PeoriaStory

Recycling discussion: the Peoria waste hauling contract

PEORIA -- Peoria is one of the few Illinois cities without free curbside recycling. A new trash hauling contract is about to be approved by the Peoria City Council which offers this recycling.

City staffers are recommending a bid submitted by Peoria Disposal Company that includes once monthly recycling pickup, but residents may have to use a 96-gallon toter for a $50 deposit.

The bid is complex, and to learn more the Global Warming Solutions Group is sponsoring a free public meeting from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Wed. Oct. 14 at the Lakeview Library, 1137 W. Lake.

A panel of recycling operatives from the city and county, the bidders and the Illinois Recycling Association will discuss ideas for curbside recycling.

The Peoria City Council may vote on accepting a bid on Oct. 13, but also maybe later. The group is urging people to contact the city council to express support for recycling.

Gay marriage: the legal perspective

PEORIA -- A talk on legal issues relevant to California's ban on same-sex marriages takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5 at Bradley Hall Room 250 on the Bradley University campus. The speaker, a distinguished legal scholar and author, says the case was "a strategic and tactical mistake."

From the news release:

The lawsuit filed in a California federal court by two of the country’s most prominent attorneys – one (David Boies) a titan of liberal causes, the other (Ted Olsen) a veteran of Republican administrations and a conservative stalwart – challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8 received much national attention.
It was a follow-up to the unsuccessful challenge launched in state court, which sought to block Prop 8 solely on state constitutional grounds. One of the most interesting dimensions of the reaction to the case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, was the reception it received among prominent scholars, leaders, and litigators in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender movement – and their response was far from uniformly supportive.
To the contrary, most argued that the suit was a strategic and tactical mistake, likely to result in an adverse decision, perhaps from the Supreme Court of the United States, and that such a decision would set back the cause of marital equality for same-sex couples for decades to come.

The speaker, Sam Marcossom, further states: I will argue in this talk that the Prop 8 challenge should not have been brought.
Despite its strength on the merits, and even despite the undoubted quality of the attorneys handling the case, the plaintiffs’ chances of success are exceedingly small. Indeed, the best that advocates for LGBT rights can realistically hope for is that the case never reaches the Supreme Court at all, or that if it does, the Court ends up not deciding the case on the merits.
This is a case study in the necessity of effectively and carefully judging the litigation landscape, and of learning the lesson that Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund taught us more than half a century ago: few qualities are more important than patience in a legal struggle for civil rights and equality. In bringing the Perry case, Boies and Olsen forgot that lesson.

The news release states: Sam Marcosson is a Professor at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. He is a 1983 graduate of Bradley, with a B.S. in Political Science, and received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1986. In 2002 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bradley University. Before joining the faculty at Louisville, he clerked for a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York, and then spent eight years at the Office of General Counsel at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C. Since joining the Louisville faculty in 1996, he has taught courses in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Employment Discrimination, Sexual Orientation and the Law, and several others. He served as Associate Dean for Student Life from 2004-06. In 2009, he received the University’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching.
Since joining the faculty, Professor Marcosson’s research and writing has concentrated on constitutional law (especially the Fourteenth Amendment), and the civil rights issues facing lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, and was the programming coordinator for its annual conference in 1998. Most recently, he has since 2008 served on the Coordinating Committee of Louisville’s Fairness Campaign.
Professor Marcosson is the author of numerous articles and a book, Original Sin: Clarence Thomas and the Failure of the Constitutional Conservatives, published by the New York University Press in 2002.

Close a high school? Not what the public wants but board didn't listen

UPDATE 10/3/09. Read Roger Monroe's comments in the current issue of the Community Word on the Woodruff closing: http://thecommunityword.com/online/blog/2009/10/02/district-150-gets-an-f/#more-585

He hints of a lawsuit to stop the Woodruff closing.

PEORIA -- Hundreds of people gathered outside the Peoria School District 150 administration building on Sept. 21 to protest the closing of a high school, before the public session of the School Board meeting.

Teens from Woodruff High School and Peoria Central High School gathered in separate groups. The street was closed off for the crowd. Teachers and citizens were mixed in with the groups, and many police were on hand, but the crowd was calm.

