A draft of the proposed new 17-district lllinois congressional map will be released on Friday, several Democratic [US] House incumbents were told on Thursday by representatives of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside. […]
The Chicago Sun-Times has learned the new congressional map, based on the 2020 Census, will be drawn to favor voters electing Democrats in 14 districts leaving only 3 where Republicans can easily win.
The current map, based on the 2010 Census has Illinois sending 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans to Congress.
There is only one Hispanic district on the proposed map, which must be approved by the Illinois General Assembly. There was a push to create two. The number of Black Districts will remain at three.
Republicans said Thursday that Democrats are trying to tip local courts in their favor through the once-every-10-years redistricting process and taking actions to bypass Illinois House and Senate committees in the creation of new congressional district maps for the state.
Democratic lawmakers were vague in their responses to the GOP complaints, or they sidestepped or refused to answer the questions, as Tuesday’s kickoff to this month’s six-day veto session approaches.
Democrats who control the General Assembly have said they plan to use the veto session, scheduled for Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28, to approve new district maps for Illinois’ U.S. House districts, and new maps for current judicial subdistricts. […]
State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, Republican spokesman on the House Redistricting Committee, said at a hearing in Springfield that he is concerned Democrats are considering creating new judicial subcircuits in downstate areas such as those covering Sangamon, Peoria and Champaign counties. No subcircuits currently exist in those areas.
* I told subscribers about this earlier in the week…
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is excited to announce that more than 500 resumes were collected at the first ever Open House Job Fair held at the Illinois State Capitol on Tuesday. Multiple applications were submitted for each of the open positions and interviews are in the process of being scheduled.
“This job fair was all about attracting the best and the brightest, but it was also about opening our doors to those who may not have always felt like they had a place working in Illinois government and politics,” said Speaker Welch. “I’ve fought hard for diversity and equity inclusion my entire career and that is something I’ll continue to advocate for in my position as Speaker. I want to thank the staff that made this event possible and worked hard to ensure a diverse group of qualified job seekers from across this state applied for these open positions.”
Nearly 100 applicants attended the in-person event at the Capitol, traveling from all corners of the state. They were able to meet with Speaker Welch and other members of the House Democratic staff. Applicants ranged in age from young college students to retirees looking to reenter the workforce. In addition to the in-person event, 100 people registered for the virtual option.
“We’re a growing staff and it’s important that we are doing everything we can to recruit a diverse staff that reflects our state and can help our caucus and our office take the work we’re doing out to the next level,” said Tiffany Moy, Chief of Staff. “There is nowhere else in this state where you can get the experience that you will get working on House Democratic Staff. You come out of this experience with a skillset that nobody else in this state, nobody else in this country has, and that’s invaluable.”
* The Question: Should all legislative staff hiring be done as openly as this? Why or why not?
Political bullying may be the reason Calumet City citizens and taxpayers have been denied access to their public library for nearly a week, and no one seems willing or able to put a stop to it.
The library remained closed Wednesday, five days after Mayor Thaddeus Jones ordered it shut down.
Jones, who also is a state lawmaker, is developing a reputation for demanding loyalty and exacting revenge upon those who dare stand up to him. He previously was accused of bullying City Clerk Nyota Figgs and creating a hostile workplace for his fellow elected official.
Jones dispatched three loyalists from the city Public Works Department to the library Friday to serve as muscle and supervise the removal of patrons and employees from the premises, according to two witnesses.
Jones said in a cockamamie statement issued Friday he shut down the library due to alleged corruption. He falsely claimed in the statement he appointed a new library board when he was sworn in as mayor May 1 and asked the new board to order a forensic audit at that time.
Nyota Figgs, the elected city clerk of Calumet City, said she feels city hall is such a hostile workplace she can no longer go into the office.
Figgs said she feels harassed to the extent that she is working remotely in a public park across the street from the municipal center, 204 Pulaski Road.
“I’m basically protesting the bullying I feel and the intimidation and retaliation I feel,” Figgs said Wednesday. “I almost get a physical reaction going into the office.”
She has been working in the park for about three weeks, she said. About a dozen people stopped by Wednesday morning to show support.
“I believe the way she is being treated by this administration is disrespectful,” 6th Ward Ald. James Patton said. “It’s not right.”
Figgs claims newly elected Mayor Thaddeus Jones has sidelined her by reassigning her staff to a newly appointed city administrator and stripping her of duties and responsibilities.
* Meanwhile…
Today City Clerk and Collector of Calumet City, Nyota Figgs (“Clerk Figgs”), through her attorneys, The Royko Group, LLC, filed a complaint against Calumet City Mayor and State Representative Thaddeus Jones because of his interference in the performance of her job as City Clerk.
Figgs allegations include the fact that Jones has interfered repeatedly with her ability to do her job including locking her out of her office, blocking her access to the financial software for her office, and preventing her from answering questions directed to her at City Council meetings.
In recent weeks, Jones’s harassment of City Clerk Figgs has escalated. He “hired” someone to act as office manager for the City Clerk’s office. Clerk Figgs was not consulted about this hire and does not have any idea what he is doing in the Clerk’s office. He has removed records and boxes from the office and has also prevented the Clerk from doing her job.
Despite the bullying and interference, Clerk Figgs has attempted to continue performing the duties for which she was elected by the taxpayers. However, Jones has created such a hostile work environment that Figgs has been forced out of her office and has had to start working in the park across the street from City Hall.
