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Monday, December 2, 2024
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* The Nation published a piece about the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act today. Take a look at this snippet…
Variations in the process will remain, however. Some prosecutors seek detention in every eligible case, while others target only the ones they think they’ll win. In Lake County, just north of Chicago, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart’s office has sought detention in 100 percent of cases that involve charges of armed violence, criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, home invasion, and child pornography, among others. That doesn’t mean judges always grant his requests. But Rinehart pointed out that under a cash-based system, 70 percent of the people charged with child pornography, for example, posted bail and were released, but now all are being detained. The new law is “going incredibly well,” he said, because “we’re holding more dangerous people.”
A legislative committee and the Illinois Department of Agriculture agreed recently to delay finalizing new regulations governing hemp production amid an outcry of protests from small, independent producers.
Those proposed rules have been in development for at least two years. But the most recent draft, submitted in September, contained significant changes from earlier versions that caught many in the industry by surprise. That included provisions allowing unannounced inspections and testing of hemp crops, restrictions on who could obtain a license to produce the crop, and the possibility of criminal sanctions for violations of certain rules.
Norma Fuentes, a lobbyist for the Illinois Hemp Business Association, which represents small, independent and minority-owned hemp businesses, said the rules threatened to put many of them out of business. […]
Fuentes also pointed to new provisions authorizing IDOA to conduct random, unannounced inspections and testing of hemp facilities, whereas earlier versions of the rule required the agency to give at least five days’ notice.
“It opens the gate for overpolicing and criminalization of some of this industry, which is what we believe starts and fuels a second War on Drugs,” she said.
Legislation to regulate delta-8 and other hemp products stalled in the House during spring session.
*** Statehouse News ***
* WTVO | Illinois legislators demand Pritzker comply with Trump policies: Members of Illinois’ Legislative Freedom Caucus have issued a demand to Gov. JB Pritzker, that he comply with federal mandates implemented by the incoming Trump administration. Since Trump’s election victory, Pritzker has taken a combative stance against the President-elect’s policies, repeatedly issuing statements vowing to protect “vulnerable communities…who have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome by the Trump campaign and its allies.”
*** Madigan Trial ***
* Tribune | ‘They say these outrageous things you can’t say any more’: FBI mole Solis continues testimony in Madigan trial: “So how does the Speaker deal with all this?” Solis asked, noting that the loose-lipped politicians they were discussing – like then-Democratic state legislators Luis Arroyo and Martin Sandoval and fundraiser Victor Reyes – were Madigan supporters. “Well, he has surrogates,” McClain said. “A guy like me, he sends to go talk to Luis.” “Smart,” Solis responded. “He’s gotta be one of the smartest, not just individuals, but elected officials, I‘ve met.”
*** Statewide ***
* FOX Chicago | Illinois high school football: IHSA State Championship schedule, matchups, dates and times: When Thanksgiving arrives, so does the chance to win it all. The IHSA state football championship games are set from Class 1A through 8A, culminating weeks of playoff showdowns and more drama.
*** Chicago ***
* Block Club | As Last Humboldt Park Encampment Residents Move To Shelters, Local Leaders Pledge Park Restoration: Starting in early December, the remaining 30 or so families and individuals still at the encampment will move into shelters around the city, fully clearing the area before the winter holidays, said Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th). “By the first week of December, everyone will either have moved into their apartments or moved to the shelter bed from the Humboldt Park encampment,” Fuentes said. “The Chicago Park District will then begin the remediation of the landscaping.”
* Block Club | Rogers Park’s Super 8 Motel Migrant Shelter Closes: The Super 8 Motel shelter at 7300 N. Sheridan Road closed Sunday, according to the city. It opened in July 2023, initially housing 250 people with an emphasis on housing migrant families with children. About 200 people were moved to other city shelters when the Super 8 Motel was decommissioned, Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said. It’s unclear which locations shelter residents were moved to. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment.
* WGN | IDOT targeted Oct. 31 to complete Phase 2 of Kennedy Expressway project. Is it behind schedule?: The Illinois Department of Transportation is taking a scientific rather than a crystal clear approach to defining when the current phase of the Kennedy Expressway construction project will finish and drivers will finally be able to use the refurbished reversible lanes. “Late fall” is the verbiage an IDOT spokesperson has been using for months, and when pressed for the definition of “fall,” reporters are reminded the winter solstice doesn’t actually occur until December 21st.
* Sun-Times | Chicago nonprofit sees record-breaking $15M donation from MacKenzie Scott: The nonprofit Community Investment Corp. has received another record-breaking donation to help fuel its affordable housing efforts, courtesy of author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. CIC, which describes itself as “the region’s leading lender for affordable rental housing,” announced Monday a $15 million gift from Scott. It’s the second time Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given CIC its largest individual gift to date — she previously gave it $8 million in 2020.
* Block Club | Chicago Street Named For Music Legend Steve Albini: ‘He Would Have Been Quite Impressed’: Albini, known for producing some of rock’s most iconic records and starting bands like Big Black and Shellac, died of a heart attack in May. He was 61. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), who proposed the 2600-2700 block of West Belmont Avenue be named after Albini over the summer, spoke at the unveiling Monday.
