* After so many House Democrats left Springfield tonight that the HDems could no longer pass bills on their own, the Republicans caused a ruckus and the HDems had no choice but to hoist the white flag by adjourning for the weekend. We’ll sort it all out here on Monday…
A 16-year-old girl was already a sex trafficking victim – and we have learned the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services placed her with a three-time convicted felon who is accused of forcing her into prostitution. […]
“They licensed him as a foster parent,” said Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert. “They licensed this 24-year-old pimp as a foster parent for a 16-year-old girl who had a history – they were paying tax money as a foster parent while he was trafficking a 16-year-old girl in DCFS care.” […]
His name is Erick Johnson, and he is also an accused sex trafficker. […]
A court order we obtained says while the teenage girl has waited to get the care and placement she needs, the teen has been trafficked, sexually assaulted, and shot, and has lived on the streets. And ultimately, the order said, “the agency made a pimp the child’s foster parent.” […]
Johnson has a lengthy criminal record. The teen was placed with him just months after he was released from federal prison after a 24-month sentence on a firearms charge.
Before that, Johnson spent three years in state prison for two robbery convictions. […]
Johnson’s latest charges detailed in the court record say the “juvenile victim was being advertised” and prostituted on “a known sex website.”
Savini asked Golbert what this says about the background-checking system at DCFS.
“It says that they’re not doing background checks. It says that it’s broken. It says that it’s dysfunctional,” Golbert said. “It says that maybe we’re at point that we should just abolish DCFS altogether.”
A psychological dated October, 2020 diagnosed xxxx with posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and borderline intellectual functioning. Since that time, according to her attorney, the Cook County Public Guardian, she has been raped, shot and sexually trafficed. When she first came into the system, according to the Public Guardian, DCFS put her in a foster home from which she ran within hours. DCFS then placed the child in a shelter from which she again ran. While on the run, according to the DCFS reports, she was at a hotel and being trafficked to multiple men. She was later psychiatrically hospitalized and then DCFS placed her in yet another shelter. At that placement she jumped out of the 2nd floor window and DCFS then placed her in a hotel with one on one staff. She ran from the hotel as well. On or about May 26, 2020 she was placed in another foster home where she remained for 2 days before running. She was located on or about June 19, 2020 and placed in a non-secure facility for victims of sex trafficking. While there she threw chairs, punched holes in the walls and was ultimately psychiatrically hospitalized. The staff at that facility said they were unable to care for.
On or about November 17, 2020 DCFS placed the child at Indian Oaks, a residential facility where she remained until March, 2022. While at Indian Oaks she ran on multiple occasions.
In April 2022 DCFS a DCFS consulting psychologist wrote an 11 page report in which the first recommendation was for DCFS to provide her with a “Secure Residential Treatment Facility – Sex Trafficking Program.”
No such placement was obtained and there is no evidence that the agency ever attempted to find such a placement.
In July 2022 the child had a seizure while riding on a CTA train and was brought to St. Bernard’s hospital. It was recommended she receive psychiatric hospitalization at that time but she ran away before she could be so placed. In August, 2022 she had another seizure on an elevated train and was allegedly attacked by 3 men on the train. Chicago Police Department brought her to a psychiatric facility. She ultimately ran from that facility and on August 12, 2022 was shot. The bullet remains in her leg which is causing her continued distress.
In December, 2022, according to the public guardian, the child self-selected a placement with a 24-year-old man, named Erick Johnson. “Ultimately, Mr. Johnson passed placement clearance and was approved by DCFS to be her fictive kin foster parent.” Apparently, Mr. Johnson was a pimp with a lengthy criminal history. Presently he is incarcerated at the Cook County jail.
* From the governor’s office…
In this case, the 16-year-old was placed with a friend of the family with the support of both her birth and adoptive mothers and the guardian ad litem in an effort to provide her with stability due to her history of running away from previous placements.
Over the next several months DCFS regularly met with the friend of the family as well as the adoptive and birth mothers and the guardian ad litem on a placement plan. These are the individuals with parental rights and responsibilities related to the child and DCFS, therefore, works closely with them to determine an appropriate plan of action for the child.
The child has since been removed from this household and there are no other foster or adoptive children living in this household. The child is currently in the care of a DCFS private partner and DCFS is working expeditiously to find a permanent and medically appropriate placement for this child that will provide her with the care she requires.
*** UPDATE *** It turns out, the Cook County Public Guardian is the girl’s guardian ad litem. From Charles Golbert…
I saw DCFS’s disingenuous statement. We are the child’s Juvenile Court-appointed attorney and guardian ad litem. It’s true that the girl expressed an interest in living with Johnson. DCFS represented that Johnson had passed DCFS’s placement clearance, and that DCFS had approved Johnson as a paid fictive kin placement for her. Under DCFS’s regulations, DCFS must perform a criminal background check on an individual before he or she can pass DCFS’s placement clearance.
DCFS either never did this required background check on Johnson or, if DCFS did do this required background check, it did not do so competently or was not concerned about his lengthy record. We most certainly never told DCFS, or anyone else, that we supported DCFS placing her with Johnson if DCFS’s required background check came back to DCFS with a record as long as an arm including Johnson being a three-time felon. Moreover, as is clear from the judge’s order entered yesterday in the case, DCFS also never disclosed to the court that Johnson had this extensive criminal background despite DCFS passing him for placement clearance and approving him as a paid fictive kin placement.
The Illinois Senate has adjourned until Tuesday. They passed 31 bills today and 67 total this week. Their deadline to get bills out of the chamber is next week. After that, they go on spring break for two weeks. #twillpic.twitter.com/AHW0RAKHJG
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Illinois House of Representatives passed his legislation to protect vulnerable residents from gas or electric utility service disconnection for nonpayment of bills when temperatures are 90 F or above, or when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, heat advisory, or excessive heat warning.
Raoul initiated House Bill 1541, which was sponsored by Sen. Mattie Hunter and Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, to amend the Public Utilities Act (PUA), which currently prohibits disconnection when the temperature is 95 F or hotter. However, the PUA does not account for extreme heat events when the heat index may rise to a dangerous level when temperatures are below 95 F.
“Summertime heat in Illinois is not the time to put lives at risk. Too often do Illinois residents die in heat waves that can easily be prevented by lowering the threshold for utility shutoffs,” Raoul said. “This updated legislation will protect the health and safety of Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens during extreme heat events through prohibiting electric and gas utilities from disconnecting service for nonpayment.”
Through education, advocacy, and research, Raoul’s Public Utilities Bureau identified the statutory protections found in the PUA are insufficient to protect the most vulnerable Illinois citizens such as older adults, very young children, people with chronic conditions like high blood pressure, and people who are overweight.
* Sen. Gillespie…
Youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services often have several adults speaking on their behalf regarding what is in their best interest. To ensure youth have a say in their future and guaranteed legal representation, State Senator Ann Gillespie passed legislation out of the Senate on Friday.
“Youth in care are the experts when it comes to what they need; they should have a say in the decisions being made about their lives,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This legislation gives youth in care an attorney who will elevate their voice and advocate for their wishes.”
Illinois is one of seven states that does not guarantee legal counsel to at least some youth in care, and one of 14 states that does not guarantee legal representation for all children in child welfare proceedings. Without legal representation, children are left to navigate complex proceedings on their own, putting them at risk of receiving unfair treatment or having vital decisions about their future made without their input.
Senate Bill 1478 amends the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights Act to inform youth of their right to an attorney in child welfare proceedings. The legislation also creates the Due Process for Youth Oversight Commission to oversee implementation, which will be comprised of lawmakers, legal and judicial experts in juvenile law, social workers and DCFS administrators.
The Illinois General Assembly passed HB 1049 on Thursday, preventing dog breed discrimination by insurance companies.
Spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society and rep. Rita Mayfield. […]
Prior to the legislation, a majority of Illinois insurance companies could dictate what breed or mix of dog owners can keep regardless of behavior.
* SB2014 passed the Senate and now will head to the House…
To make our roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of public transit, State Senator Mike Simmons passed a measure today requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to make bike and pedestrian safety improvements to non-highway roadways under its jurisdiction whenever routine maintenance is being done on those roads.
“Biking along a path or road can be stressful enough when worrying about oncoming cards, especially for parents biking with their children,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This initiative will help ensure bike and pedestrian safety improvements are completed in tandem with routine work such as pothole or street lighting repairs.” […]
Senate Bill 2014 requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a policy which ensures the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on roadways in Illinois. The policy will require that improvements — such as high-visibility signage, crosswalk upgrades, curb bump outs, barrier-protected bike lanes and bus shelters — are made during routine maintenance and within 1,000 feet of the maintenance work to any state roads located within a municipality.
Longtime animal welfare backer State Senator Linda Holmes passed a law in 2017 to prohibit the use of an elephant in a traveling animal act. On Friday, she moved legislation to further address public safety concerns with “roadside zoos” by creating a Class B misdemeanor for allowing a member of the public to come into contact with a bear or nonhuman primate.
“The public handling and show of these animals continues a cycle of endless breeding where they are born into captivity to be used as props and business commodities,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “They also may result in harm to the person or animal in such a situation — a risk that could create a terrible tragedy.”
The prohibition is limited to allowing public contact. The misdemeanor charge would be for any person who allows such an encounter. Any law enforcement or peace officer may enforce the provision, and the Attorney General or State’s Attorney may bring an action to enforce the provision or for an injunction to restrain any actual or threatened violation.
Senate Bill 1883 was approved Friday by the Senate on a vote of 43-9. It will now head to the House for their consideration.
* HB2831 passed the House…
With pandemic-era executive orders expiring, state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, is teaming up with the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA) to pass legislation that will enshrine the state’s Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Community Advisory Council on Homelessness, as well as create an Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
LaPointe will join SHPA’s 2023 Legislative Reception on Tuesday, March 28 in Springfield to highlight the measure and encourage further action. LaPointe and leaders from SHPA will be available to the media to discuss the proposal, as well as the current state of homelessness in Illinois. […]
“House Bill 2831 will build upon Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order creating the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and reflecting the legislature’s commitment to addressing the big picture issues of homelessness, institutionalization and housing instability in Illinois,” SHPA Executive Director David Esposito said. “It is a great honor to support Governor Pritzker’s vision and to partner with Representative LaPointe as we transform Illinois’ response to homelessness.”
LaPointe’s House Bill 2831 builds on an executive order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Sept. 2021 that created – within the Department of Human Services (DHS) – the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness, as well as the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. The “State Homelessness Chief” oversees these commissions.
* Rep. Rosenthal…
This week, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation filed by State Representative Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville) to improve opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses. The legislation, House Bill 2288, updates the Illinois Procurement Code, so veteran-owned small businesses are more able to compete for state contracts.
“The Veterans Business Program exists to give our veteran-owned small businesses the chance to compete for state contracts,” said Rosenthal. “When the program was established it set limits for gross sales that are so low today that very few of our veteran businesses are now able to qualify for the program. This legislation doubles the limit to expand access for our veteran businesses.”
As Rosenthal referenced, the number of veteran-owned small businesses who qualify for the Veterans Business Program had fallen to only 15% of previously eligible businesses by FY21. To improve eligibility for the program, HB 2288 increases the limit for a business’s annual gross sales to less than $150 million, rather than less than $75 million as established back in 2011. This change reflects the increase in construction prices of 50-70% that has taken place since 2011.
* No relation…
Today, the House voted to defend parental rights and pass H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) voted in favor of this legislation which includes two provisions Rep. Miller drafted to protect children’s privacy from Big Tech and affirm a parent’s right to opt their children out of taking surveys regarding sexual orientation, transgender ideology, and woke politics.