Clerk Figgs is seeking injunctive relief to restore her duties for which she was elected to perform. Clerk Nyota Figgs, as elected to the office of City Clerk for Calumet City, is entitled to serve as City Clerk and Collector and perform all such acts and duties that are statutorily directed to those offices by the Calumet City Municipal Code. She is seeking to have all her duties and authority reinstated.
Today, one day after Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs was forced to file a lawsuit against Calumet City Mayor and State Representative Thaddeus Jones for repeatedly interfering with her ability to do her job including locking her out of her office, blocking her access to the financial software for her office, and preventing her from answering questions directed to her at City Council meetings, Figgs has discovered that Mayor Jones is using her electronic signature to sign documents without her knowledge or consent.
Clerk Figgs said in a letter to the Calumet City Attorney Mike Kasper, “Attached are business licenses signed LIVE by the mayor and my electronic signature is used. My electronic signature is in the system because I used it in the past administration at one time. However, for almost 2 years, I have signed licenses with a wet signature. This has been the practice under the Jones administration as well.”
Figgs continued, “Before my duties began to be usurped by the City Administrator & the office manager (who was improperly installed in the Clerk’s office by the Mayor) The mayor and I both signed the licenses with a live wet signature. For the past few months, I have not even seen any business license applications. I have not issued any business licenses. I have no idea of any new licenses, renewals, or the process of business license issuance. I recently became aware there are now “temporary licenses” issued without my signature by this administration.”
“Today staff attempted to seal the attached Business Licenses with my electronic signature. This is illegal and unethical. Why would this administration, and the mayor generate a Business License, sign it LIVE and then go into the system to use my electronic signature?”asked Figgs. “No one has asked me to sign anything!!! Here again is an attempt to take over my office, statutory duties, and even my RIGHT to sign my name! The audacity of an elected person with state and legal knowledge to do such a thing. This action lacks integrity for anyone. Who should do such a thing?
Figgs continued by asking why would the administration think she would be ok with signing without reviewing documents? How would she know if applications were submitted correctly? How would she know if other departments signed off appropriately?
Figgs went on to ask City Attorney Kasper why the Thaddeus Jones administration thinks that it is ok to override, disregard, and misuse an elected official’s signature? Is it because they have been able to do whatever they like without consequence and repercussions?
“This is a travesty. Please also defend me as the City Clerk in my position to rightfully do my job and sign my name on documents I approve,” pleaded Clerk Figgs.
Figgs went on to ask and state the following:
* DO NOT USE MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE FOR ANYTHING(INCLUDING ANY SIGNATURE STAMPS) WITHOUT MY WRITTEN PERMISSION.
* I will be signing all documents in person.
* IT must remove my electronic signature from the system so it cannot be used.
* A letter to employees including the city administrator and office manager must be issued immediately instructing them not to use my signature WITHOUT MY CONSENT.
* Please send confirmation that you receive this communication and have acted on above requests.
According to Clerk Figgs, “ This is all disheartening, just yesterday the mayor accused me of illegally destroying records (in an email you all read) before his administration. He is also conducting a forensic audit. But he uses my signature on documents I have not seen. In addition, they were going to apply the city seal to these documents with my signature to authenticate. I wonder what else my signature has been used for without my knowledge? Accusations toward me and my office have been casually advertised and that same person authorizes the use of my signature? I do not trust this administration. I do not believe because of the current environment the mayor’s and his administration’s actions will, advocate, or perform in the best interest of myself or my office.”
She continued, “This is why elected offices have separate powers, rules, regulations, and employees. Now let’s think about that staff member who knew I wouldn’t approve something but was executing a directive. This environment is a breeding ground for corruption, bullying, intimidation, and a single authority- a dictatorship.”
Lastly Figgs told Attorney Kasper, “I will NOT be returning the licenses, I will hold them as proof. I am willing, able, and available to sign. Please reprint, sign, and send them to me with the application (as the ordinance states) and I will gladly sign them for execution to move things forward.”
“City Attorney Kasper, I know you will perform in a manner that protects ALL elected officials in the city and not just the mayor,” Figgs concluded.
Gov. J.B. Pritkzer is making a huge bet on the electric-vehicle manufacturing industry, unveiling an incentive package worth hundreds of millions of dollars that may be the largest in state history.
Included are a wide range of tax breaks, from payroll credits and exemption from utility and some sales taxes to assistance with job training and favored treatment in obtaining government permits and road construction funds.
Pritzker wants the much-anticipated package approved in the General Assembly’s two-week fall veto session, which opens next Tuesday, Oct. 19. […]
The proposal, to be introduced in bill form in the next few days, is the product of months of discussions with industry leaders and, more recently, legislative leaders including state House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Senate President Don Harmon. The latter haven’t yet committed, but, “They understand the timing” after Ford Motors last announced billions of dollars in electric-vehicle facilities in Tennessee and Kentucky, facilities which received hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives from each state, Manar said.
Five universities and a pair of Chicago-area ventures have won state grants to help develop high-quality lab space for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research under a new incentive program created by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration.
The state’s Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity today will announce the recipients that will collectively receive $15.4 million to build or renovate such lab spaces, a move it hopes will help address a lack of research space in the region that for years has led early-stage life sciences companies to defect to other, more mature research markets as they grow.