Some marched with signs, saying 'close the administration building.'

A Peoria Central football team gathered for a group photo.

A choral group from Woodruff began to sign, substituting "our school" for the lyrics in the song "My Girl."

Many in the crowd complained about the 'divide and conquer' mode of pitting Woodruff versus Peoria Central, and suggested that both schools remain open.

The public comment session began, to be limited to an hour. Peoria activist General Parker opened with a carefully thought out proposal for saving money without closing a high school. His wife, Rachel Parker, is a member of the School Board.

The board voted to close a high school last spring but did not name the school. A new board member then was elected, Laura Petelle, and in her campaign suggested she opposed school closings. But she has said recently she now thinks a school should close.

The board wants to cut its deficit, saying it can save more than $2.7 million by closing a high school.

The argument makes little sense given the millions the District has spent on a contract with Edison Schools, and the likelihood that many middle class students will flee to parochial schools or move out of Peoria, thus cutting the state's per pupil reimbursement.

After an hour and a half of public comments, with only one in favor of closing a high school, then a sort-of debate, mostly speeches saying how they felt bad voting to close a high school, the board voted 4-3 to close Woodruff.

Its ludicrous, really, for board members to paint themselves as victims when they just put the nail in Peoria's coffin. The city, the community and the students are the victims here, not the board members.

Peoria has little going for it except for its storied traditions. Closing Woodruff is a big step toward destroying another neighborhood and another strong tradition.

There was a lot of talk about how a high school closing is necessary to save money, though Stowell suggested that if teachers would take a 3.5 percent pay cut, a closing would not be necessary.

It became apparent the board didn't listen to the thoughtful comments from the podium, where many good, alternative ideas were presented.

Voting in favor to close were Petelle, Gorenz, Wolfmeyer and Butler. Stowell argued for closing and restructuring Peoria Central to become a math and science academy. He, Ross and Parker voted not to close Woodruff.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Here's what General Parker sent to the School Board. It was ignored.

