PeoriaStory

Election over, now educate the legislators

PEORIA -- Here are two worthy recommendations from the Illinois League of Women Voters. One would allow people with low level felonies to find jobs, the other supports public schools, stops more charter school abuse.

Call or email your legislators now.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: SUPPORT HB 5723
(the Sealing Bill) (Ford - D)

 

ACTION NEEDED:  Call or email your state representative and senator today, and ask them to vote FOR HB 5723 - the Sealing Bill - if it is called during the veto session.  

 

WHY IT MATTERS: The League joins with others to address the needs of offenders returning to the community and supports efforts to remove barriers to employment for persons with criminal records.  A 2005 Loyola University study found that those who attained 30 days of employment after leaving prison achieved a 67% reduction in recidivism.

 

The so-called sealing bill expands the list of non-violent felonies that would be hidden from view once sentences are complete.  For example, it would offer those convicted of certain drug offenses, prostitution, forgery or retail theft a slightly easier time attaining employment and finding housing once they complete their sentences. When a record is sealed, an employer would no longer be able to see or consider that background in making a hiring decision  The full records would still be available to law enforcement and others who need to see them for public safety/background checks.  

 

Under HB 5723, those seeking to have their records sealed must wait 4 years after completing their sentence to do so.  When a person applies to have their record sealed, the State's Attorney, Illinois State Police, the arresting agency, and the chief legal officer involved in the case would be able to object to sealing the record.  

 

Our coalition partners are at work in Springfield visiting the legislators and counting the yeas and nays.  To get this bill considered during the Veto Session, this week or next, we must convince leadership that we have the votes for passage.

 

 

SCHOOL FUNDING: OPPOSE HB5825 SA2 (Steans - D)

 

ACTION NEEDED:  Contact and urge your Representative to oppose and Governor Quinn to veto HB 5825 SA 2: A bill making the Charter School Commission autonomous with no operational oversight.  Please don't delay as this bill is scheduled for concurrence in the House.

 

HB 5825 SA 2 "Provides that the State Charter School Commission is established as an independent commission (instead of State agency)".  The bill "provides that the Commission shall be under the State Board of Education for administrative purposes only" while prohibiting "the State Superintendent of Education from reducing or modifying the budget of the Commission or from using funds appropriated to the Commission without the approval of the Commission".

 

WHY IT MATTERS:  The State Charter School Commission already holds a great deal of power.  It was commissioned in response to the Obama Administration's Race to the Top requirement that states applying for RTTT funds grow their charter school numbers.  The Commission was given the authority to establish charter schools in districts regardless of whether the district and its stakeholders felt a charter school was warranted or not.  This bill further extends that power by making the commission exempt from financial oversight.  ISBE becomes a pass through agency for a new appropriated line item in its budget.  

 

The bill gives no reason as to why this autonomy is necessary.  It is interesting to note that the Commission chairman, Greg Richmond, is also currently the CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.

 

LWVIL opposed the establishment of this commission as our position on charter schools is one of caution due to the impact on school funding and because the Commission reduced local control and authority. -30-

 

 

 

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An inside story?

PEORIA -- From a news release.  This looks interesting. 

 

Peoria native Reid Epstein, now a reporter for POLITICO, will be on the Bradley University campus to share his behind-the-scenes stories and insights as a national political journalist traveling across the country with President Obama and Governor Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign.

 

When:  Thursday, November 29, 8:00 p.m.

Where:  Westlake Hall, Room 130 (auditorium)

 

Registration is not necessary for this free event.  Cookies and punch will be provided after the presentation, which is co-hosted by the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service, the Department of Communication, and the Intellectual and Cultural Activities at Bradley University. -30-

Equality breakfast

PEORIA -- From a news release:

ACORN EQUALITY FUND Sponsors Dec. 1 Annual Scholarship Breakfast  

The Board of Directors of the ACORN EQUALITY FUND invites the public to our annual family breakfast to be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria, IL, on December 1, 2012, from 9am -11am. Over $25,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

The keynote speaker this year is President Emeritus of Knox College, Roger Taylor. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the door or by e-mailing  [email protected].

The Acorn Equality Fund, a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Corporation, established in 1999, is a grassroots organization that provides financial support for the advancement of the education, health, and civil rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender persons and their allies in downstate Illinois.

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Boring meeting with a few lively comments

PEORIA -- Let's hope the Peoria public schools are run more effectively than the  District 150 School Board.  The Nov. 26 meeting featured a boring, 90 minute presentation by the board's law firm, on the legal requirements for discipline, suspensions and expulsions. 

Those in the audience wanting to make comments to the board -- at this meeting limited to two minutes -- were furious because the comments were relegated to the end of the meeting. One man left in frustration. 

