Cook County scuttles allegedly discriminatory grant program while hiding the issue – Wirepoints Quickpoint

By: Mark Glennon*

In October we described as legally suspect a new program announced then by Cook County called Source Grow for cash grants to “historically excluded businesses.” The County defined them as “those owned by entrepreneurs of color, women, veterans, LGBQT+ and persons with a disability—to close racial wealth and opportunity gaps.” It was funded with federal money from the American Rescue Plan.

Sure enough, a class action lawsuit followed. The county was sued in December for alleged discrimination against grant applicants who weren’t in the preferred groups, as reported Thursday by the Cook County Record, and the county has now shut down the program.

The attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation who represented the plaintiff told the Cook County Record, “We had asked the judge to preliminarily enjoin the county from distributing the funds using the guidelines they identified. In response, the defendants got rid of the entire program.”

But you would never know that from what Cook County said about why they ditched the program. Frustrated applicants for the grants have been directed to a web page that says nothing about the lawsuit. Instead, it says, this:

Cook County launched the Grow Grant to provide small businesses impacted by COVID with capital funding and business advising services. With the availability of additional funding for 2023, Cook County plans to announce an expanded small business grant program. As a result, Cook County has rescinded the Grow Grant effective today.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was also evasive, saying this to CBS Chicago: “My understanding is that the suit was brought against us for the way in which we proposed to distribute those grants. And we are working with the court to figure out a way in which we can get the money out to businesses that need it in a way that meets the court’s requirements.”

Preckwinklemain.jpg
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

Ms. Preckwinkle, it’s not hard to “figure out a way” to make the grants in a way that meets the court’s requirements. Just don’t discriminate. Heed the words of Chief Justice John Roberts: “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

Preckwinkle also told CBS Chicago,”What we’re trying to do is make the case for a national commitment in a case for guaranteed income.” Universal basic income is Preckwinkle’s crusade — no-strings-attached cash handouts — as Cook County is already giving out. Good luck with that. The federal money needed for it won’t last and a discriminatory program is no way to make the case for it.

*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.

13 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mike
1 year ago

She is a very sick person. Her mission is to destroy United States-a country she never liked.

Last edited 1 year ago by Mike
Mike
1 year ago
Reply to  Mike

That’s Mike #2.

Eugene from a payphone
1 year ago

Big Toni’s motives are always so transparent! Take the money from where it is in the county and throw it into the places it is not, namely where her voters hang out. Let us never forget the proposed tax on sugary soft drinks was only to be applied to the affluent parts of the county.

Ex Illini
1 year ago

For every one of these scams that is uncovered and prevented, how many go through. I have no confidence in government or the mainstream media.

The Paraclete
1 year ago
Reply to  Ex Illini

Certain people can’t be trusted, others are inherently thieves ad/or degenerates. Hmmmm…the lame duck mayor comes to mind

Donna S
1 year ago

Isn’t welfare guaranteed income?

Riverbender
1 year ago
Reply to  Donna S

Yes but they want additional income

Tim Favero
1 year ago

This kind of fuzzy socialism is what you get with today’s Democratic politicians. They want to buy votes and use taxpayer money to facilitate their goal to turn our country into a dystopian utopia that doesn’t exist.

SadStateofAffairs
1 year ago

Mark –

For the title, Normally its spelled scuttle with a c not with a k. For example “the crew decided to scuttle the Graf Spee following the Battle of River Plate”.

Thanks again for being one of just a few true sources of real journalism in Chicago and Cook County.

Marie
1 year ago

So glad someone succeeded in shutting down Chicago BS. Thanks to those filing the class action suit. But let’s not get too excited, teaching the leaders of Chicago exactly what discrimination is, is still going to be a tough row to hoe. Going to have to be sharp and keep eyes on them.

Isaac M.
1 year ago

The folks crafting these programs are recidivist Supergrifters. Their entire life is spent freeloading and absconding with other people’s money. Meanwhile it’s an employment for life. Check their threads…not too shabby!

Goodgulf Greyteeth
1 year ago

This sort of evasive obfuscation causes one to assume that there’s a whole lot of this sort of thing going on in lots of other Illinois guvmn’t dealings that we just haven’t heard about yet.

SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER

Home Page Signup
First
Last
Check all you would like to receive:

FOLLOW US

 

WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES

A statewide concern: Illinois’ population decline outpaces neighboring states – Wirepoints on ABC20 Champaign

“We are not in good shape” Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski told ABC 20 Champaign during a segment on Illinois’ latest population losses. Illinois was one of just three states to shrink in the 2010-2020 period and has lost another 300,000 people since then. Ted says things need to change. “It’s too expensive to live here, there aren’t enough good jobs and nobody trusts the government anymore. There’s just other places to go where you can be more satisfied.”

Read More »

WE’RE A NONPROFIT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE.

SEARCH ALL HISTORY

CONTACT / TERMS OF USE