Rep. Miller released the following statement on the final passage of the Parents Bill of Rights Act:
“Today, I proudly voted with the House to pass the Parents Bill of Rights,” Miller said. “I am grateful that several of my bills are included in this legislation to protect children from radical gender ideology and to ensure parents give permission when information is being collected about their kids through surveys or documents. Parents have the right to know what is being taught to their child and the right to opt their child out of any discussion about sexual orientation and gender ideology. Parental rights are non-negotiable and I am proud House Republicans are keeping our commitment to fight for parental rights.”
* SB2034 passed out of the Senate…
Senate Bill 2034 provides extended bereavement leave to employees who have lost a child to suicide or homicide: up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for larger businesses with at least 250 workers and six weeks unpaid leave for smaller businesses with fewer than 250. It also provides penalties against employers who violate the act and provides that employees who take leave will not be entitled to any more benefits than they would have had they not taken such leave.
“Loss and grief have no right answer or solution, however my hope is this bill will provide individuals with some relief knowing they do not have to worry about losing their jobs when focusing on their families,” Villa said. “This bill addresses loss to homicide or suicide. If you or someone you know might be suffering from suicidal thoughts, you can call the suicide and crisis lifeline by dialing 988.”
* This last one is from Rich: Rep. Steven Reick spoke on the floor this afternoon of his concerns about Rep. Marcus Evans’ HB2132, which would put in place a process to build a Lake Michigan wind project on the South Side…
I’m glad the previous speaker mentioned New Jersey. There was a story in National Review a week or so ago about the fact that there are a greater number of whales washing up on the beach in New Jersey now, and the speculation has that the sound waves that are being put off by offshore wind things are screwing up the whales’ sonar to the point where they are beaching themselves.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy later rose and with tongue planted firmly in cheek said…
Cassidy: One of the previous speakers raised some reports that haven’t necessarily been fully fleshed out in terms of the impact on marine life. I am aware that Lake Michigan is a fresh water body so are there freshwater whales? Are you aware of that?
Cassidy: Yeah. So, but honestly, it made me think about maybe there might be some side benefit here. Do you know if there’s ever been any exploration into whether this theory that the vibrations might impact marine life could be a tool we could use against the zebra mussel or Asian Carp?
The Redneck Fishing Tournament people might be interested in that.
The bill went on to pass 85-21. Rep. Reick then walked over and laughed with Cassidy…
Hey, you gotta do something to lighten up deadline day.
By the way, the blog will stay open as long as the House remains in session today/tonight. - Rich
* From a Feb. 1st Illinois Freedom Caucus press release…
Illinois Freedom Caucus member Adam Niemerg negotiated some [House] rule changes […]
Niemerg also negotiated the end of the consent calendar that allowed large number of bills to be voted on with one roll call. Consent Calendar bills often included ceremonial legislation such as measures to change the name of roads to honor members of the community, but the list also included substantive legislation.
Substantive bills deserve individual roll calls so that members are completely aware of the full implication of their votes, and thanks to Freedom Caucus member Adam Niemerg we secured an important victory for the people of Illinois.
The House adjourned last night somewhere around midnight after debating and then passing 142 substantive bills. By Isabel’s count, 92 of those (65 percent) passed after debate without a single vote in opposition.
Today is Third Reading passage deadline day. As I write this (2:30 in the afternoon), the House is now on page 5 of the calendar, with 18 pages left to go. The Senate, on the other hand, is putting together a large consent calendar that it will vote on next week.
* The Question: Should the House abandon this rule change? Explain.
Two officers at Pontiac Correctional Center were attacked earlier this week, marking the third assault on staff at the facility in just five months.
According to Will Lee, President of AFSCME Local Chapter 494, two inmates jumped on the officers in the law library Wednesday morning. Both officers were taken to the hospital, with one released the same day. The other required additional treatment, and was taken to a different hospital to have more work done. There’s no word on his condition, per privacy reasons.
Both of the inmates are identified. Their names are confidential, pending more information from the Department of Corrections. It’s unknown if they’re facing charges.
The latest in a string of attacks at Pontiac, Lee says not much has changed since their demonstrations last fall calling for additional security measures at the facility. He points to a continued lack of staffing as the primary reasons. For now, the union has monthly meetings with facility management, with union members bringing up consistent issues.
* Pantagraph story about a teacher who quit after parental rage…
A Heyworth teacher has resigned following public backlash over a sex education book in her classroom.
The Heyworth school board approved a separation agreement at a special meeting Thursday with eighth grade English teacher Sarah Bonner. The vote came after a closed session and more than an hour of public comment, generally in her favor.
Bonner declined a request for an interview with The Pantagraph following the meeting.
The book in question was Juno Dawson’s “This Book is Gay,” a young adult nonfiction work on sexuality and gender. It was not in the school library but was Bonner’s own book in her classroom, Superintendent Lisa Taylor said.
Parent Jeff Klawitter, who spoke twice, said the issue had nothing to do with Bonner’s teaching style but he believed the book was inappropriate and was brought into the classroom without his or other parents’ knowledge.
* For no reason in particular, here’s the Illinois unemployment rate since 1976…
* ICC…
Chicago, IL – The Illinois Commerce Commission released its annual report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials (hazmat) on Illinois railroads. Of the 8,549 rail cars inspected in 2022, the ICC found violations in just 1.3 percent of all inspections. When these inspections first started in 1981, violations topped 12 percent.
“The disaster in East Palestine has rightfully turned attention to our nation’s rail safety efforts. Our hazardous materials report is an important resource for understanding the kinds of incidents that occur on Illinois railways and helps the Commission to inform its ongoing safety measures,” said ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski. “Investigating these incidents when they occur is critical, but the goal of routine inspections is ultimately to minimize and prevent these disasters from occurring in the first place.”
To help prevent hazmat disasters, ICC inspectors conduct frequent field checks to evaluate signals, track structure, operating practices, and hazardous materials transported by rail. In cooperation with Federal Railroad Administration inspectors, ICC inspectors focus on railroad mainline tracks, rail yards, and the industrial facilities of shippers and consignees of hazardous materials. Any violations or defects discovered, regardless of severity must be corrected to prevent serious incidents.
In addition to routine inspections, the ICC’s Hazardous Materials Safety Program includes technical assistance to shippers, consignees, and rail carriers; the inspection and escort of nuclear materials; and education and outreach activities. To keep communities safe in the event of a derailment, ICC works with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide technical aid to local emergency responders and investigate the cause of hazmat incidents.
The ICC is required by law to prepare a report on hazmat accidents for the General Assembly including the location, substance involved, amounts involved, and the suspected reason for each accident, as well as the rail line and point of origin of the hazardous material involved in each accident. Three categories of information contained in the report have also been added by the ICC’s Railroad Safety Section to make the report more useful. These include the type of equipment involved, date of incident, and the amount of hazardous material released in the accident. “Amount Released” is distinct from the required “Amount Involved.” “Amount Involved” is simply the quantity of commodity that was being transported; the “Amount Released” into the environment by an accident is far more critical.
To read the report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials on railroads in Illinois click here.
* “Entry is free for high school and college kids”…
Looks like grooming /s.
…Adding… I forgot about a pic I had. This press release reminded me…
Last night, Illinois State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Bloomingdale) celebrated the unanimous passage of her first bill through the House of Representatives. The legislation – HB2094 – aims to protect homeowners from deceptive mortgage marketing practices. The bill cracks down on bad actors who take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners, specifically those who are new to the home buying process and seniors who may be more vulnerable to deceptive marketing tactics.
She was wearing a red jacket loaned to her by former Rep. Randy Ramey. It used to be, freshmen were compelled to wear Ramey’s red jacket during floor debate on their first bills. But like most other freshman hazing rituals, the tradition was (thankfully) abandoned…
That’s just a wee bit big on her.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* WBEZ | Illinois Democrats spending big to combat ‘extremist conservatives’ in school board races: Historically, voter turnout for school board elections are low, and don’t make headlines beyond the given community. But in recent years, school board meetings and elections across the country have become more contentious over topics like COVID-19 mitigation policies, book bans and diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum.
* Daily Southtown | Palos Park mayoral candidates share their plans to increase community engagement: Milovich-Walters said she’d like to establish a welcome committee made up of community members to help get the word about businesses, events and organizations. The committee would make brochures with information and talk with residents, particularly new residents, to engage them with the community.
* WGN | CPD officer Danny Golden files lawsuit against now-closed Beverly bar: Sean’s Rhino Bar and Grill — which closed last year and remains for sale — violated its liquor license, ignored capacity restrictions and did not have security guards working on the night that Golden was shot last July, according to the lawsuit filed last month by Golden and his brother, who was also wounded in the shooting.
* AP | Rap artist Afroman sued by officers who raided his home: Seven law enforcement officers have sued rap artist Afroman, accusing him of improperly using footage from a police raid on his Ohio home last year in his music videos. Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office brought the suit earlier this month, claiming invasion of privacy. Other law enforcement officers who were involved in the raid are not named as plaintiffs.
The port’s backers include a downstate Republican state senator and a longtime personal friend of the governor’s who did public relations work for him, his charities and his business interests for many years before Pritzker was elected. […]
When Pritzker approved the earmark for the Cairo port, it was far from shovel ready.
Even today, after $2.8 million of the grant has been spent, the project has stalled. Work stopped June 30 amid state officials raising questions about how bond proceeds were being spent. Officials wanted a tighter reign on which costs could be paid out of Rebuild Illinois bond proceeds before funding the next $7.5 million the port requested. […]
But Pritzker’s original Rebuild Illinois plan, signed into law that June, did not direct funds specifically for the Cairo port. […]
Port backers had requested $7.5 million to advance to the next phase.
But they have hit a serious roadblock. The Illinois Department of Transportation, the state agency in charge of the grants, had found a “deeply concerning” pattern of spending, as more than half the state funds already spent had gone to pay consultants. […]
Not only did the $40 million grant fall short of the initial projected cost of $75 million, but the latest design is projected to cost $250 to $300 million. The port district plans to raise the additional funds from private investors, rather than request more state funding, according to port planners. […]
Illinois lawmakers tried to exempt the port from tougher state [wetlands] requirements and apply the less stringent federal standard, which calls for fewer acres of new wetlands, but the governor didn’t agree to their plan.
He vetoed the bill, with the governor’s spokeswoman explaining that given the hardships Cairo has already endured, it didn’t need an “environmental disaster” on its hands.
Not mentioned is that new board members were appointed last year.
In a similar vein, Pritzker defends his decision to award a $96 million grant for a 5 1/2 mile passenger train line several miles outside of St. Louis, because so little state money has been spent on infrastructure in the area.
Since the late 1990s, local officials have tried to get millions of dollars to extend the MetroLink light rail system from Scott Air Force Base, near Belleville, to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, both in St. Clair County Illinois. […]
In 2019 Pritzker put $96 million in his Rebuild Illinois capital plan for the MetroLink extension. […]
State and local officials did not answer detailed questions about the process and provided scant records regarding the origins of the grant. But one political ally of the governor who clearly benefited from the deal is former Congressman Jerry Costello, now a lobbyist and consultant.
On a list of Costello’s accomplishments, the Bi-State Development Agency, which owns and operates MetroLink, pointed to his work “with federal and state officials on the extension of MetroLink to MidAmerica Airport in Illinois. The project was awarded a $96 million grant from the State of Illinois.”
The Rebuild Illinois legislation includes a $5 million grant that on paper would appear to benefit the Illinois Medical District, a government body that owns and oversees properties on the Near West Side.
But the district says it never asked for the grant to be included in the legislation. Instead, it has been used as a pass-through for a politically active real estate developer and his mixed residential and commercial development on IMD property – 9.5 acres of neglected, contaminated land just southwest of Harrison and Damen.
That real estate developer, Elzie Higginbottom, is the true beneficiary of the grant, which pays for site preparation such as excavation, hauling and soil remediation, plus an outdoor plaza with a $400,000 fountain set amidst 23-foot-high illuminated, stainless steel arches. […]
Higginbottom was credited by Politico with connecting Pritzker to the Black community during the 2018 race for the governor’s office saying he made introductions for the billionaire gubernatorial candidate.
