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This week, we witnessed Governor Pritzker sign into law HB 2653, a massive criminal justice reform bill. This 700 page bill was quickly passed during the state legislature’s Lame Duck session in January. A piece of legislation of this size and magnitude deserved a much more transparent and open public review process which the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker did not provide. Instead, they rammed the bill through at 4:00am in the morning while the public was asleep in bed to avoid any kind of scrutiny. I stand with the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition in opposition to this new law.
While shootings, murders and car jackings skyrocket in Chicago this one-sided criminal justice reform law, championed by State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and other notable elected officials, clearly favors criminals over law-abiding residents and police officers. This new law is very likely to have a negative impact on public safety in Cook County and across our state.
Will this new law make our communities safer? I do not believe it will. It makes the job of police officers significantly more difficult. It weakens proactive policing measures and will put police officers in a defensive posture. It makes the ability of criminals to exploit or sidestep law enforcement that much easier. It also weakens protections for crime victims. Ultimately, it will not make our communities safer.
By signing this bill, Governor Pritzker clearly showed his anti-police bias, and he put the interests of criminals and criminal behavior ahead of preserving the safety of Illinois residents and communities.
Commissioner Sean M. Morrison
17th District – Cook County
Letter to the Editor,
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) remain closed and classrooms empty. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CPS leadership and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) continue their carnival show at the expense of Chicago’s children.
Isolation is devastating children. Not the coronavirus. Students have been relegated to their homes and sequestered away from a proper educational setting which allows for a more productive and socially nourishing learning environment. The social and emotional well-being of in-person learning continues to go missing at CPS at a time when it is so urgently needed. Especially for many children at the lower end of the economic spectrum who lack the educational resources and additional guidance at home.
When you are truly honest about your commitment to the health and welfare of children then CPS classrooms would have already been re-opened by now. Like the Archdiocese of Chicago and most suburban school systems throughout the area, they have reopened their classrooms and brought the children back into a safe environment. The Archdiocese of Chicago made the decision last year to put children first and return to the classroom calling their mission, “Operating with Trust” and it has proved safe and successful for both children and adults.
Why CPS remains lost in the abyss is almost criminal. The Chicago schools mess has only deepened in recent weeks with CTU’s refusal to return to the classroom and their aggressive attempt to exploit this situation with the threat of a strike. It’s been reported that CTU is lobbying Governor Pritzker to quickly sign HB 2275 which would allow CTU the ability to strike. Will Governor Pritzker, who has remained largely silent on the CPS reopening fight, acquiesce to CTU’s strike demands or will he step up and help resolve this situation amicably? Either way, it’s time for CPS children to return to the classrooms.
A simple question for all the parties involved: Why must the children continue to suffer?
Sean M. Morrison
Cook County Commissioner, 17th District
Tinley Park – Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha were joined by Governor J.B. Prtizker to announce today that the Tinley Park Convention Center will serve as Cook County’s first large-scale vaccination site opening on Tuesday, January 26 to continue Phase 1a and begin Phase 1b vaccinations.
Phase 1b includes individuals age 65 and older and essential workers such as first responders, manufacturing employees and grocery store personnel. While an estimated 600,000 suburban individuals are eligible for vaccine under Phase 1b, officials warn there is currently not adequate vaccine supply to vaccinate everyone.
“While current vaccine supply does not meet the demand – we are standing up large scale sites now to ensure that we are ready as vaccine continues to be distributed to Cook County,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “We are anxious to contribute to the Biden Administration’s goal of providing 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days.”
Vaccinations at Tinley Park and other Cook County Health sites will be provided by appointment. Beginning at 12p.m. Monday, January 25, appointments for individuals in 1b can be scheduled at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov. Individuals without internet access or who need assistance scheduling can call (833) 308-1988 (from 7a.m. to 7p.m., Monday – Friday) also starting Monday. Cook County Health will only offer appointment slots based on the amount of vaccine on hand and will add appointments as new vaccine shipments arrive.
