecoming of his role. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa’s actions of physical and verbal harassment have let down our council and the people of Chicago. In our roles, we must uphold the values of respect and collaboration.
It is disheartening that we find ourselves in this situation, and we hope that all City Council members focus their efforts on solving this issue and maintain mutual respect for each other.
Additionally, this matter is an unfortunate and direct reminder of the decades of challenges that African-American women serving in City Council have had to overcome in our combined efforts to enhance the upward mobility of our collective communities.
Chairwoman Mitts is a pillar of strength, courage, and inspiration to many black women who aspire to become responsible and effective government leaders. We strongly condemn this blatant mistreatment and disrespect towards Alderwoman Mitts and demand a full apology from Alderman Ramirez-Rosa.
Our caucus put forth the following recommendations to create a more inclusive and respectful environment for all members.
1. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa resign as Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards
2. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must publicly acknowledge what he did, apologize to Chairwoman Mitts, and commit to better his behavior as a member of this body
3. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa must take steps to remedy his actions with Chairwoman Mitts and other city council members
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (7th) held his annual Senior and Veterans Resource Fair at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park, on Oct. 28.
The Fair drew a crowd of several hundred and featured dozens of vendors and free resources like COVID-19 vaccinations and flu shots, but the biggest development to come out of this year’s event was a visit from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who talked about the expanded driver’s license services his office implemented last month to accommodate senior citizens. […]
Last month, Giannoulias’ office implemented a “Skip-the-Line” program for senior citizens at DMV facilities, increased the number of available appointments at Chicago area DMVs by over 40%, added a call center for seniors aged 70 and over who require a road exam, and opened two “senior-only” driver services locations inside SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview and the Evanston Civic Center. Seniors at those locations won’t need appointments.
“The plan is to build the next one somewhere in the 7th District,” Welch said on Saturday.
Leadership has its privileges, I suppose.
* This is what the governor gets for siding with the Illinois Policy Institute on the bill…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is more scared of the Chicago Teachers Union than voters.
He said he’d extend Illinois’ sole school choice program if a bill reached his desk – but now he’s flip-flopping.
This week he locked low-income students out of his Chicago office.
These kids are from families who rely on the Invest in Kids Act for an exit option from the CTU’s failed public school monopoly.
He’s not even pretending to care about them.
So we’re going to make sure the whole world knows what the Illinois Democratic Party, under his leadership, did to them.
We’re protesting the 2024 National Democratic Convention in Chicago.
We’re inviting all the students, families and community leaders he let down, so everyone watching knows him as the governor who killed school choice in Illinois.
* Staying with the IPI for a moment, this means nothing because the rest of the coalition pushing renewal has offered up a compromise plan. The train is moving on. All they’re doing is attempting to divert attention from the GOP’s split…
This follows a pledge from the Illinois Senate Republicans to support Invest in Kids.
There is now full Republican support of the bipartisan effort to protect school choice scholarships for 9,600 low-income students in Illinois. (2/2)
* I’ve seen more than a few statements like this. NRCC…
“By refusing to help Israel, Brad Schneider is perpetuating the growing antisemitism rotting the Democratic Party to the core. Israel has a right to defend itself and America has an obligation to stand alongside the Jewish people – but not according to Brad Schneider.” – NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella
Schneider’s response…
Speaker Johnson's First Act:
1. Add $27 Billion to Debt 2. Condition Aid to Israel 3. Reward Tax Cheats
I cannot support the terribly flawed, weak and dangerous bill Speaker Johnson and the Republicans have on the floor today. pic.twitter.com/mAIbH6Ve2e
* Crain’s | Illinois Institute of Technology is opening a life-sciences lab in Fulton Market: Illinois Tech, whose main campus is in Bronzeville, says it plans to house faculty, researchers and students in the Fulton Labs building. Although the small, private university is well known for engineering, computer science, and architecture and design, it also has biomedical and biological engineering expertise. For many years, its Bronzeville campus was one of the few places that startups could find lab space.
* WAND | State reports reveals number of pregnancy related deaths in Illinois: “A woman who is in rural areas, whether she is of color or not, might have to drive 30 minutes or longer to get to a healthcare provider or to get to a facility that can actually deliver her baby,” said Dr. Dona M. Perry, Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. “Access is a big problem and barrier to good healthcare and maternal outcomes.” The report also found that pregnancy-related deaths increased by 40% from 2015-2017 to 2018-2020. Discrimination was present in 40% of deaths among Black women.
* Crain’s | IDPH launches phone line for doctors to address babies born with syphilis: The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging health care providers to conduct more testing for the sexually transmitted infection in advance of birth. To help, IDPH has launched a phone line to provide clinical consultation to providers who treat pregnant patients and newborns. It is dubbed the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline, with a phone number of 800-439-4079.
* WTTW | Father of Alleged Highland Park Parade Gunman Heads to Trial on Charges He Recklessly Helped Son Obtain Firearms: Lake County prosecutors have alleged Crimo Jr. took a “reckless and unjustified risk” in December 2019 when he signed his son’s application for a FOID card. At the time, Crimo III was only 19 years old and could not legally obtain a FOID card or purchase a firearm without his father’s assistance. Highland Park police had two previous interactions with Crimo III in 2019. One occurred that April after he allegedly attempted suicide. Months later, in September, Crimo III allegedly threatened family members, saying he was “going to kill everyone,” according to prosecutors.
* Crain’s | As winter looms, migrants’ lack of reliable shelter could become a public health crisis: Meanwhile, community groups are collecting donated winter clothing and supplies for migrants. But until people are moved off the streets and into real housing, their health and well-being are at heightened risk, providers say. “Sleeping under tents outside in the Chicago winter — it’s super dangerous,” says Dr. Alejandro Clavier, a pediatrician and site director at Esperanza Health Centers’ West Lawn location. “Lives will be at risk if people stay outside.”
* WMBD | Illinois Supreme Court ends Auditor Jessica Thomas’ battle with Peoria County: The legal saga by Peoria County Auditor Jessica Thomas came to a conclusion on Nov. 1 when she worked her last day as an elected official. Thomas, who had battled the county for more than a year, ran out of legal options in late September when the Illinois Supreme Court declined to hear her case after a lower court threw it out. … A trio of appellate court justices said Thomas had no “clearly ascertainable right to serve as county auditor because her ‘rights to the office ceased’ once the voters passed the referendum to eliminate the office.”
* Chicago Mag | Is “Sweet Home Chicago” Actually About Chicago?: Robert Johnson probably had not visited Chicago when he recorded what became our city’s unofficial anthem in 1936. “Oh, baby, don’t you want to go,” the Mississippi blues legend croons, “back to the land of California, to my sweet home, Chicago.” Huh? Last time we checked, Chicago was not located in California. Perhaps to avoid geographic confusion, when Chicago-based pianist Roosevelt Sykes covered the song in 1955, he changed the lyric to “that bright light city, sweet old Chicago.” The Blues Brothers, of course, sang it differently: “back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago.”
* NYT | A Climate Change Success Story? Look at Hoboken.: Across the river, the same storm drowned several of New York City’s subway lines and forced Brooklyn residents to wade through thigh-deep water. But in Hoboken, the fire department only towed six cars, and by that evening there were just a few inches of standing water at three of 277 intersections. An arts and music festival, the city’s biggest cultural blowout and moneymaker, remained on course for the weekend. Television crews, returning to Hoboken early Saturday to film the usual aftermath, left empty-handed. The city’s flooding was no longer news.
* Belleville News-Democrat | US declares species once found in Illinois extinct. What does it mean for water quality?: The tubercled-blossom pearly mussel was native to Illinois, as well as seven other states across the nation. It was one of the first to be placed on the Endangered Species Act in 1976, but had not been seen for years prior to its recent delisting. “We haven’t seen it in Illinois or in the United States in quite a few decades,” Illinois Department of Natural Resources aquatic ecologist Brian Metzke told the News-Democrat recently.
