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Rauner denies uptick in crime due to impasse, but that may not be the case

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* Gov. Rauner was asked in Oregon yesterday about the lack of funding for the Redeploy Illinois program. If you’re not familiar with the program, here’s a brief explanation from the Sun-Times…

Under the juvenile version of Redeploy Illinois, which started in 2005, judges give juveniles ages 13 to 18 who commit less-serious crimes a community-based option instead of prison. The juveniles also get counseling, career training and treatment for such things as trauma, substance abuse and mental health issues.

* Here’s what the governor said yesterday…

“It’s outrageous that we don’t have a budget… If we don’t have a balanced budget we don’t have the resources to put into our essential human services. And Redeploy is a very important program. Now, the good news is we’ve been studying the data, so far we’re not seeing any increase in crime related to Redeply being strangled by the lack of a budget. But at some point it will.”

* That “some point” may have already arrived…

After a rash of armed robberies and carjackings startled Rockford residents this year, police recognized a few teenagers among those arrested in an ensuing crackdown.

The youths had been enrolled in a state-funded program called Redeploy Illinois, which is almost universally praised as an alternative to jail that diverts troubled youths from further crime. But due to a loss of funding in Illinois’ unprecedented budget impasse, a Rockford-area nonprofit ended its program in October, leaving some 40 juveniles without the one-on-one attention they’d been receiving.

Within months, police say, some of those teens were re-arrested, including after 14 robberies on one January day.

“When all these social service agencies are cut, the only public agency left to pick up the pieces is law enforcement. We’re not equipped to do that,” said Pat Hoey, Rockford’s assistant deputy police chief. “You can’t arrest your way out of youth violence crime issues.”

As the Sun-Times noted, “You can pretty much draw a straight line from the political stalemate in Springfield to a flurry of robberies in Rockford.”

Yep.

…Adding… The AP is now up with a story entitled “Rauner: Crime to spike ‘at some point’ due to budget impasse.” You’re welcome.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:45 am

Comments

Winnin’!

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:48 am
=Now, the good news is we’ve been studying and the data, so far we’re not seeing any increase in crime related to Redeply being strangled by the lack of a budget.=

So as you are being armed robberied, know that there is good news and that a Superstar is analyzing the data and has eliminated one reason that it is happening to you. Take comfort in that.

Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:50 am
=But at some point it will.=

When you are arm robberied again in August though…

Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:51 am
Um– isn’t there a bill waiting for a signature that would help? You know, the one on his desk that he’s ignoring?

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:57 am
It’s hard to make progress when one denies the existence of empirical data.

Comment by out of touch Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:59 am
Blame Assignment>Problem Solvin’

Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:02 am
–“It’s outrageous that we don’t have a budget… If we don’t have a balanced budget we don’t have the resources to put into our essential human services.”–

The perfidy of this governor. There’s a $700 million human services approp. sitting on his desk, passed nearly unanimously by both chambers. It’s been held hostage by Rauner and just Rauner for nearly a month.

Here’s what Gov. Edgar said recently about Gov. Rauner:

– “I think if you got to the budget, and dealt with revenues and expenditures, you could probably get an agreement. But that’s not what’s been holding this up. What’s been holding this up is the ‘Turnaround Agenda,’ which Gov. Rauner has inserted. And whether you like it or not, that is something different than usually what happened in the past.”

Edgar described Rauner as the “800-pound gorilla” in the negotiations, and says his insistence on his partisan legislative agenda is what’s really blocking Illinois from having a comprehensive, balanced budget.

“And again, if he feels so strong on the ‘Turnaround Agenda’ — and apparently he does, to hold up the budget — I don’t know what you change. I don’t know how you change that in his thinking,” Edgar said.–

http://northernpublicradio.org/post/whos-really-holding-illinois-hostage

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:04 am
==“It’s outrageous that we don’t have a budget==

Is he mad at himself?

HE vetoed funding for human services. He has rejected appropriations for these programs.

Rauner’s continuing **outrage** is the definition of “disingenuous”.

Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:06 am
He’s studying it with all those GA Dems who are secretly with him /s.

Comment by EconLady Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:10 am
@ Word- WOW! Just WOW! Not much beating around the bush from Edgar on that one.

If I were a moderate republican or a democrat I would use that like a sledge hammer when the Governor runs his negative ads.

