THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Pritzker wants $1 billion for business incentives...State Museum investing in Native American history...Politicians don't go to Belmont Cragin
October 13, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
There are 26 days to the November 8 General Election. JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey debate for the second (and final) time in 5 days.
The Governor has nothing on his public schedule. The Bailey campaign has not released a public schedule.
If you’re enjoying our content, I hope you’ll consider becoming a paid subscriber. It is just $9.99 per month or $99 for a year. Just click below!
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets)
Pritzker floats $1 billion jobs 'closing fund' as he touts re-election credentials (Crain’s Chicago Business)
He wants a $1 billion “closing fund” to help lure big employers to Illinois. He’s virtually ruling out any tax hike, even if a recession dries up state revenue. And while he gives some hints as to what Illinois soon will do to shore up abortion rights here, he’s pretty vague as to how to amend the SAFE-T criminal justice bill that has become a red-hot political issue.
Pritzker’s core message was consistent with what he’s been saying on the campaign trail and in his debate last week with GOP nominee Darren Bailey: After a very bumpy stretch under former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state needs to stay the course. “Things are getting better.”
Pritzker pointed to everything from his huge Rebuild Illinois infrastructure package to an incentives plan that has lured $5 billion in new data centers to the state, increased funding for public grade and high schools, and a state pension system that finally may be stabilizing—though it’s still $130 billion short of what it needs to pay workers promised retirement benefits.
Another try at enacting a graduated income tax is off the table, Pritzker said. “I’m not going to bring it back up.” And other tax hikes are extremely unlikely, too, he added. “I don’t think so. I have no intention of seeking more revenue.”
Related: Watch Pritzker's meeting with Crain's editorial board (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Bailey makes pitch to Chicago TV viewers in ad focused on crime (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Republican Darren Bailey’s first TV ad of general election campaign focuses on crime (Chicago Tribune)
Editorial: We endorse J.B. Pritzker for Illinois governor (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois State Museum hires first director of tribal relations to ‘address past harms’ (WBEZ)
In a first-of-its-kind hire last month, the Illinois State Museum added a director of tribal relations – a pioneering role in the institution’s 145-year-history.
Heather Miller will be responsible for building and repairing relationships between the Springfield-based museum and Native American tribes with historical ties to the state, specifically when it comes to how the state has handled native artifacts and remains.
Miller, an enrolled citizen of the Wyandotte Nation, says she’s been passionate about working with Native People and communities nearly her whole life – “since I knew that I was native,” she said.
Miller spent her youth in Florida but her mother grew up in Oklahoma on a Wyandotte reservation.
Illinois has one of the largest collections of native ancestor remains in the nation, but over the last two decades, Catlin-Legutko has discovered myriad violations of how the state has handled those remains under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. NAGPRA requires federal agencies and museums that receive federal money, like ISM, to provide information and consult with the appropriate tribe about remains or other cultural items in their collections.
Belmont Cragin voters keep their heads down, say they wish pols would occasionally show their faces (Chicago Sun-Times)
Politicians don’t stop in Belmont Cragin — ever.
At least that’s what some residents of the Northwest Side neighborhood insist.
Many of them couldn’t tell a reporter who is on the ballot next month, who their state or U.S. representatives are, or why they should even care about casting their votes, since nothing seems to change.
“Politicians don’t really show their face in all the years that I’ve lived here,” 30-year resident Melissa Quintana said. “I’ve never known any alderman’s name, don’t know how many aldermen we have, I didn’t know the wards, or our representatives — I literally know nothing.”
What residents readily share is their concerns that the obstacles that lie in front of them are becoming ever more difficult to overcome. Soaring home prices, crime, the quality of education and the struggles of small businesses are all making life more challenging.
Tucked on the Northwest Side, Belmont Cragin isbound by Grand Avenue to the south, Belmont Avenue to the north, Kenton Avenue to the east and Nashville Avenue to the west. As voters prepare to cast their ballots in state, county and federal elections next month, the Sun-Times talked to residents to find out what’s on their minds.
Many said they wish their elected officials would do the same.
Quintana said over the last three months she has made it a priority to learn the names of the politicians who represent her, but she admits she still is falling short.
“Everyone in my circle doesn’t know about their alderman, never met them, know their names or even know what ward they live in,” Quintana said. “Even with the potential candidates that are running, I still have no idea who’s running for reelection, and it’s not easily accessible.”
Those of us in this political arena need to do a better job of engaging people who are not paying attention to these important issues. It also starts with better civics education in schools.
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Top of the Illinois ballot: What to know about the Workers' Rights Amendment (Peoria Journal Star)
Editorial: Tammy Duckworth for US Senate (Chicago Tribune)
Endorsement: Duckworth for U.S. Senate (Daily Herald)
The election for Illinois’ attorney general comes at a dramatic legal moment (WBEZ)
Illinois Attorney General candidate Thomas DeVore visits Crystal Lake, calls SAFE-T Act ‘unconstitutional’ (Shaw Media)
Attorney general candidates clash over SAFE-T Act, public health measures (Capitol News Illinois)
With Jesse White off statewide ballot for first time in nearly a quarter century, voters faced with fresh choices for Illinois secretary of state (Chicago Tribune)
Giannoulias endorsed for secretary of state (Daily Herald)
Tired of long wait times at the DMV? Candidates for secretary of state pitch how they would cut lines (Illinois Public Media)
Endorsement: Mendoza for Illinois comptroller (Daily Herald)
Endorsement: Mike Frerichs endorsed for another term as state treasurer (Daily Herald)
Complaint accuses Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau of using mayoral campaign funds for congressional bid (Chicago Tribune)
Casten backs committee investigating Jan. 6 attack; Pekau accuses members of grandstanding (Daily Herald)
Endorsement: Raja Krishnamoorthi for U.S. House (Daily Herald)
Endorsement: Foster for Congress from District 11 (Daily Herald)
Illinois Supreme Court’s 2nd District race is attracting millions in donations: What the candidates have to say (Shaw Media)
Supreme Court 3rd District: Burke, O’Brien vie for seat (Capitol News Illinois)
Cashless bail a point of contention between state 24th District Senate candidates Lewis, Nowak (Daily Herald)
SAFE-T Act, abortion and assault guns: Where 42nd state Senate candidates Holmes, Santucci stand (Daily Herald)
The Illinois 48th District Senate race gets heated as candidates lob attack advertising (State Journal-Register)
Naperville's high-powered weapons sale ban hangs over 41st House race (Daily Herald)
Illinois election 2022: Where the 96th House district candidates stand on abortion, crime (State Journal-Register)
The end of IL cash bail could take a bite out of St. Clair County’s budget — and yours (Belleville News-Democrat)
Opinion: Under governor's shadow, Bennett seeks compromise on bond abolition (Champaign News-Gazette)
Big voter turnout ahead? Kendall County Clerk reports record number of mail-in ballot requests (Shaw Media)
Editorial: Campaigns are a reminder of the need for redistricting reform to put an end to political gerrymandering in Illinois (Daily Herald)
SOME TOP LINKS FROM THE WEEK SO FAR
JOIN US