Thank you Madam President, vice-president and fellow board members
Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to make this presentation. This
is a presentation of hope; hope that our city, districts and neighborhoods
will be saved. But as always with Hope & Faith, there is always some
sacrifice.
My only request of you in allowing me to make this presentation is that
you not make any final decisions tonight and that you give these options
serious consideration. To do otherwise would be disingenuous.
After reading a letter posted on a blog from your law firm, it is understood
by its tone that this board make a decision to close a “high school” at this
meeting. This is keeping in line with the PBC’s request to keep and A+
rating with Standard and Poor.
I don’t believe this to be true nor do I agree with this but for the sake of
argument, this is the basis from which we will work on.
Full disclosure, I am never in favor of closing a school or getting rid of
jobs and if, only if it’s necessary, with minimal pain and suffering and
only with a great advantage to the people they serve.
Secondly, I attended all Dist. 150 High Schools except Manual and 4
different Dist. 150 grade schools.
What I plan to offer here are options. Options not to the question of which
High school to close but to how do we reduce our budget deficit to remain
fiscally sound and preserve our rating?
Option #1 Do Nothing - This option , while keeping schools open, does
nothing to reduce the deficit and will lower the districts bond rating.
However, the argument can be made we shouldn’t be in this predicament
anyway because teachers are pink slipped at the end of every year and
should not be called back if enrollment does not allow for it, likewise with
hiring administrators or consultants.
Option #2 Close Manual - Manual is in restructuring so it’s not an
option at this time. Besides, it’s the smallest and there would be no real
savings there, and other schools would have to close to attain a 7-8 million
dollar budget deficit.
Option # 3 – Close Richwoods - This may not be a popular option but it
is a viable one. Of course those students who are financially able to opt
out will do so for private schools, but the remainder can be distributed
evenly among the three inner city high schools. Since Richwood’s has our
top performing students, we can have these students to help boost the
remaining schools test scores and meet AYP.
If it all boils down to money, then it would make sense of get rid of the
highest operational costing school. I told you this one wouldn’t be
popular.
Option#4 – Close PHS
Option #5 – Close WHS
I put these two together and won’t go into them because you already know
they are options and the Pros & cons for keeping or closing either of them.
The problem with #4 & #5 just as with Option 3, I don’t think it gets you
where you need to be in reducing the budget. You would be back soon
enough talking about closing another school or schools.
Also closing Woodruff or Central would be the nail in the coffin that
causes the demise of an already declining neighborhood. As president of
the Heart of Peoria Neighborhood Association I am vehemently opposed
to those options.
Option #6 - Close two high schools and have One North Campus and
One South Campus – This would cause overcrowding as we have about
4,000 high school student and no school in the district can hold 2,000
students let alone two of them.
Option #7 – Has two parts - This is the option I hope you consider as it
is my favorite and one I believe gets us where we need to be. Since this is
all about money and being fiscally sound. This shows several objectives
under two main goals.
Goals being Reducing Expenses and Increasing Revenue
Reduce Expenses – Terminate Edison Contract – I know this has been a
bone of contention but this decision to close a school is about money and
although Edison has done some good, because of past decisions and our
financial position now, we can no longer afford Edison. Saving roughly
$800,000+.
• Close Middle Schools - Our youth are starting to fall off in their
adolescent years. If we take 6 & 7th graders who will be 7th & 8th
graders next year and place them in the High Schools, as was did
with Manual, and make 7th & 8th Grade Academy’s in each high
school, I believe we are starting to address the problems both
academically and fiscally.
The 5th graders would go to back and finish the 6th grade in their
primary school. Thus we will have k – 6 in all primary and 7th & 8th
grade academies in all four high schools.
This would be approximately *1,393 students divided among the 4
high schools.
*Denotes no numbers for Rolling Acres
I also propose not making any additions or renovations at Lincoln
Middle School. The students from Lincoln will become 7th & 8th
grade academy students at a high school and I propose changing
Lincoln into a primary school to house the students from Irving and
Kingman which is about 400 – 500 students.
Some teachers will have to come along with the students but not all
of them. Based on enrollment size, the superintendent will call back
the appropriate amount of staff needed to teach students in a right
sized class while at the same time being fiscally responsible.
Likewise, administration, especially central administration should be
cut to fit the district’s enrollment. Student enrollment has reduced 10
– 15% since 2004, so should have administration. It should not have
gone up. Savings: Operational & Maintenance cost + Salaries
• Terminate Consultant Contracts –
Consultant are being hired in and paid approximately $350.00 per
day, 5 days a week that $1,750.00. Multiply that by 42 weeks and
that’s $63,500. I have even heard of some making as much as $500 a
day (which is $2,500 a week, $10,000 a month), but for the sake of
argument we will go with the $350 per day. If you terminate 10
consultants contracts at $350.00 a day, that would save $635,000 in
salaries out of the budget. If there are more than 10 consultants that
would be even more savings. If they make more per day then that’s
even more realized savings and reductions to the deficit.
Savings: $635,000
Terminate Law Firm’s Contract-
This is an instant savings. The board President and/or superintendent
can direct the present law firm to hand over its complete file (copies)
and hire a paid staff attorney to handle the districts’ business. ( I
recommend Beth Jensen) That attorney can farm out work when
necessary to meet the district’s legal needs. If your decision is truly
about money and being fiscally sound then all options should be on
the table. The present law firm charges an annual $300,000 retainer
plus hourly rate. Hire an attorney and pay them $150,000 a year in
salary plus benefits in line with what their districts are doing, about
27-30%. Even if we paid a little more we would save annually with
no hourly rates for board meetings, reading contracts, overseeing
petitions that re turned in for the next election and so on.
Savings: $105,000+
Finally in Reducing Expenses we need to find out what purchasing
services and tort salaries are and get a handle on both of these.
Reports show
Purchasing services 17.1 million
Tort Salaries – 2.1 million
Also by combining 7th & 8th grad academy with high school, you’ll
only have a two tier bus schedule (Primary school and academy
high). This reduces bus scheduled pickups and drop offs by 1/3
approximately thus cutting the cost by 1/3 which although is
reimbursed by about 70% it is included in the budget so this should
be considered as a saving to the 6.6 million transportation budget.
Savings: 2.2 million
INCREASE REVENUE
Sell Prospect Properties
It’s a given that we’ll lose money on this property but if we receive
any it’s better than a total loss. I propose selling the property to the
Park District for .50 on the dollar. I think that is a fair price and
priced to sell fast. I think the Park Board should show integrity and
take us up on that offer because although non-binding, they still
reneged on the agreement.
Potential Income: $450,000.
Sell the closed schools and proposed closed school buildings
This is where the real income comes in. Not only do we sell (or lease)
seven to eight buildings and receive the capital from the sell, by closing
them we have eliminated the operational and maintenance cost to run the
buildings.
Peoria County Government is looking for a place to build the new
Bellwood nursing home, why not off them one of our closed sites. I
suggest Sterling School. Not only will the students benefit from the sell,
but you will be helping the County Government and the residents of
Bellwood.
Potential income: Varies
You can sell enough properties so that you won’t have to worry about
PBC funds or bond ratings.
Apply for and receive Technology & Early Childhood funds
Institute a Vocational Program
There was a program that was proposed in 2005 to the superintendent
that has since been simulated by Canton School District. We should
seize this opportunity and reinstate trades back into the school
district. Pekin school district also has a strong vocational program we
could model.
Potential funding sources for Vo-tech Center
• DCCEO
• Building Trades
• City of Peoria
• Peoria County
• Perkins Grant