“This first large site in the Southland is indicative of our commitment to distribute vaccine equitably, but we fully expect that demand will quickly outpace supply. It is critical for people to understand that while we are anxious to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated, vaccine supply remains the biggest limiting factor. We are asking Cook County residents for their continued patience as we work to ramp up one of the largest County-operated vaccine programs in the country,” said Israel Rocha, CEO, Cook County Health.
County officials expect to be able to provide as many as 3,000 vaccines per day when the Tinley Park site is fully optimized and when adequate vaccine is available.
“I want to thank all the various county agencies who have been working tirelessly to bring vaccine to the community. I also want to the thank Governor Pritzker for deploying the Illinois National Guard to assist us in standing up this site. We look forward to the federal government increasing vaccine distribution in the coming weeks and months,” said President Preckwinkle.
“Widespread vaccination sites will allow us to quickly and efficiently get these life-saving vaccine doses to Illinoisans as more federal shipments of vaccine come online,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Illinois National Guard and the Illinois Department of Public Health are proud to partner with Cook County to launch the Tinley Park Convention Center Vaccination Site – our seventh collaboration in Cook County overall, with many more to come across the state. And Illinois residents from every region can find their nearby vaccination site options, from local health department operations to hundreds of pharmacy partners statewide, on coronavirus.illinois.gov. As federal supply is currently limited and every state in the nation is facing a shortage, I urge all eligible Illinoisans to check back regularly for available appointments – and in the meantime, mask up, keep our distance, wash our hands, and remember we’ll stay healthy and safe if we look out for each other.”
In addition to Cook County Health sites, the Cook County Department of Public Health has distributed vaccines to more than 90 partner locations including Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, Walgreens, Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals who are also offering vaccines by appointment. A complete listing of these sites can be found at www.cookcountypublichealth.org.
In the weeks ahead and pending vaccine availability, Cook County plans to open at least five additional large sites across the suburbs. County officials expect Phase 1b to take some time and caution residents to remember that moving through the various phases is contingent on the availability of vaccine.
Residents not yet eligible for vaccine can also sign up at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov to receive updates on their phase and for information on dozens of additional vaccination sites across Cook County.
STATUS UPDATE: This Bill was originally named – House Bill 163 Senate Amendment 2 – when filed last week but it has been moved and it is now House Bill 3653.
I stand with the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition in opposition to Illinois House Bill 3653 which was filed on Tuesday (1/5/21) in Springfield. The coalition released a statement last week which reads in part:
“The so-called “reforms” that are part of House Bill 163 as amended would destroy law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe. The authors of this legislation are not law enforcement professionals with hundreds of years of combined experience and this bill was drafted without law enforcement input, and because of that the long-term unintended consequences of this legislation would be dire. The Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition recently enumerated its Safe Communities plan, a sensible approach to modernizing Illinois law enforcement, but House Bill 163 as amended would lead to unsafe communities in Illinois. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to avoid making a sudden, rash decision in the Lame Duck Session and instead work carefully with all stakeholders to truly examine what needs to be done regarding law enforcement in Illinois.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police comprise the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition and have been working on these strategies since summer to improve community safety and enhance the trust between community members and law enforcement.”
It is totally unacceptable to attempt to rush through passage on a significant piece of legislation (600+ pages) like House Bill 3653, especially in the Lame Duck Session. This bill will impact public safety in every single community across Illinois. House Bill 3653 deserves an honest and transparent vetting process. The legislative process should include input from all interested parties including law enforcement and the public. All outreach tools should be employed for public vetting of House Bill 3653 including public hearings, tele-town halls, surveys, editorial boards, and others. This legislation deserves attentive review and vigorous debate.
It is my hope that the Illinois General Assembly will take the prudent approach and fully engage their constituents in dialogue – that includes municipal bodies and residents alike – before any approval of House Bill 3653 is considered.
- I would urge you to contact your state legislators immediately as a vote on HB 3653 is imminent.