Activist Terry Knapp commented on the superintendent's ill-fated idea to give high school grades only at the end of the school year, and not release grades for the first semester. "Don't try to fix something that is not broken," Knapp said. 

Knapp warned against this plan a month ago.  Then at the Nov. 13 meeting, two frustrated parents spoke to the board and opposed it. One noted that the policy was never published or adopted by the school board, and parents were not consulted or notified.

A recording of their comments, and Supt. Grenita Lathan's long, incoherent reply, is posted here.

Dist150 Nov. 13

 

But there's more:  The Illinois High School Association reportedly has told the district that it cannot do it. So the district appears to be backing off the plan. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, on Nov. 26, limited to two minutes, Knapp and former board member Alicia Butler spoke out against the 5-game suspension of Dan Ruffin, the highly successful and popular head basketball coach at Peoria High School whose team won the state championship last year.

Ruffin apparently told a student that to play on the team he must cut his dreadlocks and take a shower after the game, and this message was posted on Facebook.  Another student read it and that student's parents then complained to district administrators. 

Knapp asked the board to investigate the incident, which he said was mishandled.

Butler said "I can't understand how you discipline someone without board policy and approval in open session."  Noting that Ruffin was named 'coach of the year' last year, she said, "he has standards for his team.  He enforces rules."  She termed his suspension "a disgrace."

Activist Sevino Sierra complained "you people can go (talk) in circles and we sit here and listen to you but you won't give us the five minutes we deserve." He begged for more time, but was turned down.

Here is a recording of these comments.

Dist 150 Nov. 26

 

The rest of the meeting had a few interesting moments punctuated by long stretches of boredom, as lawyers droned on about the obvious.

Board member Rick Cloyd drew laughter when he asked the lawyers whether a letter they planned to send to parents whose students were in danger of expulsion had been "tested to see if parents can understand it."  Apparently it was full of legal jargon.

"We can do more to put it in plain English," one lawyer responded.

The legal lesson was done as part of the "retainer" paid to the law firm, a board member said, implying that it wasn't costing taxpayers extra. The lawyers are also presenting it to administrators and others in the district.  It belabored the obvious and was a waste of 90 minutes of board time. Wonder how much that 'retainer' is! 

The board also got a presentation on the audit and tax levy, which was somewhat interesting. Controller Dave Kinney said the district will lose $1 million in taxes this year because property values in Peoria are going down.

Still, he said, "property taxes are the most stable source of revenue," and should not be abandoned or cut in return for promises from the state that might not be kept.

He also said that since 2003, the district has lost $29.8 million because of TIF districts (tax increment financing).

Board member Martha Ross no doubt felt a bit of satisfaction as she corrected a mistake made by board member Rick Cloyd, when he said money cannot be transferred between the five funds that the district manages, such as the education fund and the transportation fund. 

Money has been transferred in the past Ross said, correctly.  She's the longest serving board member, but is routinely passed over for board president. 

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Two interesting Mid-East talks

PEORIA -- Here are two free talks on Middle East issues. coming soon:

Monday Nov. 26, 7 p.m.:Miko Peled, author or The General's Son, will speak on Monday, November 26, at 7 pm in the Marty Theater in the Student Center at Bradley University.

Peled is the grandson of an activist who signed Israel's Declaration of Independence, son of a father served as a general in the 1967 war, and is himself a trained member of the Israeli defense forces.

He is also a peace activist who offers a view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is not often heard, but which he is anxious to discuss. This event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the Bradley student International Affairs Organization.

 

Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. The Jewish Federation will host Bob Feferman, Midwest Coordinator for United Against Nuclear Iran, for a presentation on Thursday, December 6 at 7 pm in Marty Theater at Bradley University.

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact the Jewish Federation at (309) 689-0063 or www.jewishpeoria.org.

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Schock has no coat-tails

PEORIA -- A Washington-style political campaign, orchestrated and financed by Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, brought a new type of campaigning to Peoria in 2012, even though it failed to get its candidates elected.

That's the thinking of state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, who said his Republican opponent, Pat Sullivan, spent perhaps $50,000 in the final week of the campaign, only to lose by a wide margin to Koehler on Nov. 6.

Final campaign spending reports are not yet available, but Peoria residents, seeing many television ads, numerous huge signs, and newspaper-style mailers, some deceptively titled, were subjected to expensive yet similar campaigns for several Republicans, all orchestrated by Schock and his chief of staff Steve Shearer, Koehler said.

Koehler termed Shearer "the Karl Rove of Illinois," for his involvement in these campaigns.

"Schock now has to explain to his donors why they failed," he said. "The message is that Aaron does not have coat-tails," Koehler said.