* Again, it’s time to give Oak Park the $8.7 million in grant money that was rejected by Joliet Township. CBS 2…
The Village of Oak Park is lending a helping hand for the migrant crisis in Chicago, agreeing Thursday night to house even more people.
The Oak Park Village Board on Thursday evening approved a measure to offer more support – to shelter asylum seekers as the weather gets colder. More churches in Oak Park are also heeding the call to action. […]
On Thursday, the Oak Park Village Board declared an emergency disaster resolution to ensure the migrants can stay longer. […]
The board voted unanimously to allocate $300,000 in response to the migrant crisis. Much of that will be used to provide language interpreters and medical services to the migrants already there.
Half of those funds will come from the village, the other half from grant money.
Yesterday the mayor said they were "still assessing" the property at 38th and California, but I FOIA'd the city and it turns out they actually signed a contract **last week**
Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about the status of the site near 38th and California during a Wednesday news conference.
Johnson said the city was “still assessing. So I think this was raised before – there are a lot of environmental dynamics that have gone on in the city of Chicago that have gone unaddressed for a very long time.” […]
When pressed by NBC 5 Investigates Thursday about why Johnson did not mention the contract to reporters, a spokesman for the mayor said he did not address it because he was not specifically asked about it.
NEW: Representatives of Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration tell participants in virtual community meeting requested by Ald. Julia Ramirez that they have yet to make a final decision on whether to build a base camp at 38th & California in Brighton Park. @WTTW
* Sun-Times | City signs lease for site of potential Brighton Park migrant tent camp — leaving local alderperson ‘frustrated and disappointed’: In a community meeting Thursday night, a city official said the environmental assessment began last week and all the necessary samples had been collected. Test results were pending, said Deputy Mayor Lori Lypson. The city does not have a timeline for when the camp would open, Lypson said. It would host 500 families to start and potentially hold up to 2,000. If the site “is deemed viable,” Lypson said the tents would likely be there for 180 days. The lease also includes an option to renew for two additional six-month periods.
* ABC Chicago | Chicago City Council meeting on sanctuary city referendum spirals into chaos: “That is what is frustrating about the ‘debate,’ because people who are attacking the Sanctuary City Ordinance don’t know what they are talking about,” said Ald. Carlos Ramirez Rosa. “It has nothing to do with the refugee resettlement or the current crisis.” Ald. Ramirez Rosa said the Sanctuary City Ordinance only refers to law enforcement and government officials not cooperating with ICE. He said providing resources to migrants is about the city’s values; it’s not written in the ordinance.
* Crain’s | Chaos at City Council as Ald. Lopez attempts to take over meeting after lights turned off: Although the so-called Welcoming City ordinance does not impact whether or not the city chooses to provide shelter, food and care for asylum seekers, the supporters of the resolution are seeking to use the referendum to make clear to Mayor Brandon Johnson the city should reconsider how much money is spent to care for migrants if voters approve the measure.
* AP | Volunteer medical students are trying to fill the health care gap for migrants in Chicago: The migrants’ health problems tend to be related to their journey or living in crowded conditions. Back and leg injuries from walking are common. Infections spread easily. Hygiene is an issue. There are few indoor bathrooms and outdoor portable toilets lack handwashing stations. Not many people carry their medical records. Most also have trauma, either from their homeland or from the journey itself.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago school launches winter supply drive for migrants in Rogers Park: “It’s been a little exciting to see them react,” said Vivian Solis, a family support specialist at Lake Shore Schools in Rogers Park. She has been working with migrant families since August 2022. The school has taken in as many as 50 migrant children to date, helping asylum seekers with childcare. With the recent dip in temperature, concerns are now growing for migrants.
Stellantis plans to spend nearly $5 billion over the next four years expanding its Belvidere operations to include electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. […]
The company will invest $3.2 billion in a battery plant with a joint venture partner that hasn’t yet been disclosed. The plant is expected to open in 2028, according to the briefing materials.
Stellantis also will spend $1.5 billion to repurpose the Belvidere plant to assemble a new model electric midsize truck, starting in 2027. The union predicts the plant will make 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles per year.
Another $100 million investment will create a larger regional parts-distribution hub in Belvidere, consolidating work from facilities in Michigan and Milwaukee. Stellantis also will increase stamping operations to supply parts.
Read the rest, but they’re reporting that the agreement would mean 4-5,000 jobs at the expanded plant.
Two Republican state legislators from Wisconsin, Representative Jon Plumer and Senator Cory Tomczyk, introduced a resolution on Oct. 18 making the brandy-based old-fashioned the official Wisconsin state cocktail. (This is not to be confused with Wisconsin’s official state drink: Milk.)
“If you go to any other state in the country and order brandy anything, they look at you funny,” Mr. Plumer said in an interview. “But I just thought, ‘How has this never been done?’ It’s a tongue-in-cheek resolution. And I’ve had a couple of calls from people: ‘Don’t you have more important work to do?’ But I don’t think we do. This is what makes Wisconsin unique.” […]
Brandy old-fashioneds have a long history in Wisconsin, the resolution notes. The state accounts for at least half of the brandy maker Korbel’s annual sales in the United States.
* The Question: Your nomination for an official Illinois state cocktail? Explain. And be passionate about it.
Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) released its fall enrollment report for the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year showing Illinois, again, beat national trends. Total fall 2023 undergraduate enrollment at Illinois public universities increased 0.3 percent compared to the previous year, reversing several consecutive years of decreases, and freshmen enrollment at Illinois public universities increased by a noteworthy 1.5 percent compared to the fall semester of the 2021-22 academic year. This bucked freshmen enrollment at the national level which decreased 6.1 percent at all public universities. Fall 2023 marked the third consecutive year of growth in freshmen enrollment.
Enrollment of African American and Latino students increased in Illinois while enrollment of the same key groups dropped nationally. In Illinois, enrollment of African American freshmen increased by 2.9 percent, and African American undergraduate enrollment was up 0.5 percent year-over-year. This is in stark contrast to the national decrease of 5.1 percent for African American freshmen and decrease of 0.4 percent for African American undergraduate enrollment. Latino freshmen enrollment in Illinois increased by a robust 6.9 percent while it decreased by a sizeable 6.3 precent nationally. And, Latino undergraduate enrollment increased 4.1 percent year-over-year at Illinois public universities, which was higher than the national 2.5 percent increase reported.
“Once again, Illinois is bucking national trends and exceeding expectations with the third consecutive year of freshman enrollment growth at our public universities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our state’s higher education systems are bouncing back better than ever—a testament to smart fiscal management and a state budget that includes the largest increase for higher education in twenty-years and an all-time high for in-state scholarships totaling more than $750 million. College affordability and equity go hand-in-hand, and I couldn’t be prouder of the strides we are making to ensure that every student, especially those who have been historically locked out of higher education, has the opportunity to earn a degree.”
“We are making Illinois the best state to get an education, which is evident in the increase in both undergraduate and freshman enrollment numbers. Illinois is delivering on our commitment to see a more inclusive and equitable education system and the increase in BIPOC students is only the beginning,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We know that access to quality education is our greatest return on investment and our administration has made historic investments in MAP grant and public university funding. Investing in our young people is in an investment in our future.”
“African American and Latino freshmen enrollment in Illinois again beat national trends, which tells us that statewide strategies like efforts to simplify admissions processes through the Common App and the governor’s commitment to affordability through investment in MAP grants are making an impact,” said IBHE Chair Pranav Kothari. “These enrollment patterns demonstrate our relentless commitment to equity and to changing the trajectories of all Illinoisans’ lives.”
“The enrollment increases of African American and Latino students are direct results of the equity work the state’s higher education system as a whole is doing to attract more students of color,” said IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “We are excited for what is ahead for our state’s higher education system as we continue to work with the state’s public institutions to implement strategies from the equity-centered strategic plan.”