Reforming the health system: here's a start

PEORIA -- Why don't we hear about these ideas from the politicians talking about reforming the US health care system?

What would each of these cost? Has no one looked into it?

1. Medicare: Roll it back to age 60 immediately, and thereafter annually add a year to reach age 55. Coverage would be voluntary. Eliminate the so-called 'donut hole.' Require competitive bidding for prescriptions. Let the insurance companies write Medigap policies as they do now, and expand the list to include dental and eye coverage. Drop Medicare Advantage plans to save money.

2. Medicaid: Expand eligibility, cover all children under age 18, fund it for the states. Explore national long term care coverage.

3. Private insurance: Institute tough regulations, including ban on underwriting for preexisting conditions and on arbitrary cancellations for anything except non-payment, allow national coverage to rule out monopolies, but keep state insurance regulations in place.

4. The uninsured: Set up state and national exchanges in which insurance companies can participate and compete for customers if they meet federal standards. These would be open to all but voluntary. (A pubic option should go here, as well, but to date that looks unlikely.)

4. Efficiencies: Standardize all medical forms, subsidize computerization.

Evaluate how effective these reforms are after five years. If they don't work, go to single payer, Canadian style. By then, perhaps the US will be out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and can afford to pay for health care for all.

-- Elaine Hopkins

UPDATE 9/21/09: Hear consumer advocate, corporate critic, author and presidential candidate Ralph Nader discuss Congress's failure to pass any meaningful financial reform on Wall Street over the past year and critique Obama's healthcare reform proposal.

Yes, I know, Nader is the cause of Bush's 2000 seizure of the presidency. But this interview on Democracy Now is worth reading or listening to especially for a discussion of Nader's first work of fiction, "Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!"

Here's the link.

Karrin Allyson delights WIU audience

MACOMB -- Jazz singer Karrin Allyson won an enthusiastic standing ovation from a Western Illinois University audience on Sept. 18 as she kicked off the Al Sears Jazz Festival.

Allyson is a sleek,lovely woman, a fine singer and pianist (a female Mel Torme?) as well as intriguing performer.

She performed an original and unique 90-minute show with one intermission, using a variety of genres, from Latin to blues. A skillful trio of accomplished jazz artists on guitar, bass and drums backed her.

If you have a chance to see her perform, don't miss it!

The festival continues at noon on Sept. 19 in Chandler Park with 11 groups, the last one beginning at 10 p.m. For a schedule, click here.

A juried art show and book sale also will take place in the park on Sept. 19.

A jazz brunch on Sept. 20 features the St. Louis Stompers.

