-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The union has doubled down on its efforts to challenge the district’s plan for returning to school in recent months, including filing multiple grievances and unfair labor practice lawsuits. “You have to talk before someone is exposed to the risk of death, not afterwards,” said labor attorney Stephen Yokich.
“With the failure of the progressive tax, Illinois politicians will be more anxious for a federal bailout to cover for their decades of financial mismanagement,” says Mark Glennon, founder of Wirepoints. “But regardless of the outcome of the federal elections – and the ultimate fate of any bailout – Illinois will still be trapped in a downward spiral unless it enacts real reforms, starting with pensions.”
“But what’s CPS’ best argument for the case that its schools can be reopened safely, even at a time when the coronavirus is surging again? The fact that other school systems already are pulling it off. Even right here in town.”
“From such moments of voter frustration, political rebellions can be born. There is no question in our minds that Madigan has overstayed his tenure as speaker and represents an obstacle, rather than the agent of change, for Illinois, which must fix its broken finances.”
State Representative Lindsey LaPointe said this bill could be introduced as soon as legislators get back to Springfield. It’s just unclear when that will be.
But through public records, we have learned there are fewer contracted call center agents working on any given day now than during summer months. And Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims are still a specific concern; Records show of the 400,000 active claimants in the system, more than 153,000 are still not being paid.
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) brought up a fast-tracked SSA along Michigan Avenue that was indicative of the complaints of his colleagues. “My criticism is that it shouldn’t be, ‘This is what we’re going to do, and we’re happy to talk about it.’ It should be, ‘We’re considering this. What do you think about it?’”
If people don’t change their behaviors, “We are going to experience a surge in hospitalizations much higher than where we are now,” Pritzker said. “And in some areas of our state, that will mean you run out of hospital beds and nurses and doctors who can treat you.”
Brian Gaines, a political science professor at UIUC, said voters appeared to take heed of messaging about how even the introductory rates would affect businesses already reeling from forced closures due to the pandemic. “[Supporters] weren’t ready for a simple message of ‘it’s not a cut for everybody. This is the wrong time for a tax on small businesses and farmers,’ which I think was the dominant message we got from the ‘anti’ side.”
State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, said of IDES, “Have them bring a wishlist. Have them come and say ‘in order to fix our systems, in order to fix our processes, here are the type of things we need from the General Assembly.’”
“You can’t go back and ask Illinoisans for a tax increase when there is zero trust in the leadership n Springfield, in the chambers and also under the roof,” House Minority leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said Thursday.
“I am proud of my record electing Democrats who support workers and families and represent the diversity of our state,” Madigan said in a statement issued by the Democratic Party of Illinois. “Together, we have successfully advanced progressive policies that have made Illinois a strong Democratic state with supermajorities in the legislature…and I look forward to continuing our fight for working families as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.”
Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow said he’s heard from business owners whose employees are yelled at by customers for trying to enforce mask mandates. “(The ordinance is) about taking some of that responsibility off of businesses and putting it on to individuals and their decisions,” he said.
“This is a significant case…Whether or not students come back to school this year will be decided by the CTU. They want to override the input of all other stakeholders; parents, community, staff, state and local government,” CPS attorney Sally Scott said.
Not budgeting for the events could save the city nearly $9 million on its face, but, “The value to the city is over $100 million in economic value,” said Mark Kelly, commissioner for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, during a budget hearing Thursday.
The list currently includes 31 states and Puerto Rico.
Dante Givens, 32, was required to wear the location-recording device as he awaited trial for a pending forgery case. He continued to wear the ankle monitor as he joined thousands of other Chicagoans who looted stores throughout downtown and Lincoln Park Aug. 10.
Jim Dey: “Judicial politics is supposed to be a different kind of politics, more gentile and polite. But not this year in Illinois, where two state Supreme Court contests changed the face of the seven-member court.”
Since early March, a total of 1,979,988 claims have been filed with the state.
“Candidates who had little or no connection with him whatsoever were being tarred as Madigan allies who are behind corruption and so forth and so on,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said. “It was really disconcerting to see the price that we paid on that. I hope he takes that to heart and understands that his presence as chairman of our party has not helped.”
For months, landlords have criticized the state’s eviction moratorium. In a recent survey released about September rents, owners said collection is down more than usual. A third said they’re losing money. And half said they have tenants that refuse to communicate with them.
Said Peter Cunningham, of Chicago CRED, “Police are only reactive and never proactive. We heard that from a lot of people. Police don’t really stop [a] shooting; they show up after it happens. Unless they happen to be at the right spot at the right time.”
“To put it in simpler terms: The fact that Illinois’ five- and six-year bond yields are trading around 3.5% and 3.8% shows that investors think the state’s credit is closer to junk-rated municipals than its investment-grade peers.”
During the daily COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in the latest statewide report that children were the third-largest group in terms of the number of cases.
Everything was aligned in favor of the amendment. And yet, it failed. The reason why likely boils down to one word: trust.
The group marched along downtown streets before surrounding Trump Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave. They are worried that President Trump will stop election workers in battleground states from counting the remaining votes.
“The strong performance of Senate Republican candidates nationwide also means that a federal bailout aimed at propping up unsustainable state budgets is unlikely. The Democrats at the helm of Illinois’ sinking fiscal ship may be running out of options short of sustainable public-sector reform.”
“Toomin is considered to be a smart and thoughtful jurist. But the damage Preckwinkle did, on behalf of Kim Foxx, can’t be measured. ‘It’s the quiet machine, not the loud one,’ said a wise friend.”
It will be “out of service until further notice as part of a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of residents,” said Mary May, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
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