The Ferrero candy plant in southwest Bloomington will soon get its chocolate next door, rather than from across the globe. Ferrero officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday on its first chocolate processing facility in North America.
Construction has already begun and is expected to be completed in early 2023.
Ferrero North America President and Chief Business Officer Todd Siwak said it’s more efficient to make the chocolate in Bloomington instead of shipping it from Europe. […]
Ferrero is taking advantage of several tax incentives, including a sales tax break on building materials. McLean County and several other taxing bodies agreed to expand an enterprise zone to include the new facility. […]
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) runs the enterprise zone program to boost growth in economically depressed areas. DCEO acting director Sylvia Garcia said new training programs in manufacturing will help develop a workforce for these jobs. That includes the new manufacturing training academy at Heartland Community College.
More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike Thursday, the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades.
The union had said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others at the Illinois company known for its green tractors. […]
Earlier this year, another group of UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.
The contracts under negotiation covered 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in Iowa, four in Illinois and one each in Kansas, Colorado and Georgia.
* More…
* In rare move, ComEd taps outsider as new CEO: Gil Quiniones, who runs the New York Power Authority, will have the challenging task of restoring the utility’s tarnished reputation.
* CEO move signals East Coast HQ for Exelon spinoff: Joe Dominguez, the ComEd boss tapped two weeks ago to run Exelon’s power-plant business slated to become a standalone company, has relocated from the Chicago area to the East Coast.
* This came in over the transom today and I thought it was post-worthy. Jesse Sullivan’s gubernatorial campaign website has had four different descriptions of his time in Afghanistan…
September 8: “I led a Human Terrain Team in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.”
September 11: “I led a Human Terrain Team in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan.”
September 21: “I led a Human Terrain Team as a DOD civilian in counterinsurgency operations in the deadliest district of Afghanistan.”
October 8: “I served as a Human Terrain Team Analyst on counterinsurgency operations in Helmand Afghanistan.”
[US Rep. Adam Kinzinger], the best-known Republican in Illinois, is also the most vulnerable because he and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., are the leading Republicans in Congress willing to speak out against former President Donald Trump’s lies, election denials and embrace of conspiracy theories. While being a national leader of the non-Trump wing of the GOP has raised his profile and fundraising ability, it also means it will be very difficult for him to win a GOP primary for a House seat in Illinois — no matter what the new Democratic-designed map looks like.
For the third quarter — covering July, August and September — Kinzinger raised $957,177 for his two political committees, the Sun-Times has learned. He took in $562,355 for his reelection war chest and $394,822 for his Future First Leadership PAC, used to bankroll his “Country First” drive to build a movement to break Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.
Kinzinger has $3.3 million cash on hand just for his reelection campaign. What is noteworthy about the haul is that Kinzinger raised the cash mainly through direct mail and digital appeals — not big events with headliners. That is a sign of strength.
What will Kinzinger do? He’d like to stay in the House. “His intention is to run,” said spokeswoman Maura Gillespie, who added, “We’ll have to see what the map shows, and then we can review his options.”
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday predicted that Republican voters will sit out the 2022 and 2024 elections if the GOP doesn’t somehow manage to reverse the results of the election he lost in 2020. […]
“If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in ‘22 or ’24,” the former president wrote. “It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do”.
Um.
* Press release…
Today, organizer, activist, and nationally-recognized gun-violence-prevention advocate Kina Collins announced that her campaign for Congress raised over $100,000, marking the second consecutive quarter in which the progressive challenger outraised the 25-year incumbent Rep. Danny Davis in the IL-07 primary. Last quarter, Collins more than doubled Davis’ fundraising haul.
The announcement comes on the heels of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Chicago to help boost Davis’ floundering campaign, and after the Congressman attracted controversy for saying R. Kelly would be “welcomed back into Chicago” as a “gifted” artist after the singer was found guilty on charges relating to racketeering and child sexual abuse.
“Despite fundraising visits by Democratic leadership, our campaign outraised our corporate-backed opponent for the second quarter in a row,” said Kina Collins. “Unlike my opponent, I didn’t take a dime from Big Pharma or Big Oil. We are proving definitively here in IL-07 that people power is stronger than any political machine. I’m grateful for all the small-dollar donors who know that we don’t just need more Democrats in Congress, we need better Democrats. Thanks to them, we’re ready to win this race.”
We’ll see what happens when Davis kicks it into gear - or if.
* Press release…
Illinois Veterans for Change Chicago Launch
Illinois Veterans for Change supports Democrat Veteran candidates that value integrity, progress, and a commitment to advancing communities while also possessing the toughness necessary to govern. Founding members of the organization have Honorably served our country in uniform and are proud Veterans in our Community: Thomas Day (US Army Veteran) along with Stephanie Kifowit (USMC Veteran) are Co-Chairs of the organization. The rest of the executive board include: Jan Donatelli (US Navy Veteran), Rodrigo Garcia (USMC Veteran), Paul Knudtson (US Army Veteran), Nikita Richards (US Navy Veteran), Chase Wilhelm (US Army Veteran).
Illinois Veterans for Change is an established Political Action Committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Its mission to help elect Democrat Veterans on the local, county and state level of Government.
Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), announced his endorsement of Nikki Budzinski’s campaign in Illinois’ 13th District. A scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, and CEO, Congressman Casten has represented IL-06 since 2019. Congressman Casten serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Casten has led on critical issues like climate change, energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Congressman Casten’s endorsement is the latest in a broad coalition of support that Budzinski is building, including The Communications Workers of America (CWA), The Heat and Frost Insulators, Elect Democratic Women, The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, former IL-13 candidate Erik Jones, The Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, UFCW Local 881, IBEW Locals 51, 146, 193, 309, 601 and 649, Pastor T. Ray McJunkins, State Representative Katie Stuart, County Chairs Bill Houlihan (Sangamon), Mark Pohlman (Jersey), Paul “Snow” Herkert (Calhoun), Ben Curtin (Christian) and Pam Monetti (Macoupin).
Congressman Sean Casten made the following statement: “I know we need advocates in Congress that are going to lead on issues that are going to make a difference in lives of working families across our state. In her work for President Biden, for the State of Illinois, and her career in the labor movement, I know we have an advocate in Nikki that will fight on critical issues like climate change and lowering the cost prescription drugs that are important to me. That’s why I’m happy to be supporting Nikki.”
Budzinski made the following statement: “I’m grateful for the work Congressman Casten has done on critical issues related climate, jobs, and working families. These are issues that are important to me, and that I want to fight for in Congress. I’m eager to work with Congressman Casten when I am elected next year.”
* Back to the governor’s race…
Gary Rabine, Republican candidate for Governor, issued the following statement on the City of Chicago’s policy to force police officers to provide vaccination status by October 15, or “be placed in a non-disciplinary, no-pay status.”
“The fact that City leaders would jeopardize the safety of Chicago residents by laying off police officers for not providing information about their vaccine status is appalling. These leaders don’t care about public safety, they only care about control. I stand with the brave men and women who keep our communities safe. Individuals should make their own healthcare decisions – not government bureaucrats.
As governor, I will vigorously oppose these types of policies and do everything I can to protect your freedom. To our police officers in Chicago and throughout Illinois, I stand with you.”
* And from the SoS race…
Dude at the gym earlier this morning literally had his LAPTOP on him and was full-on Zooming (with no headphones) while sitting on the leg curl machine like he was in his own kitchen. C’mon man, let’s do better. #gymetiquette#legday@XSportFitness
Thursday, Oct 14, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Illinois families will soon be losing their opportunity to purchase dogs and cats from safe, highly-regulated local pet retailers, such as Petland, who offer their customers the choice of a pet that best fits their needs and provide health warranties. This change is coming because the state’s Animal Welfare Act has been updated through HB 1711 which bans the retail sales of dogs and cats obtained from licensed and regulated professional breeders.
But HB 1711 needs fixing, because while singularly blocking retail pet sales, it fails to strengthen any animal standards or protections at unregulated puppy mills across the state. Consumers looking for particular breeds will have no choice but to purchase dogs from unregulated breeders or dog auctions – thus perpetuating puppy mills. Responsible breeders and retailers will be heavily penalized while HB 1711 does nothing to address the issue of substandard breeders across the state.
Petland is dedicated to improving animal welfare and we have publicly demonstrated this commitment; in fact, we support the Humane Society’s petition effort to improve standards of care. Petland’s breeder pledge is a commitment to provide more space, more exercise, and more socialization for their pets plus numerous other improvements to standards of care.
* We’ve all heard about the shortage of nursing home workers. Capitol News Illinois has a story about a hearing yesterday on the topic. This quote stood out for me…
Angela Schnepf, executive vice president of LeadingAge Illinois, an association of nonprofit aging service providers, said the policy changes DHFS recommend are long overdue and should have been part of the plan when Illinois first adopted its nursing home assessment in 2011.
“As many of you know, 10 years ago, the General Assembly by a thin margin passed the bed tax for a $105 million increase to support the staffing ratios passed in the spring of 2010,” she said. “The rate increase funded the status quo with an assumption that understaffed nursing homes would apply the money to increase their number of staff. One would have thought this made sense. However, the data shows that did not happen.”
Schnepf went on to say that a survey of nursing homes just before the pandemic showed that the 120 facilities with the lowest staffing levels had actually reduced their staffing hours per resident day by 5.8 percent since 2010, the year before the assessment went into effect, while the statewide average for all nursing homes in the state increased 4.5 percent.
“As you may or may not know, LeadingAge Illinois opposed the bed tax in 2011 because we anticipated the tax would shift money from well-staffed nursing homes to the pockets of owners of understaffed nursing homes because of the zero requirement of accountability to apply the new money to increasing their staff,” she said. “As a result, over 40 percent of Illinois nursing homes were losers or lost money, and over 60 percent of our LeadingAge Illinois members were losers. That means good providers bore the tax burden to fund the failed attempt to increase staffing in understaffed nursing homes, all to no avail.”
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services report is here.
* We talked yesterday about Father Pfleger’s demand that Gov. Pritzker declare a “state of emergency” over Chicago’s gun violence. I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here it is in full…
Statement
The Governor shares Fr. Pfleger’s sense of urgency. The epidemic of gun violence is a public health crisis that is worsening, and the Governor has taken and is taking action to make communities safer. Since he took office, he has focused on this issue – particularly with significant increases in funding for violence interruption and prevention programs. The Governor also believes that we must focus not only on the end of the cycle, when someone is shot. We must also attack the root causes – poverty and disinvestment – by investing in education, employment, human services and mental health to neighborhoods that have been left out and left behind. The State of Illinois is committed to an equitable and comprehensive short and long term approach to gun violence by investing in programs and strategies that have proven to reduce violence and pathways to good education, careers, and safe communities. The Governor and the General Assembly continue to serve as partners with the city, county governments and the philanthropic community in providing financial and public safety resources to get the job done.