Great find.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:15 am
The uptick in crime is also due to lenient sentences for gun crimes. Robbery use to get you six years. Now it gets you six months

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:24 am
Without vital social services, people become desperate. Desperate people do what they need to do to survive. This is not an excuse for bad behavior, but simply a fact. I could not guarantee to you that I would not steal and rob if in a desperate situation and had to feed my children or put clothes on their backs.

Comment by Groucho Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:38 am
Sunlight… Strong and Steady Sunlight!!!

The general public needs to understand that Rauner would have vetoed his own budget(s). His is totally schizophrenic these days. Nothing is going to be good enough, and none of its his fault. He said as much yesterday.

Republicans are going to have to join forces with the Dems as time goes forward. They need to realize what Rauner is doing to Illinois is even worse than trying to sell a Senate seat.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:46 am
Word +1

=== Here’s what the governor said yesterday… ===

Rauner said the same disingenuous thing he says after being asked about any social service program.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:00 am
Is crime =due= to the impasse? Or =due= to criminal action by criminals?

The juvenile version of Redeploy Illinois helps intervene in the lives of youth. It should be funded fully.

But ultimately, these choices are ours to make. Despite hunger, poverty, family or any other mitigating circumstances, we choose whether to commit =armed robberies and carjackings=. This is not stealing a loaf of bread from the corner store to feed your family, asking the church for help, or leaning on friends in a moment of trouble.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:18 am
This may be a bit over the top,.but old people like me and Mrs. blue talk to quite a large social group.and this certainly gives credence to,”…..the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Our generation is darn right scared.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:25 am
==a bill waiting==

The bill that was waiting in the GA? Senate Bill 2789? The one where Rauner offered to take ownership of the budget and the cuts if the GA didn’t want to compromise on a combination of cuts, revenues and reform?

=Either you give the executive branch the authority to cut spending to live within our revenues, or we agree - together - on economic and governmental reforms, to accompany a negotiated balance of spending reductions and revenue, that ensures that Illinois can be both compassionate and competitive. You choose. But please, choose now.=

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 11:45 am
there is an uptick in crime all over the country. it’s not just about budget issues. it’s not just about police stepping back because they are unwilling to risk the ire of BLM. but something is definitely going on because crime is up.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:13 pm
I saw J. Edgar on Chicago Tonight last night. I’ll give him credit for keeping his contempt for Gov. Rauner under control.
But I can’t help but wonder if the $25,000 or so he gets monthly from his pension and the gig at U of I isn’t part of the problem.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:15 pm
–The bill that was waiting in the GA? –

No, FKA, the one waiting on the governor’s desk. I’m sure that was clear to anyone who can read.

You’re always pontificating about the need for bipartisan compromise.

Yet when a bipartisan compromise that provides emergency funds for social services hits the governor’s desk, you want to change the subject.

So revealing as to your true objectives.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:19 pm
next time you watch a rauner presser, listen to the Benny Hill theme song…..

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 12:28 pm
Edgar=Straight Arrow.

Rauner=OODA-loop corkscrew.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 1:41 pm
Dear AP: if you look through Mister JM’s posts you will find some more well-referenced quotes to do a follow up article on the budget impasse.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 2:03 pm
==So revealing as to your true objectives.==

Projecting much, wordslinger?

He can sign the bill and should if Dems are unwilling to compromise on a plan providing greater funding to service providers. Providers need more than this, but this at least helps them get by.

The point should be clear to those capable of reading without inserting their own bias. The GA has rejected compromise so far. The GA rejected service provider funding alternatives. And the GA rejected Rauner’s offer to balance the budget if they gave him temporary powers to manage state money. The comment was a reminder to some of those exalting this bill while denouncing Rauner not to be so simple as =Rauner good= or =Rauner bad=.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 5:14 pm
LOL, FKA, do you think you make any sense at all?

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 6:04 pm
There is no need to get defensive or cast aspersions because you cannot understand something.

Be mad at yourself, not others. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 9:56 pm
== And the GA rejected Rauner’s offer to balance the budget if they gave him temporary powers to manage state money. ==

For a GA to give ANY Governor that much power, there has to be trust by members of the GA. Rauner started destroying any trust during the campaign, solidified it with the non-existant election night calls, and hasn’t stopped since. Plus, as he has since proved, Rauner has no problems ignoring state laws on the specific use of funds. It’s become clear, had the GA granted that power, Rauner would have used it to do the government equivalent of mob bust-out operation. Heck, he’s tried to do that without the authority.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 7, 16 @ 10:35 pm