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Pritzker, Preckwinkle, Cupich call for peace, reforms

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Illinois

After four days of civil unrest, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday turned to religious and community leaders to urge protesters to channel anger over the death of George Floyd toward efforts for criminal justice reform and economic development in minority communities.

“What’s very important to me is that we establish an agenda — an agenda that’s led, in part, by the very peaceful protesters that are out on the streets, that were there protesting last night, the night before and the night before, the folks who there with legitimate grievance,” Pritzker said. […]

Joining Pritzker and Preckwinkle at Kleo Art Residences, an affordable housing development in the Washington Park neighborhood on the South Side, were religious leaders including Cardinal Blaise Cupich of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and Apostle Carl White of Victory Christian International Ministries, who recalled when businesses along Roosevelt Road were set aflame in riots of 1968. […]

Earlier this year, Pritzker unveiled a criminal justice reform agenda — including an eventual end to cash bail — that he hoped to begin advancing in the General Assembly’s spring legislative session before it was subsumed by the coronavirus pandemic. Preckwinkle has been a proponent of similar efforts at the county level.

* CBS 2…

“Real change, structural change comes from protests paired with policy. That means police reform with genuine investigations, transparency and accountability. That means taking the justice and criminal justice and making it mean something. That means sustained economic investment in black and brown communities across our state,” Prizker added. “Activism is critical and it will take activism plus action to build ourselves into the state, into the nation that we must strive to become.”

Among the faith leaders present, Cardinal Blase Cupich.

“Last week, we had a death in the family. Our brother George was murdered. We should mourn. We should be angry and hurt but we also should heed the wishes of the Floyd family and not dishonor this gentle memory by spreading the sickness of violence,” Cupich said.

* ABC 7…

Preckwinkle said George Floyd’s death “caused an uproar because it was routine.” […]

Cardinal Cupich also called for “passing legislation that guarantees equal opportunity for employment and healthcare,” but said policies are not enough.

“We must resolve to break this heartbreak, to turn this heartbreak into action and people of faith need to take the lead for we know that even the darkest deeds can be redeemed by love and love is what is called for now.”

* Sun-Times…

The governor said the state is looking to the federal government for support for the “basic functions of our state.”

“We have lost revenues in our state, and we need to rebuild those coffers in order for us to deliver the services on the ground that people need and the supports that small businesses need,” Pritzker said.

“The last five days have at least demonstrated to everybody who wasn’t already paying attention that we have systemic racism that also needs to be addressed in a state budget … we’re the land of Lincoln, we’re the land of Barack Obama … but over the last five days I think it’s been brought to the fore that our communities — our black and brown communities — are the ones that we need to focus on.”

The governor was also asked if he’d call a special session to deal with these issues and he said he wouldn’t, offering the same reasons he gave in May.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:44 pm

Comments

I wonder if those arrested for looting and destruction of property would be the kind of criminals eligible for the no cash bail policy.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:50 pm
==The governor was also asked if he’d call a special session to deal with these issues and he said he wouldn’t==

This isn’t going to wait until the Fall Veto Session. I think he’s been doing a pretty good job thus far as Governor but he’s absolutely wrong when he says something like this. People want action and him dismissing a special session doesn’t indicate to me he’s taking things as seriously as he should.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:51 pm
Systemic racism in the most liberal and democratic of cities, led by African Americans at all levels?

endless probation and “end to cash bail” has lhelped fuel this anarchy. Great solutions, more criminals on the streets. Thats working out real well. Anyone care about the victims? How about the 241 homicides to date in Chicago and the 966 shot and wounded?

Comment by 44th Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:52 pm
==endless probation and “end to cash bail” has lhelped fuel this anarchy==

You really are blind to the situation aren’t you or you wouldn’t have said something so dumb.

I would imagine the “anarchy” is being fueled by black men being killed by the police, don’t you think?

Unbelievable.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 3:57 pm
Systemic racism in the most liberal and democratic of cities, led by African Americans at all levels?

In a city run by one party for the since 1931.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:02 pm
I wish no cash bail was explained further. I get no cash bail for misdemeanor and some felony. But how about violent crimes f, domestic battery,child abuse? What about no shows at court?

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:05 pm
== I wish no cash bail was explained further. ==

Basically it boils down to this: either you’re a flight risk/imminent danger to others, or you’re not. You don’t suddenly become more of a flight risk because you can’t come up with a couple thousand dollars.

Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:18 pm
“endless probation and “end to cash bail” has lhelped fuel this anarchy. Great solutions, more criminals on the streets. Thats working out real well.”
You know this how?

Comment by Abby Normal Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:21 pm
For Preckwinkel, Cupich and JB what goes on around the city and suburbs tonight will tell the tale. Hoping for the best.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:23 pm
==What about no shows at court?==

My understanding is that if you fail to abide by the terms of your bail–whether it’s a cash bail or just released on your own recognizance–you then get a warrant out for your arrest. If and when you are apprehended, you are no longer eligible for bail. (I encourage anyone with a better understanding of the criminal justice system to correct me if I’m wrong.)

Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:26 pm
The answer to this terrible situation is two parent households. The tricky part is no one wants to acknowledge this issue.

A new State program cannot replace absent fathers. When 75% of African American children are growing up in single parent households it’s going to put the kids at a disadvantage. Compare that to 58% for Hispanics and 35% for whites.

One solution could be a very large tax credit for married couples who make under $80,000. Maybe $10,000 to encourage them to stick together.

