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* What’s on your Illinois mind?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 3:06 am

Comments

In regard to the Chauvin ruling, I note a political fuss a’brewin’ over the George Floyd Policing Act. It seems to me Illinois is perhaps a little ahead of the curve, having passed such legislation this Spring. I wonder what role we might play as leaders at the national level.

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 7:54 am
Regarding the backlog of bills - it might not be terrible if the GA completes the budget, re-districting and a handful of other ‘must-dos,’ especially those that impact health and welfare of those most in need, and the fiscal stability of the state….and let the rest go for the time being.

“This too shall pass’ comes to mind. We’re not out of this global pandemic.

Our culture values go-go-go, and ‘get stuff done.’

Like Ozymandias, most of it will be ruins, forgotten in time.

Comment by Ashland Adam Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 8:23 am
Property Tax reform.

Comment by You know, just the same thing for years... Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 8:56 am
Any of the snow stick anywhere? It’s melting fast this morning and may be gone by the time I finish this post.

Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:11 am
I think my outdoor roses and other plants survived. I covered them, and they looked good when I took the covers off this morning. I’ll have to do it again tonight, then we’ll see.

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:16 am
Sunny here and nothing on the ground. People walking their dogs are bundled up though.

Off in a while to the United Center to get my first shot.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:16 am
Made a big mistake and sent the fluffy down comforter off to the cleaners last Friday. Should have kept it on the bed another week. Brrr.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:33 am
two words and a number:
Carlos Rodon—0.47

Comment by 10th Ward Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:54 am
Tulips don’t look too sad. Going to take a walk with the neighbor in a few minutes. Happy to see the sun.

Comment by Dog Lover Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:56 am
“the 16th person charged with killing, trying to kill, or shooting someone in Chicago this year while on bond for another felony case.”
Glad a citizens group is keeping track cause this is a major problem.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 9:57 am
Yes and out of touch Illinois Democrats see themselves as National leaders in criminal justice reform.

They are only leaders in decreasing public safety

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:02 am
“Glad a citizens group is keeping track cause this is a major problem.”

Don’t worry Tim Evans debunked opinion of using half-baked data claiming 99.8% of felony defendants released on bail don’t receive new charges is also keeping track…..

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:08 am
Rent control bill has been amended to do it by referendum. I have a long list of other populist ideas I’d also like to do by referendum such as lowering property taxes, cutting salaries for government officials, and term limits. Where are those bills?

Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:13 am
Get vaccinated if you haven’t already done it.
https://covidvaccination.dph.illinois.gov/ shows plenty of sites and plenty of open vaccination spots at state vaccination sites, https://www.vaccinespotter.org/IL/ shows plenty of appointments available at pharmacies across Illinois, and https://scdph.org/ shows all open appointments at the state mass vaccination site at the fairgrounds. The nice things about those sites is that you can see the appointments that are available before registering…C’mon Cook and Winnebago County, people don’t want to register, they don’t want to get on a list, they want to see the appointments that are available and sign up for the vaccine at a time that works for them. In any case, get it done, do it for yourself and for people around you.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:26 am
Blackhawks must win the next two games against the preds if they have any chance of making the playoffs, but since the hawks are 0-4-2 against the preds this season it does not look good.

Comment by obiter dictum Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:27 am
=Yes and out of touch Illinois Democrats see themselves as National leaders in criminal justice reform.

They are only leaders in decreasing public safety=

Then explain your trumpism support after he pardoned convicted criminals. You think that made us safer too?

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:33 am
@ 1st Ward, so glad to see our criminal justice community has stopped the problem….not.