* Tribune | Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka buys Streeterville condo for $575,000: Former Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and his wife, Diana, on Nov. 12 paid $575,000 for a two-bedroom, 2,143-square-foot condominium on the 30th floor of a Streeterville high-rise. With the purchase, the Ditkas now are once again owners in the same building where they had owned a two-bedroom, 1,904-square-foot condo on the 39th floor from 2000 until late 2023.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* The Triibe | Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is leaving on her own terms: The 52-year-old state’s attorney is a few days out from closing the door to her office for the last time, and she’s doing so on her own terms. Foxx decided not to run for office a third time after eight years of service. In that time, she brought a sea of criminal justice reform to a county notorious for carceral violence against Black and brown people, such as the Chicago police “black site” and the widely-publicized torture cases helmed by former Chicago police commander Jon Burge.
* WBEZ | Residents of Chicago’s south suburbs deal with crushing tax increases: Property tax bills rose nearly 20% this year for the median homeowner in south suburban Cook County — the highest increase in three decades, according to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. Black residents in the south suburbs have been impacted the most. Of the 15 suburbs with the largest tax hikes, 13 are home to mostly Black people. In those suburbs, residents saw their property taxes go up 30% or more.
* WGN | Thornton Township board meeting canceled due to lack of quorum: Only one trustee showed up Monday night so there was not a quorum to hold a township board meeting, similar to last week. Earlier on Monday, supervisor Tiffany Henyard called on all trustees to participate in Monday’s scheduled meeting to address agenda items, including approval of township bills, renewal of township insurance that expires on Dec. 1 and to vote on a promised property tax refund to residents.
* Daily Herald | Cook Co. Treasurer welcomes visitors to celebration of ‘Christmas Trees from Around the World’: For the 21st year, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is celebrating ethnic holiday traditions of nearly 100 different nationalities at the “Christmas Trees from Around the World” display at her office. The annual celebration of cultural diversity showcases handcrafted ornaments and decorations. “Christmas Trees from Around the World” is a display of 3-foot trees decorated by members of various ethnic and religious communities. Pappas invites the public to celebrate Christmas with music and festivities from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Treasurer’s Office, 118 N. Clark St., Room 112, Chicago.
* Daily Southtown | Volunteers contribute ‘major support’ in Will County Forest Preserves: All told, the district has about 200 advanced, long-term volunteers and 900 others, which includes corporate groups who volunteer at least once a year. District volunteers participate in a variety of programs, such as night hikes, litter cleanup, fall-themed events, trail sentinels and animal care at nature centers. Even costumed district mascot Willy Woodchuck, who walks around with kids and poses for photo opps, is a volunteer.
* WGN | Joliet ‘Grinch’ allegedly stole $45K worth of reindeer decorations from baseball stadium: Prior to his arrest, the baseball team took to social media by saying a “Grinch” used two different trucks for the heist. The reindeers were stolen ahead of the Glow Holiday Festival at the ballpark. Sessoms is accused of scrapping the reindeer, which are made of aluminum.
*** Downstate ***
* WCIA | New safety plan in the works after Danville Superintendent says she received threats: For now, Geddis will continue remote work and said she has no intention of leaving the district before the end of her contract. WCIA reached out to the FBI for more details. The public affairs officer said per the Department of Justice Policy, they can not comment at this time.
* Tri States Public Radio | Tastes of home — African immigrants become restaurateurs in western Illinois: Weeks after Taste of Africa opened in Monmouth, another African restaurant opened in Galesburg. Malewa Café is inside the Galesburg Selfie Museum, 144 N. Broad St. It’s currently open for pickup and DoorDash delivery, but will offer dine-in soon. The café is the latest venture by Gogo Kupa, owner of the Galesburg Selfie Museum and executive director of the Lipanda Foundation, which helps Congolese immigrants with things like learning English and navigating the housing market.
* WCIA | Mahomet to vote on pickleball court agreement Tuesday night: The Mahomet Board of Trustees will discuss approving an engineering and design services agreement for a 13-acre “Pickleball Project” Tuesday night. The proposed park would be at the intersection of Elm and Dunbar Streets. Previously, the Mahomet-Seymour School District owned the space, but the village acquired it in 2021.
* BND | Belle-Clair Speedway has date with the wrecking ball. County plans other demolitions: The St. Clair County Board approved two contracts for those demolitions and more throughout the county with Hank’s Excavating and Landscaping Inc. at its meeting Monday night. Hank’s Excavating and Landscaping Inc. submitted the lowest of four bids the county received for the work. The racetrack demolition is expected to be the most expensive at $85,000. It will be paid for with federal COVID-related relief funds from the American Rescue Plan.
*** National ***
* ProPublica | A Third Woman Died Under Texas’ Abortion Ban. Doctors Are Avoiding D&Cs and Reaching for Riskier Miscarriage Treatments: The 35-year-old’s death was preventable, according to more than a dozen doctors who reviewed a detailed summary of her case for ProPublica. Some said it raises serious questions about how abortion bans are pressuring doctors to diverge from the standard of care and reach for less-effective options that could expose their patients to more risks. Doctors and patients described similar decisions they’ve witnessed across the state.
* NYT | Blue States Worry That Blocking Trump Will Be Tougher This Time: Around the country, states led by Democrats have expressed alarm about many of the new measures that Mr. Trump and his allies have described and have made broad preparations of their own. Lawyers have been scouring through the conservative policy plan known as Project 2025, and they have been strategizing how to challenge any such plans in an altered judicial landscape. Private advocacy groups have hundreds of lawyers ready to go to court. Governors in Democratic-led states have been preparing to coordinate. This week, Democratic attorneys general were gathering for a meeting in Pennsylvania.