- TO FIND YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: CLICK HERE
— Commissioner Sean M. Morrison, 17th District
Completely unacceptable. We must do much better for those who are the most vulnerable.
Breaks my heart, many of our older clients 80’s can’t get the vaccine. They wait on hold, signed up numerous locations etc etc. Any suggestions? One even went to Indiana and received. Illinois needs to do better.
Illinois vaccine program is screwed up as is everything else in the state. My cousin in Florida said 73% of people are vaccinated in her county (St. Augustine) and this was weeks ago.
VIDEO: Watch as a wellness check by police turns violent in a split second. Fortunately, the police officer responded quickly to avoid the point blank gun fire. This is an example of how dangerous a seemingly routine call can be for police officers.
Thanks for sharing. I am angry how the Democrats want to defund the police. They want to replace with social workers?
INDOOR CAPACITY LIMITS INCREASED FOR COOK COUNTY
In alignment with the City of Chicago, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is planning to increase capacity limits for several sectors in our suburban Cook County jurisdiction. Our metrics continue to trend in the right direction, allowing for us to make this change.
The new mitigation order CCDPH will be issuing allows for an increase in capacity from the lesser of 40% of capacity or 50 people, to the lesser of 50% capacity or 50 people in restaurants, bars, and event spaces. Performance venues, movie theaters and personal services and health and fitness centers can also increase to 50% capacity (increase from 40%) with no more than 50 people within any one space. Health and fitness centers can also increase capacity to 20 people in indoor fitness classes (up from 15), as long as six feet of spacing can be maintained.
Not just Cook County. Kankakee County is bad too. Illinois has to get their act together. I have been trying to get the vaccine for my husband and myself but with no luck.
The public health system seems a “Lilttle jazzed up” as to the vaccination sites with no vaccines. Why did they not come up with a plan til the last minute.
Kinda venting because I went to a site at Thornton Fractional yesterday with a appointment and was turned down. Sign read CCH VACCINATION SITE. Someone leaked a school district only site. Can we get some organizational skills and put together a less stressful situation to get the vaccine?? This is nuts even for Cook County
The president says there will be enough vaccines but not enough places to deliver.
COOK COUNTY BOARD APPROVES FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT COMMUNITY
Last week, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding for engineering services and construction activities for projects across the County led by the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) as well as intergovernmental partnerships with several local agencies. These vital projects will boost economic development, build up regional transportation and improve quality of life throughout Cook County.
Most of these projects are funded by 'Invest in Cook' grants, which help municipalities further their transportation projects by covering the cost of planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local governments and private partners.
VILLAGE OF TINLEY PARK
The Board approved funding for construction and construction management for the bi-County 80th Avenue roadway reconstruction in the Village of Tinley Park from approximately 191st Street to 183rd Street. Cook County will pay $8.5 million for costs associated with portions of the project under the County’s jurisdiction. Construction improvements on 80th Avenue consist of reconstruction, roadway widening, additional turn lanes, upgraded street lighting, reconstruction of the structures over the Union drainage ditch and Interstate 80, traffic signal modernization at the intersections of 80th Avenue and 191st Street and 80th Avenue and 183rd Street, installation of new traffic signals at the intersection of 80th Avenue and 185th Street and installation of pedestrian facilities and landscaping.
VILLAGE OF JUSTICE
DoTH awarded the Village of Justice a $400,000 Invest in Cook grant that will fund the reconstruction of 82nd Place from 88th/Cork Avenue going east to the end of the cul-de-sac. Improvements include the complete removal of existing pavement, base layers as well as curb and gutter, removal and replacement of driveways on the north side of 82nd Place between the proposed curb and gutter, drainage upgrades and freshly sodded parkways. 82nd Place is a busy roadway that supports the movement of over 200 freight trucks daily.
Applications for 2021 Invest in Cook grants are currently open and will be accepted through March 12. For more information and how to apply, visit www.cookcountyil.gov/investincook.
143rd between Wolf Rd and Will Cook Rd in Orland is always flooded. This need attention please.
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