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Unclear on the concept

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* Heart of Illinois ABC…

Illinois state senator, Darren Bailey, joined the Tenth annual Tent-A-thon hosted by Pastor Corey Brooks. The Tent-A-Thon is a part of Pastor Brooks H.O.O.D foundation (Helping Others Obtain Destiny). The program consists of fifteen projects focused on violence prevention, entrepreneurship, and job training.

Pastor Brooks invites community leaders, politicians and parents to camp out on his roof Tent-A-Thon to bring awareness to violence.

Senator Bailey camped out and held a press conference the next morning about his experience.

“We were camping out in a tent at the end of this platform last night. At two o’clock in the morning we heard gunshots. These gunshots less than a hundred yards over. I’m laying there thinking, okay that surely was something else. About fifteen minutes later I heard a female voice screaming he’s been shot,” said Bailey.

He apparently didn’t call the police, which is odd. I think if I heard a nearby woman screaming that somebody had been shot, I’d call 911.

* But let’s get to the point, which is that Bailey is apparently unaware that the state is already doing something that he wants it to do, and is actually increasing the funding.

Here’s what Bailey said at yesterday’s Project H.O.O.D event…

Government has got to start working with 501(c)(3)s, with non for profit organizations. This is how we change Illinois. This is how we change our society. Government is not the answer.

Except, that’s exactly what government does. The state doesn’t directly employ violence interrupters. It awards grants to groups like Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a project of Metropolitan Family Services. Those groups vet neighborhood organizations’ programs and award them money.

From the Project H.O.O.D website…

With newly gained funding and partnership with CP4P, Project H.O.O.D. has launched a new violence reduction initiative that targets the Woodlawn community.

* According to the governor’s office, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has awarded $6,094,300 to Metropolitan Family Services for its violence reduction projects starting in 2019. Of that, $5.87 million has gone to CP4P. If you look at the CP4P website, you’ll see that Project H.O.O.D. is one of 28 neighborhood groups that have received grant money for anti-violence programs.

And, as this Project H.O.O.D. video claims, the group is having success with its crime reduction programs.

* Pastor Brooks is raising money to help build a new facility. He was close to Gov. Rauner, and even got an appointment to the tollway board. Todd Ricketts, who recently resigned as RNC finance chair, is a recent contributor. Republican gubernatorial candidate Gary Rabine is also a recent camper. And Jesse Sullivan is a supporter as well.

Nothing wrong with any of that. More power to the man if he’s raising money for a good cause. They can afford it for sure. But he allowed Bailey to take some campaign shots yesterday, so just keep all that in mind.

* From the governor’s office…

• 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.

Maybe Bailey ought to start reading state budgets before voting against them and then literally shooting them for fun.

…Adding… This would’ve been a much better headline…

Legislator Doesn't Read Legislation, Calls On State To Do What It's Already Doing https://t.co/bz59LsfiyI

— Strannik (@Strannik_REB45) November 30, 2021

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 9:44 am

Comments

Maybe next week he can play some handball on 26th & California.

Or maybe he can sell some elotes in Archer Heights.

Comment by What next? Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 9:55 am
Gotta ask if media called CPD for confirmation of a shooting or do we all buy the yarn? We think the mandate on Gomer readin’ stuff is a outrageous demand that threatens his lst A Free Speech Rights

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 9:56 am
Davis running for re-elect, Bailey could be the GOP nominee.

It’s disasters like this that Bailey thinks are smart that backfire with ads and “educating” voters on one’s voting record.

Cory Brooks may or may not be helping but Brooks didn’t help a woman who might have been shot by not calling the police.

That’s an odd thing not to do.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 9:59 am
Bailey seems to have issues with protecting others. No mask and not calling the PD when someone crying about being shot.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:01 am
There’s nothing serious about Darren Bailey’s candidacy. He’s actually the guy Bruce Rauner was pretendin’ to be.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:01 am
“Government is not the answer.”

Agreed. Let’s start with farm subsidies.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:01 am
Am I the only one who thinks this is kinda smart for Bailey? No one’s actually going to pay attention to the fact that the government already does the things he’s saying it should do, then if he becomes Governor, he can take credit for it.

It’s certainly deceitful. I won’t vote for him. But it’s clever.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:04 am
=Gotta ask if media called CPD for confirmation of a shooting or do we all buy the yarn?=

No, we are not buying.

Everyday Bailey seems more and more like Bruce Rauner’s less intelligent brother in-law. The one that shows up with a beat up Winnebago.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:05 am
Pundent, that is a perfect characterization of candidate Bailey!

Comment by former southerner Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:05 am
The issue really isn’t whether the government is or is not doing what Bailey suggests they do. The issue is that whatever they are doing, it is failing miserably. Violence is not being prevented or diminished by current programs. It is increasing. To inevitable snotty commenters who say “ Well what should they do, then?” I would say I don’t have a solution, but I am not the governor or running for the office, so ask Jay Bob that question.

Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:11 am
=== The issue really isn’t whether the government is or is not doing what Bailey suggests they do. The issue is that whatever they are doing, it is failing miserably.===

So Bailey is so grossly inept he can’t see what you see as the problem?

I guess Bailey, according to you, really has no grasp of what he’s doing or saying… obviously

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:13 am
“Government is not the answer.”

Then why the bloody heck are you in government if it’s not the answer? Just to sponge and draw a salary/benefits?

It’s our fault, for electing people who attack government to appeal to many of us but make a living off of it, like Bailey and other Republicans. Lots of us are just very dishonest.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:14 am
Senator Bailey’s ignorance of the budget is even more “impressive” in light of the fact that he is a member of COGFA, the bipartisan legislative Commission of Government Forecasting and Accountability . . . . .

Comment by Facts Matter Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:16 am
“He apparently didn’t call the police, which is odd. I think if I heard a nearby woman screaming that somebody had been shot, I’d call 911″

The article/video is silent on the reaction to the shots and the screaming. It is an assumption that Baily casually did nothing; for all we know, someone else in Baily’s tent or one near him called Police.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:21 am
==The issue really isn’t whether the government is or is not doing what Bailey suggests they do. The issue is that whatever they are doing, it is failing miserably.==

but Bailey is advocating that the government do something it’s already doing. So if that’s what is failing miserably (although, see below), it kind of is a problem that Bailey is advocating for it, isn’t it?

==Violence is not being prevented or diminished by current programs. It is increasing.==

The above being said, is this claim actually true? Project HOOD claims to have some success. Are they lying? Are we not doing enough of what Project HOOD does?

==I don’t have a solution, but I am not the governor or running for the office==

But you know who is running for office? Darren Bailey. And he is advocating a program that you say is failing miserably.

==so ask Jay Bob that question==

I don’t know who Jay Bob is, but I think maybe we should ask the guy who is advocating for a program you say is failing miserably that question, too.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:22 am
Good on Pastor Brooks, use what you can to help those kids.

The scary part for me is - this guy actually thinks he has a chance to be governor of Illinois.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:23 am
I appreciate Senator Bailey camping out in Chicago for a cause he believes in, but I find it hard to believe he hears gun shots and a woman screaming and does not call the police. Not to sound judgmental, but that seems in a word “dumb”.
On the other hand Pritzker responds that he is spending a lot of money on the crime problem but doesn’t point out any positive achievements for all the money he says he is spending.
Would really like to see a decent person with just average intelligence run for Governor. Just give me Mr. Average snd I will be happy.
Both candidates have time to put some spin on gunshots and a woman screaming, but neither has any evidence that they are doing anything but talk and spend.

Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:27 am
‘Unclear on the Concept’ would be a fitting title for Bailey’s biography.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:33 am
Please know I did not allow anyone to say anything, I can’t nor do I try to control what people say. Please note that I have a open invitation to the Governor and Speaker and would love for them to stop by. don’t care what party you belong. All I want to do is build a community center. Thank you

Comment by Corey Brooks Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:34 am
Pastor Brooks,
Do you agree or disagree with Darren Bailey’s version of the events that evening?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:38 am
Am I the only one who thinks this is kinda smart for Bailey?
Yup
Do you recall GovJunk allegedly made a million dollar deposit in a south side bank/credit union
to get some media attention — BTW no one checked whether that really happened either.

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:40 am
OW- Yes, Bailey is helplessly inept and unless something is done, he could be the nominee and will drag the entire ticket down.

Comment by Elliott Ness Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:41 am
“I’m laying there thinking, okay that surely was something else. About fifteen minutes later I heard a female voice screaming he’s been shot…”

15 minutes later… this could easily become Bailey’s 15 minutes of infamy. If someone was shot, 15 minutes can be the difference between life and death. And no one on that rooftop did anything???

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:42 am
The all- consuming choice by Darren Bailey—do we order deep dish or thin crust for the rooftop? Pastor Brooks, any advice?

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:43 am
Bailey cares about Chicago crime while wanting to kick it out of Illinois? Who actually believes this stuff?

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:45 am
Doesn’t Bailey “Back the Blue”?

If you back the blue you’d be likely to call if someone was shot.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:47 am
“Violence is not being prevented or diminished by current programs. It is increasing” That still doesn’t prove that the programs are a failure. It could be that without them it would have been increasing even more.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:53 am
=don’t care what party you belong=

Some evidence to the contrary Pastor.

I get that you have to raise money from donations, and sometimes those donors may come with baggage (depending on your perspective) but some of the folks have actually hurt the people you are trying to help (and I believe you are working hard to help people) Daren Bailey being one of them.