Background
• In his first year in office, Gov. Pritzker increased investments in programs to interrupt and prevent violence by $50 million. In addition, this year’s budget invests $128 million in violence prevention and summer youth employment programs.
• The General Assembly passed and the Governor signed legislation to create an Office of Violence Prevention.
• Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, the State Police started a gun violence task force. Governor Pritzker is also adding hundreds of new troopers to the depleted ranks of the State Police, building a new state-of-the-art forensics facility to investigate crimes and tackled the rape kit backlog left behind by his predecessor.
• The Governor continues to offer and make available Illinois State Police and has invested in increased state police patrols of the highways, cameras, forensics labs and in reducing evidence backlogs that assist substantially in solving crimes.
• On top of rebuilding our social safety net, the budgets signed by Gov. Pritzker have provided hundreds of millions of additional dollars to local governments and community-based organizations to support vulnerable communities.
FY22 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:
Directs $1.4 billion for new crucial investments in Illinois businesses, families, and communities, including:
• $570 million for small businesses and impacted industries, including for a $450M Economic Recovery plan with small business grants and workforce recovery investments
• $400 million for public health response to Covid-19, pandemic assistance to health care industry and behavioral health investments
• $160 million for community support centers
• $128 million for violence prevention and summer youth employment and career pathway efforts across the state
• $114 million for affordable housing, supportive housing and homelessness initiatives
Johneece Cobb was at the gravesite of her nephew, shot to death in 2015, when she got a horrifying call: Her 14-year-old granddaughter had just been shot outside Wendell Phillips Career Academy in Bronzeville.
Police said the shooter laid in wait outside the Bronzeville school as classes were letting out, and “immediately starts shooting” when the security guard opened the door for students leaving the building.
Cobb’s granddaughter, a freshman, was shot twice when bullets pieced the door. The 45-year-old security guard was shot multiple times, police said. He was taken to University of Chicago Hospital in fair condition. […]
Pastor Michael Pfleger, frustrated by the lack of response from City Hall, is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to declare a “state of emergency” as gun violence continues to plague the city. An online petition created by Brave Youth Leaders — the church’s violence prevention program — has been circulating on social media.
With this state of emergency we are asking that additional emergency funds be allotted via state grant opportunities to community grassroots organizations/programs for:
1.Youth Mentoring and After School Violence Prevention Programs, Organizations and Services
2.Organizations Servicing At-Risk and Criminal Involved Youth under 25 years and younger.
3.Initiating a Taskforce with the ATF (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) assigned with the IL State Police to gun/drug trafficking and shooting/homicide cases.
4.Full time mental health/trauma specialists staffing in to public schools and community organizations along with a combination of trade and vocational classes and certification opportunities with college readiness resources for youth.
5.Incorporating of a Statewide Violence Prevention Office With Grassroot Organizations as Liaisons
Pfleger also called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to declare a state of emergency and come up with a plan on “how we’re going to stop this. It just keeps getting worse.” […]
“How many children, how many lives before we say it’s a state of emergency? We are at a state of emergency now,” Pfleger said. “And I believe that the governor is cautious, doesn’t want to embarrass the city or, you know, overstep the city. I don’t care about feelings anymore.
“I don’t care who’s embarrassed, I don’t care who’s hurt,” he said.
* The Question: What do you think the governor should do about this? Make sure to explain your answer.
A campaign official for Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said this week there is “no way” the mayor will join the race for governor.
Dennis Cook, a campaign spokesman who has served as Irvin’s campaign manager in his races for mayor, said this week an online video interview that named Irvin as a potential candidate in the Republican primary was likely “just wishful thinking.”
“No, he’s not running for governor,” Cook told The Beacon-News. “Richard just got re-elected in April. We have a job to do.” […]
Irvin himself did not address the rumors, and referred questions about it to Cook.
He ran for the House and was elected. He then ran for the Senate and is serving there, even when he’s being asked to leave because he refuses to wear a mask. Now, he’s running for governor.
“God’s opening these doors and we’re being obedient in walking through these doors, that’s all we’re doing,” Bailey said. “A message of hope, standing up for the people, that’s something different and unique to Illinois.”
He’s not fond of career politicians, saying, “As soon as people get elected, they try to figure out to get re-elected and when they do that, then you’ve got to start pleasing everyone. It’s that simple. George Washington served to terms and stepped aside, that was the example.”
So, instead of trying to get re-elected he just keeps running for another office. Got it.
Jonathan Logemann is a soldier, a high school teacher, a family man and a Rockford alderman.
He would like to add congressman to the list.
Logemann, a Democrat, announced on Wednesday that he is running to represent the 17th Congressional District. It is the seat U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Moline has announced she is retiring from in January 2023 following her fifth term. […]
Re-elected to a seventh term in an uncontested race in April, Alderwoman Linda McNeely, D-13, has also said she plans to run for the seat.
Illinois Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, also said he is considering a run for the seat, but is waiting to see final district boundaries before announcing his candidacy.
His promise to not be one of the fighters in DC may not go over too well in a primary, however. And defeating Stadelman on his own turf could be pretty tough. But, hey, we have zero idea yet what the district will look like.
The Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus has formed a political action committee that will be chaired by Reps. Nick Smith and Lakesia Collins.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a few years, and it took some time to put it together,” Smith told Playbook of the Illinois House Legislative Black Caucus PAC.
Black legislators have for years relied on the Black Caucus Foundation to help boost civic and philanthropic efforts in members’ communities. “We felt we needed something to support the caucus politically, too,” Smith said.
The goal, said Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Kam Buckner, “is to raise funds, mobilize volunteers, and have an effective apparatus to elect and re-elect members of the Black Caucus.”
Creating the PAC comes as the Democratic Party shifts its operations under new leadership. Party members can no longer rely on former House Speaker Michael Madigan to open the purse strings for campaigns. New party Chair Robin Kelly has created a separate fundraising arm for state and local campaigns, while she focuses on fundraising for federal positions.
“Speaker Welch is doing a great job but he’s focused on his entire caucus. And it’s too early to tell how the party’s local [fundraising] committee will do,” Smith said. “There’s a vacuum with Michael Madigan gone, and we see an opportunity to fundraise to help fill that hole.”
Smith is right. Also, If Rep. Buckner really does want to run for mayor, he’ll need some significant fundraising experience.
* Press release…
Today, Congressman Sean Casten announced he has raised over $473,000 in the third quarter of 2021. The campaign’s impressive fundraising haul brings its total cash on hand to $1.05 million.
Campaign Spokesman Jacob Vurpillat released the following statement:
“These impressive fundraising numbers reflect a wide surge of support for Rep. Casten and everything he has accomplished so far this Congress, like passing critical legislation to safeguard our economy from the devastating effects of the climate crisis. People in the 6th District have sent a loud and clear message—Rep. Sean Casten is the best person to represent their values and interests in Congress.”
* And here’s a press release I didn’t post earlier…
Nikki Budzinski, a labor activist, Chief of Staff at President Biden’s Office of Management and Budget and former senior advisor to Governor JB Pritzker, announced her campaign has raised 455k since entering the race on August 24th.
Budzinski made the following statement: “I’m humbled and grateful for the support that my friends, family, and supporters in Illinois have shown me since we announced this campaign. I’m eager to continue working to build a broad coalition of support to win the 13th Congressional district for working families.”
This total raised in just over 5 weeks places Budzinski in a strong position as one of the highest-raising Congressional candidates in the country this quarter.
Pretty darned good haul.
*** UPDATE *** Speaking of good hauls…
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) reelection campaign announced today that it raised more than $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2021, with more than 43,000 individual contributions averaging under $35 each. Of those contributions, 98% were $100 or less. The campaign, which ended the quarter with nearly $5.8 million cash on hand, issued the following statement regarding this announcement:
“These impressive numbers reiterate how eager Illinoisans are to keep Tammy’s unique and powerful voice in the United States Senate. We’re energized by having this many early supporters and are well into our efforts to build a robust campaign that can reach Illinoisans in every corner of our state and help ensure Tammy can continue executing her mission of advocating for working families, new parents, small businesses, servicemembers and Veterans as our Senator for years to come.”
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh says the disappointing jobs report released in recent days points not only to fears among eligible workers about COVID-19′s highly contagious delta variant, but also an attitude shift in the American workforce.
“I think that we’re seeing people still living with the concern and maybe fear of the pandemic. Maybe their health is not necessarily the best and then they’re worried about their personal health,” Walsh said in a phone interview with the Tribune. The former Boston mayor, whose political star began to rise as a labor leader, said he’s also hearing from employers ranging from health care to financial institutions to construction who say some employees have reconsidered their professional path amid the pandemic and “have just left the job market because of their work-life balance.”
The U.S. logged 194,000 new jobs in September, according to monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. That’s less than half the 500,000 jobs economists were predicting would be added to the economy as enhanced federal unemployment benefits expired and a new school year brought the promise of a raft of teacher and support staff hires, which typically boost fall jobs numbers.
Neither scenario played out. Walsh said it’s clear to him the special federal unemployment benefits, which ended early last month, weren’t keeping people out of the workforce — an argument that picked up political steam as the pandemic wore on — or “we would have seen different numbers” in the recent jobs report.
A group of parents are suing a school district in southern Illinois over who has the right to issue a mask mandate. The suit, in the Triad district, hopes to overturn mask mandates in schools, arguing that the State Board of Education doesn’t have the right to issue one.
Governor JB Pritzker says groups like those are working against the best interests of everyone connected to a school.
Transcript…
There are people who are irresponsible, extraordinarily irresponsible, who are going around the state suing because they basically want to make schools less safe. That’s not right. I mean, we are not at a moment when this pandemic is over.
The Delta variant and its limited impact on Illinois children
Response from the governor’s office…
Misinformation is killing people and putting the wellbeing and safety of communities at risk. The administration, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Public Health have worked closely with school districts to require masks, establish a vaccine mandate for teachers and staff, and ensure students have access to learning. The pandemic is still here, and it will be irresponsibly prolonged by those twisting data and spreading misinformation.
Also…
The CDC found that the odds of a school-associated COVID-19 outbreak in schools without a mask requirement were 3.5 times higher than those in schools with an early mask requirement.