* WaPo | Bird flu detected in raw milk sold at California store: The H5N1 virus was found in a sample of unpasteurized milk at a store, prompting a recall of one batch. Health agencies have warned against the growing dietary fad.
Feds say businessman's $15,000 payments to the late Sen. Sandoval are now considered legal
* I think this is the first local impact of the Snyder ruling. Sun-Times...
Federal prosecutors say they do not oppose a suburban businessman’s appeal to overturn a 2021 conviction in which he admitted paying off the late state Sen. Martin Sandoval to help his business.
Vahooman “Shadow” Mirkhaef, who ran the Cub Terminal logistics depot in McCook, is using the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder ruling to argue that his payments to Sandoval in 2018 should be considered legal “gratuities” — and not illegal bribes — because they were given after Sandoval helped him.
Mirkhaef pleaded guilty in November 2021 to paying the rewards after Sandoval assisted in the sale of land owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation to Mirkhaef’s adjacent business. Mirkhaef was sentenced to two years of probation, which he completed early in August 2023.
The feds, in their written response Monday, said they do not oppose Mirkhaef’s motion to vacate the conviction for three reasons:
- Mirkhaef cooperated and “substantially assisted the government.”
- He faces legal consequences beyond the conviction, including being unable to run a business or travel to Canada, where some of his family lives.
- His $15,000 in payouts to Sandoval are all now considered legal under the Snyder ruling.
* Speaking of Sandoval, here's the Tribune...
Nearly seven years ago, two political insiders sitting in a City Hall office agreed: These days, you have to be careful how you talk.
Too many politicians are much too obvious about their corrupt intentions and self-dealing, said then-Ald. Danny Solis and Michael McClain, an ally of powerful Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. [...]
On the recording, in fact, McClain said the Department of Justice was planning to send 40 more prosecutors to Chicago. “They’ll wanna go after white collar crime,” McClain said.
And in a later conversation also played for the jury, McClain had even blunter words for Sandoval, then the powerful head of the Senate Transportation Committee known for playing fast and loose with the rules.
“Sandoval — that guy is a…He’s a piece of work,” McClain told Solis in a recorded phone call. “I mean, I’ve never wanted the guy on my side. I think he’s an indictment waiting to happen frankly.”
Also, during the veto session, yet another person asked me if I thought Sandoval was still alive and hiding out in Mexico. It's wild how so many people believe this weird rumor.
IDOC defends drug tests, reveals 414 workers' comp claims have been filed 'relating to exposure to a chemical substance,' many by the same lawyer
* Remember this?...
The story was also about claims that drugs are being sent through the mail and about growing demands that the Illinois Department of Corrections start electronically scanning mail and sending images of that mail to prisoners, even though that hasn't really done much about the prison drug problems in other states.
* Anyway, I reached out to IDOC about the failure rate and here's what they sent...
The statistics for the IDOC tests are dramatically different than the reports from New York. IDOC has facilities that use the Detectachem test kits, the Sirchie Nark II test kits, and/or SwabTek test kits. ISP believes these tests are suitable for DOC to use as a preliminary step to detect and identify potential illegal drugs. All positive tests are considered preliminary positives, and the results are sent to the ISP lab for independent testing.
In total (all scheduled drugs) this year, IDOC has submitted and received results back from ISP for 323 items that tested positive when using the tests at the facilities. Of those 323 preliminary positives, 235 (72.5%) were confirmed positive by ISP and 88 (27.25%) returned negative results. It is our understanding from detailed discussions with ISP that given the significant challenges in testing in this area, a 72.5% confirmation rate for positive results is a good rate that supports the continued use of these test kits.
The drug test kits are a tool but not reliable for a full identification, which is why results are considered preliminary and are sent to ISP for confirmation. The three test kit groups listed below (Sirchie NARK II, Detectachem and SwabTek) all work on the basis of a chemical reaction and an observed color change. This is why the process considers on-site testing preliminary and conducts further testing.
This can be subjective.
Given the prevalence of fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids in the prison system across the United States it presents a challenge for the use of test kits. These are some of the more challenging drugs to screen with reagent color changes, especially given the sheer number of compounds available. It is all the more challenging given the lack of control status for many of the substances. The ISP laboratory performs a general screening on these types of submissions and does not take results of field testing into consideration to prevent bias in the analytical process
* At the end of the email, the IDOC spokesperson justified the move to mail scanning by pointing to the huge number of workers' comp claims filed...
IDOC must address the mail in an effort to stop the increase in workers’ comp cases. As of now, CMS has received 414 workers’ compensation claims [as of last week] from IDOC employees relating to exposure to a chemical substance.
According to the governor's office, 102 cases have advanced to the Workers’ Comp Commission and all of those workers are being represented by attorney Tom Rich.
* You might remember Mr. Rich. This is from 2012...
Some Illinois prison guards who received workers’ compensation settlements had only mild carpal tunnel syndrome in their wrists or similar elbow injuries and might not have needed surgery, according to a newspaper investigation.
Guards at the Menard Correctional Center have filed about 230 repetitive trauma cases that resulted in more than $10 million in partial disability settlements since January 2008. They claimed their injuries were from locking and unlocking cell doors and were awarded between $20,000 and $80,000 each. The surgery that guards had was a factor in how much money was awarded.
The Belleville News-Democrat reported that it asked two neurologists to review diagnostic nerve testing results for 50 of the guards that it obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The neurologists concluded that of those cases, 80 percent to 85 percent were mild and likely could have been treated without surgery. They cautioned, however, that without examining the patients, their conclusions would not be up to medical standards. [...]
