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* Block Club Chicago…
Activist Will Calloway spent months securing state funding for a violence prevention program in South Shore — but now it’s taking so long to access the money, he’s worried it will come too late for the group to effectively do anything with it.
The Passports for Peace violence prevention program, announced in May, will offer out-of-town trips, job training, mentorship and social media monitoring to people at risk of being victimized by or perpetrating gun violence.
Usually, area legislators are quoted in stories like this one criticizing the state agency or governor and siding with their local groups. Or you’ll see reporters gloss over eye-popping things like in this unrelated story by the BGA’s Illinois Answers Project…
The future of a program aimed at helping formerly incarcerated Chicago residents hangs in the balance after the company that was supposed to pay for it, cryptocurrency giant FTX, has imploded amid accusations of fraud before paying most of its promised $1 million grant. […]
The nonprofit, also known as EAT, got the first installment of the grant — just over $393,000 — to support administrative costs. But, without the second payment — more than $600,000 — the program can’t be launched, according to Richard Wallace, EAT’s co-founder and executive director.
A 40 percent administrative overhead? Whoa. Are you kidding me?
* Anyway, let’s get back to the Block Club Chicago story and our original point…
Rep. Curtis Tarver, who represents the area, shares Calloway’s frustration with the process, as “funds aren’t hitting our communities as quickly as we want them to,” he said.
At the same time, a thorough vetting process is needed when spending state funds, Tarver said. […]
“There is a process” to vetting grant funding, Tarver wrote to Calloway in an email obtained by Block Club. “It seems to be being followed, and I do not want any suggestion otherwise by my email being included.” […]
Tarver’s support of the violence prevention program doesn’t mean the state has to “speed up the process, or do anything outside of what the normal process is,” he said. “I want to let the process play itself out.”
That’s really a model for how legislators should react. The state obviously needs to reexamine its contracting laws, but, if the agency is following the rules and nothing is untoward, then legislators shouldn’t pile on to score cheap news media points.
* On to Part 2. Rep. Tarver also wrote an op-ed this week in the Hyde Park Herald about why he didn’t vote on the SAFE-T Act trailer bill after having voted for the original bill in 2021…
On December 1, 2022 only after ensuring that there were enough votes in the Illinois House of Representatives to pass the latest purported “trailer bill” to the SAFE-T Act, I decided not to vote in favor or against the bill.
OK, right off the bat there’s a contradiction. He’s basically saying he would’ve voted for the bill if it was short. Not to mention that it was other people who were out there making sure the bill had enough votes. Rep. Tarver wasn’t even in the building last Thursday during the roll call.
And then he threw his colleagues under the bus…
To have voted in favor of the bill would have been to support those individuals who profess to care about the rights and needs of Black and Brown Illinoisans but at the first site of political pressure are willing to fold. The rights and needs of Black and Brown Illinoisans cannot only be important when wooing us for votes but then discarding us a few weeks later.
Ouch.
…Adding… From Rep. Tarver…
I did not throw my colleagues under the bus. My statement was more general than about this specific vote. It certainly was not to suggest that every colleague that voted in favor of the bill feigns concern about Black and Brown communities. Some people are genuine - others are not. That transcends the Illinois House of Representatives.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:12 am
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Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:18 am
Regarding the first excerpt, I was also struck by Tarver’s comments and thought they were spot-on but odd for a legislator to state so openly.
While I understand the dilemma for the grantee, it’s not the state’s job to provide advance funding. Either the grantee has the capacity to provide the service, or it shouldn’t be applying for a grant. Also, have they tried getting a loan from the private sector? That seems to be what they need, working cash to get up and running that could be paid back once the grant is received.
Just a thought, and I know, ex-offenders don’t have the easiest time securing financing through normal channels like banks. But maybe a community finance group or a foundation could step in?
Regardless, Tarver is correct to stick to the process and not intervene.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:25 am
Does Rep. Tarver just hate making sausage?
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:27 am
Having worked in State government, trying to help local governments and organizations access State grants, I was often frustrated with the slow pace. Seemed like every time there was an instance of corruption, a new law or regulation was enacted which added a new level of approval or oversight, which slowed things down and seldom stopped the shenanigans.
Also, State government is so specialized and compartmentalized, many State employees care less about helping get things done for people and more about making their jobs easy.
The surprising thing is grants and projects eventually happen, thanks to dedicated State employees who overcome the obstacles and inertia.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:31 am
= right off the bat there’s a contradiction. =
That op-ed is so full of contradictions it made my head spin.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:37 am
You think 40% admin costs is high for grants? Let me introduce you to universities…
Comment by Ok Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:41 am
To Ok’s point:
For UIC - 1st % is on campus, 2nd is off
PRED 7/1/22 6/30/23 59.9% 26.0% (a) Organized Research
PRED 7/1/22 6/30/23 40.60% 26.0% (a) Instruction
PRED 7/1/22 6/30/23 36.00% 26.0% (a) Other Sponsored
Activities
https://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=1693852
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:48 am
the under the bus statement says it all. and also reflects what the opposition thought. quite a damaging and explosive statement.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 9:56 am
Welch would be wise to keep him out of leadership
Comment by Eagle Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 10:56 am
How many events did Rep. Tarver hold this year to help push back against the misinformation? Bueller?
Comment by The Opinions Bureau Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 11:18 am
Tarver showed on one issue that he is NOT a team player. He let down the House Dems, the Speaker, the Working Group, the Black Caucus, and everyone who worked hard to deliver on the promise of a much needed trailer bill. To make matters worse, he writes that silly op-ed and insults his colleagues. He will be lucky to be appointed to be a dog catcher or have anything that he really cares about pass the House. Very shortsighted of someone I thought was really smart.
Comment by Springfield Watcher Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 11:35 am
Rep. Tarver could’ve submitted his letter to the Chicago Tribune or some broader platform, but he chose the Hyde Park Herald. Residents of the 25th district are the audience.
As a constituent in the 25th district, I appreciate Rep. Tarver’s transparency and integrity.
P.S. 47th Ward, having a foundation or community finance group set up infrastructure to support the upfront operational costs for new state grantees sounds like an idea worth exploring
Comment by Skeptical Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 12:02 pm
I’d love to be a fly on the wall next time Rep Slaughter meets w him. Wow.
Also, any word from Yingling why he missed the vote or has he just taken his ball and gone home after his primary loss?
Comment by low level Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 12:27 pm
===Residents of the 25th district are the audience.===
You may have heard of an invention called the World Wide Web.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 12:34 pm
@Skeptical -
I’m a constituent as well, and I think his op-ed was a lot of hooey.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 12:58 pm
Merriam-Webster named “gaslighting” its Word of the Year and Rep. Tarver is providing a perfect illustration of it with his follow up comment.
“I did not throw my colleagues under the bus,” after writing that those who voted for the bill “folded” and only pretend to care about Black and Brown people because it’s politically expedient.
Own it or apologize.
Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 2:44 pm
Wondering if OW had a comment on this..
Comment by Spooky32 Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 3:39 pm
Wow this is some special spin. gaslighting to a T.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Dec 6, 22 @ 5:27 pm