It adds up to a nice weekend in Macomb with free music, art and fun.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Corporate whistleblower to speak, other interesting events

Peoria -- Cynthia Cooper, author of Extraordinary Circumstances will discuss “Unraveling the Largest Corporate Scandal in History” at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14 in Dingeldine Music Center at Bradley University.

Cooper is the woman who blew the whistle in 2000 and ultimately brought down MCI/WorldCom for fraudulent accounting. See this interesting review of her book here.

Other events worth noting, and not well publicized, take place on Sat., Sept. 19:

1. Peoria Area Voices for Animals will be holding a demonstration this Saturday September 19th from 11 a.m. -noon at the corner of Main and University (across from One World Café).

"The goal of the demo is to educate people about the horrific treatment of chickens and promote veganism. Signs and leaflets will be provided," the group says.

2. Edith Barnard sends this e-mail: Border’s book-signing for “Suddenly Single”—my book which is selling like hotcakes on Amazon.com—is this Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-4 with Wes Sedrel playing classical tunes on his guitar. There will be snacks too, so even if you already have the book, come to Border’s Bookstore and join the FUN! www.SuddenlySingleIslandStyle.com

How privileged I am to be a Presentations Skills Coach and Life Coach and help people from teens to executives to retirees find their voice! www.VoicePowerDiva.com

LAKEVIEW MUSEUM will be the place for “THRIVE don’t Survive after Divorce or Loss.” Starts Thursday, October 8-Novemeber 12—6-8:30 p.m. Your investment in YOU is $195 which includes my book, Suddenly Single, which we will use as the manual for the course. Learn how to recharge your batteries and explore a new YOU through Art, Music, Movement—Confidence Building through the Arts! Just a few spaces left in this innovative six week course, so please call me ASAP to reserve your space! I’ve taught this course in Maine and Barbados, and now……….Peoria!

--Edith Barnard, 309/922-9058

And, on Sept. 24: The Central Illinois Chapter of the Interfaith Alliance (CICTIA) invites you to our Tolerance Forum – 2009 to be held on Thursday September 24 at 7:00 PM at the Riverplex Center. The subject: How can tolerance be practiced in our
community, "Walk Your Talk"

CICTIA is committed to improving Peoria's quality of life using faith-based programs. Our first Tolerance Forum focused on understanding differences and establishing dialog between different groups. We discovered then that all faiths share similar values and were equally appreciative of diversity. This year, we wish to build on this understanding and enable its practical application.

Accordingly, the theme for Tolerance Forum - 2009 is `Walk Your Talk'.
The evening will begin with panelists expressing their opinions on tolerance and highlighting their personal experiences. Next, we plan to have break-out sessions that will determine a framework for continuing cooperation and brainstorm on potential projects.

On conclusion of Tolerance Forum – 2009, we expect to have formed teams of volunteers from different faith groups that will work on common causes. We believe these undertakings will reinforce mutual understanding and promote greater tolerance.

Donations and memberships will be accepted at this forum.

Any questions, please contact Rev Kaye Berry at (309) 643-5638 or by email at [email protected].

Redistricting discussion

PEORIA -- Illinois General Assembly Committee on Redistricting meets in Peoria at noon on Tuesday, September 22, at Bradley University's Hartmann Center Theatre, on the campus. (Parking for this event should be interesting!)

The Peoria Journal Star has a story on what will take place.

It's easy for good government types to feel outrage about legislative and congressional districts and the way they are drawn. But would an Iowa system, with more competitive districts, really change the way government works in Illinois?

Despite the bluster, Illinois is actually a fairly well run state. Yes, it has financial problems, but most states are facing those same problems.

At least it has a pro-choice government that respects the rights of women to reproductive health, is not a right-to-work state, and is not trying to kick evolution out of its schools, and has a moratorium on the death penalty. It has child health care coverage, free bus transportation for seniors, and other progressive measures (those latter two courtesy of the ousted Gov. Blago.)

It could be better. It needs a bottle/can recycling law, for example. It needs a more open and transparent child welfare system. And it needs to stop wasting money funding some not-for-profits and faith-based groups that have cozied up to members of the General Assembly.