Minnesota on Tuesday reported a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 8.3% that is the highest in the vaccine era and a level of hospitalizations that hasn’t been seen since the first shots against the coronavirus were administered in mid-December.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota reached 960 on Monday and included 254 people needing intensive care because of breathing problems or other complications. While that is below the record 1,864 hospitalizations on Nov. 29, it is the highest in 2021 and combines with patients with trauma and other illnesses to fill up 96% of available intensive care beds and 93% of non-ICU beds. […]
Minnesota hospitals continue to report observational findings about COVID-19 patients that match recent vaccine research.
While vaccines might be losing some effectiveness at preventing any infections, studies show they remain protective against severe illness, hospitalization and death.
* With a booster vaccine, should we expect the same kind of side effects?: Dr. John Segreti, medical director of infection control and prevention at Rush University Medical Center, said this is something we will continue to study, and it’s possible that side effects might be similar to initial vaccinations.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been working to change the Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which some have invoked in the fight against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The 1998 Health Right of Conscience Act bans discrimination because of such persons’ refusal to receive or participate in any way in any particular form of healthcare services contrary to his or her conscience.
Some have said the law allows people to avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine and evade Pritzker’s executive order mandating vaccination or regularly testing for health care workers, educators and other state employees.
Ameri Klafeta, of the ACLU of Illinois, said people are abusing the 1998 law and using it in a way that was not intended.
“The cases that have been brought under this law have always involved health care professionals,” Klafeta said. “This was never a law for individual citizens.” […]
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said last month that addressing the HCRCA through legislation would be the first major action Democrats have taken on policies concerning COVID-19.
“I don’t think they want to be put in that vice-like position, but the governor’s pushing it,” Rose said.
Democrats too often allow themselves to be spooked by a tiny and vocal minority. It’s a big reason why they’ve sat on the sidelines for so long.
All over Illinois, said State Representative La Shawn Ford (D-101st) people are outraged by the rash of catalytic converter thefts, sold to scrap metal operators and used car parts dealers for cash.
“So right now, if I have a catalytic converter, I can go into a company and sell it to the scrap yard and they don’t ask any questions.”
Ford has introduced a new Illinois law that would require catalytic converter sellers to shows buyers a drivers license or state ID. Buyers would then have to log that personal information. […]
The hope to dry up the market for the stolen parts. Similar laws have been passed in other states, including legislation in California in 2019. But State Farm Insurance said its customers claims for catalytic converter thefts jumped a 175% in California between June of 2020 and June of this year.
Prohibits the sale and purchase of catalytic converters not attached to motor vehicles unless the seller is a licensed automotive parts recycler or scrap processor.
* Press release…
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart and Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Collins on Thursday will announce proposed state legislation to ban the possession and sale of guns without serial numbers, known as “ghost guns,” and the unserialized gun kits used to make them. Ghost guns are homemade firearms that cannot be traced. The kits used to build ghost guns do not require background checks, which allows anyone – even individuals prohibited from owning a firearm – to purchase them.
Who: Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Collins, and Delphine Cherry, of Brady Illinois
We are requesting pool coverage. Proper COVID-19 precautions will be observed, including social distancing, appropriate use of face masks, and hand sanitization.
* More…
* Medical marijuana, more popular than ever, could still cost you your job in Illinois: Morgan has introduced legislation to challenge Illinois law so most workers or job seekers would not be punished after testing positive for low levels of marijuana, whether recreational or medical.”This law would change the burden in the sense that the individual who fails a drug test alone should not lose their job, and should not be refused an opportunity to work someplace” he explained. “Unless you show impairment, you can’t be discriminated against in the workplace.”
As reporters in Springfield Tuesday tried to pin down Gov. JB Pritzker on whether he’ll try to repeal the state’s Parental Notification Act, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) launched a passionate argument to repeal it.
Abortion rights advocates believe repealing PNA would be a good response to Texas’ anti-abortion laws. As for Duckworth, “Had I gotten pregnant at 16 or 17, I would have been one of those kids who lied to their parents if there were parental notification laws, and I would have gotten an illegal abortion,” she said in Springfield Tuesday. “When you talk about parental notification, it sounds like a good idea, but it also puts those vulnerable young people – the ones who do not have good communications with their parents – in a very vulnerable place, where they have no other options.”
Abortion rights advocates in Illinois believe a repeal would be an appropriate response to, for example, new restrictions in Texas.
Lawmakers are back in town for veto session, which starts next week. Pritzker says a repeal would be up to lawmakers..
* What Pritzker said when asked and then pressed further…
I’m a lifelong pro-choice advocate. I believe in standing up for a woman’s right to choose. This is just one component, but a vital component of making sure that that right is available to all […]
I think I’m clear about it. I’m in favor of a woman’s right to choose. I’m in favor of repealing PNA. I don’t know whether the legislature will bring this up over the two weeks of veto session, but I have stood in favor of it since I was elected. In fact long before that, when my mother had me marching in favor of a woman’s right to choose back in the 1970s.
There’s an opportunity for state lawmakers to create a second Latino congressional district, according to a remap consultant who testified before the Senate Redistricting Committee on Tuesday. The panel is taking public input before it goes behind closed doors to come up with the new boundaries for 17 congressional districts — one less than the current 18.
Illinois has a larger Latino population than Arizona, which has two Latino members of Congress. Only California, Texas, Florida, and New York have higher Latino numbers, according to Frank Calabrese, who is representing Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas, chairman of the Latino Caucus, in calling for a second Latino congressional district.
