Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O’Connor (9/23)

September 23, 2024

ILLINOIS

 

| AROUND THE STATE

 

IDOT gets $305 million for South Side rail, west suburban expressway improvements

“The U.S. Transportation Department grant will be used for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program and to improve the Interstate 290-First Avenue interchange,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

County to consider ordinance creating $15M property tax relief fund for homeowners

“The Cook County board is considering the creation of a relief fund for property taxpayers whose bills have spiked beyond what they are able to pay … At Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, committee chair Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) introduced an ordinance (24-5414) to create a $15 million Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund that would automatically sunset at the end of November 2026,” by The Daily Line.

 

Illinois Supreme Court tosses out challenge to FOID card law 

“Plaintiffs seeking to invalidate Illinois gun owner identification law lacked standing on their case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday as they tossed out the challenge while declining to rule on the merits of the law,” by The Daily Line.

 

PRB reform plans still in hold pattern after end of session hold up  

“Plans to make a series of reforms to the Prisoner Review Board remain on hold after a bill was held up late in the session following opposition from Gov. JB Pritzker,” by The Daily Line.

 

Illinois Democrats confident they can expand supermajority in Springfield

“Welch said he believes the Democrats will not only hold the supermajority but could add four to six more seats,” by Axios.

 

CHICAGO

 

Mayor Johnson asks CPS CEO to resign

 

According to published reports, Mayor Brandon Johnson last week asked Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to step down, but Martinez refused.

 

The Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Johnson, a former CTU organizer and close ally of the union, have been at odds with Martinez for weeks over Johnson’s request that CPS take out a high-interest short-term loan to cover a $175 million employee pension payment and the cost of the teacher contract, which Martinez says is fiscally irresponsible.

 

The CTU has accused Martinez of plotting to close or consolidate under-enrolled schools. Martinez has made it clear there are no such plans, saying “Let me reiterate: I will not recommend that any schools be closed during my leadership of CPS.”

 

The decision to fire Martinez now rests in the hands of the Chicago Board of Education, whose seven members are all appointed by the mayor. The board plans to meet on Thursday.

 

| MORE FROM CITY HALL

 

Supermajority of City Council sends letter to the mayor calling for improvements in Chicago’s extreme weather response plan

“This week, 39 City Council Members, led by 40th Ward Alderperson Andre Vasquez, sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto calling for immediate action to address significant gaps in the City’s Extreme Weather Response Plan,” by ChiMap.

 

Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Request for Information (RFI) to Gather Recommendations on First Responder Technology

“Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued to gather recommendations on reliable and efficient forms of first responder technology to ensure immediate attention from first responders in emergency situations. The City of Chicago, as previously announced in February 2024, will decommission the use of acoustic gunshot detection technology from SoundThinking, Inc. on Sunday, September 22, 2024,” from the Office of Mayor Brandon Johnson.

 

Chicago organizers work to ease Black-Brown tension over the influx of migrants

“That anger has exacerbated long-standing tensions between Black and Latino residents over scarce city services and job opportunities. Since migrants began arriving in Chicago in large numbers in August 2022, the tensions have gotten a lot of attention on the news and in social media,” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

FEDERAL

 

The Donut Test: How 2024 Stacks Up, Beltway Briefing

 

Did the minds of any voters change after the Harris-Trump debate? Does the debate matter for down ballot races? Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, Towner French, and Kyle Anderson.

 

Listen to the Beltway Briefing here.

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

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About Cozen O’Connor

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