Also, why didn’t he call the police? Wondering if you know the answer to this question.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:54 am
I think the problem for Sen Bailey and most other residents of Illinois who don’t live in Chicago is that they assume no one is doing anything. Then to actually see what a non-profit/ngo is doing is a different story. It isn’t as simple as everyone makes it out to be. If it was it would have been fixed years ago. Looking at this project they are working with the police and many other things. Even if the government isn’t the answer they will need a lot more of someone’s money to make a larger impact. Will Sen Bailey send a donation?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:59 am
BTW was the $5K love offering from the campaign or Gomer’s personal stash?

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 10:59 am
==Am I the only one who thinks this is kinda smart for Bailey? No one’s actually going to pay attention to the fact that the government already does the things he’s saying it should do, then if he becomes Governor, he can take credit for it.==

Here’s why it’s not smart: Bailey is now on the record saying he is for something that is actually being done. His opponents can use that clip and then point out 1) he is not aware that this is being done and 2) he voted against funding it.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:14 am
~~Everyday Bailey seems more and more like Bruce Rauner’s less intelligent brother in-law. The one that shows up with a beat up Winnebago~~

So- Randy Quaid?

Comment by jimbo Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:23 am
The GOP was silent as social service providers (the providers that actually help stop gun violenece and crime in a comprehensive way) shuttered for years during the Rauner admin and now they’re SHOCKED that crime is rising. The rise started around the same time of the budget impasse. Every do gooder told you it wasn’t like flipping a switch, even if the budget did eventually pass it would take YEARS to rebuild. That’s exactly what is happening now. The rebuilding is taking place and it will take YEARS to see the benefits. The Republicans are now running on fixing challenges they created and the media will probably let them get away with it.

Comment by wut? Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:28 am
I will definitely give Sen. Bailey a “hand clap of praise” for coming to Chicago and camping out with Pastor Brooks.

Comment by Levois J Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:33 am
When I hear gunshots and screams, I call the Police…like any other decent citizen.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:38 am
=== It is an assumption that Baily casually did nothing===

Yep. He did excitedly talk about it in the morning with others, though. He went into detail. Never once did he say he called 911. It’s a pretty safe assumption.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:41 am
- Prudent -

Great stuff. Whew.

=== The Republicans are now running on fixing challenges they created and the media will probably let them get away with it.===

Very “likely”… but as one who has the receipts, you’d think this new Illinois Democratic Party thingy that’s touted would message them easily found receipts as needed.

You’d think that, but…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:44 am
If he’s the nominee, will Bailey campaign on his (taxpayer subsidized) trash can tractor?

Comment by Wading in... Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:44 am
“It is an assumption that Baily casually did nothing; for all we know, someone else in Baily’s tent or one near him called Police.”

One assumption after another.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:46 am
I gotta tell ya, I’m a little disappointed in Bailey here. I don’t understand why, after hearing gun shots, he didn’t grab his AR-15 and go protect whatever used car lot was in the vicinity.

What gives Bailey? You only shoot your gun at stacks of paper (or other things that won’t shoot back).

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:49 am
@ Pundent and @OW- Top shelf stuff. This is really the ballgame when it comes to the long term issues created by short term political posturing.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:52 am
Presumably the decision to go camp on the rooftop is not a spur of the moment thing. And in doing so there’s a reasonable expectation that something down below might happen while you’re there. I would also think that you’d have a contingency plan worked out if that thing did in fact happen. It would begin and end with calling the police. And if none of those things were discussed and worked out in advance than this is nothing more than a stunt and should be viewed as such.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:53 am
In a weak effort to defend beetle for not calling the cops, perhaps he thought the shots were from the local duck or deer hunters.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 2:13 pm
I hate to break it to Bailey but the State has been contracting out social services across the board for decades. Obviously in this situation he’s talking about violence prevention but there’s DCFS & private agency caseworkers doing the overwhelming majority of the foster children caseload or DHS transitioning residents from developmental centers to CILAs as just 2 more examples.

As for the Governor’s response, 1 thing to keep in mind is there is no Chicago Police forensics lab. All the evidence from Chicago is processed by the ISP labs. So any improvements at the ISP labs can have a direct impact on Chicago.

Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 3:50 pm
=perhaps he thought the shots were from the local duck or deer hunters.=

I think the rather obvious conclusion is that Bailey was more interested in being a witnesses (safely out of harms way) to something happening rather than taking action once it did. Ironic since one of the problems plaguing many communities is that people don’t speak up when they witness a crime.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 4:33 pm
Darren Bailey is no George Bailey (no relation), but he may be related to Mr. Potter.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 5:59 pm
Hucksters gonna huck.

Has anyone ever asked how many fish Bailey caught that time he filed a frivolous lawsuit against the state so he could go fishing?

Comment by The Other Rich Hill Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 11:41 pm

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