Day: June 19, 2023

Gage Park field house to serve as respite center for hundreds of migrant men – Chicago Sun-Times

Ald. Ray Lopez said there are “less than 60” kids registered for summer camps, and other recreational programs who will need to make the move to other locations. Asked whether the Gage Park field house would continue to house migrants through Dec. 31, Cheif of Staff Rich Guidice said, “I wouldn’t take that off the table. We still have 4,800 people we’re taking care of. We want to hang onto it as long as we can.”

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University Park residents still using bottled water 4 years after lead found in drinking water – ABC7 (Chicago)

Decades ago, long before Joseph Roudez III was mayor, the village sold its water rights to Aqua Illinois. “Aqua owns the pumping station, the transfer lines the sewer system. And because of that, the village of University Park is ineligible to get all this water relief for replacement of lead pipes,” he said. In the meantime, the company is facing legal action from the Illinois attorney general and the Will County state’s attorney.

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Caulkins: ‘Reform’ necessary to consolidate Illinois’ 6,000 units of government – Center Square

“We Republicans talk about consolidation in a way that won’t force our citizens to suffer,” state Rep. Dan Caulkins said. “We think there should be an easy way to support consolidations of things like townships and road districts. We think there should be an easy way to consolidate school district administrations. All of that would free up money that could be spent in the classroom, allowing property taxes to be reduced.”

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Bill on Pritzker’s desk would allow noncitizens to become police officers in Illinois – Center Square

Current federal law prohibits a non-U.S. citizen from becoming a police officer throughout the country. Illinois House Bill 3751 states that any immigrant who the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have deferred under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process is allowed to apply for the position of a police officer, deputy sheriff or special policeman.

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Illinois expands use of police surveillance drones – Capitol News IL

Kenny Winslow, executive director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, supported the measure and is already planning to offer training on the new law to police departments. But he added that the protections contained in the bill – including requirements that police post notices if they are surveilling an event and keep a record of flight paths – were an important part of the final product.

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Investor takes big loss in $173 million Streeterville apartment sale – Crain’s*

North Water Apartments, a 398-unit property at 340 E. North Water St.

Invesco sold North Water Apartments, a 398-unit property at 340 E. North Water St., to Miami-based Crescent Heights for $173 million, according to real estate data provider CoStar Group. The price represents a 28% drop in value for the Streeterville property since 2016, when Invesco bought it for $240 million. Brokers and landlords say many out-of-town investors have “redlined” Chicago, wary of the risk of rising property taxes, the city’s struggles

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‘I think everybody benefits from this budget’: State Sen. Mike Halpin talks significant investments in Illinois budget – Quad City Times

Illinois’ 2023 General Assembly marked Halpin’s first term as chairman of the Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee. The 2024 budget appropriates $2.53 billion for higher education, a $279 million increase from last year. Illinois’ public universities and community colleges will see a 7% direct funding increase, coming in at $80.5 million and $19.4 million, respectively.
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Meet Chicago’s New Deputy Mayor for Community Safety – Chicago Contrarian

“To level the playing field and achieve the equity (Mayor Brandon) Johnson covets, Chicago can expect (Garien) Gatewood to formulate policies which are consistent with reform measures found in Kim Foxx’s State’s Attorney’s Office and Judge Timothy Evans’ Cook County court system. Though these policies have manifestly failed and endangered Chicago residents, City Hall will echo Foxx’s and the County Court system’s call for leniency for violent offenders and less condemnation of criminals.”

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$2 Billion and Fourteen Years – The Antiplanner

“In 2009, Congress appropriated $8 billion for high-speed rail, and the Obama administration gave Illinois more than $1 billion of that to speed up trains between Chicago and St. Louis. The state of Illinois provided its own funds, bringing total spending up to $2 billion. Now, fourteen years later, Amtrak is proud to announce the results: the top speed of trains in the corridor will increase from 90 to 110 miles per hour.”

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Pritzker faces blowback over cuts to health care for undocumented people – Crain’s*

How big of a price is Gov. J.B. Pritzker going to pay for a political deal that got his fiscal 2024 budget through the state legislature — but is now provoking unprecedented criticism from the state’s Latino community? Some answers may come this week after a weekend in which Latino leaders absolutely whacked the Democratic governor over his administration’s Friday announcement that it will make big cuts in the state’s health insurance for undocumented immigrants.

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In Chicago, only 5% of major crimes result in an arrest. Crime pays in the Windy City. – Wirepoints on Shaun Thompson Show on AM560 The Answer

Ted joined Shaun Thompson Show to talk about Chicago’s ongoing crime wave, Gov. Pritzker’s preparation to push his policies nationwide, the massive raises lawmakers just gave themselves, the false nature of Illinois’ “balanced budget,” the potential for yet another federal bailout, the corrupt nature of Chicago’s TIFs, and more.

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Search for suspects still on in Juneteenth celebration mass shooting that left 1 dead and at least 22 hurt – CNN

Investigators on Sunday work the scene of a mass shooting in Willowbrook, Illinois.It’s not clear what led to the gunfire, where the shooters were when deputies responded or whether the suspects knew any of the victims. “The motive behind this incident is unclear and this is still an active investigation,” DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson said. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted Sunday, “We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders in the wake of this tragedy at a community Juneteenth celebration.”

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Gov. JB Pritzker issues statement on mass shooting at Willowbrook Juneteenth celebration – NBC5 (Chicago)

In wake of the shooting where at least one person was killed and 22 others were injured, Pritzker issued a statement: “…Gathering for a holiday celebration should be a joyful occasion, not a time where gunfire erupts and families are forced to run for safety. As I’ve said time and time again, gun violence is a public health emergency in this country and I remain committed to banning these dangerous weapons and making our state safer for everyone.”

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Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer and artist Amanda Williams: Red tulips in Washington Park testify to the need to reverse redlining – Chicago Tribune*

“Even after these practices were banned, Chicago’s history of extracting wealth from Black communities continued in the form of a complicated property tax system that allowed private tax buyers to profit off late taxes…Today, the Cook County Land Bank Authority has generated significant community wealth.”

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