In December 2018, Pritzker named Higginbottom and his wife, Deborah, to his inaugural committee along with 38 other Illinois movers and shakers. […]
Higginbottom has started to lease out apartments in the newly built 161-unit building on the site; the next step is building a hotel, scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2023.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also shifted other expenses from the city budget to CPS. Those include non-teacher pensions — a cost that has grown every year and which CPS officials project to reach $315 million by 2026 — and crossing guards and school police officers, worth $30 million combined. The mayor gave CPS more TIF dollars but not enough to cover the shifting costs.
And now CPS wants a state bailout.
In my opinion, the city ought to put that money back before there’s any talk of additional funding.
* Brandon Johnson press release…
Commissioner Brandon Johnson released the following statement on a breaking news story detailing Paul Vallas’ severe mismanagement of Chicago Public Schools finances:
“This report makes clear that Paul Vallas failed Chicago students and families while benefitting his Wall Street donors. Paul Vallas betrayed Chicago just like he betrayed Philadelphia and New Orleans school systems. His trail of destruction must come to an end. Paul Vallas must not be allowed to continue failing up. The people of Chicago deserve fully funded neighborhood schools, not financial schemes that enrich Wall Street while leading to higher property taxes for Chicago’s working families.”
The report, detailed in a news story tonight, shows that Vallas issued $666 million worth of so-called “payday loan” bonds that resulted in $1.5 billion in interest payments — an effective interest rate of 223 percent. These massive loan payments then went to the same Wall Street banks and huge fund donors that now back Vallas’ campaign.
Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is releasing a new television ad that shows exactly how dangerous his opponent Brandon Johnson’s plans to defund the police would be for Chicago. “911 Unanswered” highlights the 21,000 high priority emergency calls that were not responded to by the Chicago Police Department last year due to a lack of available officers or cars. If Johnson has his way and makes deep cuts to the police, the city’s manpower crisis will become even more acute and response times will get worse, putting Chicagoans in danger.
“Chicago has an immediate public safety crisis that the next Mayor must address, and cutting the police budget like Brandon Johnson supports will only make this devastating situation worse,” said Vallas. “The only way to make our neighborhoods safer and reduce response times is to adopt a true community policing strategy, put more officers onto the local beats and rebuild trust between the police and the residents. That will be my focus on day one as Mayor.”
I don’t think that spot has the pop of previous Vallas ads.
* WTTW looks at Vallas’ pledge to convince “hundreds” of retired Chicago police officers to return to the force…
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass backed plans to rehire 200 retired police officers in January. However, representatives of the police union representing Los Angeles officers said there had been very little interest from retired officers, according to the Los Angeles Times. The department has yet to announce if any officers have rejoined the Los Angeles Police Department.
Vallas’ promise is “uniformed, naïve or dishonest,” said Tom Needham, who served as the top lawyer for the Chicago Police Department between 1998 and 2002. He now operates his own law firm and is not publicly supporting a candidate for mayor.
“It is just not going to happen,” Needham said. “He should stop saying this or offer some proof.”
Most officers decide to retire for a host of reasons after they serve at least 29 years and one day on the force, ensuring they maximize their pension benefits, said Needham, a resident of Edison Park who comes from a family of police officers. Officers also face a mandatory retirement age of 63, according to departmental policy.
“I don’t believe guys up and retire because of who is in the mayor’s office,” Needham said. “They definitely grouse about it, though.”
* Vallas…
Former Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama and longtime Chicago civic leader Arne Duncan is endorsing Paul Vallas for Mayor. The founder of the non-violence organization CRED and a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools who succeeded Vallas in the position, Duncan made his endorsement in a Chicago Tribune Op-Ed piece that ran this morning and read in part:
“… Paul Vallas would be the best person to push CPD into the modern age and bring change to a toxic, broken police culture. Vallas comes from a family of police and, as an unpaid adviser to the FOP and the union representing police sergeants, he negotiated meaningful reforms in both contracts. … given the desperate need to reform CPD, tell police the truth and hold them accountable, Vallas is our best hope for a safer Chicago.”
Duncan is the latest high-profile Democratic leader to back Vallas’ campaign, joining former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, former Congressman Bobby Rush, a plethora of local Aldermen representing all corners of the city and more.
“I have known Arne Duncan for many years and the work he has done as an education leader in Chicago and alongside President Obama in Washington has positively impacted the lives of millions of students,” said Vallas. “I have the deepest respect and admiration for Arne’s commitment to frontline work on violence prevention and re-entry support programming in our long-neglected South and West Side neighborhoods. Arne is absolutely right that our city needs a leader who has the confidence of the rank and file police in order to make the changes necessary at the department to not only make Chicago safer, but to repair the broken relationship between the police and the community. I’m grateful to Arne Duncan for supporting my campaign.”
* Johnson yesterday…
Today, former Cook County Clerk David Orr endorsed Brandon Johnson for mayor.
“I’m proud to support Brandon Johnson for mayor and believe he is the right candidate to provide thoughtful, ethical leadership for the city of Chicago,” said Orr. “Commissioner Johnson has the passion and principles to be the effective leader our city needs in this moment.”
Orr served as Cook County Clerk from 1990 to 2018, and prior to his tenure as Clerk, as Alderman of the 49th ward in Chicago City Council from 1979 to 1990. In 2018, Orr created Good Government Illinois, a political action committee to support election reform, campaign finance reform, and candidates that share good governance values.
“I’m humbled to be endorsed by Clerk Orr and am grateful for his dedication to lifting up local good government leaders,” said Commissioner Johnson. “Clerk Orr honorably served the people of Cook County and Chicago for decades and I am grateful for his wisdom and support.”
* Rep. Mah…
The first Asian American leader elected to the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Theresa Mah—whose district overlaps with the 11th Ward communities of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chinatown and McKinley Park—issued the following statement in response to 11th Ward aldermanic candidate Anthony Ciaravino’s comments on WBEZ dismissing the importance of Asian representation on City Council:
“After years of organizing, agitating and fighting for representation on the Chicago City Council, the Asian American community finally saw our dream realized last year with the redistricting of the new 11th Ward–the city’s first Asian-majority ward, with Chinatown as its centerpiece. It was a crucial moment that finally recognized the importance of our community’s contributions, and ensured our interests would be effectively represented in City Hall.
“That’s why it was profoundly disturbing to hear 11th Ward aldermanic candidate Anthony Ciaravino on WBEZ saying he does not see the value in Asian representation on City Council.
“In the report, WBEZ reporter Esther Yoon-Ji Kang asked Mr. Ciaravino: ‘What is your response to [Chinatown community members’] hopes for Asian representation. Is that important at all?’ Mr. Ciaravino responded: ‘I don’t think so.’
“Whether it relates to public safety, language access, small business support, social services or City service delivery, our community has unique needs that must be addressed by a leader who respects and understands them. This statement from a person seeking to represent the 11th Ward is appalling and offensive. Our community must act affirmatively to wholly reject his candidacy on April 4.”
Ciaravino is running against Ald. Nicole Lee, the first Asian American woman and first Chinese American member of the City Council.
* NBC Chicago | New Chicago Mayoral Poll Shows Vallas, Johnson Even Tighter Than Before: Notable is the percentage of respondents who said they were undecided. That number also dropped from 16% to 9.6%, according to the poll. In addition, respondents were asked if their “mind is made up” or if they could change their answers before April 4 and 15.5% said they could still change their mind.
* Arne Duncan | Chicago needs a mayor who will tell CPD and its union the hard truth: For too long, the Chicago Police Department has had a go-it-alone mentality about fighting crime with big specialized units aggressively descending on high-crime neighborhoods like an invading force. The predictable result of this approach is lack of trust and angry, frustrated communities.
* Block Club | Mental Health Services Are Now Available In Some Chicago Libraries: The program is part of the Department of Public Health’s work to expand its mental health work in all of Chicago’s 77 community areas, according to a news release. The agency’s mental health clinicians will be able to serve people 13 and older regardless of their ability to pay, insurance or immigration status.
* ABC Chicago | Chicago potholes: Is filing a damage claim with the city worth it?: It’s spring, which means it’s pothole season. They can cause hundreds of dollars in damage to vehicles. You can file a claim with the city if you hit a Chicago pothole, but is it worth it? The I-Team found that less than half of last year’s pothole claims have been cleared for payout.
* Sun-Times | Southwest Side activists call on next mayor to address pollution: ‘We have to change this’: “We have 10 times the amount of pollution here on the South Side than anywhere else in the city,” Southwest Environmental Alliance Chairperson Theresa Reyes said at a rally outside MAT Asphalt at 2055 W. Pershing Road. “The pollution isn’t distributed evenly across the city. Where is it? Here. That ain’t right.”
* Block Club | Englewood’s Save A Lot Will Open ‘As Soon As Possible,’ Replacing Closed Whole Foods Market: Neighbors were told at a 16th Ward grocery steering committee meeting last week that Save A Lot would host a “soft opening” March 28 and a “hard launch” in mid-May, members of Resident Association of Greater Englewood said at their meeting Tuesday. A representative from Yellow Banana did not directly share the dates at the ward meeting, attendees said.
* WGN | ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ show coming to Adler Planetarium: “It really is a space show,” said Adler Sr. Director of Theaters & Visualization Mike Smail. “You will really see a lot of the same beautiful space as in our international productions.” “It promises to be immersive; an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience,” part of a statement from Pink Floyd said.
* Crain’s | Hispanic homeownership in the Chicago area is unusually high. Here’s why: Of the region’s Hispanic households, 58% own their homes, according to data out this month from the National Association of Realtors. That’s 7 percentage points higher than the national rate of Hispanic homeownership, 50.6%. The figures for Asian, Black and white homeownership in the Chicago area are all within about 2 percentage points of the national figure.
* WTTW | Chicago Parks Are on Fire, and That’s a Good Thing: In recent weeks, the district has conducted prescribed burns at Rainbow Beach and Park 566 on the far south lakefront, two of the 15 parks targeted during a burn season that started in late November and is now coming to a close, according to Matt Freer, assistant director of landscape.
Behold, the resume that legendary 13th Ward precinct captain Ed Moody submitted to ComEd, which allegedly paid him $4,500 a month for years to do …nothing. It’s possibly the most Chicago exhibit ever admitted in federal court: pic.twitter.com/gqz4qNii1C
* Crain’s | Former senior Madigan aide offers behind-the-scenes look at speaker’s operation: Cousineau testified he called Madigan and told him the bad news. Madigan was accompanied by ComEd lobbyist McClain as the call came in. “Essentially, after some back and forth, he asked me to go and work the bill,” Cousineau said. Asked by MacArthur whether lawmakers knew Cousineau was representing the speaker in asking for their vote, he said, “There was no ambiguity in terms of whether I wanted a yes or no vote. … They knew … I was working at his direction.”
* Hannah Meisel | Utility’s indicted CEO considered Madigan when hiring, witness says: O’Neill’s “concern” over the optics of “a purely political hire” ended up being irrelevant, as Cousineau never accepted the job; O’Neill testified Wednesday that ComEd couldn’t match Cousineau’s salary expectations. Cousineau went on to become a contract lobbyist, and his firm listed ComEd as a client in 2018 and 2019, according to state records.
The Illinois General Assembly, facing upcoming deadlines to advance bills to the next chamber, held several lengthy floor debates this week resulting in hundreds of bills passed in the House and Senate.
As of 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, a total of 320 bills had passed over a three-day stretch collectively in both chambers. The majority of the bills - 284 - were from the House while the Senate, who had not passed any bills this week until Thursday, passed 36. […]
The deadline to pass bills onto the Senate is on Friday, while the Senate has until March 31 to advance their bills to the House.
* Comptroller…
Democratic and Republican members of The Illinois House of Representatives voted 112-0 Thursday for Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza’s Act of Duty bill to provide duty-disability benefits for Chicago first responders severely stricken by COVID-19 in the days before vaccines were available.