* What are your thoughts on getting rid of daylight saving time?…
In 2019, the Senate passed a bill by @AndyManar that would've kept Illinois on permanent summer time and end pre-5 p.m. sunsets. But that was the last vote on the issue. Morgan's bill hasn't gotten a committee hearing 2/2 https://t.co/Z1WQQsYo07
A new bill authored by a pair of House Republican lawmakers aims to prevent battery parts manufacturer Gotion Inc. from receiving federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act because its parent company is a Chinese firm.
The lawmakers, U.S. Reps. John Moolenaar of Caledonia and Darin LaHood of Illinois, said their legislation is in response to Gotion Inc., an American subsidiary of a Chinese-based company, planning to build EV battery materials factories near Big Rapids and in Manteno, Illinois, that would potentially qualify for the tax credits under the IRA.
The bill is notable in part because the Inflation Reduction Act’s pot of nearly $200 billion in advanced manufacturing credits is considered a major reason why foreign-owned companies such as Gotion are investing in U.S.-based factories.
The legislation is named the No Official Giveaways Of Taxpayers’ Income to Oppressive Nations (NO GOTION) Act, and would disqualify from green energy tax credits “any entity created or organized in, or controlled (in the aggregate) by, one or more countries of concern,” defined as China, Russia, Iran or North Korea.
* Rep. Marty Moylan…
State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, recently introduced a bill that would help promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) among owners and operators of vehicle fleets.
“Illinois is going electric, and I’m proud to be part of the movement to make sure our state remains a leader in the EV revolution,” Moylan said. “A huge part of that is encouraging a transition from fossil fuels to EV technology when it comes to the vehicle fleets that Illinois businesses use to move goods and services throughout our communities. That’s why I’m working to create a program to reward businesses that embrace innovation and help keep Illinois moving forward.”
Introduced in the House on Oct. 25, Moylan’s House Bill 4196 would require the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to establish a program to provide grants to owners and operators of vehicle fleets to cover up to 80% of the purchase price of eligible electric vehicles. Grants would be awarded on a competitive basis according to available funding.
The IEPA would be required to consider the potential environmental impact of a given applicant switching to electric vehicles, based on geographic location and service routes. It would also be required to set aside 20% of the total funds appropriated specifically for applicants purchasing electric school buses. The program would be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
“Electric vehicles are safe, increasingly effective and sustainable. The economy of the future will be based on EVs and it’s important for Illinois to stay ahead of the curve,” Moylan said. “Promoting the adoption of EV technology by commercial fleets is a crucial step forward. I’m hopeful that this legislation can help us to take that step.”
Plainfield Democratic State Representative Harry Benton is proposing a bill that would restore tax breaks for union members on things like union dues and equipment.
Benton says the tax breaks previously were in place:
“Some years ago we ended up losing all the tax breaks for all union members. So union dues, work assessment and even simple write-offs for mileage, work equipment, tools. That all went away. So what I’m trying to do is right a wrong. And try to implement this at a state-wide level so they can write this stuff off.” […]
The bill could be discussed during the spring legislative session next year, when many new bills are introduced.
House bill 4088 has been filed and is currently assigned to the House Rules Committee.
* Another bill from Rep. Benton…
State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, is working to help ease property taxes for older adults by introducing a bill to ensure they remain eligible for a key tax exemption amidst continued inflation.
“A person’s home is, perhaps, their most precious possession, and it is easy to understand why anyone, older adults especially, would wish to continue living in their home,” said Benton. “Unfortunately, many older adults in Illinois have been struggling with the demands of high property taxes and inflation. Increasing access to this program will help more of them remain in their homes with the dignity and security they deserve.”
Benton introduced House Bill 4202, which would raise the annual income threshold for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program to keep up with rising inflation. Since 2018, the deferral has been available to senior taxpayers earning less than $65,000 per household. Benton’s bill would increase eligibility to $85,000, to ensure older homeowners do not lose access to this program because of inflation and cost of living adjustments.
“It is heartbreaking when anyone is forced into selling their home because of property taxes,” Benton said. “Anything we can do to help older adults to stay in the homes they’ve worked for their entire lives, I think we have a moral duty to look into doing that.”
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Requires the Legislative Budget Oversight Commission to meet 2 weeks after the effective date of the amendatory Act and quarterly thereafter. Extends the repeal date of the Act’s provisions concerning the Commission from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2026. Effective immediately.
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful to take wild turkey with a shotgun smaller than 410 gauge with shot density equaling tungsten super shot (rather than smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4).
* Keep in mind when reading this report from the legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability that total General Funds revenues had been projected to decline 2.9 percent this fiscal year. To date, General Funds revenues are up 3.8 percent over where they were as of the October, 2022 report. That doesn’t mean they’ll hold at that level. They could still decrease or even increase. But it’s still a big swing so far…
Through the first third of the fiscal year, total General Funds receipts are up $611 million. From a base revenue perspective, when accounting for both the removal of $764 million in one-time revenues from last year’s ARPA reimbursements and this month’s $633 million in one-time delayed federal matching funds, “base” revenues are up a net $742 million through October.
Personal Income Taxes are up $624 million so far this fiscal year, or +$516 million on a net basis. Corporate Income Taxes, however, are down slightly on both a gross basis [-$28 million] and a net basis [-$13 million]. Sales Taxes have risen $98 million through the first four months of FY 2024 [+$56 million net].
All Other State Sources are collectively $154 million higher through October. This is mainly due to the $153 million increase in Interest on State Funds and Investments. In addition, as mentioned previously, the Inheritance Tax is outpacing last year’s levels with a year-to-date increase of $44 million. Insurance Taxes are also $13 million higher. The growth in these areas have offset losses from several other State sources, including Other Sources [-$24 million]; the Public Utility Tax [-$22 million]; the Cigarette Tax [-$9 million]; and the Liquor Tax [-$1 million].
The category of Transfers In will be a volatile category throughout the year due to the timing of transfers into the State’s General Funds. After last month’s Income Tax Refund Fund transfer, receipts for this category were up a combined $233 million through September. However, when accounting for October’s activity and the lack of transfers this month from both the Income Tax Refund Fund and Gaming, the growth turns into a year-to-date combined deficit of $5 million. This is despite the $85 million rise in Lottery Transfers through October. This spread will worsen throughout the year, particularly in January, once the remaining $987 million from last year’s Income Tax Refund Fund enters into the equation.
Despite the $531 million rise in Federal Sources this month, overall federal dollars are still $96 million lower than last year through October. This is because the FY 2023 four-month totals include $764 million in one-time ARPA reimbursements that did not repeat in FY 2024. From a Federal Sources base perspective, if these one-time ARPA revenues are removed from the equation, along with the $633 million in prior-year federal matching funds receipted in October, year-to-date base growth for Federal Sources is +$35 million (as shown in the following table).
* There’s also some good news in the monthly data. The state was able to pry $633 million from the feds after missing out on the money earlier in the decade…
In August 2023, it was announced that, after a comprehensive internal review of federal revenue reimbursements in the State’s Medicaid related programs, the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services identified a computer programming error that led to incomplete federal Medicaid match claims for service dates between the end of 2020 and June 2022. The State was able to retroactively submit claims for this period of activity, resulting in a “one-time” federal match deposit of approximately $633 million in October. While this money would have been part of previous fiscal years’ General Funds “base” total if not delayed, for the purpose of evaluating FY 2024’s overall revenue performance, the Commission will separate these funds from “base” federal source dollars in its revenue tables. With this adjustment, “base” federal dollars actually fell $102 million in October.
Friday, Nov 3, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
We’ve been listening carefully to the governor, legislative leaders, and many members of the legislature about how to make the Tax Credit Scholarship better – and we now have an amended program proposal that does exactly that. Thousands of vulnerable kids are counting on us to put them before politics.