Attorney Tom Rich, who handled many of the 230 claims, said many of his clients were “horribly injured” by repeatedly operating locks but returned to work after surgery and received settlements. The newspaper said he declined to comment for the article.
Time is a flat circle.
Roundup: Madigan corruption trial
* Tribune…
Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis had been secretly cooperating with the FBI for more than a year when he received an unexpected voicemail that surely caught the attention of agents listening in from the wire room.
“Danny, it’s Mike Madigan,” said the unmistakable voice on the June 2017 message. “Would you call?” […]
“I think they understand they’ve got some issues that they still have to deal with me in terms of zoning,” Solis on the June 23, 2017, call, which was played in court.
“I think they understand how this works, you know, the quid pro quo, the quid pro quo.”
Madigan sounded a bit caught off guard by the remark, but answered “OK.”
On Monday, nearly 7 ½ years after that conversation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur asked Solis why he’d used the phrase “quid pro quo” in the call.
“I don’t know,” Solis said after a pause. “It was dumb.”
“Say that again, please?” MacArthur asked, one of many times she asked Solis to keep his voice up during his hours on the stand Monday.
“I thought it was too blunt but basically what I was trying to say was we could have this meeting and he could probably get business from them, and I could work on the zoning,”
Solis testified that his FBI contacts hadn’t instructed him to use the phrase. But according to testimony from Special Agent Ryan McDonald last week, Solis was carrying out directions to give Madigan the impression that the alderman’s approval of necessary zoning changes was contingent on the developers hiring the speaker’s law firm.
* Sun-Times…
In another phone call five days later, Madigan is heard asking Solis: “I’m going to see you tomorrow? … Could you come a little early?”
That was a reference to the meeting with Union West, set for July 18.
“Maybe you and I could talk before we meet with them,” Madigan suggested.
They did meet early, behind a closed door, and Madigan brought up Solis’ comment about a “quid pro quo” that MacArthur had asked him about earlier Monday.
“You shouldn’t be talking like that,” Madigan is heard saying, very quietly. “You’re just recommending.”
[J]urors also heard Solis ask Madigan to keep discussions about the Chinatown development on "the QT."
When MacArthur asked him why he wanted to keep the issue quiet, Solis explained he was worried then-Republican Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and other Illinois Republicans might use it as political ammo against Chicago Democrats.
"I didn't want people, especially in Rauner's camp, to think this was something they could do against Democratic aldermen in the city," Solis said on the stand.
Solis will likely speak more about the Chinatown deal on Tuesday. He has been on the stand since late Thursday afternoon, though there were no trial proceedings on Friday. His testimony is expected to last several days at least.
It’s just a bill
* First, some background from Forbes…
AI's primary role in healthcare has focused on back-office automation and infrastructure improvements. This includes streamlining intake forms, generating meeting notes, and providing comprehensive summarization services. Companies like DeepScribe have successfully implemented AI for transcription services, while emerging platforms like Thoughtful AI are revolutionizing back-office automation through enhanced payment claims processing and claims management using AI agents. Agents have the ability to take actions and perform work autonomously, similarly to a human, such as by opening applications, copying and pasting, etc.
Language models combined with agents will create artificial general intelligence (AGI), an AI that can do almost anything a human can. Many experts now project that AGI could arrive as soon as 2028, a significant acceleration from previous estimates, due to rapid advancements in the technology. AGI trained on appropriate medical datasets could surpass clinicians' abilities in diagnosis, treatment planning, and even the administration of treatment.
Many providers may not realize AI tools are being used to review their claims, and these systems are not built with provider interests in mind. While AI has the potential to streamline processes, its current use in the revenue cycle is resulting in more claim denials, payment delays, and a greater need for appeals, particularly because payers often use AI to retroactively review medical necessity determinations. To navigate this AI-driven landscape, hospitals need to develop expertise to combat the biases and errors inherent in these systems.
One of the biggest issues with AI in claims processing is the lack of transparency. Payers rarely disclose that AI is being used or explain how it operates, and providers are often unaware of the algorithms driving these AI systems. This leaves hospitals with little information to contest AI-generated denials.
Without insight into the logic behind these denials, hospitals are at a disadvantage, especially given the added administrative burden of contesting them. For example, AI audits frequently occur after hospitals have completed due diligence, received authorization, and have been paid for a claim. AI systems may retroactively re-evaluate the claim and decide that medical necessity wasn’t met. This can lead to payment reversals, requiring hospitals to use even more resources to contest claims that were initially approved. In short, AI-driven post-payment audits delay payments and erode trust between hospitals and payers, putting hospitals under financial strain. […]
In an effort to combat payer AI denials, some hospitals have implemented their own AI tools to handle claims. While this might seem like a good solution, it can backfire. Payers’ AI systems are increasingly sophisticated and can sometimes detect when they are countered by another AI system rather than a skilled human. This can trigger more denials, as payer systems may overlook or reject automated responses, perceiving them as less credible.
* Crain’s…
Illinois Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, is introducing a new piece of legislation today aimed at regulating how health insurance companies leverage artificial intelligence to make coverage decisions.