As for corruption, Blago and his predecessor, George Ryan, apparently used their offices to raise money to run their campaigns. They squeezed people who finally revolted and ratted them out to the authorities.

Would redistricting really change that temptation for public officials, or make it worse, as more offices became more competitive?

Would it improve state government? How?

That's a key question that redistricting proponents must answer. Otherwise why bother to change the system?

-- Elaine Hopkins

The health system in Illinois: expensive

Here's a timely news release from the Campaign for Better Health Care, an advocacy group for health system reform:

HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS ROSE FIVE TIMES FASTER THAN EARNINGS IN ILLINOIS FROM 2000 THROUGH 2009

Report Finds that Premiums Rose by 85.6 Percent, While Earnings Rose by Only 17.2 Percent in Illinois

Chicago - New data estimates that family health care premiums in Illinois rose approximately five times faster than wages during 2000 - 2009, according to the Campaign for Better Health Care. The report by the national consumer health organization Families USA indicates that in that ten year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 85.6 percent, while median earnings rose by only 17.2 percent.

Among the new report's key findings are:

* For family health coverage provided through the workplace in Illinois, the average annual health insurance premium (employer and worker share of premiums combined) in the 2000-2009 period rose from $7,220 to $13,397--an increase of $6,177, or 85.6 percent.
* Between 2000 and 2009, the median earnings of Illinois's workers rose from $26,806 to $31,414--an increase of $4,608, or 17.2 percent.

"Health care is the key to economic security and opportunity," said Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care. "Only comprehensive health insurance reform will ensure the long term economic stability of Illinois' working families and small businesses."

"Rising health care costs threaten the financial well-being of families in Illinois and across the nation," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. "If health care reform does not happen soon, more and more families will be priced out of the health coverage they used to take for granted."

An even worse downside of rising costs is the loss of health coverage altogether. Between 2000 and 2008, the total percentage of U.S. firms offering health coverage declined by 6 percentage points--from 69 percent of firms to 63 percent--with small businesses being the most likely to drop coverage.

Another potential catastrophe for families is the possibility that they will join the growing ranks of families filing for bankruptcy because of their medical debts. Prior to filing for bankruptcy, families attempt to balance budgets by dropping phone service, trimming food costs, and going without needed medical or dental care. Despite these desperate measures, however, more than half of all bankruptcies are related to medical costs.

Duffett continued, "The people of this country deserve a system that will ensure their freedom to choose what kind of plan works best for them and their families, that controls costs, contains checks and balances, and holds the insurance industry accountable. It is essential that a public option is available to people. They deserve peace of mind in knowing that no matter what happens, the coverage that they and their families need will be available and affordable for them."

The Families USA report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A copy of this report is available online at the Campaign for Better Health Care's website.

# # #

About the Campaign for Better Health Care

We believe that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for all people. The Campaign for Better Health Care is the state's largest coalition representing over 300 diverse organizations, organizing to help create and advocate for an accessible, quality health care system for all. For more information, visit www.cbhconline.org.

And here's another health care event -- for $20! Yikes.

Healthcare Reform-Next Steps, takes place at 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Tues., Sept. 22 at the
Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria for $20 per person.

It aims to present "an overview of the current health system problems, a summary of current legislation, and a facilitated panel discussion examining how healthcare reform legislation would impact our community. Panelists will discuss the impact to important stakeholder groups - healthcare providers, payers, employers, patients, and families - and then take questions from the audience."

Panelists include: Dr. Gail Amundson, CEO, Quality Quest for Health of Illinois;
Brad McMillan, Exec. Director, Institute for Principled Leadership; Jerry Duggan, Healthcare Benefi ts, Caterpillar Inc.; Paul Macek, CEO, Proctor Hospital; Dr. Kevin O’Brien, Department of Economics, Bradley University; Dr. Robert Parker, Chief Medical Officer, Health Alliance; Eric Parmenter, Senior Consultant, Towers Perrin; Steve Thompson, CEO, Easter Seals. (It's not clear how many of the above are physicians, and how many are PhDs.)

Mary Pille, President, AAIM Employer’s Association, the sponsor, will also comment.