The bill now moves to the State Senate, where State Sen. Bill Cunningham is the chief sponsor.
“Our police officers and firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, often sacrificing their own safety to ensure the safety of others,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “As we’ve learned, this legislation is simply the right thing to do for the emergency first responder community and I look forward to sponsoring the bill in the Senate.”
Officers killed by COVID-19 in the days before vaccines were available are considered to have died in an “Act of Duty” under state law, so their families get full benefits. But the city of Chicago’s police pension board has been denying Act of Duty benefits to officers including Comptroller Mendoza’s brother, Chicago Police Det. Sgt. Joaquin Mendoza, who lived through the disease but were left severely disabled.
* Sen. Preston…
Recognizing the current archaic testing and promotion procedure for Chicago firefighters, State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure today to streamline the process and ensure a more equitable system.
“The brave firemen and women of Chicago risk their lives to protect their community every day,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “I’m happy to give back to those who serve by improving this tedious process.”
Under Senate Bill 1707, which was passed in the Senate today, Chicago firefighters would no longer be exempt from the Fire Department Promotion Act – changing the current promotion process for Chicago firefighters. The purpose of the measure is to create a more standardized process of promotions to align with every other fire department in the state where the Fire Department Promotion Act has worked.
* Freshman Rep. Syed passed her first bill yesterday…
My first bill passed in the House yesterday 🎉
This bill would include voter registration as a goal in an individualized education program (IEP) for students with disabilities who are 17 years or older.
To continue her fight to address the teacher shortage, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel championed a measure that would remove the number of days short term substitute teachers can be in the classroom and application fees for teaching licenses, which passed the Senate Thursday.
“As a former special education teacher, I know the struggle of finding substitute teachers, especially with the ever-growing teacher shortage,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “I’ve heard from superintendents in the 49th District and across the state that are desperately trying to find substitute teachers. This is one step we can take to further address the teacher shortage.”
Senate Bill 2236 would remove the number of days for short-term substitute teachers to teach in the classroom – allowing them to spend more time in the classroom if needed. Current law prohibits short term substitute teachers from teaching more than 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher.
* Cool beans…
The Illinois House votes 105-0 to pass @Hanson4Illinois’s bill making the soybean the official state bean of Illinois. The fine people of Decatur — the Soybean capital of the world — will be pleased. #twill
In May 2022, three residents of a Rogers Park senior living complex tragically died of suspected heat exhaustion. In direct response to this tragedy and to improve the quality of life for current affordable housing residents, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced Senate Bill 2013 out of the Senate on Thursday.
“Residents of affordable housing deserve the same respect and care afforded to everyone in an environment that is safe, accessible, clean, and provided with proper cooling and heating systems,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This bill will hold housing providers accountable in making sure our neighbors, both in the 7th district and across the state, live in safe, humane housing.”
Senate Bill 2013 requires any residential building that is state-funded to meet minimum standard of living conditions to continue receiving funding from the program.
The measure would require specific air-conditioning and heating provisions to be included in all state-funded affordable housing. Air-conditioning must be operating when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees and must be operable by residents. It also clarifies language in regards to maintenance, upkeep and laundry access.
A bill opening the process for Illinois to create a new state flag advanced out of the Senate on Thursday, but not before a brief debate between Springfield’s two senators.
Senate Bill 1818 from state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, passed 39-16 during floor debate and will now move to the House. Her bill, still pending House approval, would create a 21-person committee tasked with deciding whether the state needs a new flag. […]
So far, Turner said her office has received hundreds of calls from middle schools and high schools wishing to participate.
“People talk all the time about disconnected the citizenry is with government,” she said during the floor debate. “I think this is a great opportunity to give people a reason to get excited about Illinois again.” […]
State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, rose in opposition to his fellow Springfield legislator. He said he appreciated Turner bringing the bill to the table, even saying the new designs could be “spectacular,” but said the legislature should spend its time with more pressing matters.
* SB195 moves to the House…
State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced legislation that prevents students from changing their legal guardianship in an effort to qualify for need-based financial aid for college.
“When it comes to furthering education with limited resources, students will go to extreme measures to ensure a brighter future for themselves,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “However, no one should ever be put in a position where they have to decide between changing their guardianship and receiving financial aid in order to go to college.”
Senate Bill 195 is a direct response to previous public reports that Illinois students became eligible for need-based education financial assistance through the practice of “opportunity hoarding.” Opportunity hoarding is the practice of exploiting a loophole in the Probate Act by transferring legal guardianship from a parent to a relative or friend in lower income brackets or by declaring financial independence.
A measure that would allow multiple occupancy public restrooms to be labeled gender-neutral was passed by the Illinois House on Thursday with the bare minimum of votes.
The bill, which now moves to the Senate, would amend the Equitable Restroom Act of 2019, which required all single-occupancy public restrooms to be available to all genders. The amendment would only allow restrooms with two or more toilets to be available to all. […]
The bill passed with 60 yes votes, with all but one of the 40 House Republicans voting no.
A northern Illinois lawmaker is proposing new legislation that would lower the state’s minimum drinking age to 18.
The bill would amend the Liquor Control act of 1934, which was the law passed after prohibition that set the drinking age at 21. […]
“What we’d really like to have eventually passed is if you go into an establishment at 18 with your parents or guardian that you’ll be able to have an adult beverage,” said Illinois Rep. John Cabello.
Cabello told FOX 32 that the bill won’t get out of the Rules Committee any time soon, but he says he wants to start the conversation.
Lawmakers are considering bills that would create a new tax credit for affordable housing, referred to as the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit.”
The legislation, contained in the identical House Bill 2044 and Senate Bill 1737, would mirror a federal program administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Chicago Department of Housing which helps finance affordable housing across Illinois. […]
“Our state is facing an affordable housing crisis, stemming from years of housing under-production,” Allison Clements, executive director of IHC, testified in a Senate committee. “Our state’s housing deficit has grown 64 percent since 2012, meaning we have more people needing homes than are available.”
A 2023 IHC report showed Illinois still has a deficit of low-income housing despite the federal program. According to the report, Illinois has lost 13 percent of its low-rent units since 2011. Additionally, while there are more than 450,000 extremely low-income renters in Illinois, there are only about 150,000 affordable and available rental units, creating a deficit of about 288,000.
* Yesterday was the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan…
A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar
* For the first time, the Illinois House has two Muslim freshmen. The House paused at sunset so the two members, Reps. Abdelnasser Rashid and Nabeela Syed, could speak. It’s definitely worth a look…
Speaker Welch catered the subsequent iftar.
* Rep. Syed’s speech was particularly touching…
I just wanted to add on that it is so cool to be here, to have the privilege to be on the House floor observing my fast. And even cooler is to have such kind and understanding colleagues who have checked in on me throughout the day, who have asked me questions about this important month, my favorite month of the year. And I’m just so, so grateful to live in a state that is so inclusive and so welcoming to religious minorities, to racial minorities, to women. So, thank you to my fellow legislators for making this state as inclusive as it is And Ramadan Mubarak. Thank you.
…Adding… From the meal…
When it was time for Iftar, we took a break from voting on bills for @reprashidil and I to speak about the importance of this month. Then, a few of us gathered in the back to eat a wonderful, halal meal that was catered by @SpeakerWelchIL. pic.twitter.com/HlfSgOg0Bz
* News-Gazette Editorial | New revenues welcome, but state debts remain biggest issue: But let’s not get carried away with recent revenue forecasts touting estimates of an additional $1 billion in revenue for the current 2023 fiscal year and the 2024 fiscal year that begins July 1. While Pritzker is riding high on good budget news, Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently suggested taking a go-slow approach.
* Herald & Review | Illinois sports betting handle reaches $9.3 billion in 2022: The state’s handle — the total amount wagered — soared to more than $9.3 billion last year, according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board. Revenues reached nearly $800 million. These represent 39% and 37.8% jumps, respectively, from 2021 totals.
* Crain’s | Giannoulias fears ‘catastrophic’ data hack, wants $200M to fix system: Illinois risks a “catastrophic” security breach of highly confidential personal data on millions of residents unless it soon upgrades outmoded computer systems based on 1980s technology. That’s the bottom line of a report from newly installed Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias that takes a hard look at the status of Common Business Oriented Language, or COBOL, systems his office now uses to store and process Illinoisans’ data, including their home addresses, vehicle registrations, Social Security numbers and organ donor information.
* WSPY | Newark State Rep. learns lay of land in Springfield: Some of the bills include one to help foster parents, a hospital pricing transparency bill, and a bill to help home-based businesses. Davis says he’s been working with Democrats and Republicans to get things done.
* Science | Major shake-up coming for Fermilab, the troubled U.S. particle physics center: In an unusual move, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has quietly begun a new competition for the contract to run the United States’s sole dedicated particle physics laboratory. Announced in January, the rebid comes 1 year after Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), which is managed in part by the University of Chicago (UChicago), failed an annual DOE performance review and 9 months after it named a new director. DOE would not comment, but observers say its frustrations include cost increases and delays in a gargantuan new neutrino experiment.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago Police officers are taught their lives are more important than community safety: As CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini reported Wednesday, the community monitoring group was started as a result of the federal consent decree mandating reforms in the Chicago Police Department. One of the group’s efforts was to inspect what actually happens at the Chicago Police Academy – and take notes. The group’s goal is to stop police brutality and the excessive use of force.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus today held a press conference to discuss some of the majority party’s misguided legislative priorities as the legislative session moves closer to adjournment.
Some of the measures not considered before the Committee deadline include:
• House Resolution 51 – Mandates a forensic audit of state spending, hiring, procurement and contracting
• House Bill 2178 – Repeals the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) directly contributing to higher energy prices
• House Bill 1575 – Lowers the gas tax to 19 cents per gallon
• House 2979 – Increases the standard income tax deduction to $150,000
• House Bill 2599 – Reduces the individual income tax rate from 4.95% to 3.75% and the corporate tax rate from 7% to 6%
• HB3625 – Bans Tik Tok on State Devices
• House Bill 2986 – Prevents the rate of growth of general fund spending from exceeding the rate of growth of the Illinois median household income.
• House Bill 1640 – Creates the Efficient School District Commission to make recommendations on where reorganization and realignment of school districts into unit districts would be beneficial.
• House Bill 2136 – Ends the legislative pension system for new members
• House Bill 3825 – Allows for resident tuition at local non-Chicago school districts within ¼ Mile of district line
• House Bill 1600 – Protects Firearm ownership for tenants
• House Bill 2610 – Allows children at daycare facilities to be exempt from vaccine mandates on the basis of religious exemptions
“We recognize we are in the minority and the likelihood of our bills getting passed is slim to none, but the ideas we are presenting are substantive and should at least merit a discussion,” said State Representative Chris Miller (R-Oakland). “Illinois is in the bottom five in unemployment, and we lost more than 100,000 residents last year. We have former legislators facing federal indictments and a culture of corruption that is legendary. We need to focus on the real problems facing our state, which is what our legislative agenda seeks to do.”
* The Question: Do you support any of these bills? Explain.
Illinois risks a “catastrophic” security breach of highly confidential personal data on millions of residents unless it soon upgrades outmoded computer systems based on 1980s technology.
That’s the bottom line of a report from newly installed Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias that takes a hard look at the status of Common Business Oriented Language, or COBOL, systems his office now uses to store and process Illinoisans’ data, including their home addresses, vehicle registrations, Social Security numbers and organ donor information. […]
A Giannoulias spokeswoman said security concerns prevent her from discussing any actual attack, but Dave Drucker, spokesman for longtime Secretary of State Jesse White, who retired in January, said there, indeed, have been “many” such attempted hacks.
“No records were broken into, but there were numerous efforts to do so” in recent years, Druker said. “We applaud the Giannoulias administration for pushing security.