The bill’s working title, Artificial Intelligence Systems Use in Health Insurance Act, would give the Illinois Department of Insurance regulatory oversight of Illinois health insurance providers' use of AI to make or support adverse determinations that affect consumers, such as care claims denials. And it would effectively ban the sole use of machine-learning or generative AI to deny care or coverage. […]
The legislation would require any adverse decision be reviewed by a health care professional. It would also expand the type of information insurers would be required to share with the IDOI when using AI. […]
Health insurers, like other insurance companies, often use AI to expedite claims approval and denial processes as they deal with high claims volume. But concern over how that's affecting consumers and their health is growing, especially as more patients and physicians report insurance plans denying coverage for care. Investigations by ProPublica and others have revealed the use of AI can sometimes contribute to care denials.
* HB5918…
Creates the Artificial Intelligence Systems Use in Health Insurance Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance's regulatory oversight of insurers includes oversight of an insurer's use of AI systems to make or support adverse determinations that affect consumers. Provides that any insurer authorized to operate in the State is subject to review by the Department in an investigation or market conduct action regarding the development, implementation, and use of AI systems or predictive models and the outcomes from the use of those AI systems or predictive models. Provides that an insurer authorized to do business in Illinois shall not issue an adverse consumer outcome with regard to the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that result solely from the use or application of any AI system or predictive model. Provides that any decision-making process for the denial, reduction, or termination of insurance plans or benefits that results from the use of AI systems or predictive models shall be meaningfully reviewed, in accordance with review procedures determined by Department rules, by an individual with authority to override the AI systems and determinations. Authorizes the Department to adopt emergency rules to implement the Act and to adopt rules concerning standards for full and fair disclosure of an insurer's use of AI systems. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
"Reese walked into my office, closed the door, sat down, and, without any context, said, 'Jews...'" (Updated)
* October...
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s communications director is leaving City Hall, sources told the Tribune Wednesday.
Ronnie Reese, who led Johnson’s press office since the transition in May 2023, will exit the role after a tumultuous year-and-a-half that’s seen the administration struggle at times with media strategy. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for the mayor said Johnson press secretary Erin Connelly has been appointed acting communications director and will run the mayor’s press office moving forward. The departure was not a voluntary decision by Reese, sources with direct knowledge of the situation told the Tribune.
Reese leaving marks a key shake-up in the mayor’s inner circle. Long a close friend of the mayor’s, Reese previously worked as a deputy press secretary for the Chicago Teachers Union before serving as press secretary for Johnson’s winning 2023 mayoral campaign.
* Fast forward...
OK, remember these are only allegations. But Reese wasn't exactly revered as a nice guy while he was on staff.
* From one of the files...
I'd like to begin by stating that | was extremely reluctant to bring forward this complaint due to the hostile and retaliatory environment created by Ronnie Reese, a senior staff member of the Mayor’s Office. Reese has already fired seven former members of the Mayor’s Press Office, has threatened current staff with termination, and has blacklisted three former employees on the City’s Do Not Hire list. He is also named in other complaints and his mistreatment has been documented by the press. | hesitate to come forward out of fear of retaliation and termination.
Under Reese's management, the Mayor’s Press Office has become a hostile workplace where anyone can be deemed what Reese calls an "opp" (operative or opposition) and face severe exclusion and retaliation. This label is often given simply for talking to certain staffers or colleagues. Those labeled as “opps” are systematically left out of crucial emails and meetings, treated coldly, and have their role reduced by Reese. Attempts by staffers to address these concerns would only make things worse, as Reese takes suggestions as criticism and concerns as challenges to his authority.
| have personally experienced mistreatment by Reese in the form of sexual harassment, misogyny, exclusion, and unfair treatment. The increasing hostility in this environment has left me in constant fear for my job and well-being.
Below | outline incidents that | have experienced along with documentation:
* More...
In a disturbing incident, Reese walked into my office, closed the door, sat down, and, without any context, said, “Jews...” His inappropriate and antisemitic remarks left me feeling deeply uncomfortable. [...]
Referred to [Redacted] as the "Jew." [...]
He has shown a pattern of misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, and anti-latine behavior. He has made comments to and around his staff, including asking a [Redacted] "so, the Jews?"
He routinely treats women on staff differently, making comments that they're stupid and incompetent. He degrades his staff, people he works with outside the Mayor's Office, and talks disparagingly about other staff to his junior staff. Not only does he harass verbally, but he also bullies people via email and text messages on City devices, with some of his direct reports keeping the screenshots. His reports have not gone to DHR or EEO in fear of retribution and firing, and some are already being retributed against by icing out and more harassment. This has been consistent since the Mayor has taken office in May 2023.
* Another...
Date Created: 2024-07-18 21:52:15
Description of Incident: | was a part of a conversation with several members of the Mayor's Office Comms/Press team where several members of the team expressed grave concerns with their manager Ronnie Reese. Concerns included intimidation, hostile work environment, and nappropriate comments around race. Several of the team members indicated that Mr. Reese either blatantly indicated that he was "untouchable" and couldn't be fired or eluded to that.
* This is quite something...
THE MAYOR’S PRESS OFFICE MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF
- Reese did not attend the meeting as he was on PTO.
- The beginning of this meeting was incredibly off-putting as it began with blaming the previous administration for parking meters, for a lack of infrastructure, and no updated personnel handbooks. While this may be true, it felt unrelated to the issue at hand and felt like a way to shift accountability.
- The Chief of Staff (CoS) also stated at the beginning of the meeting that “all firing and hiring goes through me” and told us we don’t have to worry about retaliation. However, this was visibly unconvincing to the group as the questions that followed her statement challenged this in the context of the seven firings that had already occurred.