Comment by Sawoosh Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:41 pm
Benjamin, I just did some research to doublecheck our understanding of bail revocations and failures to appear. (Yes, I meant that as in, we shared how you explained it.)
Turns out, it’s fairly accurate.
Sources:

https://codes.findlaw.com/il/chapter-725-criminal-procedure/il-st-sect-725-5-110-6.html

https://www.myillinoisdefenselawyer.com/il-criminal-charges/failure-to-appear-outstanding-warrant/

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:45 pm
=== A new State program cannot replace absent fathers.===

What if the father is absent due to…

Jeanne Ives called, she’s asking you not use this until the fall election.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:46 pm
== The answer to this terrible situation is two parent households.==
That might be but there’s no political solution for that. You can’t force people who don’t love each other to marry and live together.
==Maybe $10,000 to encourage them to stick together.==
There’s a not very nice word for people who love for money.

Comment by 17% Solution Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 4:50 pm
=== Systemic racism in the most liberal and democratic of cities, led by African Americans at all levels?

In a city run by one party for the since 1931.===

Says more about a GOP that can’t win on a message that voters would be better off with them.

Oh I know…

“Sumptin’ sumptin’… the machine, the combine… sumptin’ sumptin’… victimhood”

Simple observations rarely tell complex stories.

The Chicago GOP backed a Democrat in the last non-partisan election.

(Sigh)

To the post,

=== “Last week, we had a death in the family. Our brother George was murdered. We should mourn. We should be angry and hurt but we also should heed the wishes of the Floyd family and not dishonor this gentle memory by spreading the sickness of violence,” Cupich said.===

What the Cardinal is doing is trying to show there needs to be a need for healing, mourning… and isolating the violence response too. It’s up to leaders outside faith to find that way within these protests to find that balance with citizens.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:00 pm
So they are sayong that the way to fix problems that have been caused by decades of Progressive policies in cities across the country, is more of the same Progressive policys. But they really just want to talk about it and not work on it for a while yet.

Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:03 pm
— “The governor said the state is looking to the federal government for support for the “basic functions of our state.” —

Sorry, but I believe the residents of Illinois are responsible for the “basic functions of our State”, not the Federal government. I do not expect residents of other states to support basic functions of Illinois through Federal taxes. Go ahead, call me crazy, I mean unstable.

Comment by Unstable Genius Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:12 pm
There have been no “decades of progressive policies” in Chicago.

Read Thomas Dyja’s “TheThird Coast” and Eve Ewing’s “Ghosts in the Schoolyard”, just for a start, if you want to know how the distinctly NON-progressive policies have brought Chicago to where it is now.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:16 pm
= I do not expect residents of other states to support basic functions of Illinois through Federal taxes:=

Then you must be outraged over how much of our Illinois taxpayer dollars are redistributed by the federal government to other states.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:18 pm
=== I do not expect residents of other states to support basic functions of Illinois through Federal taxes.===

LOL…

Explain the states that get more back from the federal government than their citizens send…

Unstable Genius indeed.

Can’t argue states are on our own as states feed the federal government and its existence to reward some states more than they give.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:19 pm
Yada, Yada, Yada. Comments are 3 days late.

Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:31 pm
“one of the most liberal”

Yeah, old man Daley was one anti-law, tree huggin’, tye-dye t-shirt wearin’ radical.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:33 pm
I hope Cupich calls on the mega rich to pay their fair share in taxes. The ultra rich have been dodging taxes for far too long preventing governments from creating these types of reforms. It shouldn’t take looting, riots and chaos for to ask that those who can most afford simply pitch in.

Comment by Emma Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:50 pm
Crimes against property were provoked by a specific crime against a particular person.

Police in Minnesota stood by and (minimally) watched a murder by one of their own.

Then police stood by and watched protests devolve into looting, again shooting and tear gassing protesters and even reporters with rubber bullets.

I hear and read a lot more about the crimes of protester looting than the crime of police violence and murder.

Keep in mind that one precipitated the other.

Business owners need to ask police to stop provoking riots with their excesses.

I read that Chicago has paid out a half billion dollars to police victims.

Maybe laws can’t be changed because savage brutality works fine for years on end, only occasionally making a dent in city finances.

Comment by Glenn Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 5:52 pm
the latest 3 arrested in conjunction with violence near the protests all have recent records. analysis of their cases and convictions/probation will be interesting.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 6:05 pm
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/state-of-minnesota-files-civil-rights-charge-against-minneapolis-police-department/ar-BB14Wb5o

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 6:07 pm
I don’t know if you guys saw updates on the Minneapolis police or not. Figured you deserved the latest one I found.

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Jun 2, 20 @ 6:17 pm
=== decades of Progressive policies in cities ==
Sorry what?
What progressive policies? Social security is progressive but it is federal. ACA is progressive but it’s federal. The post office, etc. What policy specific to Chicago (or cities) are you referencing?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 5:08 am
polcie reform? Lets start with a state law that REQUIRES drug testing of ALL law enforcement personnel from cops to staff to prison guards. Police union contracts can not waive this requirement. Steroid use is big time and causes so many side effects, and is to be clearly outlawed for use. We want REFORM, start there.

Comment by truthteller Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 6:27 am
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 7:16 am
Businesses won’t reopen, anger will grow, cops will again (at some point) do what they do and this will boil over again. Maybe the “leaders” will learn from round one. Sadly IMO its gonna be a long summer.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 8:08 am