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* ICYMI: Pritzker calls CPS budget deficit ‘challenging,’ advises against borrowing. WTTW…
As CPS CEO Pedro Martinez fights to hold onto the job Mayor Brandon Johnson wants him removed from, the Chicago Teachers Union, City Council members, a coalition of Latino activists, prominent members of the business community and recent CPS executives are on the battlelines.
But Gov. J.B. Pritzker is pointedly staying out of the fray, calling the city and district’s budget issues “challenging.”
“You know, that’s a personnel matter for the (Chicago) Board of Education, and a decision that I guess the mayor is making, so, not something that I intend for the state to interfere with,” Pritzker said Wednesday in response to reporters’ questions. […]
Johnson reportedly called for the district to borrow $300 million to cover the pension and extra spending.
Martinez has rejected doing so, and the board doesn’t have a loan on its Thursday agenda.
* Related stories…
At 1:30 pm Governor Pritzker will celebrate the opening of HIRE360 Training and Business Development Center. Click here to watch.
* Press Release…
Testimony before the Illinois House Revenue Committee on the importance of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment
This Thursday, September 26, at a legislative hearing between 2:00pm – 3:30pm, in Room C-600 at the Bilandic State Office Building, 160 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL, former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will testify on the importance of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment before the Illinois House Revenue Committee chaired by Rep. Kelly Burke.
The Amendment was placed on the November 5 ballot as an advisory referendum by Resolution of the Illinois General Assembly and reads as follows:
“Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?”
* WGN | Dolton trustees: Judge blocks Tiffany Henyard appointments: The bitter battle for control of south suburban Dolton took another turn Wednesday evening when trustees opposed to Mayor Tiffany Henyard said they were granted a key ruling limiting Henyard’s power. Trustees asked a Cook County judge for a temporary restraining order blocking Henyard’s recent appointments of a new police chief, village manager and village attorney. They argued Henyard can’t unilaterally make appointments without their consent.
* Block Club | Couple’s Marriage Proposal Goes Viral, White Sox Avoid Record-Setting Loss At ‘Weirdest Game Ever’: The night was already surreal: The White Sox were on the brink of setting the record for most losses in a single season. But even with greater history looming, Taft decided to go through with the proposal anyway. “We enjoy going to games together … And I didn’t really consider that this was going to be the game [the record] could happen,” Taft said with a laugh. “I was hoping the Sox would win. But I didn’t care that much about watching the game. More focused on the proposal.”
* Daily Herald | ‘Not a real problem’ or ‘mission critical’? State senate hopefuls differ on climate change: “Climate change is a very convenient political ploy to advocate for all kinds of government control,” said Jon Luers, a software engineer from Chicago. “I believe that the climate has not changed much over the last any number of years that you can name. It does change gradually from year to year and decade to decade, but I believe that we are just fine, and no governmental intervention should be attempted to change that.” [Sen. Rob Martwick], who has held the Senate seat since 2019 after serving as a state representative for much of the same area since 2012, attributed climate change to “the realities of the human condition,” including population growth, the burning of fossil fuels, and excess use of disposable plastics.
* South Side Weekly | El Barrio Art Show Celebrates Latinx Heritage: El Barrio Art Show welcomed artists and performers to showcase their work at Southside Sociál in Back of the Yards. Organized by Ruidosa Art Collective founders Stephanie ‘Soli’ Herrera and Garcia, the legacy event was transformed in its second year from a backyard show to an evening of art, vendors, tattooing, and music. It was followed by an official afterparty at Subterranean in collaboration with Mictlān Productions, which hosts underground dance parties and punk shows.
* FOX 32 | Not tonight, 121: White Sox win as Benintendi singles in 10th for 4-3 win over Angels: The Chicago White Sox avoided a record-breaking 121st loss for the second straight game, beating the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Wednesday night on Andrew Benintendi’s 10th-inning single. […] Benintendi delivered the go-ahead hit for the second time in as many games when he lined a one-out single to left-center against José Quijada (2-1), helping the White Sox (38-120) put off infamy for the second night in a row. Designated runner Miguel Vargas scored from second.
* Daily Herald | Past due: DuPage County clerk credit card bill goes unpaid: A past due credit card bill is now part of the ongoing controversy surrounding the DuPage County clerk’s office and unpaid bills. The $4,812 charge on the county’s only credit card stems from a retrofit to the county clerk’s election van. County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek submitted the bill for payment, but the county finance department noted there was no money in the clerk’s capital budget to pay the bill.
