Illinois Insights: An Update from Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (9/2)

PUBLIC HEALTH 

— IDPH Urges All Who Are Eligible to Get Up to Date With Newly Approved Bivalent Booster Shots, from The Illinois Department of Public Health.

— New COVID-19 boosters headed to Chicago area after CDC recommendation: What you need to know, by The Chicago Tribune.

— Free At-Home COVID Tests From the Government Will be Suspended Tomorrow: “Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2,” by NBC 5 Chicago.

— Illinois Department of Public Health Achieves Re-accreditation from National Public Health Body, from The Office of Governor JB Pritzker.

ILLINOIS

Illinois EPA invests over $254 million in water infrastructure loans in fourth quarter of FY22

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency today announced the issuance of $254,355,659 in water infrastructure loans to local governments and sanitary districts for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 (April – June 2022).

The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program – which provides low-interest loans for wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects – has issued a total of $557,559,375 in loans for all of State Fiscal Year 2022, which includes $58,730,372 in Principal Forgiveness.

A complete list of FY22 fourth quarter loan recipients can be found here.

AROUND THE STATE 

— Gov. Pritzker Announces $300 Million in Funding for Energy Bill Assistance: “Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging families in need to apply for $300 million in available funding for energy bill assistance through the Help Illinois Families program,” from The Office of Governor JB Pritzker.

— Pritzker’s personal fortune intersects with state contracts: “The governor’s promises to divest his vast portfolio of state contractors has not extended to his so-called blind trust, which has the governor’s money in at least a dozen companies with billions in state business,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

— Gov. Pritzker Welcomes Immigrants Traveling From Texas to Chicago: “Illinois welcomes refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants and we are working with federal and city officials to ensure that these individuals are treated with respect and safety as they look to connect with their family and friends,” from The Office of Governor JB Pritzker.

— Record number of Republican candidates running for House seats as party tries to end Democrats’ super majority: “House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) is hoping to bring down the House Democrats’ supermajority with a record number of Republican candidates running for seats in the Illinois House on Nov. 8. Illinois has 106 Republican candidates running for House seats in November — a record, Durkin said at State Fair festivities earlier this month,” by The Daily Line.

— Advocates want lawmakers to eliminate court fees in juvenile cases: “Illinois lawmakers should eliminate court fees for juveniles, advocates told members of the state Supreme Court Statutory Court Fees Task Force during a hearing Tuesday. The task force is preparing to release a report later this year with recommendations to the General Assembly about the state’s laws on court fees,” by The Daily Line.

— Rebuilding Will 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 Will County are underway or planned to begin, highlighting an ongoing commitment made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan capital program,” from The Office of Governor JB Pritzker.

CHICAGO 

Mayor Lightfoot announces delegate agencies for ‘Justice for All’ Initiative 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health Thursday announced that the Chicago Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood of Illinois have been selected as the two delegate agencies for the City’s ‘Justice for All’ initiative.

“The City of Chicago is committed to ensuring that no person will lose their rights to reproductive healthcare,” Mayor Lightfoot said.

Mayor Lightfoot first announced this funding in May in response to the leaked draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health by the majority of the Supreme Court.

The ‘Justice for All’ pledge is supported by a $500,000 investment from the Chicago Department of Public Health, which will continue the City’s efforts to support transportation; lodging; safe and necessary reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological care; and follow up services for all people.

MORE FROM CITY HALL

— More Migrants Expected To Be Bused To Chicago — And City Will Need Aid To Help Them, Lightfoot Says: “Cook County already has stepped up but Chicago needs support from local and federal governments to provide medical care, housing and other resources,” by Block Club Chicago.

— CPD working to fill 975 patrol officer vacancies, 105 detective openings, top mayoral aide says: “Earlier in August, the Office of Budget and Management reported 1,408 sworn vacancies — and a staggering 814 retirements this year, compared to 973 in all of 2021 and 625 in 2020,” by The Chicago Sun-Times.

— Aldermen question funding for police surveillance cameras, support expanding co-responder pilot: “Spending on police surveillance cameras and expanding an alternative police response pilot program for mental health calls will likely be hot topics during this year’s budget hearings as aldermen prodded city officials on the topic Wednesday,” by The Daily Line.

— Drag racers, drifters and unruly spectators would face prison time under new proposal in Springfield: “The bill was introduced after Chicago police officials struggled to respond to the street takeovers and drag racing that gave way to clashes with police and possibly left a woman dead this weekend,” by The Chicago Sun-Times.

— Lightfoot Blasts Abbott’s Policy of Bussing Migrants to Northern Cities as ‘Racist and Xenophobic’: “Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot used a Thursday press conference to welcome a group of migrants to the city after they were put on buses and driven north from Texas this week, but she also took the opportunity to blast Gov. Greg Abbott’s immigration as ‘racist and xenophobic,’” by NBC 5 Chicago.

— Multiple tree planting bids offer local companies chance to supply trees to Chicago: chief sustainability officer: “The city of Chicago has changed the way it bids out its supply of trees to be planted in the public way to broaden job opportunities and give local companies the chance to add to the city’s tree canopy. Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar touted the change during a town hall on the city’s tree canopy hosted by Ald. Matt Martin (47) on Wednesday,” by The Daily Line.

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