* IDES…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased by +10,700 in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The January monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +14,300 to +12,300 jobs. The January revised unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, unchanged from the preliminary January unemployment rate. The February payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.
In February, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment included: Government (+5,900), Leisure and Hospitality (+5,100), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+2,700). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll declines included: Professional and Business Services (-3,000), Information (-3,000), and Construction (-1,100). […]
The state’s unemployment rate was +0.9 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate reported for February, which was 3.6 percent, up +0.2 percentage point from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -0.1 percentage point from a year ago when it was at 4.6 percent.
And in the wake of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s election in November 2014, some of [now vice president of external affairs for ComEd Keisha Parker’s] colleagues wondered wondered whether there had been a power shift in Springfield. “I just asked Em if Madigan is still in the driver’s seat? I mean what about Rauner???” a colleague asked in one email shown to the jury.
Parker responded: “You know Daddy is in charge. (Rauner) who??!!”
Parker testified that by “Daddy,” she meant Madigan.
* Press release…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul presented the proposed budget for the Attorney General’s office for next fiscal year to lawmakers today in Springfield. Raoul announced to a legislative committee that his office collected nearly $1.6 billion in revenue on behalf of the state through litigation and collection efforts in 2022. The revenue collected for the state by the Attorney General’s office shows that for every dollar of taxpayer funding the office received in Fiscal Year 2022, it generated $39.52 for the state. […]
In 2022, the Attorney General’s office was able to bring in $304 million through collections litigation, including cases involving the collection of funds for damage to state property, child support enforcement, fines and penalties. The Attorney General’s office also collected more than $807 million through tobacco litigation and more than $456 million in estate tax revenues.
In addition to recoveries for the state, the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau mediated more than 20,000 complaints in 2022. The bureau provided more than $8 million in mediated savings for Illinois consumers and secured more than $207 million through enforcement actions.
* ALPLM…
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum opened a major new exhibit Thursday that explores the elusive idea of “home” and the many different ways Illinoisans have made this state their home over the centuries.
“Here I Have Lived: Home in Illinois” will also introduce visitors to
• Black Hawk, the Sauk leader who refused to be driven away from the land where he grew up
• Oscar Micheaux, a farm boy who broke barriers for Black artists in Hollywood
• Michelle Obama, who started out in a Chicago bungalow and wound up in the White House
• Louisa Phifer, who ran a farm and raised seven children while her husband served in the Civil War.
“Here I Have Lived” features multiple people from Springfield, including a forward-thinking socialite, an immigrant friend of the Lincolns and a witness to the racial violence of 1908.
The exhibit runs through Jan. 21, 2024, in the museum’s Illinois Gallery, a space used for highlighting Illinois history as part of the ALPLM’s role as the state historical library. The exhibit is free with regular museum admission.
* The McLean County GOP throws in everything but the kitchen sink…
Dear [Redacted],
If you don’t think that CRT (critical race theory) and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) policies and practices are impacting kids in Illinois public schools, then consider the following facts:
1. Time is being pulled from critical areas of education to make room for CRT and DEI, and recent school report cards show it.
2. Standards are being eliminated, so no child feels excluded or left behind.
3. Gender-affirming behaviors are practiced and promoted in the classroom, and traditional Christian values are being forcefully rejected.
4. The most explicit form of sex education is being introduced to children at the most tender ages.
5. Children whose parents remove them from objectionable lessons and activities are “punished” with excess workloads while others attend thought- and behavior-influencing events.
6. Kids are routinely calling each other “racist” for the slightest slip of the tongue.
These are just a few instances where social radicals are erasing our children’s innocence and indoctrinating a generation of children in our public school systems. How long will it be before our children are forced to attend “drag queen” story hour or an “adult cabaret” performance for the sake of tolerance? Wokeism is poisoning the brains of youth, and their childhoods are being stolen.
Suppose we don’t act to stop forced conformity by electing good school board members in the April 4th election. In that case, it won’t be long before parents are accused of crimes against society, and our children report us to school authorities for various “undesirable” social behaviors such as child discipline and gun ownership.
Parents – indeed, all citizens – need to understand and think clearly about the political, economic, and moral issues of our day. Each of us must show courage and fortitude in protecting children.
Parents must be informed about the nature of CRT and DEI and how they impact children. Join the Republican Party of McLean County this Saturday morning in learning more about these evil influences. Attend our Critical Race Theory brunch on March 18 from 9-11 AM. Education Specialist Jonathan Butcher of The Heritage Foundation will speak on the “Critical Race Theory” issue as it impacts our schools and our children.
Since UpRising Bakery & Cafe owner Corinna Sac announced plans to close the Lake in the Hills store by the end of the month, online donors have raised more than $34,000.
While the infusion of cash could keep her open, doing so by donation “is not sustainable” in the long run, and she is weighing her options, Sac said.
[…]
As of Wednesday, Sac said she was considering a few options: staying open in Lake in the Hills; moving to a smaller, accepting location; or closing.
If she closes, Sac said, she would ask the fundraiser creator to either return the online donations or ask if donors are OK with her using some funds to pay off final bills, Sac said.
That would be up to her, [Anti-Defamation League Midwest Regional Director David Goldenberg] said, noting the donations did not come with any ties.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Reuters | Union workers can’t sue under Illinois biometric law, court rules: The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously held that campus security workers at Roosevelt University in Chicago must bring claims that the school used their fingerprints for timekeeping without their consent in union arbitration rather than court.
* Pantagraph | Cooperating ex-guard gets 6 years in Illinois inmate’s death: A contrite Willie Hedden, the last of three ex-correctional officers convicted in the beating death of an Illinois prison inmate, was sentenced Wednesday to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to civil rights violations and obstruction and testifying against his codefendants.
* Sun-Times | 4 Chicago cops placed on desk duty amid allegations seized guns were mishandled: Ephraim Eaddy, first deputy of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, said the oversight agency is “actively investigating the actions of the involved officers and made a recommendation to the Chicago Police Department to relieve the officers of their police powers.”
* Crain’s | Biden budget may ease CTA, Metra fiscal pain — but only a bit: At issue is the roughly $350 million a year the three agencies collectively get annually from the federal government in what is known as Section 5307 Urbanized Formula Funds. The money has been earmarked solely for transit capital and capital maintenance programs under terms of a law adopted during the Reagan presidency that banned their use for fuel, pay for vehicle drivers and other operational costs. But Biden wants to loosen that provision.
* Sun-Times | DuPage County’s new tool in fighting domestic abuse: a QR code that points to help: The idea came from John Caldwell, a fire medic with the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District. Caldwell said paramedics often are called to treat people they suspect have been injured by an abuser. They try to give the victim a “tear sheet” that lists agencies that can help them.
* Daily Herald | Proposal for marijuana shop near Buffalo Grove High School faces opposition: But it will need a zoning variance from the village board, since it falls short of the minimum 1,000-foot distance from schools required under village code. The distance from the building to the high school’s property line is 918 feet. Buffalo Grove trustees Monday barely approved sending the application to the planning and zoning commission for further consideration, with trustees Eric Smith, Joanne Johnson and Gregory Pike voting in favor and Andrew Stein and David Weidenfeld opposed.
* Tribune | Paul Vallas’ and Brandon Johnson’s 100-day plans for Chicago: More beat cops vs. ‘Treatment Not Trauma’: Johnson, a Cook County commissioner, said he will double youth employment and vowed to pass “Treatment Not Trauma,” a City Council ordinance to repurpose vacant police salaries to send social workers and medical specialists to nonviolent mental health crises calls, and “Bring Chicago Home,” a plan to raise the real estate transfer tax on properties above $1 million to fund homelessness services. Vallas, the former Chicago Public Schools CEO, said he would place more Chicago police officers on local beats, “address this issue” of recently incarcerated citizens and open school campuses through the dinner hours, weekends and holidays for community programming and services.
* Chicago Reader | The ladies who sing from the back: These Chicago background vocalists have helped the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Otis Clay sound their best. Here their own voices take center stage.
* WCIA | Barbecue sauce, drug incinerator, moon habitat, radar face off in Illinois Maker’s Madness: “The diversity of products that have made it to this final round demonstrate the dynamic nature of our state’s manufacturing sector, as well as the versatility of the women and men who work on our factory floors,” Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association said. “Whether it’s delicious sauces created by a champion pitmaster, housing for astronauts on the moon, a portable drug incinerator to fight narcotics abuse, or a compact sensor to assist drivers and improve road safety, voters have a great field to choose from.”
Thank you for asking about the ACLU of Illinois’ position on HB2123, which creates civil liability for “digital forgeries” (deepfakes). While we acknowledge the real harm that is caused by deepfakes, particularly those of a sexual nature, this bill language creates a sweeping new cause of action against a relatively new form of communication that will have the real impact of chilling or silencing vast amounts of protected speech.
House Floor Amendment 1 does make improvements to the original bill language, but does not address the core of our concerns. With the exception of sexually explicit deepfakes, which cause a unique harm, these cases can and should be brought under existing tort law, including defamation and false light. Existing tort laws include decades of precedent and First Amendment protections for political speech, parody, and artistic expression that a new civil remedy fails to provide. Political speech, in particular, is considered highly protected speech and would be actionable under this legislation. This should be a concern to all of us.
Lastly, the remedies, which include temporary restraining orders and immediate takedown of speech prior to a final verdict, are, as drafted, an unconstitutional prior restraint (judicial suppression of material without first determining if it is unlawful). The First Amendment severely limits the ability of the government to do this.
We have been in conversations with the sponsors and proponents and have suggested alternative language options, including to specifically address the unique harms caused by deepfakes of a sexual nature. We hope that we can continue those conversations to address harmful deepfakes within the boundaries of the First Amendment.
Newly adopted House Amendment 3, we’re told, does not change the organization’s position.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
“Individuals sentenced to probation should be afforded the same liberties as ordinary citizens, as long as the liberties are unrelated to the circumstances that landed them on probation,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Alleviating restrictions on cannabis drug use under supervision for those on probation is a positive step toward true reform.”
Currently, a court can order a person on probation to refrain from using drugs, including substances such as alcohol and cannabis that are legal in Illinois.
Senate Bill 1886 stipulates a court cannot order that a person on probation, conditional discharge, or supervision refrain from having cannabis or alcohol in his or her body unless the presence of an intoxicating compound is an element of the offense charged or the person is participating in a Problem-Solving Court.
“By definition, probation means a person is released for good behavior under supervision,” said Peters. “A person who has demonstrated good behavior shouldn’t be punished for engaging in legal activities.”
Senate Bill 1886 passed the Senate Executive Committee and will now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.
* SB2260, also from Sen. Peters, is heading to the Senate Floor…
With the intention to expand upon domestic violence laws, State Senator Robert Peters passed a measure through committee on Wednesday to protect victims of gender-based violence.
“Current domestic violence laws unfortunately have loopholes that can cause incarcerated survivors to get their resentencing request dismissed,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Expanding upon current domestic violence laws and including protections for victims of gender-based violence helps survivors during their fight for freedom.”
Under current law, relief from judgement following a domestic violence incident is applied when the survivor’s offense was related to having previously having been a victim of domestic violence.
Senate Bill 2260 expands the relief from judgment process for resentencing to include certain offenses committed by a victim of gender-based violence who was unable to present evidence of gender-based violence at trial.
“Supporting survivors of gender-based violence advances true social justice,” said Peters. “Incarcerated survivors should be given a clear path to request resentencing.”
Senate Bill 2260 passed the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety and will now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Two of the youngest members in state legislature history had their first bills pass in the Illinois House this week.
Reps. Brad Fritts and Nabeela Syd, both 23 years old, had bills move to the Senate. House Bill 2963 from Fritts, R-Dixon, passed unanimously on Tuesday and pertains to his hometown’s park district authority to install and operate solar panels at its facilities.