* Sun-Times | U.S. Senate passes resolution honoring Palestinian-American boy killed in alleged Plainfield hate crime: The Senate passed a resolution this week honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, the 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy from Plainfield murdered last October in what authorities called an anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian hate crime. The resolution states that “no one should be a target of hate because of their ethnicity or religion, whether such ethnicity or religion is expressed verbally or through how one dresses, such as through the wearing of a hijab, keffiyeh, turban, mitpahat, tichel, shpitzel, sheitel, kippah, or yarmulke,” and that the U.S. “has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination.”
* FOX 32 | Suburb eliminates daily fees at Metra parking lots: According to City Administrator Tim Kristin, the decision comes in response to ongoing issues with vandalism and theft at the parking lot payboxes, which have required police intervention and repairs from public works staff. In total, Kristin said the estimated cost to replace 12 payboxes is $60,000.
* Sun-Times | Bozo fan Billy Corgan plans three-day celebration of beloved clown: One of Bozo’s biggest fans — Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan — is bringing the clown and a heaping serving of tube TV nostalgia to Madame ZuZu’s, the art and dining space he runs with his wife, Chloé Mendel, at 1876 First St. in Highland Park, in October. The three-day event — Oct. 18-20 — features a host of “Bozo’s Circus”-related activities, including vintage Bozo carnival games as well as an appearance by “Scream” actor David Arquette as the beloved clown.
* WCIA | Springfield removes homeless camp two weeks after withdrawing ordinance to fine ‘public camping’: “Outreach coordinators were immediately dispatched on-site to connect with all individuals, providing referrals, resources, and contact information,” city officials wrote in the statement. “Everyone was given the opportunity to collect their belongings. However, some unclaimed items were left behind.” The City called the Public Works Department to remove more belongings. Eyewitnesses reported construction vehicles were used to remove the belongings.
* SJ-R | New Springfield-area sheriff is intent on listening to Massey Commission: New Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch told The State Journal-Register in a one-on-one interview last week that she is intent on listening to the Massey Commission and suggestions it might offer regarding policing in the community going forward. “I think the most important thing is for me right now to hear what the Massey Commission has identified as what our community thinks is a big problem with law enforcement,” Crouch said. “I don’t think it’s going to be just the county. It’s law enforcement in general, though our focus with this issue is the county.
* WCIA | Danville Quaker Oats building scheduled to be demolished soon: Mayor Williams says what hurts him the most is seeing people without jobs. He says the city owns nearly 100 acres west of the building. Williams also said he’s been in talks with PepsiCo to see if they can get the property Quaker Oats sits on.
* SJ-R | Born a woman, fought as a man: Looking for Lincoln campaign to share Albert Cashier story: There are 260 such wayside exhibits in the state, and according Liz Vincent, Pontiac’s director of community enrichment, there’s talk of adding more — more specifically a storyboard for Albert Cashier, who has ties to both Belvidere and Saunemin, Illinois. […] After the war, Cashier returned to Illinois and continued to live as a man, working and voting in elections as well as receiving a pension as veteran. Cashier worked as a farmhand and a laborer in Belvidere and Saunemin, which is about 12 miles east of Pontiac.
* WCIA | Central Illinois 3D concrete printing goes viral: LX Construction is responsible for the first 3D concrete printed building in Illinois. The original building and many others have attracted the attention of millions on social media. “We started posting some really easy, simple videos, and before too long the first one hit a million,” CEO of LX Construction Nathan Lilly said. Their most viral video has over six million views. They show their thousands of followers cutting edge 3D concrete printing.
* Crain’s | Contract pharma manufacturer putting $146M into big expansion in Rockford: PCI Pharma Services plans to grow its largest manufacturing facility by more than 50%, pouring about $146 million into a 545,000-square-foot expansion into its Rockford facility. The Philadelphia-based contract pharma manufacturer said in an emailed statement it now has five facilities across more than a million square feet at its Rockford campus and employs more than 2,220 people. The facilities perform advanced drug delivery and drug-device combination assembly and packaging, the company said.
* NYT | Hurricane Helene Strengthens as It Heads Toward Florida Coast: The storm could intensify to a Category 4, if not higher, before making landfall late Thursday, and forecasters warned Helene’s anticipated large size could make its effects felt across an extensive area. Areas as distant as Atlanta and the Appalachians are at risk for heavy rains.
