Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor (6/12)

ILLINOIS

Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology provides insight on global ransomware attack

The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) announced Friday that it is investigating the impact of a May 31 cyberattack on the state by a Russian global ransomware group known as CLoP, which exploited a vulnerability in the widely used third party MoveIT file transfer system.

The investigation is ongoing and the full extent of the intrusion is still being determined, but the department “believes a large number of individuals could be impacted.”

AROUND THE STATE 

— Gov. Pritzker Signs Bill Making Illinois First State in the Nation to Outlaw Book Bans: “Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, advocates, and lawmakers today at the Harold Washington Library to sign legislation outlawing book bans in Illinois,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Cook County says employees and pensioners can breathe a little easier with long-awaited fixes: “The two funds for Cook County and Forest Preserve employees and retirees were the only ones in Illinois not required to put in enough money to pay out promised benefits to annuitants in future years, known as actuarial funding. But officials say legislation for county employees that is awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature and another bill for forest preserve employees that went into effect June 1 are providing a road map,” by the Chicago Tribune.

CHICAGO

City further delays relocation of migrants from High Ridge YMCA to Daley Center

After announcing on Friday plans to delay the relocation of over 400 migrants and asylum-seekers from the High Ridge YMCA to Daley College on the city’s Southwest Side to Sunday, Mayor Johnson and the City of Chicago again delayed the move, this time with no set timeline in place.

“The City’s overall goal is to ensure that shelters are a short-term solution, and to relieve pressure on Chicago Police Department district stations by providing shelter for more than 400 single new arrivals,” the mayor’s office said in a statement early Sunday afternoon.

On May 31^st, the Chicago City Council passed a $51 million budget amendment, which allocated resources to the housing and healthcare of migrants being sent to Chicago from Texas through the end of June.

Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez, whose 14^th ward encompasses the Daley College neighborhood, said she has been kept in the dark about plans.

MORE FROM CITY HALL 

— Housing committee to consider expanding program that offers purchase assistance to homeowners citywide: “The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate on Monday will consider expanding a program that offers purchasing assistance in particular areas of the city to a citywide program. Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced the proposal (O2023-1588) in April that would expand the city’s Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Housing Purchase Price Assistance Program citywide,” by The Daily Line.

— Parking meter deal keeps on giving — for private investors, not Chicago taxpayers: “Results of the latest parking meter audit by accounting giant KPMG shows meter revenues reached a record $140.4 million last year – with 60 years left on a 75-year lease,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

— As Chicago’s City Commissions Start Meeting in Person Again, Future of Online Access in Doubt: “For the first time in more than three years, all city boards and commissions are once again meeting in person to handle the city’s business — putting an end to the virtual meetings that became a hallmark of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are no rules ensuring those meetings will continue to be streamed online or allow members of the public to weigh in virtually, either by Zoom or by phone – putting at risk Chicagoans’ ability to keep tabs on their government with a simple click of a button,” by WTTW.

— Paul Vallas’ next chapter: “ Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is joining the Illinois Policy Institute as an adviser. He’ll work on policy reports, opinion pieces and events, according to the libertarian-to-conservative Illinois think tank,” by Illinois POLITICO Playbook.

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