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Three members present: Koehler (D), Davidsmeyer and DeWitte (R). This is not a quorum. https://t.co/zx0Y91nqTA
— Jerry Nowicki (@NowickiPress) June 14, 2024
* Max Cotton…
Both Co-Chairs, Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said the prisons need to be rebuilt or at least serious investment. They both criticized IDOC’s plan for not being fully flushed out.
— Max Cotton (@maxcottontv) June 14, 2024
The panel’s Democratic co-chair, Sen. Dave Koehler of Peoria, told reporters after Thursday’s meeting that he didn’t believe enough of COGFA’s 12 members were even planning on being in Springfield Friday morning for the scheduled advisory vote.
Without a quorum, the panel can’t take official action. But even if COGFA did vote, Koehler said the Pritzker administration’s current plans for Stateville and Logan are so vague that “We don’t really know what we’re voting on.”
In place of a vote, Koehler said he planned to make a motion to urge the governor and IDOC to work with the local communities and employees of Stateville and Logan as plans for closure and rebuild proceed. He noted that his current understanding of the administration’s work with local stakeholders “doesn’t appear to be to be too positive at this point.”
“So that’s my recommendation – is that you make sure that…you’re collaborative in the process because just dropping this on folks is not a good way to proceed,” Koehler said.
…Adding… AFSCME…
Statement of AFSCME Council 31 in response to lack of quorum at today’s COGFA meeting to vote on the proposal to close Stateville prison before rebuilding it, and to close and relocate Logan prison:
“Members of the commission have spent two months studying this proposal, asking questions and getting input.
“Today, all lawmakers present expressed grave concern about the dearth of details provided and the lack of any real plan. The absence of other commission members also reflects the absence of support for the proposal. No member of the commission spoke in favor.
“Today’s outcome, and the large crowds and countless concerns raised at this week’s COGFA hearings in Joliet and Lincoln, all affirm the same thing: The Department of Corrections should rescind its closure threats, slow down, and work with our union and other concerned parties to develop a better rebuilding plan. For the state prison system, its employees, individuals in custody and their families, that’s the right thing to do.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 11:36 am
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Tug on a (perceptually) small thread, and the whole sweater starts unraveling. The mighty power of the people being heard.
Comment by Central IL Centrist Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Personally I don’t see the need to work collaboratively with the local communities being affected. They will have only their own needs in mind. But that doesn’t mean the plan is actually good.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:10 pm
This is the wrong foot to start on. Not in the ones who didn’t show up, but the ones present who think the tail wags the dog.
“work with the local communities and employees of Stateville and Logan”
The purpose of a prison is not to enrich the local community and employees. It’s going to be hard to shed that mindset after so many towns were practically trained that prisons were economic engines.
Even the mayor of Crest Hill, when this was first announced, had an initial first response of ‘this can lead to new development on surrounding properties’.
This is a mindset based on no evidence, and is in fact in direct opposition to existing prisons. Even the existing prison in Crest Hill, which has seen zero development on surrounding properties in the entire time the prison has been located there.
I know politics is often more feelings than facts, but the pendulum has swung far too much to the feelings side, when even de facto facts are ignored in favor of this de jure mindset.
Of far more concern to Crest Hill, should be the proposals at the federal and state level to count inmates as residents of their last recorded address, and not the prison address. About 15% of the entire current population of Crest Hill, are incarcerated.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:18 pm
So, not enough people to vote on something that, ultimately, has no bearing on what the Executive Office of this state chooses to do.
Great.
Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:19 pm
What? The State of Illinois doesn’t have an actual plan to get something done?? I am so surprised I may have to form a committee to study this issue….
Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:32 pm
@TheInvisibleMan I would ask whether you actually listened to the concerns that employees of both facilities raised in testimony this week, but it’s obvious that you did not. Suggest you go back, listen and maybe learn something.
Comment by Reality Check Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:32 pm
Always good to see government hard at work. /s
Comment by ;) Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:40 pm
“”The absence of other commission members also reflects the absence of support for the proposal.”"
Pretty hard to get a quorum on any legislative committee in mid June. (Of course, AFSCME knows that.)
Comment by walker Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:50 pm
– listened to the concerns that employees –
prisons are not local jobs programs.
I heard their concerns. Their concerns have nothing to do with how a prison functions, and everything to do with personal interest. None of them were arguing about the sanitary conditions in the prisons. Do you know Stateville currently has a water bill of almost $1M owed to Crest Hill, that isn’t being paid because the water quality provided is so atrociously bad it’s hardly fit for consumption.
I’d even be willing to agree with the state providing a certain minimal amount of moving expenses for those in Lincoln who choose to move to the new location. That only impacts Lincoln though, not Crest Hill. No employees of Crest Hill have to move anywhere.
It’s absurd to think there will be ‘no employees to run the prison’, as claimed by a representative of the employees. There are almost 700k people living in Will county, most within 15 miles of the prison site.
I get it. Moving is annoying. I’m currently starting the process of eventually moving a few counties over. I’m moving because the local conditions no longer meet what I consider to be a desirable place to live. Everyone has to make their own choices.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 12:54 pm
@Invisible Man. I wish I had a “like” button so instead I am just chiming in here to support your statement that prisons are not jobs programs.
Comment by Andrea Durbin Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:09 pm
==It’s absurd to think there will be ‘no employees to run the prison’, as claimed by a representative of the employees. There are almost 700k people living in Will county, most within 15 miles of the prison site.==
While “no employees to run the prison” may be absurd, “not enough employees to run the prison” is already the case. While some folks may be willing to move from Lincoln to Will Co, the state is likely to lose a significant number of trained personnel. Recruiting and training new employees is not cheap, the IDOC is already backlogged, and it will be more difficult to recruit in the Will Co. area because the cost of living is higher.
It is not clear to me how rebuilding in Crest Hill will save the state money. It is likely to cost more.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:13 pm
- the state is likely to lose a significant number of trained personnel. -
These jobs require extremely little skill.
- it will be more difficult to recruit in the Will Co. area because the cost of living is higher. -
There are way, way more unskilled individuals looking for work in Will County than there are in Logan County.
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:20 pm
The actual problem?…Illinois has too many prisons and too many prisoners…and too many prison guards/staff making their living off of the people’s taxes.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:41 pm
AFSCME claiming to be concerned about the welfare of incarcerated people is really a bit much given their lengthy history of taking positions to the contrary.
Comment by charles in charge Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:43 pm
===Pretty hard to get a quorum on any legislative committee in mid June. ===
Not caring enough to show up for work is not caring enough to show up for work regardless of the profession.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:45 pm