* AP | 10th death reported in Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak: At least 59 people in 19 states have been sickened by the bacteria first detected in liverwurst made at the Jarratt, Virginia, plant. Illnesses were reported between late May and late August, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. All of those who fell ill were hospitalized. The latest fatality was reported in New York, bringing the total deaths to two each in New York and South Carolina and one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico.
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 7:47 am
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“He went on to point out that less than a quarter of Illinois students attend K-12 classes in Chicago, “the other roughly 80% are outside the city, and many of them downstate Illinois. So we have to think about the education systems across the state, the superintendents of those school systems. And make sure that we’re supporting them.”
Thank you Gov. for representing the whole state.
Comment by Two Left Feet Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 8:28 am
The governor is a genius. The way he sidesteps conflict w CTU is a masterstroke at politics. Clearly, CTU wants to provoke a conflict w him. It won’t work. A better approach would be cooperation and collaboration w the gov’s office but CTU seems hellbent on making him the bad guy. It won’t work.
Comment by low level Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 9:20 am
Don’t worry, the Tigers will give the Sox those losses they need to make history
Comment by hmmm Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 9:22 am
“CTU wants to provoke a conflict w/ him”
Not just him.
Anyway they are going into battle with a great messenger for their public union - a leader educated at expensive private schools who also sends her kid to a private high school
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 9:40 am
Low level is correct. The governor is not taking CTU’s bait and showing everyone how it is done. CTU and the Mayor demonstrate daily that they are terrible organizers. They lack the skills and the emotional intelligence to organize the people they need to move their agenda. Stacy Davis Gates has one tactic and one only: belligerence/goofy word salads.
Comment by pragmatist Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 10:14 am
“I believe that the climate has not changed much over the last any number of years”
Has this dude looked up in the sky recently? It was polluted and hazy from distant wildfire smoke, that has started happening repeatedly. How many Republicans really believe the scientific evidence of human-created climate damage but deny it only to get their base’s votes?
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 10:16 am
I have commented on the ilgop echo chamber many times here. CTU apparently told the ilgop to “hold their beer”.
Talk about timing deaf, they just don’t get that the rest of us exist and our kids deserve resources too. Also, picking a fight with Pritzker is a massive loser for CTU and CPS.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 10:18 am
“I believe that we are just fine.”
Jon Luers should turn off Fox News and turn on the Weather Channel.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 10:20 am
I hate the politics of this, having to specify everything, but probably at some point Dems should take another whack at a progressive income tax, only specify in the amendment that any surplus revenues raised above the flat tax should a) solely go to public education throughout the state of IL; b) not be applied to retirement income.
I haven’t run the numbers but I suspect the need for funding public education throughout the state is great enough, you could shift the rest of the money around in the budget, and on net it wouldn’t heavily distort state spending priorities. K-12 is just a huge expenditure.
And then maybe that would pass. Johnson / the CTU aren’t wrong on one thing: they do need the money. It’s just that you can’t mint it, or borrow it out of the ether in perpetuity.
Comment by ZC Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 10:25 am
==How many Republicans really believe the scientific evidence of human-created climate damage but deny it only to get their base’s votes?==
That could be some of it but the real climate change deniers I think believe something may be happening but that we shouldn’t do anything about it because it’s an inconvenience to living our lives as we always have without any considerations of the damage that is being done.
Also, these people don’t understand the difference between weather and climate. It’s why we get stupid arguments like “it’s snowing and cold so how could the world be heating up?”
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 11:24 am
What’s going on in Dolton is better than anything on The Bear, but I feel for all the unwitting cast members
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 11:58 am
A few observations. I agree with others, Pritzker has handled this very well. Chicago dug this financial hole along with CTU. As a school Board member outside of Chicago I can tell you most of us don’t have much sympathy for CPS. And to be clear we do feel bad for the kids. But the union and the mayors over the years have made one bad decision after another whether it dealt with education policy or funding priorities. They have one chance to get this fixed. It will take right sizing the the school system in terms of facilities and staff. It will involve standing up to the union and reminding them they are very adequately compensated and that the schools are not a bottomless pit of money. It will take the determination to put education above any political or sociological concerns. Final comment, most school board members I know have talked with our state reps and senators and expressed our lack of support for more money for CPS. A great many of us have the same student challenges and we are getting better outcomes with less money.
Comment by Center Drift Thursday, Sep 26, 24 @ 12:09 pm