Comment by A Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:41 am
Ok I will play along JS Mill, but just to clarify I would not classify myself as a “Trumpist”, just a Republican

List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump

During his tenure as president of the United States (January 20, 2017–January 20, 2021), Donald Trump granted executive clemency to 237 individuals charged or convicted of federal criminal offenses, using his clemency power under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_by_Donald_Trump

List of people granted executive clemency by Barack Obama

By the end of his second and final term on January 20, 2017, United States President Barack Obama had exercised his constitutional power to grant the executive clemency—that is, “pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of fine or restitution, and reprieve”[1]—to 1,927 individuals convicted of federal crimes. Of the acts of clemency, 1,715 were commutations (including 504 life sentences) and 212 were pardons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_by_Barack_Obama

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 10:50 am
I had an “only in Chicago” vaccine experience. Four weeks ago, Loretto Hospital on the West Side was in hot water for the drip-drip of stories of their now former CFO allegedly vaccinated various groups based on where he lived, where he bought his high-end watches, his favorite steak house, etc. My son texts me from his Wisconsin school and said he is driving back because he got a first vaccine hospital at Loretto Hospital the very next morning. I couldn’t understand how that could be but was able to sign up myself when I went on the zocdocs site–lots of appointments available only there for Chicago residents who qualify regardless of zip code.

As we are standing in a very long line the next day, with lot of others who also signed up just the day before, I was thinking, hmm, did this happen because they need some good PR? Certainly. We had a pleasant vaccine experience and were given the “I got my COVID shot at Loretto Hospital” button at the vclinic named in honor of State Senator Lightford.

And three days later right on cue, Senator Lightford dismissed the misdirected shots as being less than 200 as being a small fraction of shots they have put in arms: 16,000 plus.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:14 am
16th? Out of how many? And of those 16 was there anything that makes them stand out from the group that didn’t go onto commit further violence while out on bond? The law allows that people can be remanded pending trial if they are deemed a threat, so if the powers that be can reliably determine, and without just willy-nilly locking everyone up, who is likely to offend while out and who is not, then that would be a useful data point.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 11:47 am
Thanks for providing the links, Lucky Pierre; I hope you don’t mind if others play as well. It’s clever to point out the wide discrepancy in raw numbers of pardons/clemency grants, but bear in mind that Obama’s happened over the course of two terms rather than Trump’s single term (granted one assumes DT is not still president).

Even more interesting to me were the tables in both Wikis describing who got clemency, what they were convicted of, and how long their sentences were. One list (Obama’s) seemed to be filled with things like liquor law violations, drug offenses, and the ghastly offense of “mutilation of coins,” often for inordinately long sentences. Obama also pardoned one tax evader, four days before he left office. That’s Marc Rich territory, I suppose.

Trump’s clemency list includes 15 people convicted of tax crimes, many of whom are high-profile politicians or celebrities with ties to Trump and his friends. People like Mike Milken, Charles Kushner, Bernard Kerik, etc. Lots of political allies as well - Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and the like who were convicted of interfering with investigations into Trump, making false statements to the FBI, etc. Oh yeah, and Susan B Anthony.

One column missing from both presidents’ clemency lists is whether the people pardoned have a history of political donations or other financial ties to the president who pardoned them. Care to wager on which president’s list would be easier to complete?

Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:04 pm
In 4 or 5 years after Trump and Madigan fade from the scene who will be the boogie man for the Republicans and Democrats in the state of Illinois. I have noticed less of Rauner lately.

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:18 pm
=== but just to clarify I would not classify myself as a “Trumpist”===

That’s *exactly* who you are.

Embrace it.

You defended and supported Trump, your comments said as much.

You can’t claim you “support the policies” and vote for the man and not be a “Trumpist”

Just stop with that nonsense right here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 12:51 pm
I was in and out of the United Center in under an hour and have my appointment scheduled for 2 weeks from today. My arm is a little sore but I didn’t pass out on them.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:08 pm
Snow. I’m over it. I’m a warm weather lover normally but it feels like this year I’ve just been hanging on desperately for a beautiful summer and some time outside in the sun. Here’s to hoping we see real spring weather next week.

Comment by DuPage Dem Wednesday, Apr 21, 21 @ 1:28 pm