- The CoS repeatedly advocated for Reese’s inclusion in meetings about this matter and referenced “peace circles” but the team was unanimously against his inclusion due to the shared fear of retaliation.- As team members spoke up, others used terms like “misogynist,” “hostile,” “narcissistic,” and “petty.”
- The CoS brought up restorative justice but one member of the team pointed out that in order for restorative justice to work, there has to be an ability and willingness for change which the team does not see in Reese.
- Members of the team repeatedly rephrased questions about how this situation would be dealt with that the CoS did not directly answer.
- The meeting did not result in any additional clarity or changes.
- The meeting ended with a unanimous agreement that the present members of the Mayor’s Press Office team did not want to meet with the CoS and Reese to discuss this matter.
...Adding... Tribune...
In a statement he released on Tuesday, Reese denied all the accusations and said he never mistreated any staffers.
“I strongly and unequivocally deny any allegations of wrongdoing,” Reese wrote. “Throughout my career, I have carried myself with the utmost professionalism and respect for all of my peers, something to which many of my former colleagues at the City of Chicago and previous employers can attest. There are many, many others who know my character, and who know the truth. I stand confident in that truth as I continue to prioritize my wife, my children and the health of my family in the next chapter of my career.”
...Adding... Best comment so far...
Peace circles and restorative justice for sexual harassment — can’t make this stuff up. It’s like SNL doing a parody of a progressive workplace. If they burn enough incense and snap their fingers to the positive vibes, the harm will go away.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
* ICYMI: ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever' expected at airports across the country this week, including Chicago. NBC Chicago...
* WAND | Illinois lawmakers left veto session without passing gun control plans: Many hoped gun control would be a major priority for lawmakers during veto session, but that period has come and gone. Now, lawmakers and advocates are determined to get guns out of the wrong hands during lame duck session in early January. "When a firearm is involved in a situation of domestic violence, time is of the essence," said Amanda Pyron, Executive Director of the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence. "Risk of intimate partner homicides increase 500% when abusers have access to a gun."
- According to TSA, more than 18.3 million people expected to move through airports across the country beginning Tuesday.
- In Chicago alone, 1.8 million people are expected to pass through Midway and O'Hare International Airports between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2, the Chicago Department of Aviation said.
- The surge in passenger traffic amounts to an expected increase of 11.4% compared to Thanksgiving 2023, the CDA said.
*** Statehouse News ***
*** Statewide ***
*** Chicago ***
* Sun-Times | Chicago's upcycling artisans host alternative Black Friday shopping experience: The artisans include Maggie Joyce, who makes colorful jewelry from recycled eyeglasses; Kate Wolicki, who uses old textiles such as thrifted neckties to create bags and more; and Chris Wooten, who transforms furniture found in Chicago’s alleys into unique wooden bowls, utensils and even chessboards. The upcycled crafts fair will also feature eco-friendly activities and coincides with Small Business Saturday. It’ll be held at several shops, including Irish bistro Mrs. Murphy & Sons, 3905 N. Lincoln Ave.; fitness studio Free MVMT Shop, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave.; and Bartleby’s Homemade Ice Cream, 1943 W. Byron St.
* Tribune | Too Midwestern for a megasale? In some markets, mansions are selling for $100M and up, but not in Chicago. Here’s why: The dearth of megasales in the Chicago area is probably linked to the fact that local listings tend to be less pricey than in other cities, families here tend to assemble large homesteads rather than buy them, and buyers bring good old-fashioned Midwestern sensibility to the process, agents said.
* Block Club | Inside Chicago’s Essential Dive Bars: Photos From 14 Iconic Watering Holes: Reporter Linze Rice and photojournalist Colin Boyle hit up many of the classic Chicago spots. Here’s a peek inside and outside the ones they visited. For the full story about the bars’ histories, vibes and clientele, click here.
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* CBS Chicago | Some suburban Chicago leaders say Supervisor Tiffany Henyard is using turkey giveaway as distraction: The township holds turkey giveaways annually. But some believe Henyard used the event this year to defer from the work that needs to be done by township government. Henyard was enthusiastic giving out smoked ham hocks and smoked turkey at the Thanksgiving giveaway. She called herself, "You super Mayor Tiffany Henyard" and "the people's mayor-slash-people's supervisor."
* Daily Herald | Mundelein pot store wants second recreational lounge: The first lounge opened in 2021 and was the first in the Northwest suburbs. Creating a second lounge will allow Rise to offer live comedy and musical performances or art classes without disturbing lounge customers who don’t want to partake in such activities, according to a memo from its parent company, Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries, to the village.
*** Downstate ***
* Illinois Times | Springfield grapples with increased crime: [Antwaun Readus Sr.], a barber at First Class Barbershop, 100 N. Wesley St., and vice president of the nonprofit Better Life Better Living for Kidz, pleaded at the council meeting for approval of a $30,000 loan from the city for the financially strapped but respected organization. More youth programs are needed to intervene in the lives of young people to prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators of crime, he said. The 43-year-old Springfield native was frustrated by bureaucratic delays that had prevented Better Life from getting access to a $215,000 grant awarded to the group a year ago.
* WSIL | EEOC sues employer, alleges transgender employees were subjected to harassment at Carbondale Wendy's: The EEOC stated in its lawsuit, the agency charged the Wendy's location in Carbondale subjected a class of transgender employees to persuasive sexual harassment which includes misgendering, graphic sexual comments, unequal access to bathrooms, intrusive questions and degrading conduct based on gender identity.