Calabrese says voter engagement among Hispanics has changed since lawmakers first drew Illinois’ 4th Congressional District, now held by Rep. Chuy Garcia. (The district was nicknamed “the earmuffs” because of its odd shape.)
“The 4th District was created a few decades ago because Latinos weren’t voting at high rates and you had to make it a super-Latino district to work,” Calabrese told Playbook after the hearing. “That’s not the case anymore. You don’t need to have a district that needs to be 70 percent Latino.”
He pointed to New York as a good example. The state has one Latino majority district and three other districts that have a Latino plurality. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district, for example, is 47 percent Latino, according to the presentation packet Calabrese gave to lawmakers Tuesday.
In Illinois, he told lawmakers, there’s an opportunity to create a second district in addition to Garcia’s district, which encompasses the South and West sides of Chicago.
There are enough Latinos on the North Side of the city and in the suburbs to create a Latino-centric district that would count 50 percent of Latinos — from northwest Chicago, Melrose Park, Franklin Park, Bensenville, Addison, and Des Plaines. Garcia’s district could continue with a supermajority of Latinos, 67 percent. Some of those areas are now part of Rep. Mike Quigley’s 5th Congressional District.
* Click the pic for a larger version of Calabrese’s proposed maps that he sent me yesterday and more explanation…
The Illinois African Americans for Equitable Redistricting (IAAFER) has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice to ensure that the [new state legislative] maps optimize opportunities for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice. IAAFER also shared concerns regarding prison gerrymandering and how the practice will divert over $800 million from Black communities to prison towns between now and the next Census.
Spokesman Norman Montgomery called the latest version of the maps the most retrogressive redistricting plan in state history, with the lowest number of majority Black districts in 40 years. The number of majority Black representative districts has been cut from 16 in 2011, to 8 in 2021. The number of Black senate districts has been cut from 8 to 4.
“We are back to where we were in 1990,” Montgomery said. “How do you make progress if you lose what you’ve gained over the last 20 years in 20-year increments? You can’t do that.”
IAAFER notes that Black people comprised 14% of Illinois’ population in 2011, and still comprise 14% of the state’s population. However, the number of majority Black districts has been cut by 50%. Whites comprised 60% of Illinois’ population in 2011, and 58% in 2021. Yet, 69% of the districts drawn in the Democrat’s redistricting plan are majority white.
Let’s look at the House data. Click here for district demographics. You’ll see, for instance, that House districts 6-10 have between 39 and 49.5 percent Black voting age population. All but one of them had 50+ percent in the last remap. All of the current incumbents in those districts are Black and some are quite powerful, including House Speaker Chris Welch (42.3 percent) and Rep. Sonya Harper, the Joint Caucus Chair for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (45.4 percent). Population on the West Side is becoming more racially diverse as whites and others move in, so Rep. La Shawn Ford’s new district went from 55.3 percent VAP Black to 49.5 percent this time around.
But a House hearing on Tuesday lasted only 15 minutes, most of which was taken up by a roll call for attendance and a pro-forma introductory lesson on the redistricting process, given that zero witnesses submitted testimony virtually, or in-person.
State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, said the address listed for the Joliet hearing site location was incorrect and led to a literal dead-end; he said he was the only legislator on the committee to physically attend.
House redistricting chair State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, noted that additional hearings are scheduled the rest of this week and encouraged members of the public to participate in them.
Urging its members not to comply with the city’s vaccine reporting mandate, the Chicago police union plans to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to court, even though unvaccinated city workers will go into “no-pay” status starting Friday.
Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said in a video Tuesday that sending home non-compliant officers could cut the city’s police presence over the weekend in half.
The union president said that the FOP already has a class-action grievance drafted to cover “everything under the sun” that police officers might lose if they refuse to get vaccinated, including pay and benefits.
City Hall has announced that any city employees who fail to report their vaccination status by Friday will be placed in a “non-disciplinary, no-pay status.
But Catanzara instructed rank-and-file officers to file exemptions to receiving the vaccine, but not to enter any information into the city mandated vaccine portal.
Former Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President Dean Angelo Sr., 67, who led the union during the tumultuous years immediately after the shooting of Laquan McDonald, has died after a weekslong battle with COVID-19.
Mr. Angelo, who served as president of the police union from 2014 to 2017, died Tuesday, according to his son, Chicago Police Sgt. Dean Angelo Jr. He said his father had tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-September and had been in intensive care since Sept. 26. His son had earlier declined to say whether his dad had been vaccinated.
More than 460 American law enforcement officers have died from Covid-19 infections tied to their work since the start of the pandemic, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, making the coronavirus by far the most common cause of duty-related deaths in 2020 and 2021. More than four times as many officers have died from Covid-19 as from gunfire in that period. There is no comprehensive accounting of how many American police officers have been sickened by the virus, but departments across the country have reported large outbreaks in the ranks.
While the virus has ravaged policing, persuading officers to take a vaccine has often been a struggle, even though the shots have proven to be largely effective in preventing severe disease and death.
Some elected officials say police officers have a higher responsibility to get vaccinated because they are regularly interacting with members of the public and could unknowingly spread the virus. The debate echoes concerns from earlier in the pandemic, when police officers in some cities resisted wearing masks in public.
Yet as more departments in recent weeks have considered requiring members to be vaccinated, officers and their unions have loudly pushed back, in some cases threatening resignations or flooding systems with requests for exemptions.