For more information, call 309-637-3333. Register online at www.eaconnect.com.

The census and redistricting: coming soon

PEORIA -- The 2010 US Census, taking place next spring, seems apolitical, even benign. It's only about numbers. But think again -- the subtext is money and politics, especially redistricting Congressional and legislative seats.

That was the message of Mary Schaafsma of the Illinois League of Women Voters, who spoke to the Peoria area LWV chapter on Sept. 12.

The League is involved in promoting a full census count, and dipping into the subsequent redistricting issues, she said. First the count:

The US will spend over $14 billion to count more than 300 million people, using a simple 10-question form to be mailed in March to households, she said. Census workers have already surveyed residences to determine which buildings are occupied.

The League and other good government groups plan campaigns to encourage people to fill out the form and send it back. "It does not ask for citizenship information or social security numbers," she said. And the results are confidential.

But why should an undocumented resident take a chance?

Because the Census wants to count everyone, including the undocumented. They count for government services, from police and fire departments to transportation. And thousands of federal dollars to local communities depend on the accurate court of everyone.

She said $1,100 a year will be lost to Illinois for every person not counted.

The 10-question form is a response to declining rates of response to longer forms, she said. "The response rate has been declining" over the last few decades, she said, theoretically because of the previous long forms.

If Illinois had posted just 152,000 more residents in 2000, it would not have lost a congressional seat, she said. It now has 19 districts.

This time, Illinois could lose two seats if a complete count does not take place. It likely will lose one anyway.

Meanwhile the population keeps increasing in Illinois, though not as rapidly as in some other states. Each congress member from Illinois will likely represent 700,000 people after the census, up from 650,000 now.

The Census has analyzed populations, and knows which zip codes contain "hard to count" residents, she said. Peoria has three of these districts, she said.

"You count people where they sleep," she said, so that the incarcerated are counted in prison, college students in dorms, patients in nursing homes. The armed services do their own counts, based on military bases in the US. Americans living abroad are not counted.

In this era of suspicion of government, a few political figures are using a boycott of the census, she said. In California, hispanics are being urged not to cooperate with the census until immigration reform takes place. That's misguided, she said.

"Be aware of the subtle attempts to undermine the value of the Census," she said, and counter that by speaking out with comments and letters to the editor. "It undermines our democracy."

For those households that don't return the forms, workers will be knocking on doors. It costs $100 for every follow up, she said.

Illinois communities are organizing Complete Count Committees, she said. Local governments can organize them, or local groups. They should include all elements of the community, from business to faith-based organizations, then the committees should develop plans for outreach. The League is involved in the CCC groups in Illinois.

On Dec. 31, 2010, the census will be certified, and serve as the basis for redistricting.

In Illinois, the Congressional delegation bargains for the district boundaries, she said, "to protect the incumbents."

The Illinois General Assembly draws the state legislative map, with the same idea in mind. The result: in 40 percent of the districts in both the Illinois House and Senate, there were no opponents to the incumbents in the last election.

Under the current system, there is no transparency or citizen input. That should change, she said.

Redistricting is the key to reform of the state's fabled corruption, she said. Longer terms for legislators and term limits for legislative leaders would help, she said.

There are various plans for redistricting reform, including commissions, and even an open contest on the Web, where citizens can use geographic data to redraw the maps, she said. That's been done in Ohio, she said. It can be used to pressure legislators to improve the process.

"In Illinois, anything is better than the current system," she said.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Interesting events in Peoria

PEORIA -- Here are two very interesting, free events coming soon:

1. 5 p.m.-9: 30 p.m. Wed. Oct. 7 at the Red Cross Building, 311 W. John Gwynn Jr., Ave: The America Red Cross is holding a program on International Humanitarian Law,

Among the topics: prisoners at Guantanamo, Israeli-Palestinian tensions, the war in Afghanistan. Contact the Red Cross at (309) 677-7272, ext. 204 for more information.

2. 7 p.m., Oct. 19, Bradley University's Neumiller Lecture Hall: Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center. This group has taken on the KKK and other hate groups.

A map of hate groups on the website shows 23 in Illinois.

Dees's topic: “With Justice for All.”