Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (9/12)

September 12, 2022

PUBLIC HEALTH 

— Coronavirus in Illinois: Nearly 20K New Cases, 64 Deaths Reported in Last Week, by NBC 5 Chicago.

ILLINOIS

Tax rebate payments begin for Illinoisans

An estimated six million qualified taxpayers will receive income and property tax rebates in the coming weeks, with the first checks being sent out today, September 12.

The rebate payments will be sent automatically to Illinois residents who filed 2021 state income taxes and claimed a property tax credit. Those who have not filed can still access the rebates after completing additional filing.

The rebates are a part of Gov. Pritzker’s Illinois Family Relief Plan, which also provided grocery, gas, and school supply tax savings in addition to the direct payments.

The Office of Governor JB Pritzker has more here.

AROUND THE STATE 

— Illinois EPA Announces Second Notice of Funding Opportunity for Unsewered Communities Construction Grants: “Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced a new funding opportunity to assist communities where there are currently no wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities,” from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

— Rebuilding DuPage County Major projects highlight Year Four of Rebuild Illinois: “Entering Year Four of Rebuild Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that multiple projects in DuPage County are underway or planned to begin, highlighting an ongoing commitment made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan capital program,” the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Gov. Pritzker Announce I-55 Improvements, New Interchange with Illinois 59 in Will County: “Governor JB Pritzker Friday joined the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), local officials, and community leaders to announce the start of multiple improvements to Interstate 55 through Joliet and Shorewood, including several capacity, access, and safety enhancements, highlighted by a new diverging diamond interchange with Illinois 59,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

— Illinois Hosts 52nd Annual Midwest US Japan Conference in Chicago: “The Midwest US Japan (MWJA) Conference brings together Governors from Midwestern states as well as Japan, leading international companies, and executives,” from the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker.

CHICAGO 

Jessica Gutierrez announces run for 30th ward seat

Jessica Gutierrez, daughter of former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, announced Saturday that she plans to challenge City Council Alderman Ariel Reboyras for his 30th ward seat for a second time.

In 2019, Gutierrez forced Reboyras into a runoff election, where she narrowly lost 48.1 percent to 51.9 percent  — a difference of 302 votes.

Gutierrez, a new mother, says this time will be different. “I never saw it from a mother’s perspective,” she said on Saturday. “You have this human being you have to protect… I’m doing this for my son and all the children in the 30th ward that need a bolder leader who is not going to rubber-stamp everything coming from the mayor’s office.”

Reboyras has represented the 30th ward, which includes portions of Belmont Cragin, Avondale and Logan Square, since 2003. It is still unclear whether Reboyras plans to run for reelection.

Gutierrez is one of at least five candidates vying for the 30th ward seat. Other challengers include Ruth Cruz; JuanPablo Prieto; Warren Williams; and Javier Gloria.

MORE FROM CITY HALL

— Sean Flynn, Ald. David Moore’s Former Chief Of Staff, Challenging Ald. Michelle Harris For South Side Seat: “Flynn hopes to oust the four-term City Council veteran representing the 8th Ward. But Harris said she’s ‘absolutely, positively not going anywhere,’” by Block Club Chicago.

— A look at 6th Ward candidates: “The race for 6th Ward alderman will likely be wide open as Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) announced in June that he plans to challenge Lightfoot for the mayor’s office,” by The Daily Line.

— More migrants from Texas arrive in Chicago, the fourth group of buses in less than two weeks: “Nearly 100 more migrants arrived from Texas on Friday in buses at Union Station, making it the fourth round of asylum-seekers sent to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in less than two weeks as a way to criticize the nation’s immigration policies,” by The Chicago Tribune.

FEDERAL

Beltway Briefing: American Politics Juxtaposed Against the Queen’s Death

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died on Thursday at 96. Elizabeth’s broadly popular 70-year reign was widely considered a symbol of decorum and a rare bastion of stability and permanence in a world of shifting values and tectonic challenges that followed World War II.

Against the backdrop of the passing of such an unwavering institutionalist, Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Mark Alderman, and Kaitlyn Martin discuss the extremism and ongoing threats to democracy in the United States, and consider President Biden’s record and Trump’s legal jeopardy.

You can listen to this and any of the previous Beltway Briefing podcast episodes here.

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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