In response to direct feedback, our bill offers substantive improvements along with good-faith compromises which justify extending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program:
1. Add a new priority level of scholarship recipients from the most under-served areas of Illinois to create opportunities for thousands of primarily Black and Latino children. Donors will be incentivized to prioritize helping this new “Region 7” beyond the thousands of other kids who qualify based on financial need.
2. Reduce the overall size of the program to $50MM (down from $75MM) and reduce the individual giving cap to $500,000 (down from $1MM).
3. Reduce the tax credit for donors to 55% (down from 75%).
4. Encourage more middle-income donors by crediting donations of up to $5,000 with a 100% tax credit.
Illinois, let’s do the right thing. It’s about the kids, not the politics. Save the scholarships.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been found guilty on all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering following more than two weeks of testimony in one of the highest-profile financial crime cases in years.
The 31-year-old former cryptocurrency billionaire was convicted on all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, charges that each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which each carry a five-year maximum sentence.
“Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest frauds in American history, a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto,” Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news briefing following the verdict. “Here’s the thing: the cryptocurrency industry might be new. The players like Sam Bankman-Fried might be new. This kind of fraud, this kind of corruption, is as old as time, and we have no patience for it.”
The MIT graduate steadfastly maintained his innocence since his arrest late last year after the startling implosion of FTX, the crypto exchange he co-founded, amid an $8 billion shortfall in funds and allegations he had used customer money to prop up his struggling hedge fund, Alameda Research.
* US Rep. Jonathan Jackson probably owes his 2022 Democratic primary win to Sam Bankman-Fried. The Sun-Times broke the story in June of 2022…
Protect Our Future, a political action committee bankrolled by cryptocurrency billionaire Samuel Bankman-Fried, spent $914,944 to boost three Illinois Democratic primary candidates, including $500,065 for television ads to support Jonathan Jackson’s 1st Congressional District bid, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Protect Our Future spending is what the FEC calls an “independent expenditure,” with the PAC by law prohibited from coordinating or communicating with a candidate’s campaign.
* In addition to Bankman-Fried’s $500K, another crypto front, Web3 Forward, spent $491,250 on pro-Jackson media buys. The Texas Tribune reported that Web3 Forward “is affiliated with the longer-running GMI PAC, whose leading donors have included another top FTX executive,” and it put money into some other races that SBF’s Protect Our Future was involved with last year.
All told, that’s close to $1.3 million dollars in crypto spending on Jackson’s behalf.
The 17-candidate Democratic primary race last year was packed with under-funded candidates, so the independent expenditures were likely crucial to Jackson’s win. Jackson tallied just 28 percent of the vote.
Karin Norington-Reaves was the only other candidate who received major IE support. Forward Progress PAC spent $758,000 on her behalf. The Collective Super PAC spent another $65K. Reeves finished third with 14 percent of the vote, just behind Ald. Pat Dowell.
* Protect Our Future’s involvement in US Rep. Chuy Garcia’s primary made no electoral sense because Garcia didn’t even have an opponent. But Garcia eventually stepped down from the House Financial Services Committee and the independent expenditure haunted him in the 2023 mayoral race. The committee also did an IE for US Rep. Nikki Budzinski, but she won her race with almost 76 percent of the vote, so it didn’t appear to matter much, unlike that Jackson money, which was likely essential.
…Adding… From US Rep. Garcia’s spokesperson…
The Congressman did not step down from Financial Services. His membership was already “waived on” which meant he wasn’t earning seniority in the first place because he had other preferred committees (Transportation).
Because Republicans won the majority, Dems lost seats on the committee. Consequently, those who were ”waived on” were those who lost their places on the committee.
* ICYMI: Chicago signs land use contract to house migrants on vacant lot in Brighton Park. NBC Chicago broke the story…
- Chicago will pay $91,400 a month for use of the land.
-The city signed the lease before the environmental assessment was completed. Ald. Julia Ramirez said it was done without her knowledge.
-The contract states that the lot comes “as-is” and makes no guarantees about its conditions or “compliance with laws and regulations, including… those relating to health, safety and the environment.”
* Tribune | Calumet City officials ticket Daily Southtown reporter for ‘hampering’ city employees with questions: The Southtown, which is owned by the Chicago Tribune’s parent company, published a story online Oct. 19 and in print Oct. 20 in which Sanders reported that consultants had informed Calumet City officials that their stormwater facilities were in poor condition before September’s historic rains caused flooding. Calumet City is about 23 miles south of Chicago and home to 36,000 residents, most of them Black. A day after the story was published, Sanders continued to report on the issue, drawing complaints from city officials, including Mayor Thaddeus Jones.
* Crain’s | Chaos at City Council as Ald. Lopez attempts to take over meeting after lights turned off: The meeting will be remembered as one of the City Council’s most chaotic since the infamous Council Wars of the 1980s. It doubled as a message that a growing number of City Council members are frustrated over the city’s handling of providing shelter for the 20,000 asylum seekers who’ve arrived in Chicago since last August.
* Shaw Local | Gun rights advocates question proposed Illinois gun registration rules: About 50 people turned out for a public hearing Thursday in Springfield to comment on proposed rules to implement the registration portion of the law. One of those was state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, an outspoken opponent of gun ban, who asked what the state intends to do with people who refuse to register their weapons.
* Center Square | Illinois legislators address impacts of artificial intelligence on society: State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, said lawmakers should not take the same approach with AI as they did with social media. “Lawmakers decided to take a largely hands-off approach to regulation,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “We’ve seen the tangled web of societal ills that approach [that] was caused due to a lack of regulatory action.”
* Sun-Times | National Association of Realtors CEO Bob Goldberg resigns, replaced by former Sun-Times CEO Nykia Wright: Critics have been pushing for his departure for weeks after The New York Times investigated allegations that former president Kenny Parcell, who resigned from his post in August, sexually harassed current or former employees and members of the Chicago-based organization. The NAR is also facing a series of court challenges that could upend how agents receive commissions on the sale of a home.
* Crain’s | President and CEO of the Joyce Foundation will step down: Ellen Alberding, president and CEO of the Joyce Foundation, announced today she will be stepping down in 2024 after 22 years of helming the organization. The foundation said it will begin its next CEO search in January, with Alberding, 66, continuing to lead the organization until a successor is named.
* Illinois Times | City’s employee residency requirement could be suspended: Supporters of the measure say suspending enforcement of the requirement is needed – at least for a year – to fill job vacancies amid a dearth of qualified candidates and a lack of available housing in Springfield. Moratorium supporters say hiring challenges have been seen across the country because of employment trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic, retirements by members of the baby boom generation and high home mortgage interest rates.
* Tribune | Illinois man serving life for drug conviction under ‘three-strikes’ law is granted clemency, arrives in Chicago: He was one of three people in Illinois still serving life sentences for drug offenses due to the so-called “three-strikes” law, which allows prosecutors to seek a life sentence when someone is convicted of their third serious felony, according to data from the Illinois Department of Corrections and Lightfoot’s attorney. Pritzker granted clemency to all three prisoners who were released this week, turning a page in the history of mass incarceration in Illinois.
* WBEZ | Six plays written by teens take a hard look at gun violence a year before the elections: “Regardless of an audience member’s age … I think we can consider what it has been like for these young people to grow up in a post-Columbine world,” said Neena Arndt, one of the directors for the Goodman readings. “Their whole life, they’ve had drills in school and it’s been a part of daily life … in a way that it wasn’t for previous generations.”
* WaPo | In pain? Listening to your favorite music can provide relief, study says: After Michelle Yang pulled on a pair of headphones to listen to one of her favorite songs — Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” — she felt a flash of pain on her left forearm. Yang was participating in a study by researchers at a Montreal university to determine how listening to one’s favorite music alters perception of pain. After participants selected their top songs, researchers placed a thermal simulator on their forearms, which created a sensation similar to touching a hot cup of coffee.