The Republicans reportedly receiving Schock's campaign contributions included Sullivan, Frank Ierulli who lost the race for Peoria County State's Attorney, Bobby Schilling who lost his seat in Congress in the 17th District to Democrat Cheri Bustos, and perhaps the candidates who challenged and lost to Democratic incumbents  on the Peoria County  Board.

Schock won only his own race for Congress in the severely gerrymandered 18th Congressional district, designed so a Republican would win.

Claims that Schock won overwhelmingly are laughable, given the make up of the district.  His Democratic opponent Steve Waterworth ran a low key grassroots campaign with little money.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Schock had $2.9 million in his campaign funds as of mid-October. He spent $1.5 million, and obviously not on his own campaign against an unknown and under-funded opponent.  There are 70 pages of itemized expenses in Schock's report, many listed as American Express credit card receipts.

The Illinois State Board of Elections website shows Schock giving Frank Ierulli $5,000 on Nov. 2.

Why did Schock fund these challengers?  Perhaps it's because he wants to rise to governor, and must prove to fellow Republicans that he's a power broker, so he can win the Republican nomination.  The governor's race takes place in 2014.

Sen. Dick Durbin is expected to run for another seat in the U.S. Senate, so it's unlikely Schock would challenge him.

It will be interesting to see Schock's next move, and whether his financial backers will continue to support him given the failures of the Peoria campaigns.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Have the Demos running Illinois lost their minds?

PEORIA -- From a news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2012

CONTACT:
Tracy Yang, Sierra Club (312) 251-1680 x197
Elliot Brinkman, Prairie Rivers Network: (217) 344-2371

Illinois DNR Grants Permit To Controversial Starved Rock Open Pit Mine

Park Advocates Vow To Continue Fight to Protect “One of Illinois’ Most Special Places”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals (IDNR - OMM) has given the go-ahead to a controversial open pit mine next to Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, despite objections from local residents and thousands of Illinois residents.

“Starved Rock is one of Illinois’ most special places, and we are disappointed that IDNR is approving a project that puts it at risk,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. 

 

 

The 80-acre open pit sand mine will be located at the east entrance to Starved Rock State Park. There is great concern about its impact on the park, one of Illinois’ top tourist attractions. Noise from nonstop mining and sand processing operations, water pollution from the mine into the park, silica sand dust in the air, the potential loss of Native American artifacts due to mining and the increased truck traffic on the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway running past the mine site and through the park are among the many issues cited by local residents and park advocates.

An additional permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is still needed to allow the release of wastewater from sand processing. The Agency has not yet made a decision whether to allow the new discharge. Wastewater from the mine would be dumped in Horseshoe Creek, which runs from the mine site into Starved Rock State Park.

“The proposed mining operation will be pumping millions of gallons of wastewater into Horseshoe Creek, which flows through the park before reaching the Illinois River,” said Elliot Brinkman, Habitat Conservation Specialist with Prairie Rivers Network. “We are concerned that these increased flows will contribute to higher levels of sediment and erosion in this small, vulnerable stream.”

 

 

Impacts to the historic, aesthetic and ecological integrity of the Starved Rock area are another issue. A recent Archaeological Survey confirmed the presence of no less than four sites containing Native American artifacts located on the mine site. The project is also near Plum Island, where in 2004, then-Lt. Governor Pat Quinn led efforts to stop commercial development of the 55-acre island, home to nesting and roosting American bald eagles.

 

 

The Illinois Audubon Society, with the help of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and the Trust for Public Land, was then able to purchase Plum Island and has been working with volunteers on clean-up activities and restoration projects.

“Plum Island is returning to its natural state and the eagles are flourishing,” said Tom Clay, Executive Director of Illinois Audubon Society. “We’re concerned about proximity of the mine and the potential for negative effects on the eagles.”

How this mine will affect local economies remains unknown, leaving many residents wondering. One Ottawa businesswoman is particularly concerned about the long-term impacts to her realty business.

“The mine’s impact on tourism is generally overlooked. Tourism also brings business and jobs; people who visit a community and like what they see often move their home and business to that location,” said Katie Dumke Troccoli of Ottawa. “I believe that the negative impact will be seen in lost opportunities for future jobs in the community.” 

 

 

Ever since Mississippi Sand LLC first sought a special use permit from the LaSalle County Board in December 2011, local residents and conservationists across Illinois have banded together in opposition of the proposed mine. Citizens focused their pleas to IDNR-OMM, IEPA, and Governor Pat Quinn to protect Illinois’ premier state park.