Syed, D-Palatine, received bipartisan support for House Bill 3643 on Wednesday. The bill establishes that students 17 years or older will have their individualized education program plans tailored to promote voter registration. IEP plans are for students ages 3 to 21 who have been diagnosed with disabilities or developmental delays, according to the state board of education.
Some House Republicans expressed concern about involving educators in voter registration. The majority, including Coffey, did support the bill.
* Sen. Tom Bennett advances his bill to remove roadblocks for teachers…
The Illinois Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to advance legislation from State Senator Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) that would remove one of the biggest issues stopping prospective teachers from making it to the classroom. His legislation would suspend the current edTPA requirement, a much-criticized evaluation program that has regularly been cited as a major factor in the worsening teacher shortage. […]
Under current law, prospective teachers are required to pass the edTPA requirement to complete their education program. The edTPA standard has been criticized for being difficult, inaccurate in predicting future performance, expensive for education students, and for taking too much time away from in-classroom training. The requirement has also been blamed for keeping diverse teachers out of classrooms.
Senate Bill 1488, filed by Bennett, would waive the edTPA requirement through August 31, 2025. The legislation would also create the Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force, which would be tasked with developing a new evaluation system for teaching students. The task force would be required to present its findings no later than August 1, 2024.
* Rep. Manley…
I'm happy to announce the unanimous passing of some of my bills in the House of Representatives. As they head to the Senate, I thank my colleagues for their support! Honored to serve as your Representative for the 98th District of Illinois. pic.twitter.com/sQ23LyBdsp
* This bill is in the Rules Committee. Press release…
KIDS TOO, commonly known as the Me Too movement for kids, announced today that they are joining forces with other child advocacy organizations to demand that Illinois Legislators pass HB 3290. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Katie Stuart, Jehan Gordon-Booth, Amy Elik and Michelle Mussman, is designed to criminalize educators who commit a sexual act toward students ages 18-22 attending classes at a public or nonpublic secondary school.
Educator sexual abuse is pervasive in schools across America, with 1 in 10 children experiencing sexual misconduct by a school official before graduating from high school, according to the US Department of Education. Illinois made news headlines in 2018 regarding its largest school district, Chicago Public Schools, when the high volume of sexual abuse cases and misconduct by educators in CPS was revealed.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was created to serve as an independent oversight body for Chicago’s public, contract and charter schools. Among other focus areas, OIG investigates allegations of sexual misconduct, releasing annual reports with insights on allegations, handling of cases and outcomes. In addition, Faith’s Law legislation and its trailer bill, signed by Illinois Governor Pritzker in 2021, ensures training for educators about grooming tactics and allows school districts to request and receive more in-depth educator employment histories.
In Faith’s Law, however, one loophole for predatory educators did not get closed and still remains: Current Illinois law allows sex between teachers and students older than 17. HB 3290 seeks to close this loophole; last week, however, HB 3290 was assigned to the Rules and Regulations Committee, often known in lawmaking circles as the place where bills are sent to never see the light of day.
* Rep. Canty…
Members of law enforcement, firefighters, and correctional officers who sustain a catastrophic injury in the line of duty will be able to select any health insurance plan provided by their employer under a bill passed by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights.
“Our first responders put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities and our families safe. When the worst happens, we are morally obligated to support these heroes to the greatest possible extent,” Canty said. “This bill helps first responders who’ve suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries in the line of duty pay for the health care and treatment they need.”
Currently, under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act, local governments are only required to pay premiums for “basic” health insurance plans, even if it is not the most favorable plan for the injured, and even if the injured was on a different, more expensive plan at the time of injury. House Bill 3249 would require public employers to offer employees eligible for health insurance benefits under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act who face a catastrophic injury the choice of any health insurance plan available to currently-employed full-time law enforcement, correctional or correctional probation officers, or firefighters.
“This bill is a common sense solution that treats our first responders with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Canty said. “I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this essential legislation, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill and support first responders across Illinois.”
House Bill 3249 passed the House with no opposition, and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
In the latest poll conducted by Victory Research on March 20-22, Paul Vallas saw his lead over Brandon Johnson shrink from six points to two, 46.3% to 44.2%, from the previous poll conducted March 6-9. […]
While nearly 10% of voters remain undecided, 15.5% say they could still change their mind.
More here, but some trends outside of the 3.45 MoE are emerging as voters get to know the two candidates better.
By far the most important trend is that even after several high-profile endorsements by Black leaders, Vallas’ support among Black voters has dropped by 13 points since the last poll taken March 6-9. Johnson’s Black support is up by 11 points.
Johnson’s support is rising among women (up 4 points), men (up 6 points), age 46-60 (up 5.5 points), and progressives (up 11 points). Again, at least some of this is because people are just finding out who he is (and are overcoming their anger/disappointment that their first round candidate lost).
Vallas is up among men (4 points), White voters (10 points), Latino voters (6 points) and conservatives (10 points). His support among women is essentially unchanged, which is not a good sign.
And undecideds are down from 16 to 10.
…Adding… I chatted last night with an elected official who said the same exact thing, but I didn’t check all three of the pollster’s results today. Vallas is in the mid 40s, where he has been pretty much the whole time. Is 45-46 a Vallas ceiling? The elected thought it was and that Johnson would overcome it. We’ll see…
Victory Research has done three polls of a Johnson-Vallas runoff:
2/12-15: Vallas 46, Johnson 33 3/6-9: Vallas 45, Johnson 39 3/20-23: Vallas 46, Johnson 44
Vallas steady at 46 while Johnson is consolidating support. Looking to be a very tight race. https://t.co/Z6cBRY86HE
* Eric Zorn makes a good point today that Johnson’s endorsements are almost all expected in one way or another. Vallas’ backing, however, has included some shockers, including Jesse White. Whether it does him any good or not is yet to be seen.
* Oh, for Pete’s sake…
In debate, Brandon Johnson says the CTU never called for the removal of police officers from CPS schools, but the union signed a 2020 resolution asking the school board to phase out SROs. (CBOE shot it down, but LSCs did vote individually to remove some): https://t.co/HmWySrqd2Ipic.twitter.com/9LYPtzS7pX
Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas will be endorsed Thursday by leaders of Cook County Democratic Women, a grass-roots organization that works to ensure that women have a presence and a strong voice in national and local elections.
* And now let’s look at Senate Bill 2339, which was introduced back in 2018…
Provides that if a law enforcement officer detains a minor for an act that if committed by an adult would constitute vehicular hijacking, aggravated vehicular hijacking, or possession of a stolen motor vehicle, the officer shall deliver the minor to the nearest juvenile officer as provided under the Act. … Provides that should the court order detention, the minor shall be detained, pending the results of a court-ordered psychological evaluation to determine if the minor is a risk to himself, herself, or others.
The bill was sponsored by then Sen. Tony Muñoz. It was amended in the House and then died in the Senate. Brandon Johnson weighed in at the time…
More legislation that criminalizes black children? This is stale & reinforces the attitudes that have led to the mass incarceration of Black people in our nation. Tired of being scapegoats to ignite fear and outright fantasies about the nature of crime in our city #VoteNo#SB2339
Chicago is dealing with a major spike in carjackings, with the Chicago Tribune recently reporting that vehicle thefts are up 55% since last year, the largest increase of any U.S. city. But when the state senate unanimously passed a bill to remove loopholes that allowed carjacking suspects to be immediately released with little penalty, Brandon Johnson spoke out against it.
Johnson’s opposition to this common sense public safety measure, coupled with his embrace of the extreme “defund the police” movement, raises significant questions about whether he can be trusted to make Chicago safer according to State Senator Antonio Munoz, who was the lead sponsor of the car theft legislation. Senator Munoz is announcing his endorsement of Paul Vallas for Mayor.
“Chicago has a serious crime problem and we need a Mayor who will side with the victims, not with the perpetrators like Brandon Johnson has done over and over again,” said Senator Munoz. “Brandon Johnson’s approach of defunding the police and opposing stricter penalties for carjacking is the last thing Chicago needs, and that’s why I’m supporting Paul Vallas for Mayor.”
Senator Munoz will be available for comment, if you would like to schedule an interview please contact xxx@xxxxxx.com.
Johnson’s extreme position on crime is clearly out of the mainstream in Chicago, with numerous public opinion polls showing that public safety is the number one issue and residents want more police presence in their neighborhoods.
“Carjacking is an epidemic in our city and it’s shocking that Brandon Johnson tried to stop legislation to ensure that car thieves are held accountable,” said Vallas. “I’m proud to have Senator Munoz’s support because he has a real record of making our community safer, and Brandon Johnson has proven that he can’t be trusted to reduce crime.”
Separately, Johnson’s campaign has manufactured an endorsement and claimed it’s Vallas’.
Context: Oppo research revealed Vallas on a conservative radio show a few years ago claiming Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot “act like dictators” for their pandemic executive orders.
The oppo prompted Republican Darren Bailey to talk about it on his Facebook live page, which Johnson’s team is calling an endorsement for Vallas. Bailey didn’t endorse anyone.
Johnson’s team isn’t giving up on pinning the Republican label on Vallas, who was officially endorsed Wednesday by former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Vallas was Quinn’s running mate in his failed 2013 race against Bruce Rauner. Though Vallas’ more recent stumble might be spending too much time on conservative talk shows.
It’s right that Bailey didn’t endorse Vallas, as we discussed yesterday. But Bailey didn’t just “talk about” Brandon Johnson. Bailey said that if Johnson was elected, “it’s going to be a dark day.”
Also, it’s not just that Vallas spent a lot of time on talk radio shows, for crying out loud, it’s what he said on those shows and in other venues. For instance…
After enacting $5.4 bi. in permanent tax hikes Pritzker thinks he can fool voters by offering $1 bi. in temporary election year tax relief. Meanwhile proposed state budget is unbalanced for 21st straight yr despite in $8.1 new Fed COVID relief.@MaryAnnAhernNBC@AmyJacobson@wttw
Vallas: Pritzker of course just announced that he’s lifting the mask mandate. You know, the science, it’s like, it’s more political science.
“Political science” was a common phrase used by covid deniers. Just sayin.
* An excerpt from the Sun-Times story on Johnson’s meeting with the Crain’s editorial board…
“Of course, we need the support of Springfield and the City Council [for things like the transaction tax]. … Yes, there’ll be some push and pull on this,” Johnson said.
“That’s why I’m best suited for this position. … I am collaborative. I have relationships in Springfield. My opponent has to figure out how he’s going to convince Democrats to work with him.”
He noted he “used to work” for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and that Johnson’s three kids “grew up together” with Speaker Chris Welch’s children.
Johnson contrasted his relationship-building approach to Paul Vallas, whose Republican supporters condemned Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his stay-at-home orders during the pandemic.
“You certainly can’t expect the governor to respond to someone who calls him a dictator,” he said.
Johnson could probably offer to babysit the Speaker’s kids for free anytime, anywhere and he still couldn’t pass that transaction tax. It’s folly. But, yeah, decent point about Vallas. A case can be made that New York City’s mayor hurt the Democratic Party last year by focusing on their soft on crime ways. Vallas could be much, much worse.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Chalkbeat | Chicago school leaders foresee declining revenue but promise more investments: A district report last fall noted the city has shifted costs onto the district and could offload more expenses amid a transition from mayoral control to an elected school board. The report described the district’s financial outlook as “fragile” and warned of a potential $628 million deficit by 2026, which represents about 6% of this year’s $9.5 billion budget.
* Sun-Times | Johnson won’t identify ‘plan B’ for revenue if City Council, legislature resist tax hikes: Johnson’s plan to help bankroll an array of new social programs is the cornerstone of his anti-violence strategy. It initially included a “Metra city surcharge” to raise $40 million “from the suburbs.” It still includes taxes on high-end home sales and financial transactions; a revived employee head tax; increased taxes on jet fuel and hotel rooms; and “new user fees for high-end commercial districts frequented by the wealthy, suburbanites, tourists and business travelers.”