* AP | Vaping by high school students dropped this year, says US report: In a survey, 10% of high school students said they had used electronic cigarettes in the previous month, down from 14% last year. Use of any tobacco product — including cigarettes and cigars — also fell among high schoolers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
* Reader | When Sly Stone fronted a Chicagoland bar band: Jack Sweeney was on tour with Sly Stone, and business was slow. His Chicago-based seven-piece, One Eyed Jacks, had accepted a job as the erratic pop star’s backing band in late 1982. Long past his Woodstock-era prime, Stone had all but abandoned live performance seven years earlier. He was now attempting a comeback via small club shows, playing a series of one-night stands.
In late 2018, [longtime University of Illinois at Chicago employee Sharon Feldman], who was at the time associate director for global health policy research at the school’s Institute for Health Research and Policy, saw something: documents she believed showed a colleague planned to misappropriate grant funds and university resources.
Feldman worried the proposal would violate university policies that prohibited conflicts of interest and the misuse of university resources, she would later allege in court filings. […]
The Ethics Act’s whistleblower provision says state employees shall not be retaliated against for reporting behavior they reasonably believe to violate “a law, rule, or regulation.”
But in her ruling dismissing Feldman’s case this August, Judge Cecilia Horan agreed with the university’s arguments that internal university policies did not constitute “rules” that would have afforded Feldman whistleblower status.
At a court hearing on Aug. 29, Horan granted the university’s motion to dismiss Feldman’s complaint. Horan did not issue a written decision but said in verbal remarks she did not consider university statutes to be “rules” as defined by the Ethics Act.
Just outrageous. The legislature really needs to fix this. Tragically, Ms. Feldman died last month of an illness.
While deaths among pregnant women are rare, they have increased across Illinois — and the majority of them were possibly preventable, according to a new state report.
Black women continue to be disproportionately affected, and more pregnant people who die are losing their lives months after giving birth as they fall through the cracks of a complicated health system. […]
The third Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report since 2018 from the state public health department provides a deeper look into what happened to 263 people who died while pregnant or within a year of giving birth from 2018 to 2020.
• An average of 88 women died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy, with the highest number 110 deaths, occurring in 2020. There were 83 deaths in 2018 and 70 in 2019.
• 43% of women who died while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy died from a cause related to pregnancy.
• The leading cause of pregnancy-related death was substance use disorder, which comprised 32% of pregnancy-related deaths. The other most common causes of pregnancy-related death were cardiac and coronary conditions, pre-existing chronic medical conditions, sepsis, mental health conditions, and embolism.
• Black women were twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions as white women.
• More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred more than 60 days postpartum.
• The MMRCs determined 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable due to clinical, system, social, community, or patient factors.
An Illinois county’s quest to secede and join Missouri won’t be happening any time soon, according to a new legal opinion.
In response to a question raised by an official in Jersey County, located across the Mississippi River from Missouri, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the county does not have “the authority to secede from the State of Illinois and join another state.”
Writing in an Oct. 17 opinion, Raoul said the state constitution does not provide a statutory procedure for the secession of counties from the state.
And, he added, there are federal issues that stand in the way too.
Businesses understand that access to paid time off is crucial for workers and their families, which is why we reached an agreement earlier this year to provide 5 days of paid time off, for any reason, to every worker across the state beginning January 1 – an agreement that was praised by labor leaders. We made repeated efforts to negotiate in good faith to reach a paid leave policy at the City level that is fair and balanced for both workers and businesses, even offering double the State requirement, but labor groups refused to compromise meaningfully, with aldermen now set to vote on a policy that will devastate the very businesses they have been trying to attract to their communities.
The current proposal will force employers to pay three ways for every day of paid leave. As written, employers will need to provide five days of paid sick leave and five days of paid time off for every employee, pay employees for up to seven days of unused paid time off, and pay enhanced wages for anyone who covers the employee’s shift due to the City’s restrictive scheduling ordinance. On top of this, businesses, especially small businesses without robust human resources departments, will be exposed to the threat of private rights of action. The payout exemption for small businesses contained in the proposal does not extend to this dangerous private right of action language contained in the ordinance.
Once again, proponents failed to recognize the compounding effect these policies have on businesses that are already struggling to make ends meet due to an alarming number of anti-business proposals by the City, continued supply chain and labor challenges, persistent crime, and skyrocketing property taxes. […]
- Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce
- Hospitality Business Association of Chicago
- Illinois Health and Hospitals Association
- Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
- Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
- Illinois Restaurant Association
- Illinois Retail Merchants Association
- Little Village Chamber of Commerce
- Pilsen Chamber of Commerce
- Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago
Press release…
The Chicago City Council Workforce Development Committee overwhelmingly passed the Chicago Paid Time Off Ordinance today in a vote of 13 in favor to 2 opposed. The Ordinance provides 10 total days of time off – five days of sick time and five days of paid time off – for all Chicago workers. The ordinance is expected to come to a vote before the full City Council as soon as next week.
Access to paid time off is critical to workers and their families who are struggling to make ends meet in a challenging economy. It gives workers time to spend with their families and care for their health. Paid time off also affords workers the ability to stay home when they are sick―preventing their colleagues from getting sick and missing work. Access to paid time off also improves worker retention, which reduces employer turnover costs.
“I am proud that Chicago is once again leading the nation in the struggle for workers’ rights, and strengthening the economic vitality of our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “My administration pledged to bring everyone to the table to hear concerns from large employers, small businesses, and worker advocates. We worked collaboratively to find a compromise, and we ended up with the most progressive Paid Leave policy in the country that will help businesses retain workers and help workers live full lives with dignity.”
* DeVore loses again…
Last hearing tomorrow in Federal Court against Tom DeVore who is requesting the judge to allow him to depose me after the deadline. Oh he’s also requesting all of my client books for the last 7 years. Fun times.
* WGN | Gov. Pritzker expands utility assistance for low-income homes: “With temperatures dropping and the winter season just weeks away, my administration is ensuring that every family has the assistance they need to keep the lights and the heat on,” Pritzker said. He continued, “With DCEO’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, we are providing utility bill support to thousands of income-eligible families—and I urge those who are disconnected or facing imminent disconnection to apply. Here in Illinois, we look out for our neighbors, and that’s exactly what LIHEAP is all about.”
* Center Square | Illinois finishes $18 million project to avoid regional flooding in Lake Forest: “Thanks to a more than $18 million investment made possible by Rebuild Illinois, we have entirely relocated and reconstructed the existing pump station, built two new detention ponds to handle any excess flow from the pump station, in addition to making multiple safety improvements that alleviate flooding and guarantee access to this major roadway,” Pritzker said.
* Press Release | Pritzker administration opens next round of Electric Vehicle Rebate Program for Illinois residents: Rebates will be issued to eligible applicants subject to availability of funds. The General Assembly has appropriated up to $12 million to Illinois EPA for the EV Rebate program for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Actual funding amounts will be determined by the amount of money available in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund.
* Center Square | Illinois manufacturing official says sector in for drastic changes soon: During a University of Illinois Extension webinar, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center President David Boulay said Illinois should be a leader in all phases of manufacturing.“Illinois is just a manufacturing powerhouse regardless of what measure you want to look at,” Boulay said. “We’re pretty much a top 5 state whether it’s output, whether it’s jobs or the number of establishments.”
* Press Release | Mayor of Riverdale, Ill. Indicted on Perjury and Obstruction Charges: According to the indictment, Tri-State Disposal Inc., a waste management company in Riverdale, filed a civil lawsuit against Riverdale and Jackson in 2018, alleging that Jackson retaliated against Tri-State by refusing to renew its garbage collection contract with the city. The owners of Tri-State had spoken out publicly against the city’s issuance of a zoning permit that allowed a recycling and waste transfer business to operate in Riverdale. The recycling business was owned by an individual aligned with Jackson who had allegedly assisted the mayor in replacing Tri-State with a different garbage collection company.