“Over the past year, Illinoisans have voiced their support for the park through thousands of comments to IDNR-OMM,” said Tracy Yang, Clean Water Organizer of the Illinois Sierra Club. “Conservationists and local residents will continue to stand up for it.”

The Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, Openlands and Prairie Rivers Network are working with local residents in exploring their options to continue to protect Starved Rock State Park. Concerned citizens can help by visiting http://bit.ly/RQ7Lmi to send an email to Governor Pat Quinn to request a stop to this controversial mine.

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Dangerous toys shows capitalism at its worst

PEORIA -- From a news release: 

Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Shopping Tips, Mobile Website Can Help Parents Shop Safe

 

Peoria, Nov. 20 –Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to Illinois Public Interest Research Group’s 27^th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

 This morning Illinois PIRG, joined by Dr. Greg Tudor, Emergency Room Attending at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, released the report. It reveals the results of laboratory testing on toys for lead, cadmium and phthalates, all of which have been proven to have serious adverse health impacts on the development of young children. The survey also found small toys that pose a choking hazard, extremely loud toys that threaten children’s hearing, and toy magnets that can cause serious injury.

 The Trouble in Toyland report also includes a list of dangerous toys that surveyors found on toy store shelves. The list includes a dangerous magnet toy, a bowling game that is a choking hazard and a cell phone rattle that is harmful to little ears.

 “We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe. However, until that’s the case, parents need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for toys,” said Hailey Witt, Field Director for Illinois PIRG.

 For 27 years, the Illinois PIRG Trouble in Toyland report has offered safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children and provided examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards.  The group also provides an interactive website with tips for safe toy shopping that consumers can access on their smartphones at www.toysafety.mobi.

Key findings from the report include:

 

• Toys with high levels of toxic substances are still on store shelves. We found toys which contained phthalates, as well as toys with lead content above the 100 parts per million limit.
• Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under three, we found toys available in stores that still pose choking hazards.
• We also found toys that are potentially harmful to children’s ears and exceed the noise standards recommended by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
• We discovered small powerful magnets that pose a dangerous threat to children if swallowed.

 

 “Parents and toy givers need to remember that while the CPSC is doing a good job, no government agency tests all toys before they hit store shelves.  Consumers should also remember that toys that are not on our list of examples could also pose hazards,” Witt concluded. “The message of today is clear. Parents have to stay vigilant.  We cannot and must not accept any weakening of our consumer and public health safeguards because they protect young children, America's littlest consumers."  

To download our Toy Tips or the full Trouble in Toyland report, go to www.illinoispirg.org.

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Brahms German Requiem: splendid

PEORIA --  Lush, rich and powerful, the German Requiem of Johannes Brahms filled St. Mary's Cathedral with georgeous sound at a Nov. 18 performance.

The huge choir, made up of the Bradley (University) Community Chorus and the Bradley Choral sang the seven-part requiem in German.  They used the words of Martin Luther who developed the standard German language by translating the Bible from Latin into German.

The Bradley Symphony Orchestra accompanied the choir, and the two soloists, Gerard Sundberg and Kerry Walters. All the performances, from the soloists, the choir and the orchestra, were beautifully done. Director was John Jost.

"The music is devastating, it's so emotional," said one experienced concert goer, who recalled that the first two movements had been played at her brother's funeral.

Another in the audience, which filled the historic cathedral, pronounced  the performance perfect, saying the setting tied everything together.

The 19th century piece from the Romantic period is as melodic as it is powerful, and hearing it live was a grand experience. 

The groups typically perform a great choral work twice yearly. Coming next spring: a program of Verdi opera choruses, according to the program notes.

 -- Elaine Hopkins         

Lincoln, the film: great!

PEORIA -- The new film Lincoln is one of the best movies ever made.  Don't miss it, in a good theater.

The story may be from the mid-19th century, but it's as timely as the latest newscast.

We saw it on Nov. 18 at Peoria's Rave Theater, with digital light projection.  It's a sweeping costume drama and benefits greatly from the precise, fine projection of the digital big screen. (Forget Netflix for this one.)

But beyond that, it is a fascinating political film, filled with brilliant dialogue, fabulous acting, and music, sets and costumes that will win Academy Awards.

It's also historically accurate, according to my husband the Ph.D. historian.

In fact I predict this film will sweep the awards.  It reveals the politics behind the enactment of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning slavery.

Think that wasn't controversial?  Think again!

It shows the politics required behind the passage of any controversial legislation. Today, immigration issues come to mind, and the Affordable Care Act probably went though the same process, though without the dramatic backdrop of the Civil War.

The movie is 2.5 hours long, and riveting in every moment, every scene. Never has time flown by so fast.

Anyway, it's rare that a great movie like this one is made. See it now.

 -- Elaine Hopkins