Newsletter - Aug 2022

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Newsletter Highlights 


Contact Your Commissioner: Support the League positions on two important votes--Filling Vacancies and Review of Salaries


Forest Preserve Referendum is on the November ballot--take a guided nature walk to learn more about our important open land.


Sign up to be an election judge for the November 8th election. Democracy needs you!


Advocate for Good Government

Salaries of Cook County Elected Officials:

While LWVCC  was not successful in their advocacy efforts to defeat the ordinance ensuring perpetual, automatic annual cost of living increases for County Officials there now is a proposed ordinance that will require an independent review of salaries prior to any vote for an increase.

 

The Ordinance (Agenda Item 22-3931) calls for an independent review of County Elected Officials salaries to be presented to the Cook County Board by the end of the 2nd full year of their 4-year terms. Any action to adjust salaries is to be taken by the end of the following March – to be effective at the start of the next 4-year term. This provides a vehicle for review by the Commissioners and the public of whether any proposed salary adjustments are appropriate. Also, this will give potential candidates sufficient prior notice of what the salaries will be.

 

LWVCC supports this proposed ordinance and encourages you to contact your Commissioner to urge that they vote “yes” for Agenda Item 22-3931 at the Finance Committee on September 21 and at the Board meeting on September 22.

 

Filling Vacancies in County Elected Positions: 

Currently, when vacancies occur for elected County officials, an interim person is appointed by either the Cook County Board or the applicable township and ward committee people. The appointed person will serve out the remaining term no matter how long it is. This has resulted in appointed officials serving up to 4 years without the voters having a say.

 

Two proposed ordinances (Agenda Items 22-4661 and 22-4462) could change the present procedure to provide for an election when the remaining term is more than 28 months. This change would be consistent with what current State law provides for vacancies in State Senate seats and with what a current Cook County ordinance provides for a vacancy in the position of Cook County President. LWVCC suggested this proposed change to the Commissioners.

 

LWVCC encourages you to contact your Commissioner to urge that they vote “yes” for Agenda Items 22-4661 (pertaining to Commissioner positions) and 22-4662 (pertaining to other County elected positions) at the Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, expected in September, and then the following Board meeting.


To find your Commissioner's contact information go to our website Contact page.

Support the Forest Preserves

Cook County Forest Preserve Referendum


Cook County Forest Preserve VOTE YES referendum is on the November ballot—voters will have the opportunity to vote YES to protect clean water sources, air quality, and wildlife in Cook County. A property tax increase of 0.025% (less than $1.66/month for the vast majority of homeowners) will protect, restore, and expand the Cook County Forest Preserves.


Information is available on the Vote Yes website.

www.voteyesforestpreserves.org/  

Opportunities to Learn More

 Guided Nature Walks with Cook County Forest Preserve Naturalists


Thursday

September 8, 2022

10am-12noon


Crabtree Nature Center

3 Stover Rd

Barrington Hills, IL 60010


Tuesday

September 13, 2022

10am-12noon


 Sand Ridge Nature Center

 15891 Paxton Ave

   South Holland, IL 60473


Directions and specific information for the walk will be provided when you register. 


To Register: send an email to Info@lwvcookcounty.org

Include your name, phone number, and Local League and indicate which Walk you want to register for 


Registration Deadline - 2 days prior to each walk

Voter Information

Our democracy needs you, not only to vote but to serve. Every person makes a difference in our elections. Sign up to be an election judge.
Suburban residents go to the Cook County Clerk's Website to sign up. 
Chicago residents go to the Chicago Board of Elections Website.

MWRD & Cook County Winners of June Primary


View the Results of the primary election races for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Cook County positions.. There you will also see the names of the other candidates who appeared on the individual party ballots. 


The final list of candidates for these offices who will be on the November 8 ballot should be posted on the LWVCC web site in September. Under Illinois law, if no candidates for a political party ran in the primary for a particular office, that party is allowed to submit the name of a candidate for that office to be on the November ballot. The Cook County Republican Party did submit names of candidates for multiple county offices. Some of those candidates are facing challenges, and electoral board hearings to deal with those challenges are scheduled this month. See the Cook County Clerk' s website for more detail.



ISRAEL ROCHA, JR., CEO of Cook County Health spoke at the Aug 8th Food For Thought program

Watch the program 

This year's speaker at LWVCC's annual summer education event, Mr. Israel Rocha, Jr., spoke for almost an hour covering the breadth and depth of the Cook County Health System's services, challenges, and opportunities. Over 50 members and guests joined the virtual meeting to meet and hear Mr. Rocha who joined CCH just as COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. In his two plus years as CEO of the System, Mr. Rocha has firmly re-enforced its vision "to ensure health as a human right" and mission "to establish universal access to the world's best care and health services for all county residents, regardless of ability to pay....". Read more about the program on our website page LWVCC Activities.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Help Managing Storm Water 

Applications available for MWRD assistance to help manage storm water

  

Now through Labor Day, municipalities and public agencies are urged to apply for funding assistance from the MWRD to support local green infrastructure projects that mitigate flooding, protect area water quality and enhance public spaces. Green infrastructure uses natural processes such as infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration in managing storm water to prevent or reduce the flow of water from entering sewer systems. For more information, including program guidelines, partnership responsibilities and eligibility requirements, visit the  MWRD Website.  Applications are due by Sept. 5.

 

LWVCC observes several of the Cook County Board, committee, and agency meetings each month. To read more: LWVCC Observer Reports

LWVIL Virtual Briefing

Pretrial Fairness Act
Thursday, September 8
12:30–1:30 pm Register to attend.
The  Pretrial Fairness Act ends money bail in Illinois on January 1, 2023. Join LWVIL to learn about how pretrial justice reform can contribute to increased community stability and safety. Hear from those in the field what the state needs to do for successful implementation of this law.
This event is open to the public. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. The event link will be sent a day in advance and one hour before the event.


2022-2023 Cook County League Board Members 

OFFICERS: President: Cynthia Schilsky, LaGrange Area; Vice-Presidents: Pris Mims, Chicago, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Secretary: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Treasurer: Nancy Clark, Oak Park/River Forest.

Board membersLaura Davis, Palatine; Diane Edmundson, Chicago; Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area ; Georgia Gebhardt, Wilmette; Betty Hayford, Evanston; Karin Hribar, Arlington Heights

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government; to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.

_________________________

League of Women Voters of Cook County

332 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 634, Chicago, IL 60604

312-939-5935 x127

lwvcookcounty.org