* Bloomberg | Biden offers $334 million to states and cities for crime crackdown: States and cities will receive $216 million for hiring new officers, $73 million for preventing violence in schools and $43 million to fund community policing, crisis-intervention programs and de-escalation strategies, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told reporters.
* Daily Herald | Prominent suburban attorney, businessman and Democrat Herb Franks dies: Herb Franks, who founded two banks, a prominent law firm and a Jewish congregation all while becoming an influential Democrat in the Republican stronghold McHenry County, has died. Franks, 89, died Tuesday at his vacation home in Florida, two months after being diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. The illness was discovered when he had a seizure at the offices of Franks Gerkin Ponitz & Greeley, the law firm he founded in Marengo.
* Crain’s | 14-story Fulton Market hotel proposed: New York-based developer Cogswell Realty and Elmhurst-based investor Erol Stapleton are proposing the 14-story project at 1016-1020 W. Lake St. in the trendy neighborhood, according to a zoning application being introduced today to the City Council. The hotel would be developed on a parking lot at the northeast corner of Lake and Carpenter streets, which a Stapleton-led venture bought earlier this year for nearly $6.6 million, public records show.
* WCIA | Not sure what do with pumpkin leftovers? Arthur farmer walks through repurposing ideas: “We’re here in Arthur and we have a lot of Amish neighbors and farmers for cows, pigs, sheep and goats,” he said. “All four of those farmers have reached out to me saying would we be able to pass along some of our extra pumpkins for their farms for their animals and we’re happy to do that.”
* Daily Herald | Got candy? Here’s how you can get rid of those mounds of Halloween treats: Texas-based Soldiers’ Angels has a Treats for Troops program explicitly for leftover Halloween candy. Soldiers’ Angels offers a searchable map of drop-off sites on its website, soldiersangels.org. From Addison to Woodstock, Naperville to Wauconda, 13 locations — dental offices, businesses, park districts — are collecting candy now.
Frigid temperatures and heavy snow arrived this week while migrants huddled in makeshift tents outside police stations. Johnson insisted Wednesday, however, that he was still on track to meet his deadline.
“It snowed, but winter is not here yet. And so my goal is still to make sure that we have base camps before winter,” Johnson told reporters after the meeting. “There’s a difference between being in a hurry and being in a rush. If you’re in a rush, you can knock stuff over, you can miss stuff. But we do have to hurry up because the clock is ticking. It is. So I’m moving as fast as I can.”
Ugh.
Stop talking, mayor. Start doing. Show us. Stop telling us.
* To be fair, the mayor did tell reporters this in Washington, DC today, but he exaggerated a bit…
Since I’ve been mayor, I’ve been mayor for five months, I’ve set up a new shelter every week.
Seven shelters existed when he took office. The city says there are now 24 shelters. He was inaugurated 24 weeks ago, so he has set up 17 shelters since then. That’s about one shelter every ten days or so.
* Speaking of which, this is an excellent question…
Has the city mentioned these county and state spaces at all since October 5th? Has anyone asked the city about them?
Where they rejected? Are they still being explored? It's been a month and men, women, and children are sleeping out in the cold. https://t.co/URd5VLgRKR
Mayor Brandon Johnson visited the White House Thursday morning to sound the alarm on Chicago’s migrant crisis, in his first in-person meeting with President Joe Biden centered on the burgeoning asylum-seeker issue.
Johnson’s spokesman Ronnie Reese confirmed the mayor sat down with Biden and his chief of staff Jeff Zients, White House senior adviser Tom Perez and other officials with the Department of Homeland Security to discuss Chicago’s need for additional federal relief.
Though the mayor has met with Biden before, this was the first session specifically addressing the more than 20,000 migrants who have come to the city in the past 14 months.
Biden did not promise anything in response to Johnson’s ask for at least $5 billion in additional aid for migrants, but “these were very productive and positive conversations,” Reese said. The president is attempting to push a supplemental $1.4 billion package for migrant shelters and services through Congress, but Illinois leaders have said much more is direly needed.
* Sen. Peters has a warning from Germany…
Chicago is not alone on the world stage with migrants.
Hamburg is running out of housing. They’re demanding more federal support.
The right wing party is exploiting this crisis to get into power.
* Sun-Times | Vote on second migrant tent camp delayed: The Chicago City Council put off a vote on accepting donated land at 115th and Halsted that would be the site of a migrant tent camp. Also delayed was a vote on whether to put a binding referendum on the March ballot to raise the real estate transfer tax to fund programs to reduce homelessness.
* CBS Chicago | Mayor Brandon Johnson mum on potential migrant shelter at shuttered downtown Chicago museum: Mayor Brandon Johnson didn’t give a direct answer when asked a yes or no question about the city’s efforts to explore the former Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communications to possibly house asylum seekers. Earlier this week, Ald. Brendan Reilly released a statement saying the mayor was considering a migrant shelter at the Marina City complex, where that museum used to be, on State Street just north of the Chicago River.
* ABC Chicago | West Town migrant shelter opening pushed back as unions protest construction work: A handful of union carpenters along with their picket line rat mascot stood in protest along Western Avenue Wednesday. They’re contesting who is carrying out the quick-turn construction at the industrial space that will house 200 asylum seekers, including families and young children.
* NBC Chicago | Suburban retiree opens home to 7 migrants: ‘It was an easy decision’: With her kids gone and plenty of space in her Oak Park bungalow, she decided to open her home to asylum seekers from Venezuela. Since August, five adults and two kids have been living with Elaine. Most of them were previously living at the 15th District police station in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
* Tribune | Migrants in cities across the US may need medical care. It’s not that easy to find: Tens of thousands of migrants who’ve come to the United States are navigating a patchwork system to find treatment for new or chronic health concerns. Doctors across the country say it’s rare that migrants receive medical screenings or anything beyond care for medical emergencies when they arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border, and there’s no overarching national system to track the care, either. Migrants’ options dwindle or expand after that – depending on where they end up – with some cities guiding new arrivals into robust public health systems and others relying on emergency departments or volunteer doctors to treat otherwise preventable health issues.
* AP | Volunteer medical students are trying to fill the health care gap for migrants in Chicago: Mostly students in training, they go to police stations where migrants are first housed, prescribing antibiotics, distributing prenatal vitamins and assessing for serious health issues. These student doctors, nurses and physician assistants are the front line of health care for asylum-seekers in the nation’s third-largest city, filling a gap in Chicago’s haphazard response.
Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides for the licensure of consolidated transport centers. Specifies requirements for consolidated transport centers, including operating documents, security plans, facility requirements, plant monitoring, prohibitions on ownership, and prohibitions on offering things of value to certain persons and licensees. Provides that cannabis business entities shall adhere to the traceability and consumer protection guidelines established by the Department of Agriculture when utilizing the cannabis plant monitoring system or cannabis transport GPS tracking system. Provides that entities awarded a transporting license may defer paying the associated license fee for a period of no more than 3 years. Provides that from January 1, 2024 through January 1, 2026, the Department shall not issue any transporting licenses other than those issued before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that all products received and shipped to and from a consolidated transport center shall be tracked within the cannabis plant monitoring system. Provides that a craft grower or infuser may enter into a contract with a transporting organization to transport cannabis to a consolidated transport center or a different transporting organization at the consolidated transport center. Provides that no person, cannabis business establishment, or entity other than a licensed transportation organization shall transport cannabis or cannabis-infused products on behalf of a cannabis business establishment to or from a consolidated transport center, unless otherwise authorized by rule. Makes other changes. Authorizes emergency rulemaking. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.
Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the physical examination required by the Act may (instead of may not) be performed by remote means, including telemedicine. Effective immediately.
Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that “alcoholic liquor” includes alcohol-infused products. Defines “alcohol-infused products” and “co-branded alcoholic beverage”. Provides that, except for persons issued a license under the Act, no person shall manufacture, distribute, or sell alcohol-infused products. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to similar products that are not alcohol-infused products or immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images. Provides that no retail establishment with a retail sales floor area that exceeds 2,500 square feet shall display co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled waters, candies, or snack foods portraying cartoons or youth-oriented images or immediately adjacent to products that are not alcohol-infused products. Provides that any retail establishment with a retail sales floor that is equal to or less than 2,500 square feet shall either not display alcohol-infused products or co-branded alcoholic beverages immediately adjacent to specified products or equip the display with specified signage. Prohibits retail licensees from keeping, exposing for sale, or displaying alcohol-infused products immediately adjacent to products marketed toward children.
Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Defines terms. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Limits home rule powers.
Click Here for some background on Accessory Dwelling Units.
Creates the Low-Carbon Distribution and Delivery Act. Designates residentially zoned areas in counties with a population of 3,000,000 or more as low-carbon delivery zones. Requires a last-mile delivery to a low-carbon delivery zone to be made using a low-carbon delivery method. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Low-Carbon Fleet Rebate Program. Provides that the Program shall offer a qualifying purchaser a grant up to 50% toward the purchase of an electric-assist cargo bicycle. Provides that the Program shall offer increased grant incentives of an additional 25% of the purchase amount for the purchase of an electric-assist cargo bicycle that will deliver goods within a low-carbon delivery area that is also designated as an equity investment eligible community. Limits a grant provided under the Program to a maximum award of 75% of the purchase price per electric-assist cargo bicycle. Provides that multiple bicycles may be included in each grant under Program. Allows the Department to limit the amount or number of grants awarded to each qualifying purchaser. Requires a fleet owner to be domiciled in the State. Requires an electric-assist cargo bicycle that acquired using grants from the Program to operate exclusively within the State. Limits the concurrent exercise of home-rule powers. Defines terms.
Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may lease land on property of which the Department has jurisdiction for the purpose of creating, operating, or maintaining a commercial solar energy system or a clean energy project. Provides that the lease shall be for a period not longer than 25 years. Provides that, if practical, the Department shall require that any land or property over which the Department has jurisdiction and that is used for the purpose of creating, operating, or maintaining a commercial solar energy system shall have implemented on it and maintained management practices that would qualify the land or property as a beneficial habitat under the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act. Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Defines “clean energy”. Provides that the Department may provide for at least one electric vehicle charging station, as defined in the Electric Vehicle Act, at any State park or other real property that is owned by the Department where electrical service will reasonably permit. Provides that the Department is authorized to charge user fees for the use of an electric vehicle charging station. Amends the State Parks Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Exempts certain expenditures by the Department of Natural Resources from the Code.
The release of a new Beatles record, a band that officially split in 1970, is rare as hen’s teeth, and a legitimate cause for celebration.
That time has almost come, with “Now And Then” set to drop Thursday (Nov. 2) at 10am ET, followed 24-hours later by the release of an official music video, directed by Lord of the Rings mastermind Peter Jackson, marking the Oscar-winner’s first foray into the short format.
Described as the “last Beatles song,” “Now And Then” began life as a demo written and sung by John Lennon, was later developed and worked on by Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and now finally finished by Paul and Ringo, the surviving members of The Beatles, more than 40 years after the group began work on it.
No Beatles project is complete without a deep-dive, multi-channel exploration, which is what the band provides with a new 12-minute documentary, a companion piece to the song and video.
* I watched the short film last night and was impressed…
The Beatles have released their new single, the long-awaited “Now and Then.” It’s an emotionally powerful song written by John Lennon as a home demo in the 1970s. But it’s also a true Beatles collaboration, with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr playing and singing together. Nothing like “Now and Then” has ever happened before. It’s a totally unique music story: John Lennon leaves a song unfinished, but years later, his friends come together to complete it for him, simply out of love and musical brotherhood. It’s the final masterpiece that the Beatles—and their fans—deserve.
This song is a dream that Paul McCartney spent years bringing into the world, a John demo he was determined to preserve even when nobody else could tell what he heard in it. He produced “Now and Then” with Giles Martin, with John’s original 1977 piano and vocal, George’s guitar from the 1995 Anthology sessions, and Ringo singing and drumming in 2022.
“Now and Then” could have been cheap or cloying or overblown, but instead, it’s a pained, intimate adult confession. You can hear why Paul never forgot this song over the years, and why he couldn’t let it go. You can also hear why he knew this needed to be a Beatles song, and how right he was to pursue his mad quest to the end. In other words, it’s a real Beatles song, adding one more classic to the world’s greatest musical love story.
Thursday, Nov 2, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
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Under state law, Chicagoans will elect 10 school board members from 10 districts in November 2024. The mayor will appoint 10 members from those same districts, and will also appoint a school board president. A 21-member hybrid board will be sworn in January 2025.
Then in November 2026, the 10 appointed members and school board president will be up for election, while the 10 elected in 2024 will continue serving their four-year terms. Going forward, all members will serve four-year terms and elections will be staggered, with half of the seats up for election every two years.
However, the law does not spell out how the map will move from 10 to 20 districts. Lawmakers continue to draw a map with 20 districts and have not made clear how they plan to divide the city into 10 districts for the 2024 election.
Sen. Robert Martwick, a Democrat representing the North West side of Chicago and west suburbs, said that figuring out how to create 10 districts for the 2024 elections and 20 districts for the 2026 elections has been difficult for legislators.
“The original idea was that we would draw ten districts and then after the election we would split them into 20 districts,” Martwick said. “Another variation on that would be to draw 20 districts and combine them for the purposes of the first election. The idea there was that everyone in the city of Chicago would get to pass a vote on this new elected school board.” […]
Corrina Demma, an organizer with Educators for Excellence Chicago that supports the map Leonard’s group proposed, raised concerns that lawmakers could propose residents in only 10 of the 20 districts would vote in 2024, meaning “only half of Chicago will have the privilege to vote … while the other half will lack a voice.”
“At the end of the day, my question is still who gets to decide which 10 get to vote and which 10 don’t?” Demma said. “When we talk about equity and access, we want to hold that process for everyone. To discount half the city right out of the gate, we’re already being inequitable.”
Ms. Demma is right. As I told subscribers months ago, it’s highly doubtful that state legislators can legally deny half of the city’s voters the right to vote for a school board member while granting that right to vote to the other half.
(b-5) On January 15, 2025, the terms of all members of the Chicago Board of Education appointed under subsection (b) are abolished when the new board, consisting of 21 members, is appointed by the Mayor and elected by the electors of the school district as provided under subsections (b-10) and (b-15) and takes office.
(b-10) By December 16, 2024 for a term of office beginning on January 15, 2025, the Mayor shall appoint 10 Chicago Board of Education members, with the advice and consent of the City Council, to serve terms of 2 years. All appointed members shall serve until a successor is appointed or elected and qualified. … The terms of the 10 appointed members under this subsection shall end on January 14, 2027. […]
(b-15) Beginning with the 2024 general election, 10 members of the Chicago Board of Education shall be elected to serve a term of 4 years in office beginning on January 15, 2025. Beginning with the 2026 general election, 10 members of the Chicago Board of Education shall be elected to serve a term of 4 years in office beginning on January 15, 2027. … From January 15, 2025 to January 14, 2027, each district shall be represented by one elected member and one appointed member. After January 15, 2027, each district shall be represented by one elected member.
You can probably see the problem here. The statute clearly mandates twenty districts (plus one citywide), but then goes on to require that each district shall be represented by both an elected member and an appointed member. If there are twenty districts, then that would imply forty members, which isn’t allowed, so the wording doesn’t make sense.
* They could change the statute and start with ten districts with one appointed and one elected and then split those up into twenty districts with everyone elected two years later, but that could also create problems. If, for example, a White person wins a relatively evenly divided combined district and lives in the Latino half, that person could have a leg up to win the Latino half during the following election.
