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* The Illinois House has adjourned until tomorrow. But the majority Democrats did release their own elected Chicago school board plan…
The proposal is here. This bill avoids the Senate plan’s issue of disenfranchising half the city for two years. But now we have two competing measures and veto session ends in two days.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Gun rights advocacy groups say they intend to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state’s assault weapons ban after a federal appeals court on Friday refused to block enforcement of the law.
In a statement Saturday, the Illinois State Rifle Association said it was not surprised by the 7th Circuit panel’s 2-1 decision, which said plaintiffs in the consolidated cases had not met their burden to show they were likely to win in a constitutional challenge to the law.
“It has always been and is our intent to take our case to the U.S. Supreme Court where we believe we can get a favorable ruling for law-abiding gun owners in Illinois,” the organization said. “We will continue to stand up for the Second amendment and Illinois law-abiding gun owners and against our anti-gun Governor Pritzker and General Assembly.”
In addition, the National Foundation for Gun Rights – which provided attorneys involved in the consolidated case – said it will appeal as well.
* Center Square…
The four former Commonwealth Edison leaders convicted earlier this year during a high-profile corruption trial want to push back sentencing dates to give them more time to address anticipated disputes.
The four former ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted in May of a bribery scandal centered around former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Defense attorneys want to push back the sentencing dates from January 2024 to February 2024, according to court records.
* Ironically enough, neither this lobbyist nor this lobbying firm are registered with the state this year. Forest Park Review…
Lobbyist Michael Axelrod of consulting group GPG Strategies appears to have strategized with Mayor Rory Hoskins in defense of GPG’s record ahead of an August meeting during which the company’s contract was expected to come under fire, an email to the mayor shows. […]
Both the body of the email and the presentation offered examples to show that Axelrod’s firm lobbied the Chicago Transit Authority, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Office and other state and federal agencies on behalf of the village.
* I saw photos online of a bunch of people who took campaign money from Paul Vallas and/or Dan Proft in this loud crowd. But for some reason, most Chicago reporters have chosen to ignore the formerly (?) paid provocateurs disrupting city council meetings and at other migrant-related meetings around the city…
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s allies tried Tuesday to approve their own, softer version of a non-binding referendum on Chicago’s burgeoning migrant crisis, but failed after being shouted down by an angry crowd ordered forcibly removed from City Council chambers.
“Sergeant-at-arms, clear the room,” Rules Committee Chair Michelle Harris (8th) shouted after Chicagoans opposed to housing the new arrivals shouted down Council members on both sides of the issue.
Several people in the gallery, including a woman in tears, were escorted out by security after another observer singled them out as supporters of welcoming migrants.
“These are the people who are against us,” a man shouted, pointing at those being escorted out and waving other angry crowd members over.
* Speaking of Chicago…
The Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals (ASNCH) today warned the proposed Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance would pose devastating financial consequences, including layoffs and service cuts, for the city’s hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of low-income and uninsured patients.
In a letter to Mayor Johnson, ASNCH called for a carve out of safety-net hospitals from the proposed ordinance.
ASNCH estimates that for a safety-net hospital with 650 employees, this ordinance could impose an additional cost of $2 million annually, creating a substantial financial burden for hospitals already relying heavily on state Medicaid funding, with limited capacity to offset losses from commercial payers.
This added burden will force safety-net hospitals in Chicago to make difficult decisions, including reducing staff and eliminating critical services that many residents depend on for basic healthcare.
Specifically, the ordinance would require safety-net hospitals to dramatically increase labor costs and related expenses, including for outside agency staff, which already have hiked hospital labor costs by 30 percent. The measure would also require paying out sick time for “on-call” employees, who only report to work when needed, and “in-house registry” nurses, who accrue benefits with another full-time employer, meaning these employees would be provided benefits at two different organizations at the same time.
Crain’s reports the proposal was delayed today.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Iowa Capital Dispatch | Illinois regulators: Carbon pipeline permits should wait for new rules: Two engineers for the Illinois Commerce Commission say federal regulators should finalize new rules about carbon dioxide pipelines before state regulators approve pending permits for construction. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration “has acknowledged that its rules are outdated and inadequate,” Brett Seagle, a commission engineer, recently testified in regard to a pipeline proposal by Wolf Carbon Solutions. “The lives and safety of Illinois citizens must come before business concerns.”
