THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...Fake newspapers back in the news...Arlington Heights Bears...Lots of TV ads
September 12, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
I'm filling in all week hosting the morning show on WMAY in Springfield. You can listen from 6-9am on www.wmay.com. I'm scheduled to talk to congressional candidate Regan Deering and State Rep. and GOP nominee for Secretary of State Dan Brady. (Their Democratic opponents have been invited to appear this week.)
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Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker says racism behind political mailings disguised as newspapers that attack new criminal justice laws (Chicago Tribune)
A series of political mailings that resemble newspapers and excoriate Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker over crime issues has prompted the governor to claim they’re the work of “racist political consultant” and right-wing radio show host Dan Proft, who also is financially supporting Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey.
The mailings, tailored to specific areas and sent to voters throughout Chicagoland under such labels as “Chicago City Wire,” “DuPage Policy Journal,” and “Will County Gazette,” are filled with purported news articles containing misinformation about the effects of criminal justice reforms enacted under Pritzker. The mailings contend the new law will free dangerous criminal suspects from jail and unleash them into the suburbs.
“This is a messaging that’s coming from a racist political consultant, who used to associate himself with Illinois, now lives in Florida. And he’s sending messages that are, if you look at what he’s printed, it’s clearly all about the idea that, again, what he’s printing, that Black people are threatening your way of life. That’s essentially what he’s putting in these publications,” Pritzker said of Proft at an unrelated event in south suburban Harvey.
“It’s a scare tactic. It’s meant to have people (show) concern for their safety. And the truth of the matter is that what he’s purveying here is complete hogwash. I’m probably being polite when I say that. It’s disgusting. It’s a terrible thing to do,” he said. “And frankly, he’s doing it on behalf of Darren Bailey. And that says as much as you need to know about Darren Bailey.”
In an email reacting to Pritzker calling him “racist,” Proft said, “It’s like being called ugly by a frog.”
In a Twitter post, Proft said Pritzker “infuses race into every, single policy debate. He never deal on the merits, particularly on public safety. He signed the state’s death warrant with his no cash bail law.” He challenged Pritzker to name “one specific item in the newspaper you excoriate that is untrue or inaccurate.”
You can always count on the Proft wing of the party to lose the message on what should be a slam dunk issue for Republicans.
Related: Durkin: The SAFE-T Act gives drug cartels free rein in Illinois (Chicago Tribune)
Berlin: Judges need discretion over bail for defendants in serious cases (Daily Herald)
Martwick: Ending money bond won’t be the doomsday some are predicting (Chicago Tribune)
State's Attorney: More than half of Winnebago County Jail to walk out door Jan. 1 (Rockford Register Star)
What Bears envision for $5 billion 'magic' makeover at Arlington Park (Daily Herald)
It could be another decade until [the Bears’] first snap at Arlington Park, amid the planning, regulatory approvals and financing needed to make the ambitious $5 billion project a reality.
And while there's much interest in the team's envisioned stadium in the suburbs, top team officials so far have offered only scant details about it:
• It'll have more seats than the lowest-in-the-league 61,500 at Soldier Field.
• It'll be enclosed with a dome sufficient to host the Super Bowl, college football playoffs and the college basketball Final Four.
• And there will be more room for parking and tailgating -- a declaration that drew applause from a generally friendly crowd, some wearing Bears gear, during the team's community meeting last Thursday at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights.
"We don't have a facility like that now," President/CEO Ted Phillips told the crowd of hundreds in the school gym. "It will be designed to provide our fans with a first-class experience."
McCaskey added, nothing in the Bears' project is predicated on an increase in local property taxes, though he acknowledged village officials may raise them for other reasons.
Related: Bears execs show off Arlington plans to residents (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Chicago Bears’ plans for stadium in Arlington Heights excite many suburbanites — but with funding a big issue, economists caution about subsidies (Chicago Tribune)
Most Illinois taxpayers will be getting a tax rebate from the state (Chicago Sun Times)
Most Illinois taxpayers will soon be getting onetime income and property tax rebates from the state.
Distribution of the money to qualifying residents starts Monday.
But state officials say it could take eight weeks to get money to everyone who’s eligible.
You must have been an Illinois resident in 2021 with an adjusted gross income on your 2021 Form IL-1040 filing under $200,000 for individual filers and under $400,000 for those who filed as couples.
Related: Here's what Illinois taxpayers need to know about receiving income, property tax rebates (State Journal-Register)
TV ADS
Here are a bunch of current TV ads we’ve been able to find, either on the YouTube machine or capturing over the air.
Governor:
JB Pritzker (pro)
JB Pritzker (anti-Bailey)
Proft PAC (anti-Pritzker)
Proft PAC (pro-Bailey)
Congress:
Eric Sorensen (anti-King)
DCCC (anti-King)
Illinois Supreme Court:
Illinois House:
Terra Costa Howard (note: Interesting she’s claiming she “suspended the gas tax,” even though Dems only suspended the two cent inflation adjustment in the gas tax.)
Matt Hanson (Wheeler opponent)
Suzanne Ness (says “froze gas taxes”, which is far more accurate than Costa Howard)
Mary Beth Canty (open 54th seat)
Sharon Chung (open 91st seat)
Harry Benton (open 97th seat)
Laura Faver Dias (open 62nd seat)
Diane Blair-Sherlock (open 46th seat)
SOME TOP LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
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