* WSIL | Giant City State Park plans programs for December: On Saturday, December 7th, grab your cold weather gear for an easy stroll to spot winter birds. Starting at 9 a.m., Vicki Lang-Mendenhall, park volunteer and Southern Illinois Audubon Society member, will guide spotters along the easy third-of-a-mile Post Oak Trail. You'll want to bring along your binoculars for that one.
*** National ***
* AP | Walmart becomes latest - and biggest - company to roll back its DEI policies: The changes, confirmed by Walmart on Monday, are sweeping and include everything from not renewing a five-year commitment for an equity racial center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd, to pulling out of a prominent gay rights index. And when it comes to race or gender, Walmart won’t be giving priority treatment to suppliers. Walmart’s moves underscore the increasing pressure faced by corporate America as it continues to navigate the fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 ending affirmative action in college admissions. Emboldened by that decision, conservative groups have filed lawsuits making similar arguments about corporations, targeting workplace initiatives such as diversity programs and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups.
Live coverage
Hi all! Thanks for sticking with us through this predicament. You can click here to keep up with the Madigan trial. For our old live coverage list click here and here.
Monday, November 25, 2024
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* NPR Illinois…
A group of five statewide education organizations released a blueprint for the future of Illinois education called Vision 2030.
The broad plan revolves around three pillars: future-focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding.
Gary Tipsord with the state’s regional superintendent group says the school code has more than doubled since 2000. But with more responsibilities, schools need flexibility to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.
“How do we get more agility in the system of public education," he said, "so that we can better meet the needs of the students, the economy, the opportunity base that they may have?"
That could be learning flexibility like expanding college and career exploration opportunities; financial flexibility for districts to use funding to address their specific needs; or license flexibility to attract new teachers.
* Another view on licensing flexibility…
Several years ago, the legislature made it easier for business people to get certified to teach.
* WBEZ…
Vision 2030 says the state should continue pumping an additional $350 million into the “evidence-based” funding formula, as it has since 2018. The report asserts school districts need that kind of predicability when it comes to funding for building repairs.
“We have not made significant investments, year over year, in establishing equitable statewide funding for capital and safety needs,” Monn said. “Some of the suggestions are increasing access to state maintenance grants and perhaps exploring a statewide sales tax, similar to some county sales taxes.”
The officials also recommend a host of changes to the state’s assessment and school rating system. Currently, students only take one set of tests at the end of the year; ratings, such as exemplary or commendable, are based heavily on the results of those exams. While students take the tests in the spring, schools don’t get the results until the fall.
The delay in getting the scores “really impacts the utility of those results and makes it difficult for us to make any real, quality decisions about improving our schools and the potential outcomes for our kids,” said Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association.
* NBC Chicago…
Illinois officials are investigating after “one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds” was discovered in a suburban waterway.
According to an alert from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, naturalists discovered Hydrilla growing in a waterway in suburban DuPage County.
The reported cluster of Hydrilla is only the second known instance in the state of Illinois, according to an alert.
The weed is illegal to buy, sell or transport in the state of Illinois, and may have inadvertently been released from a homeowner’s aquarium or water garden, according to the alert.
* Sun-Times…
The Bears say they want to stay in Chicago, but their potential drive to the northwest suburbs just got easier.
Team officials announced Monday they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the village of Arlington Heights and local school district leaders who’ve sparred with the Bears over the property tax valuation on the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse, the 326-acre plot the team closed on early last year as a potential new stadium site.
After about a year of wrangling over the size of the team’s property tax bill — and a year of political roadblocks to the Bears’ hopes for funding a new stadium in Chicago — the team says it has a memorandum of understanding that opens the runway for them to land in Arlington Heights.
But their first choice is still Chicago, team officials insist, raising the constant question of whether Bears’ latest announcement is a push for leverage in stadium negotiations that have now stretched over three years.
*** Chicago ***
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to restore consent decree positions in Chicago police budget: The mayor’s office released a statement that he would introduce a budget amendment adding back the 162 vacancies he slashed in his 2025 budget that center on roles across the offices of constitutional policing, community policing and more. It’s the latest instance of the mayor reversing course on a controversial provision in next year’s budget, which faces a $1 billion hole, including backing down on an original proposal for a $300 million property tax hike.
* WTTW | A Race to Secure Federal Funding for the Red Line Extension as Advocates Say Trump Administration Poses Risks to Chicago-Area Public Transit: With transit advocates hopeful they’ll see shovels in the ground next year to kick off the long-awaited Red Line Extension, the Chicago Transit Authority is racing to finalize the $1.9 billion in federal funding needed to complete the 5.6-mile project before the Biden administration leaves office. “We are in the final phases of that process,” CTA President Dorval Carter told the agency’s board of directors earlier this month. “We’re working very closely with (the Federal Transit Administration) to complete their portion of the review process so that we can stay on track to execute a grant agreement between now and early next year.”
* Tribune | High-profile police commander tied to troubled Kevin Jackson case: Kevin Jackson was released from prison last month, more than two decades after he was convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of a man at a West Englewood gas station. Now 43, Jackson has always maintained his innocence. Police and prosecutors said several witnesses identified him as the shooter, but each recanted at Jackson’s 2003 trial while claiming threatening, intimidating and coercive efforts by the two lead Chicago police detectives assigned to the case.