* Block Club | Illinois Gun Shops Lead in Providing Guns Used In State And City Crimes, Data Shows: More than one-third of Illinois guns used in crimes recovered by authorities are linked to Chicago. And Illinois gun shops were the leading single-source of these crime guns state and citywide, not out-of-state vendors, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s tax increase for homeless services will head to voters: In a 32-17 vote, aldermen approved the “Bring Chicago Home” measure to create a citywide referendum on implementing a tiered tax rate on all property sales, which advocates have said is a critical strategy to generate much-needed revenue for the city’s homeless population.
* AP | Ohio is the lone state deciding an abortion rights question, providing hints for 2024 races: Ohio is the only state to consider a statewide abortion-rights question this year, fueling tens of millions of dollars in campaign spending, boisterous rallies for and against the amendment, and months of advertising and social media messaging, some of it misleading. Advocates for and against are watching the outcome for signs of voter sentiment heading into 2024, when abortion-rights supporters are planning to put measures on the ballot in several other states, including Arizona, Missouri and Florida. Early voter turnout was robust.
* BGA | Policy: BGA Condemns Improper Adjournments of City Council Meetings: This week, on Tuesday Nov. 7, the council’s Committee on Committees and Rules was recessed until Thursday by the declaration of committee chair Michelle Harris, who did not call for a vote. Mics were again shut off, and after a lengthy delay the chamber shifted to a scheduled meeting of City Council. The council’s rules are clear, as are the Robert’s Rules of Order on which they are based: adjournment (the official ending of a meeting) and recess (the pause of the meeting until continuation at a later time) are motions that must be made by a member and affirmed by a majority vote. Absent that vote, the meeting cannot be concluded or postponed. This ensures that all members have their time to speak, at least until a majority of the body is willing to go on the record as ending discussion.
* Sun-Times | Public corruption display at fed courthouse covered at request of Ed Burke’s lawyer: Chicago’s federal court puts its history proudly on display on the 25th floor, sharing stories with visitors about everything from the 1918 bombing of the old courthouse to the prosecution of Al Capone. But following a request from one of ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke’s lawyers, courthouse staff began temporarily covering up some of the 11 displays on the wall, including one about the history of public corruption prosecutions in Chicago.
* WBEZ | In Ed Burke’s 14th Ward, big frustration with politicians persists. ‘They’re all kind of crooked, I guess’: Like Sophie and other residents, Bettis isn’t optimistic this one trial — or even Madigan’s trial next year — is “going to end corruption in Chicago,” but he thinks it could mean “a change-up in the people who are running this area.” Burke gave up his seat earlier this year, after not filing to run for reelection. He was succeeded by Ald. Jeylu Guitierrez, a first-time elected official who was endorsed by Burke’s long-time rival, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
* Block Club | Downtown Police District Council Immobilized As Mayor’s Office Fails To Fill Vacancy: The Mayor’s Office shot down a candidate for a Downtown police district council after four months of deliberation — rendering the council useless. The Central (1st) Police District Council only has two of its three spots filled, and one council member is on leave. That means the remaining council member can’t host meetings because they can’t form a quorum.
* SJ-R | Five years after sales tax hike, district, county schools benefit; here’s what it took: The referendum passed in 2018 with 53 percent of county voters favoring it. It was the first school referendum to pass since 1984. The hike did make Springfield’s overall sales tax rate − 9.75% − one of the heftiest in the state. Because the district educates just under 50% of students in the county, there were initial projections that it stood to get about $10.1 million annually. The average, though, has worked out to $13 million.
* Muddy River News | ‘I realized I can change’: Adams County problem-solving courts graduate nine in combined ceremony: The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center was the site for the first combined graduation ceremony for the Adams County problem-solving courts, which provide opportunities for repeat offenders to address the root cause of their criminal activity. People who qualify are screened and placed in one of three tracts — Drug Court, Mental Health Court or Reintegration into Society Efforts (RISE) Court.
* Naperville Sun | With single-use plastic nixed, Naperville Mariano’s customers must bring bags or buy them starting this week: As of Monday, the grocer at 1300 S. Naper Blvd. is no longer offering single-use plastic shopping bags at checkout or pickup, company representatives said in a news release. The Naperville store is piloting the change as part of a larger commitment by parent company Kroger to reduce the disposable products and replace them with alternative, sustainable options.
* Block Club | Jeff Tweedy Talks About The Music That Changed His Life: The first 40 minutes constituted an in-depth conversation between Sagal and Tweedy, where they discussed everything from Tweedy’s relationship to the songs he connected to throughout his life (“I don’t think of myself as my songs. I think of myself as the songs that made me.”) to his struggles with addiction.