Not to mention that they haven’t yet even figured out how the twenty districts would be initially nested into ten districts. You’d think that would be the first proposal. Instead, legislators only proposed creating 20 districts. How are people going to start circulating petitions for that?
Again, it’s a real mess and it breaks my brain every time I think about it, but so far, we’ve heard no solutions to any of this. Just a 20-district map.
My own suggestion would be to entirely scrap the phase-in and just elect all twenty next year.
Suburban and downstate communities must address how to handle arriving immigrants amid a backlash that saw Joliet Township decline a state grant for migrants after angry residents said they opposed spending tax dollars on foreigners.
The state had announced earlier that the township would receive $8.6 million exclusively for asylum-seekers. The state also awarded $30 million for migrants in Chicago, $1 million to Elgin, $1 million to Lake County, $250,000 to Urbana downstate, and $150,000 to Oak Park.
Following a meeting this month attended by hundreds of residents, Joliet Township decided to withdraw its application for the grant.
* Unlike Joliet, Oak Park officials were upset at their low grant level…
To support services for migrants as they cross into town, Oak Park applied for a $7.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services and Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for housing, food and health care – among other critical needs – and had identified community partners to assist in these efforts.
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus accepted applications for grant awards for municipalities serving asylum seekers. But on Sept. 29, the village was notified it was warded only $150,000, a fraction of its initial request. […]
Village President Vicki Scaman called the awarded money “extremely disappointing” both in terms of the amount and the designated purpose. Her top priority, she said, is continuing to advocate for more funding from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
“We do already have a plan,” she said. “We don’t need a consultant. And the organizations that are currently aiding, they need the help now.”
A west suburban church is calling on others to help after spending thousands of dollars in recent weeks to help migrants.
The Parish of St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles in Oak Park said they’ve opened up their doors for migrants to shower, dress and eat, and the bills have skyrocketed. […]
These shower days mean water bills, which used to be in the hundreds, have skyrocketed to close to $10,000. […]
The church is asking the village of Oak Park for assistance.
The village is trying to figure out how to free up grant money to do that.
“The problem does not start and end in Chicago. It extends elsewhere. We share that responsibility,” said community activist Betty Alzamora. “We have to step up to our collective responsibility as a good neighbor. Our area, starting with Oak Park and the neighboring municipalities, we are fortunate and blessed with lots for resources. Our borders are porous.” […[
In front of Oak Park Village Hall, some of the suburb’s residents are almost begging to help migrants.
“Oak Park has space. We should be welcoming to all these new folks that are coming,” said resident Derek Eder.
As air temperatures fell across Chicagoland this week and snow fell Tuesday, Oak Park officials announced that the village has helped over 100 migrants housed in camping-style tents outside a nearby Chicago police station to secure indoor shelter.
“The Village of Oak Park, under the authority of Village Manager Kevin J. Jackson, activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Wed., Nov. 1, putting in place established protocols in response to the evolving crisis involving asylum-seeking migrants and families in the community,’ village officials stated in a news released issued Wednesday afternoon.
The move comes amid increased urging from some residents for Oak Park village leaders to do more for migrants housed in tents at the 15th District Chicago Police Department station on Madison Street, right at the village’s border with the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and less than a mile from Oak Park Village Hall.
This seems like a no-brainer to me: The Illinois Department of Human Services and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus should give Oak Park what it originally requested.
* ICYMI: Lawmakers release their third draft map for the Chicago elected school board. Chalkbeat…
- The new 20-district map includes five districts where the majority are white, seven that are majority Black and six that are majority Latino.
- Two districts have no majority, but they have a plurality of white voters.
- Some groups already are saying this new map does not do enough to ensure the board will represent the school district’s students.
* Capitol News Illinois | Scholarship tax credit program among issues still on the table with 3 legislative days remaining: At an unrelated event Wednesday, the governor’s tone toward the program was ambivalent when asked about it, saying it’s up to the General Assembly, and that “support for public education is really where my focus is.” “I’ve always said, you know, that we’re not trying to prevent people from going to private school, but I also believe in public education and want to make sure that we’re funding public education, to the extent that that is possible,” Pritzker said.
* St Louis Post Dispatch | Darren Bailey, Mike Bost compete in southern Illinois ‘Trump primary’: Both Bailey and Bost have spent the better part of the campaign attempting to one-up each other on who has the deeper connection with the former president. They are each hoping that Trump will bestow upon them his coveted endorsement. It makes sense given that Trump carried the Southern Illinois-based district that includes parts of the Metro East with 70% of the vote in 2020.
* WAND | Senate Republicans argue Pritzker should focus on Illinois problems instead of national politics: “Right now, here in Illinois, our constituents are hurting,” said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). “The ship of state is sinking.”Rose told reporters Wednesday that he is fed up with the lack of transparency about issues within the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Department of Employment Security and Department of Children and Family Services. He plans to file a resolution calling for an audit to investigate how an IEMA office assistant was paid $60,000 dollars per month.
* ABC Chicago | West Town migrant shelter opening pushed back as unions protest construction work: A handful of union carpenters along with their picket line rat mascot stood in protest along Western Avenue Wednesday. They’re contesting who is carrying out the quick-turn construction at the industrial space that will house 200 asylum seekers, including families and young children.
* Block Club | River North Migrant Shelter Still Being Considered Despite Mayor’s Denials, Alderman Says: After alerting residents Monday about a potential “migrant hotel” in River North, which the Mayor’s Office denied, Ald. Brendan Reilly says it’s still happening — just a few doors down. Reilly blasted Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration in a Monday email to neighbors saying plans were underway to convert a River North hotel into a shelter for more than 1,000 migrants.
* Crain’s | Civic Federation gives thumbs-up to Johnson’s first budget, with two warnings: At the same time, the group urged Johnson to develop long-term plans to fund the city’s pensions as the Illinois General Assembly considers legislation that could raise pension costs. The federation also recommended the city craft a contingency plan if it doesn’t receive additional funding from the state or federal government to assist with care for new arrivals.
* Sun-Times | Daughter of disgraced ex-Ald. Danny Solis resigns from Chicago Park District post: The daughter of disgraced former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis has resigned from a high-ranking post at the Chicago Park District, weeks after WBEZ revealed an internal investigation that accused her of violating the agency’s sexual harassment policy. Despite her father’s dramatic political downfall, Maya Solis had continued in her $126,072-a-year post as one of three region directors for the park district.
* WICS | Illinois State Trooper’s car struck in 18th Scott’s Law-related accident this year: The trooper was handling a previous weather-related traffic crash when a 2003 Toyota Matrix, traveling southbound, failed to move over, striking the right side of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was outside of the squad car at the time of the crash and was uninjured.
* Tribune | Illinois smartphone users sue Motorola Mobility to force arbitration over alleged selfie privacy violations: The arbitration action alleges Motorola violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by “surreptitiously” collecting personal data from users’ selfie photos without permission. Motorola sells Moto, Razr and Edge devices with “high-powered cameras” that use facial recognition and artificial intelligence to identify and store the selfie image, according to the complaint.
* Tribune | An FBI mole at the 2016 Democratic National Convention: The origin story of the Ald. Edward Burke corruption probe: Among the Chicago heavyweights in attendance that week was Ald. Daniel Solis, a staunch Clinton supporter who told the Tribune the excitement of potentially having the first woman in U.S. history ever to be nominated for president was “a historical moment in the life of this country and in my life.” As it turned out, Clinton’s nomination wasn’t the only history going down in the City of Brotherly Love. Behind the scenes, one of the most significant public corruption cases in Chicago history was about to be born.
* Block Club | City Council Blocks Plan To Regulate Little Free Libraries — For Now: The proposed legislation also stipulated only “organizations, not-for-profit entities and licensed businesses” would be eligible to receive the necessary permit to build a bookcase on city land. Libraries on private property, like a front yard, would not be impacted.