* ABC Chicago | Vallas, Johnson spar over Kim Foxx’s performance and policing in schools: “She has led with an incredible amount of integrity. She’s been part of the type of reform that’s needed,” Johnson said. But, Vallas voiced his concerns about Foxx. “She has not been aggressive at keeping dangerous criminals off the street, and the data clearly states it,” Vallas said. … “He remains a paid employee from the Chicago Teachers Union. At the end of the day, what has he run? What has he managed? He’s voted on budgets. He’s never managed a budget,” Vallas said. “We all know someone like Paul who has failed over and over again and continues to be allowed to fail up,” Johnson said.
* CBS Chicago | Johnson, Vallas get heated in attacks on each other’s positions in roundtable forum: One question raised at the forum to which the candidates’ positions has not made headlines before was whether Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has made Chicago safer. Neither Johnson nor Vallas directly answered the question, but their responses did not suggest they are on the same page about Foxx.
* CBS Chicago | What would Vallas, Johnson do to reverse downtown retail exodus? Both are short on specifics: “Michigan Avenue may have a vision for how they can revitalize – but yet the city regulatory department seems to be an obstacle,” Vallas said. Is Vallas short on specifics? Yes. But so is Johnson. “I’ve thought about this a lot,” Johnson said at a mayoral question-and-answer session earlier this week. “This is really about attracting innovative corporations to the city of Chicago.”
* The Crusader | Coalition of women in ‘spirit of Mayor Washington’ endorses Johnson: Among the scores of women attending a press conference at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in support of Johnson, was Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, wife of Reverend Jesse Jackson. She told the Chicago Crusader, “We intend to win with Brandon because he’s the best man for the job and I’ve always been for the very best.”
* Read Paul Vallas’ answers to Crain’s candidates’ questionnaire : “From the outside, from information that is publicly available, one might reactively advance proposals for spending and program cuts. But that would make proposals and prioritize solely on the basis of the portion of the iceberg that is above the surface, knowing that the greater mass warranting consideration is beneath the surface. This is further complicated by the fact that the city data is routinely flawed or fluffed, that most portions of the city operate without data-driven program and policy performance metrics and milestones, and more at the margin but not inconsiderable, a practice we came to learn in the last cycle of budget hearings of funds appropriated for specific purpose which the administration did not allow expenditure and implementation.”
* Tribune | Public safety and environmental concerns are at the forefront in 10th Ward runoff: Chico and Guajardo made the April 4 runoff out of the five candidates in the Feb. 28 general election. None of the five won a majority of the vote, forcing the runoff between the top two vote-getters. Chico garnered 40.5% of the vote in February while Guajardo got 26.5%, or about 1,000 fewer votes than Chico, but she’s been steadily beating Chico in fundraising.
* The Hill | Chicago mayoral race underscores city’s racial divisions: “Chicago has always been a city that has been very explicitly divided by racial politics,” explained Twyla Blackmond Larnell, associate professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago and faculty affiliate for the school’s Institute for Racial Justice. “Race is definitely one of the major cornerstones of how politics gets done in the city,” she continued. “Power is divvied up according to racial groups, but also you have to account for who in those groups has access to the social, economic and political resources that are needed to win elections as well.”
* The Triibe | What anti-CTU rhetoric in the mayoral runoff election reveals about Chicago: According to several people who spoke to The TRiiBE, anti-CTU rhetoric during the election is grounded in a perceived fear that if Johnson becomes mayor, the issues that CTU has been organizing around for more than a decade, such as education, housing, and healthcare, would lead to the disruption of the city’s status quo and the interests of Chicago’s elite.
* Block Club | 36th Ward Candidates To Debate Northwest Side Ward’s Issues Thursday In Ukrainian Village: Villegas is headed to a runoff April 4 after failing to garner a majority of the votes to secure reelection to his third City Council term. As alderperson, the retired marine has pushed for a universal basic income program and to reinstate the City Council’s Office of Veterans Affairs. He’s also endorsed a plan to reopen the closed 13th Police District in West Town, which was closed in 2012 as part of a citywide consolidation of police resources.
* Lynn Osmond, Larita Clark | Don’t forget tourism in the economic development equation: We all agree that Chicago is a great destination to live, work and play. As we look to the future, we want to work with the next mayor to continue to build a positive narrative about Chicago. This does not mean ignoring our challenges; rather, it is about recognizing our strengths while working to address our weaknesses. We need to share the positive stories about the city we love and talk about why Chicago is a great place to visit.
* Block Club | Tickets, Signs Not Stopping Illegal Parking In Bike Lanes Where 2 Cyclists Killed, Northwest Siders Say: The 3800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue near North Kilbourn Avenue — which has seen two cyclists killed since 2019, car crashes, illegal parking and ongoing construction — has been set to receive concrete curb barriers since the second half of 2022 as part of the city’s bike safety upgrade to the area — but less than half of the Milwaukee stretch has completed barriers.
* Subscribers were given more info earlier today. Press release…
Today, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) has released details of its unprecedented effort to prevent extremist conservatives from implementing regressive platforms on school and library boards throughout the state. As national groups continue to funnel dark money into Illinois to prop up fringe candidates, DPI is fighting back to defend its values of diversity, equity and inclusion that make our education system stronger for our children.
“Illinoisans deserve to know the truth about candidates’ ideologies before they head to the ballot box, and DPI will make sure voters have the resources they need to make their decision,” DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez said. “As conservative groups attempt to mask their radical agenda behind supposedly nonpartisan candidates, DPI is committed to supporting credible candidates who will oppose efforts to ban books, revise history, and limit reasonable sex education. We can’t afford to sit back while kids and families are at risk.”
Following an extensive analysis of over 500 districts, DPI has identified 84 recommended and 74 opposed candidates in school and library board races across the state. Opposed candidates include those affiliated with extreme national conservative groups as well as those aiming to implement anti-equality, anti-truth agendas in their districts. Some of their radical political platforms include banning books, teaching revisionist history, ignoring common sense public health measures, and blocking comprehensive sex education.
This unprecedented plan will include mail and digital advertising sent to a base of Democratic voters in target districts, reaching hundreds of thousands of individuals and households in Illinois. The paid communications program will highlight extremists on the ballot, support credible community advocates that DPI recommends, and direct voters to DefendOurSchoolsIL.com, where they can find additional information about races in their districts. In addition, the Party is supporting direct voter contact efforts through consultation and candidate training led by DPI’s Regional Political Organizers. DPI will invest nearly $300,000 statewide to support recommended candidates and expose fringe candidates.
“We’re providing organizing support alongside direct mail and digital communications to make sure we reach voters where they are, especially in these typically low-information races. Many extreme national groups know that they can hide their regressive agendas behind so-called nonpartisan candidates due to a lack of access to clear and accurate information about the names appearing on ballots,” DPI Executive Director Ben Hardin said. “We’re proud to implement this innovative program to make sure voters everywhere can support candidates who align with their own values despite efforts from right wing groups to disguise their real platform and take over our school boards.”
This initiative is launching as DPI implements a new party building directive under the leadership of Chair Hernandez to provide year round support to Democrats through grassroots organizing and continuous voter engagement.
The Illinois House on Wednesday approved a measure that would allow the Illinois secretary of state’s office to deny grant funding to public and school libraries if they ban books or fail to devise policies against removing titles from their stacks.
The 69-39 party-line vote in the Democratic-led House reflected the partisan divide on the book-banning issue both in the state and nationally. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.
Illinois has not seen as many cases of book bans or attempted bans as states that lean more Republican, according to some research. But according to the secretary of state’s office, citing figures from the Chicago-based American Library Association, there were 67 attempts to ban books in Illinois in 2022, up from 41 the year before.
Democrats say book bans often discriminate against the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups, while Republicans have argued that some titles need to be out of the reach of children if they contain pornography or obscene imagery.
During debate between state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, and Stava-Murray, the question of parental rights was raised.
“Could you ask if that they not be taken to the library,” Stava-Murray said.
“I don’t think they should be completely kept from the library because there may be one or two books, I think they should be able to go to the library like every other kid,” Davidsmeyer said.
“And you’re not confident that your parenting has instilled in your children their own ability to choose their own books?” Stava-Murray said as Republicans booed.
“I know for a fact that my parenting will allow my children to pick the right book,” Davidsmeyer said.
Huh. For some reason, they left out Rep. Stava-Murray’s retort…
“I know for a fact that my parenting will allow my children to pick the right book,” he said.
“So then let the other children read the books too,” Stava-Murray replied.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Thursday plans to announce $21 million in grants to police departments and task forces across the state in an effort to tamp down on a three-year surge in armed carjackings.
More than half of that funding is earmarked for the Illinois State Police and the Chicago Police Department as the city grapples with some of its highest numbers of carjackings in at least a generation.
“It’s destroying communities,” Giannoulias told the Sun-Times ahead of the grant announcement. “It’s causing people to leave the state, making people second-guess putting their kids in the backseat. It can happen at 10 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon.
“We want to give law enforcement every resource we can to help identify and prosecute these criminals,” said Giannoulias, the first-term Democrat elected last year to replace the long-serving former Secretary of State Jesse White.
* Press release…
In an effort to combat the surge of carjackings and motor vehicle thefts in Illinois, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is awarding grants totaling more than $21 million to six police organizations.
The funding originates from the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, which is overseen by Secretary Giannoulias’ office. The Secretary of State’s office convenes regular meetings of council members and awards funding to assist law enforcement entities – including the Secretary of State Police – to combat carjackings and prevent motor vehicle thefts.
“There is no single solution, but these grants give law enforcement needed financial resources, which will provide a greater sense of focus and effort to recover stolen vehicles and prevent carjackings that have been occurring all too frequently throughout our state,” said Giannoulias. “People doing something so routine as getting in their car and driving shouldn’t have to fear that they’ll be robbed of their vehicle at gunpoint. Working together, we will continue to not only make our roads safer but also our communities, neighborhoods and business districts.”
“ISP’s expressway safety enforcement effort brings together the full force of patrol, investigations, license plate readers, air operations, and other assets,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “These grant funds will energize and sustain those efforts to pursue violent offenders and keep reducing violence.”
“Partnership is essential as we work to prevent and investigate vehicular hijackings and motor vehicle thefts,” said Interim CPD Superintendent Eric M. Carter. “This grant funding will help us bolster these efforts and create a safer Chicago.”
“The Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Taskforce (ISATT) will use this money to expand our investigations into crimes related to vehicular hijacking, auto theft, insurance fraud, rogue tow operators and recyclable metal left,” said Secretary of State Police Lieutenant Adam Broshous, Director of ISATT. Lieutenant Broshous noted that nine of the 22 sworn officers that make up ISATT are part of the Illinois Secretary of State Police.
In 2022, there were 1,655 reported carjackings in Chicago, more than triple the amount in 2012, according to city figures. Meanwhile, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that Chicago saw auto thefts rise 55% in 2022, an increase greater than every other city in the nation. In 2021, the NICB reported there were 13,856 auto thefts in the city, which increased to 21,516 auto thefts in 2022. Statewide, vehicle thefts rose from 28,557 in 2021 to 40,505 in 2022, according to NICB’s most recent data.
Over the course of the next several weeks, Giannoulias will provide the police organizations the below grants. These initial funds are earmarked for use in the upcoming year, and organizations can request full or partial grant renewals over the next three years to continue efforts to prevent carjackings and motor vehicle thefts:
Expressway Safety Enforcement Group (ESEG) $10,264,503
Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force (ISATT) $3,381,759
Metro East Auto Theft Task Force (MEATTF) $2,456,527
Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force (GPACT) $2,150,700
Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force (TCAT) $1,841,000
Chicago Major Auto Theft Investigations (CPD) $1,451,011
[Total] $21,545,500
The Secretary of State’s office collects an annual $1 assessment on automobile insurance policies from the insurance industry to fund grant awards. In addition, the Illinois General Assembly appropriated an additional infusion of $30 million last year to combat statewide carjacking and motor vehicle theft.