* WBEZ | Jeff Tweedy’s new book is a soundtrack through childhood, sobriety and stardom: The Wilco songwriter and bandleader told a sold-out crowd at the Athenaeum Center that he wanted to share through his book the emotional spaces music can hold. His book spans 50 chapters, each named after a song that he connects to his life and his own creative process — one he has refined over nearly three decades. The songs include music from well-known artists such as Bob Dylan and Billie Eilish as well as lesser-known acts such as Leo Sayer.
* WTTW | Measure Aimed at Curbing Illegal Early Morning Chicago Trash Pickup Advances: “They might get a scolding call from someone at Streets and Sanitation, but then a few weeks later, they’re back at the same old thing because there is no real meaningful penalty or enforcement mechanism,” said Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward), the measure’s lead sponsor and a longtime advocate for slapping sanitary scofflaws.
* The 21st Show | Illinois food banks gearing up for 2023 holiday season: The Eastern Illinois Food Bank and similar agencies are gearing up for the holiday season. We are seeing the highest rates since the years of the Great Recession. According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 44 million Americans live in what are called “food-insecure households” that includes more than 13-million children.
* NBC Chicago | A look at restaurants featured in ‘The Bear’ as show gets renewed for 3rd season: Recently awarded a James Beard Award for the Best Chef- Great Lakes, Kasama, the product of a husband and wife duo, is a Filipino restaurant in the city’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood. It was the first stop on Chef Sydney’s list.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 3:32 pm
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RE: Capital News Illinois Story
It will be interesting to see how the California ban plays out in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. There, a U.S. District judge struck down the ban, which will be appealed now.
Once that case is settled, along with the Illinois case, it will be interesting to see how quickly the Supreme takes up the argument about banning military grade weapons from private use.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 3:43 pm
==reporters have chosen to ignore the formerly (?) paid provocateurs==
And one had a largely fictitious resume when he ran for public office.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 3:44 pm
The Chicago school board election plans are so unnecessarily convoluted. Simply elect members from all twenty districts, with odd numbered districts serving a two year term and even districts serving four years.
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 3:44 pm
“* I saw photos online of a bunch of people who took campaign money from Paul Vallas and/or Dan Proft in this loud crowd. But for some reason, most Chicago reporters have chosen to ignore the formerly (?) paid provocateurs disrupting city council meetings and at other migrant-related meetings around the city”
The conservatives are driving the message and no one is pushing back. The Mayor’s Office does not have a communications strategy or staff.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 4:00 pm
hey Legislators re Chicago way to confuse and anger people all at once about the elected school board.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 4:16 pm
Vallas lost because he was too conservative, and his strategic plan is to win in 2027 after working for IPI?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 6:30 pm
Mayor Richard J. Daley used to have a regular “ruly” crowd come in if there was going to be a contentious council meeting. If the Mayor’s Office has no strategy maybe that crowd should be resurrected when the paid provocateurs show up.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 6:39 pm
=Vallas lost because he was too conservative=
I’d argue he lost because he was too Paul Vallas. A guy who’s in it for himself and will continually reinvent himself to serve his own interests. The next iteration of Paul Vallas will look different than the last. But it will be just as phony.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 7:15 pm
Saw Chima in one background shot, I wonder if he’s still spreading around Vallas money.
Comment by Chito Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 7:21 pm
Rich - Just noticed, you’re still hanging on to Daylight Savings Time on the posts. Thought the Mighty Electronic Device Wizards controlled that stuff.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Nov 7, 23 @ 7:31 pm
>>>>>it will be interesting to see how quickly the Supreme takes up the argument about banning military grade weapons from private use.
It already did, 85 years ago. US v Miller. “In the absence of any evidence tending to show that possession or use of a “shotgun having a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length” at this time has some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument.”
Comment by We've never had one before Wednesday, Nov 8, 23 @ 1:50 am
The text of the House Amendment and this graphic seem to tell different stories. The House Amendment prevents anyone who lives in the same subdistrict as an appointed member from running for the Chicago Board of Education. This will limit ballot access for half the subdistricts.
This graphic seems to indicate that the Mayor will appoint a member from a subdistrict where no candidate has been elected, and vice versa. I find both the text of the graphic and the amendment to be very confusing. This confusion does not exist in the original law.
Comment by Valerie F. Leonard Tuesday, Nov 14, 23 @ 12:56 am