Black and Latino Caucuses Voice Support for Proposed Budget
‘Good place to begin the process’ of budgeting, Senate Black Caucus chair says.
By Beth Hundsdorfer
Capitol News Illinois
bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com
Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus voiced their overall support for Gov. GB Pritzker’s budget in separate news conferences Wednesday, but said they will continue to push to address the lack of access to health care, affordable housing, economic development, and high quality education for Black and brown communities in Illinois.
Illinois Senate Black Caucus Chair Robert Peters, D-Chicago, and Latino Legislative Caucus Chair Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, said Pritzker’s budget is a fair starting point.
“This budget is at a good place, and considering the circumstances, it reflects a more optimistic outlook than where we were a year ago,” Peters said. “The budget proposal certainly takes into account the improved circumstances of our state’s economic and fiscal situations, and it’s a good place to begin the process of drafting our first budget that puts us on the road to economic recovery during this pandemic.”
Villa and Peters, in separate appearances, praised the investment of $240 million in new money for the Reimagine Public Safety Act for increased funding for community-based violence intervention programs, behavioral health programs and trauma recovery.
“We have a unique opportunity to heal trauma, repair harm and create safety for communities who have been faced with too much pain for way too long,” Peters said.
Peters also pushed for the full implementation of the SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice reform passed in January last year.
The proposed budget includes funding for the Illinois Supreme Court’s requested $26 million to establish comprehensive pretrial services in the 63 counties that lack such services. It includes another $10 million in new appropriations from the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to pay for the obligations associated with the SAFE-T Act.
“We are improving public safety, supporting better law enforcement and working to end systemic injustice at the same time,” he said.
Peters said he supported housing assistance that includes $10 million for eviction mitigation, and $40 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Low unemployment rates and rising revenues show signs of a growing economy, but Villa said families are experiencing the lingering effects of the pandemic.
She praised a one-year proposed vacation on the 1 percent grocery tax, as well as a proposal to cancel an anticipated 2.2 cent increase to the state’s motor fuel tax for the current fiscal year.
Members of the Black Caucus said the budget should result in real and transformative change to close the economic gaps for minorities.
“One of the things I like is we will be addressing healthcare disparities, ensuring economic viability by retaining and creating jobs, investing in small businesses, which is the backbone of our local economies, supporting education,” said Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago.
The COVID-19 pandemic also underscored inequities in housing and health care in the Latino community, Villa said.
“The reality is that we still have a very long way to go when it comes to recovering. The pandemic further uncovered a dire need to access health care in our community,” Villa said.
Leaders of the two caucuses said they will continue to work to improve opportunities for their constituents as they negotiate the budget.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Illinois News
Classifieds
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance is closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is still open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A new take-and-make craft is available for January! Pick up…
Clove Alliance Offers Workshop Combatting Familial Trafficking
Spread the loveJanuary is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Clove Alliance invites community members to learn more about familial trafficking, a highly prevalent form of human trafficking by attending their upcoming workshop. The workshop will be held at Kankakee Community College on Wednesday, January 24, from 10 a.m. – noon. Registration fee is $10, and…
Christ Community Church Hosting Valentine Event
Spread the loveChrist Community Church will host a “Bee” My Valentine social event for adults on Saturday, February 3, from 6 – 8 p.m., at 103 W. Corning Avenue in Peotone. Guests will enjoy an evening of pizza, cupcakes, bottled water, games, prizes, in addition to entertainment. Comedian and Peotone resident Tracy DeGraaf will emcee,…
Peotone Police Blotter December 22 – January 4
Spread the loveDecember 29, Peotone Officers responded to a report of a traffic accident at Harlem Avenue and Crawford Street. Upon arrival, both drivers advised there were no injuries. An officer completed an accident report, and all parties left the scene. December 30, Peotone Officers were requested to Berkot’s for a theft in progress. Upon…
Riverside Cancer Institute Welcomes Afton Swanson, FNP-BC
Spread the loveRiverside Healthcare is pleased to welcome Afton Swanson, FNP-BC, to its team of oncology providers and will be seeing radiation oncology patients at the Riverside Cancer Institute in Bourbonnais. Having been a Riverside employee since 2018, Swanson has worked in both pulmonology and the intensive care unit (ICU) at Riverside Medical Center. She…
Illinois Lutheran Announces Semester Honor Roll Students
Spread the loveIllinois Lutheran High School and Junior High School recently announced students named to its first semester honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High School High Honors: Tristan Biesterfeld, Morgan Hokanson, Denise Kennedy, Melinda Mercer-Podbielski, Juanita Stuenkel, Marisol Tafolla, Kailey Van Es, Kimberly Danielewicz, Mikah Harris, Sean Reposa, Azaylia Sanchez, Grace Chilo, Ashley…
Monee Police Blotter: December 30 – January 1
Spread the loveDecember 30, at approximately 8:11 p.m., a traffic stop in the 25900 block of Governors Highway resulted in the arrest of Rebecca Navarro, 36, of the 300 block of Mulberry Street, Manteno, for driving with an expired registration sticker and a suspended driver’s license. Navarro was cited and released with a notice to…
Peotone Library News
Spread the loveAdult Winter Reading Program runs through February 29. Stop by the library and get a winter reading bookmark and read for a chance to win a gift basket! Every participant will get a PPLD Magnetic Chip Clip, plus one lucky winner will receive a gift basket. Interested in the Homebound Delivery Program? Then…
45th Gallery of Trees Winners Named
Spread the loveWinners for the 45th annual Gallery of Trees “Favorite Themes from the Past” display recently were announced. Congratulations to the following winners. In adult voting, first place was won by the Kankakee Valley Garden Club, whose theme displayed birds. Second place was taken by the Kankakee Kultivators, featuring All Things Bright and Beautiful,…
Crete Library News
Spread the loveThursday, January 11 Preschool Pals, from 1 – 2 p.m., ages four/five: During this independent storytime experience, children enjoy spending time with other preschoolers, while listening to stories, learning songs and fingerplays, and playing games. Register. Anime Club, from 3 – 4:30 p.m., grades sixth/12th: Join the group for a screening of “Nichijou:…
Miranda Sirvinskas, FNP-C, Joins Riverside’s Primary Care Providers
Spread the loveRiverside Healthcare is pleased to welcome internal medicine nurse practitioner Miranda Sirvinskas, FNP-C. Sirvinskas completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degrees at Chamberlain University in Addison. In addition to her education, Sirvinskas is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of…
From Sen. Joyce
Spread the loveThe holidays are the perfect time for the gift of reflection, to be thankful for our loved ones and our progress during the past year. A year ago in this space, I told you about the untimely passing of my Illinois Senate colleague, Sen. Scott Bennett. Just 45 years old, Scott suffered a…
Peotone Police Blotter: December 15 – 17
Spread the loveDecember 15, Peotone Police were dispatched to McDonald’s, 701 Oriole Drive, in reference to an unwanted subject. Upon arrival, the officer made contact with the subject, a white male, known to be barred from that location. The officer issued a Village Ordinance Citation for trespassing and a court date. December 17, Peotone Police…
Manteno Legion Members Spend Christmas Day at Great Lakes
Spread the loveManteno Legion Commander, Sean McNamara, spent Christmas day at the Tinley Park VFW, deep frying about 10 large turkeys for Navy recruits from from Great Lakes Naval Station who couldn’t leave training to go home for Christmas. He was accompanied by Senior Vice, Ed Rafalski, and legion member Dan Gerber, who brought his…