* Crain’s | Illinois Center owner hit with massive foreclosure lawsuit: A venture led by AmTrust RE defaulted on its $260 million mortgage backed by the two-tower, 2.1 million-square-foot complex at 111 E. Wacker Drive and 233 N. Michigan Ave., according to a lawsuit filed late last week in Cook County Circuit Court. The complaint, filed by lender Deutsche Bank on behalf of bondholders in the loan, alleged the AmTrust entity has failed to make its loan payments since January.
* NBC Chicago | New Illinois tollway takes steps forward as planning wraps up: A brand-new Illinois tollway will aim to connect motorists to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, with the project taking significant steps forward. Numerous officials were on-hand this week as renderings and planning details were shared on Interstate 490, which will connect the Jane Addams Tollway near Des Plaines on its northern terminus to the Tri-State Tollway in Franklin Park on the southern end, skirting the western edge of O’Hare in the process.
* CBS Chicago | Thanksgiving holiday travel already picking up at Chicago's Midway Airport; airfares jump: Founder and chief executive officer of Points Path Julian Kheel said because there is seeing such high demand for airfare, prices are higher. "We are seeing record numbers increases over last year; increases over the rest of 2024," said Kheel, "and especially if you're buying a ticket this late, you're going to have to expect to pay a pretty penny for it."
*** Cook County and Suburbs ***
* Block Club | County to streamline unwieldy electronic monitoring programs - but nobody wants to manage it: Sheriff Tom Dart has been vocal about shuttering his office’s electronic monitoring program for years, notably blocking the release of 55 people in 2018 that he deemed too high-risk for ankle bracelets, according to the Chicago Tribune. Last month, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans told the Cook County board that consolidating the programs under his office was “not something I embrace readily.”
* Daily Herald | Lake judge throws out charges against Waukegan clerk, but appeals coming: “We respect the court’s opinion but strongly disagree with its findings on this matter,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard, ethical, and principled work of the investigators on this case, and plan to appeal in short order.” Kilkelly’s attorneys said Friday in a statement they were “thankful” but not surprised by the ruling and “were always confident that Janet was 100% innocent of all charges.”
* Tribune | Downers Grove-based Hearthside, under investigation for alleged child labor, files for bankruptcy: Downers Grove-based Hearthside Food Solutions, which is under investigation by the U.S. and Illinois labor departments for alleged child labor violations, voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Texas on Friday. The food manufacturer, which was named in a sweeping investigation into migrant child labor published by the New York Times last year, said it didn’t expect any disruptions to production or other company operations.
* Aurora Beacon-News | West Aurora School District charges ahead with plan to add electric buses: The district has a fleet of 73 buses powered by diesel engines, half of which are under two-year leases due to expire at the end of the school year. Several changes made the school district’s administration look closer at a proposal to make a switch to add some electric buses, including competitive pricing, federal funding and rebates.
* Daily Herald | With 15,000 tons of salt on hand, Kane County DOT is ready for winter: Drivers have already run practice routes and trucks have been serviced and inspected in preparation for the season. Way said the only thing left to do is finish putting up snow fencing to help prevent drifting in rural areas. Each year, the Kane County DOT uses an average of roughly 8,000 tons of salt. Thanks to lighter winters in recent years, Way said they have maintained a healthy supply of salt, with about 15,000 tons of salt currently on hand.
* Daily Herald | Sen. Murphy collecting holiday cards for long-term care residents: Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat who represents the 28th Senate District, is encouraging residents of the Northwest Suburbs to write handmade or store-bought cards for donation. She is also encouraging local teachers and students to participate and use their creativity to bring joy to older adults in the community during the holidays.
*** Downstate ***
* SJ-R | How Central Illinois became a hotbed for esports on high school, college levels: Skeptics may think esports is just kids playing video games, Bibb said, “but there’s also a lot of strategy that goes into it.” Teamwork is imperative. It's something that becomes especially visible in an esports arena. The Capitols, a co-op between Springfield High, Southeast and Lanphier that began in 2019, recently settled into its decked-out arena at Lanphier last winter. Part of the school’s $93.5 million renovation, it resembles a computer lab, but the space is exclusive to the Capitols.
* WMBD | Illinois landmark to appear on ornament this year: A Southern Illinois State Park iconic formation to be showcased on an ornament this year. The Iconic Devil’s Standtable formation at Giant City State Park was chosen by the Illinois Conservation Foundation to be featured on this year’s state park series ornament, said Jenny Vaughn, the acting executive director for the foundation.
* WCIA | Illinois football legend Dana Howard indicted on federal wire fraud charges: Just weeks after Howard was given a notice to appear in Champaign County court, a federal grand jury indicted the all-time leading tackler in Illinois Football history on wire fraud charges related to his construction business in East St. Louis. Howard’s business partner, Richard Myers, and his bookkeeper, Glenn Sunnquist, were also named as defendants. The 21-page indictment charged Howard with nine counts of wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, making false statements and failure to pay taxes. Myers was charged with eight counts and Sunnquist with three.
*** National ***
* CBS | Microsoft 365 is experiencing an outage. Here's what to know: On social media service X, Microsoft posted a message early Monday that it is assessing "an issue impacting users attempting to access Exchange Online or functionality within Microsoft Teams calendar." The problem appears to be affecting Microsoft users globally, according to posts from users. "We've identified a recent change which we believe has resulted in impact. We've started to revert the change and are investigating what additional actions are required to mitigate the issue," Microsoft added in a subsequent post.
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