The council is made up of 11 members who discuss strategies to prevent carjackings, motor vehicle theft and recyclable metal theft. This council fell under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority from 1991-2017. Since 2018, the council’s work has led to 4,726 recovered vehicles valued at $92 million.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) announced $20 million in grants have been awarded to 116 non-profit organizations across the state through the 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The funding will be used to help organizations strengthen efforts to protect against public safety and security threats. Many of the grantees are places of worship, reproductive health providers, cultural institutions, and education centers who were deemed at high-risk of a terrorist attack.
“As Governor, my top priority has always been—and will continue to be—keeping Illinoisans safe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This $20 million investment will provide grantees—from mosques and synagogues to education centers and cultural institutions—the resources they need to enhance safety measures amidst the rising tide of extremism. From Skokie to Peoria, Illinoisans deserve to be able to congregate safely with their communities, and that’s exactly what the Nonprofit Security Grant Program achieves.”
“When the nonprofits that provide spaces to worship, create, and educate are secure, our communities grow and thrive,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “In Illinois, we stand against extremism and hate. These statewide grants are part of our sustained commitment to help broaden protective measures so all Illinoisans can feel safe and well.”
Funds must be used for target-hardening activities, which include active shooter trainings, the purchase/installation of security equipment on property owned or leased by the not-for-profit organization, and the hiring of contracted security personnel. Security enhancements must be for the locations that the not-for-profit occupies at the time of the application, and the projects must be fully completed during the three-year (36 month) performance period.
“At a time when threats against cultural and religious institutions have occurred in record numbers, this critical security funding is particularly important,” said State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield). “I am grateful to Governor Pritzker and IEMA for getting these resources to the places they are needed most.”
“Though we have taken historic steps to make Illinois the most welcoming state in the nation, there has been a rise in anti-Semitism, anti-Asian American hate, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and hate crimes,” said State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We must stay vigilant and provide as many tools in the toolbox as possible to root out hate. In that vein, I am grateful to the advocates and the work that was done to allocate resources to organizations in our communities to protect our constituents from harm.”
“The 116 non-profit groups will be able to immediately purchase and implement safety measures at their facilities,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Security equipment, facility hardening, and other operational actions are just some ways these groups are increasing safety measures for their organizations.”
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the IEMA Office of Homeland Security will continue to identify all expanding threats and work collaboratively with partners to monitor all enhancements and document proven successes.
* We talked yesterday about prosecution witness Tom O’Neill’s testimony against the ComEd Four. Today, let’s look at his cross-examination. Tribune…
“Did Mike McClain ever tell you that Speaker Madigan was guaranteed to support ComEd’s legislation?” McClain’s attorney, Patrick Cotter, asked at one point. O’Neill responded no.
To my eyes, that kinda plays in to the prosecution’s case. The feds claim the reason for the alleged bribery scheme was to make sure a sometimes hostile Madigan did what the defendants wanted.
On cross-examination, O’Neill admitted that at no time during the years he was General Counsel did anyone at ComEd suggest that Madigan would do as they wanted in the Assembly because he was being given contracts and jobs for his political allies.
Yeah, but he may not have been in that particular loop.
ComEd’s former top lawyer confirmed Wednesday that he — not ComEd executive Anne Pramaggiore — made the decision in 2011 to hire a law firm with political ties to Michael Madigan as ComEd tried to pass a key bill in Springfield.
So given that Pramaggiore is now on trial for an alleged bribery conspiracy revolving around Madigan, her defense attorney sarcastically asked Thomas O’Neill whether he then went to Pramaggiore, confessed and said, “I lost my head and I just bribed Mike Madigan.”
O’Neill confirmed he did not. […]
And when asked by Doherty defense attorney Gabrielle Sansonetti whether O’Neill believed the effort to hire Reyes Kurson “was connected to legislation,” O’Neill told jurors, “No, I did not.” […]
The [Reyes Kurson] contract was originally signed in 2011, one day before the Illinois General Assembly overrode a veto by then-Gov. Pat Quinn to pass EIMA. But O’Neill said he didn’t believe the bill was in danger.
Legislative leaders were committed to overriding Quinn, he said.
It may not have been bribery to O’Neill’s eyes at the time, but he wasn’t part of the alleged cabal.
After getting O’Neill to agree that McClain could be “a bit of a pest,” McClain attorney Patrick Cotter on cross-examination said to O’Neill, “At the end of the day, you did what you wanted to do with Reyes Kurson. You cut their hours.” “Yes,” O’Neill responded.
“Did you intend to bribe Mr. Madigan by hiring Reyes Kurson?” Cotter asked. “I did not,” O’Neill said. […]
In cross-examination, Pramaggiore attorney Scott Lassar, a former U.S. attorney for Illinois’ Northern District, pointed out that [Juan Ochoa’s appointment to ComEd’s board] was being pushed by Madigan as a favor to other politicians. U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez wanted Madigan’s help in getting Ochoa appointed. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also went to bat for Ochoa with ComEd, Lassar said.
Likewise, Joe Dominguez, who was ComEd’s CEO at the time (Pramaggiore had been promoted to CEO of all Exelon-owned utility companies and was Dominguez’s boss), had met with Ochoa and backed the appointment, Lassar said. “That was my understanding, yes,” O’Neill replied.
Exelon CEO Chris Crane also sided with Pramaggiore.
“There are fights you pick and fights you don’t. … I thought it was something we could handle,” O’Neill answered [when questioned by prosecutors “couldn’t you have said no” to the contract].
On cross-examination, Lassar and Cotter both zeroed in on whether O’Neill felt that the hiring of Reyes’ firm was a bribe.
When Cotter asked if O’Neill had “a corrupt intent” when he hired the firm, prosecutors objected and O’Neill did not answer. Cotter then asked, “Did you hire Reyes to bribe Michael Madigan?”
Although a “due diligence” background check conducted on Ochoa also pulled up items from Ochoa’s past – including a property he owned that was foreclosed upon after he’d stopped paying the mortgage – O’Neill said those concerns weren’t top of mind.
O’Neill said he was more concerned with a person close to Madigan having access to exclusive information about ComEd that the utility’s executives only disclosed to board members in their quarterly meetings.
But in a call with Pramaggiore and the CEO of ComEd’s parent company, Exelon, O’Neill said Pramaggiore acknowledged “the Madigan connection,” and said she was “for that.”
“She wanted to go forward (with Ochoa’s appointment),” O’Neill said. “She thought it was important.
* Isabel’s coverage roundup…
* Sun-Times | Defense tries to flip the script in ComEd bribery trial, casting corruption charges as ‘classic, honest, legal lobbying’: When O’Neill took the witness stand Tuesday, prosecutors sought to link the contract for Reyes Kurson to legislation that then passed and drastically improved ComEd’s financial position. Defense attorneys did not get a chance to cross-examine O’Neill until Wednesday, though. Once they did, they tried to offer jurors a different perspective that revolved around “classic, honest, legal lobbying,” a multi-year campaign to pass legislation, and personal connections.
* Tribune | Ex-ComEd lawyer testifies request to put Juan Ochoa on utility’s board came from Michael Madigan: In one of the central allegations in the government’s case, Tom O’Neill, ComEd’s former chief lawyer, testified that Madigan wanted former McPier chief Juan Ochoa to get placed in a rare vacant seat on the company’s board in late 2017 and that CEO Anne Pramaggiore was behind the move because Ochoa’s resume came from Madigan. “I did discuss that I had some concerns about someone (recommended by) the speaker’s office being on the ComEd board,” O’Neill said of a conversation with Pramaggiore where he cited “optics” and the possibility that an ally of the speaker would have access to exclusive company information that could go before the board.
* Crain’s | Trial covers flurry of anguished emails over ComEd contract with Madigan ally: ComEd’s legal department, which O’Neill ran, had concluded it didn’t have much work Reyes Kurson was equipped to do and sought to cut back the firm’s hours under its contract with ComEd. McClain, through many emails, negotiated on Reyes’ behalf, addressing detailed items like renewal options and fees. O’Neill, in his second day on the witness stand in a trial that’s expected to last another six or seven weeks, said he was surprised at what a headache the relatively low-priority contract became.
* Bloomberg Law | Ex-Exelon Counsel Testifies About ‘Pressure’ in ComEd Four Trial: McClain was pestering O’Neill and arguing with him over the minutia of the terms of the firm’s contract, and O’Neill said he didn’t understand why the speaker would be so interested in ComEd’s contract with the Reyes Kurson law firm. “I started to wonder if he was using speaker’s name for impact,” O’Neill said.
* ABC Chicago | Prosecutors try to connect Mike Madigan to various utility contracts, hirings: “I’m sure you know how valuable Victor is to our Friend,” McClain wrote in an email to Pramaggiore dated January 20th, 2016. He added that: “I know the drill and so do you. If you do not get involved and resolve this issue of 850 hours for his law firm per year then he will go to our Friend. Our Friend will call me and then I will call you. Is this a drill we must go through?” “Our Friend” is, according to the indictment, one of the ways McClain often referred to Mike Madigan, who in 2017 appears to have exercised his influence with the utility once again.
* NBC | ‘Blue wall’ Democrats urge the White House to give Chicago the 2024 DNC convention: A band of governors, members of Congress and mayors from Illinois to Minnesota to Kentucky signed a letter Wednesday that was first made available to NBC News, calling on both the White House and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison to choose Chicago.
* Chalkbeat | Chicago schools poised to vote on keeping police on campuses: There are 59 police officers stationed across 40 Chicago Public Schools. Each school will convene a safety committee of administrators, staff, parents, and students before Local School Councils vote by June 2, Chou said.
* WAND | Construction to begin on center for youth in custody in Lincoln: The new center, which was originally announced in February of 2021, will be located at the site of the former Lincoln Developmental Center. Two cottages for housing youth will be renovated with additional cottages for programming and administrative use. A new 27,000 square foot building will serve educational, recreational, and dietary needs.
* Northwest Herald | Legislative action doesn’t always represent the finish line: Some actions, while technically laws, generally stipulate how government operates itself. Often this involves creating a task force responsible for producing a study and perhaps recommendations for further action. It’s impossible to complete the journey without the initial steps, but we don’t celebrate everyone who simply starts the marathon. There are too many examples of task forces that missed reporting deadlines or generated proposals with no chance of passage.
* AP | Musicians fight threat of Tennessee anti-LGBTQ, drag bills: Love Rising, a concert held on Monday in Nashville, featured Grammy-winning artists like Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Hayley Williams and Brittany Howard alongside drag performers and trans and queer singer-songwriters. The following night, the effort continued with a second show, We Will Always Be, featuring a showcase of LGBTQ artists in collaboration with Black Opry.
* Crain’s | United to start air-taxi service to O’Hare in 2025: United is partnering with Archer Aviation, a maker of electric vertical takeoff and landing craft, to provide the service from Vertiport Chicago, a helipad at the Chicago Medical District campus just west of downtown. Pricing details weren’t announced, but United executives have previously said the cost will be similar to Uber’s Black Car service, or about $100 to $150 at rush hour.
* The Atlantic | How Ivermectin Became a Belief System: Since fall 2021, Daniel Lemoi has been a central figure in the online community dedicated to experimental use of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. “You guys all know I’m not a doctor,” he often reminded them. “I’m a guy that grew up on a farm. I ran equipment all my life. I live on a dirt road and I drive an old truck—a 30-year-old truck. I’m just one of you.” Lemoi’s folksy Rhode Island accent, his avowed regular-guy-ness, and his refusal to take any money in exchange for his advice made him into an alt-wellness influencer and a personal hero for those who followed him. He joked about his tell-it-like-it-is style and liberal use of curse words: “If you don’t like my mouth, go pray to God, because he’s the one that chose me for this mission.”
