There is much discussion on the subject of judging the performance or measuring the effectiveness of our elected representatives. This, of course, is critical to determining if you support re-electing an incumbent or replacing that person with someone who may be better equipped to deliver on an agenda that is important to you.

This is even more challenging for black people, for which the assessment goes beyond delivering for you and your family only, and encompasses delivering for your community, for all black people. 

COAL submits that the factors to use in assessing an incumbent's performance must come down to results, to the actions taken on behalf of a constituency (in this case, the Black community), since, as the old saying goes, ‘talk is cheap’.

Therefore, it is legislative action, initiatives and projects pursued, investments made and the effective delivery of services, that are the real measure. And, importantly, it is not just the actions a given elected official takes, but also their response to specific demands a constituency makes of them.

In other words, our elected officials must not only tell us what they’ve done, but also what they’ve done relative to demands we’ve made of them, demands we’ve determined are in the priority interests of black people. Let's call these demands that are important to us, Legislative and Investment Imperatives.

The following four items, two legislative and two investments, can be included in the 'list of critical actions and results' used in determining if the identified officials are working effectively and in the best interest of the Black community.

Respectfully,

 "The time to work seriously and collectively, to improve the state of our Community, is upon us..."

II. Repeal SB508 SECTION 5 (a stealth property tax increase)

In other words, the following year’s property taxes are inflated by the total approved refunds from the prior year (the mistakes made when we were originally taxed in that prior year). Essentially, the corrective actions taken (the refunds) are allowed to be undone by this legislation; taxing bodies simply double back and reclaim all savings as an additional line item on your tax bill. SB508 Summary

I would bet real money against monopoly money that Section 5 was slipped into SB508 at the 11^th hour.

According to the organization, Citizen Advisory Coalition to Save Illinois (CAC2SI), $131,283,628 of Refunds were issued for 2021 Prior Year Levy Adjustments that will be spread out to the 544 eligible taxing bodies in property taxes.

Bottom Line: This needs to remedied in the Veto Session by passing SB3204 (currently in assignment) which negates Section 5 of SB508.

The September 2011 and February 2019 Coalition Power Breakfasts were devoted to articulating the need for the Southland Airport as an economic generator for Chicago Southside and South Suburban communities. See 2012 Press Release -COAL Backs ALNAC Airport Plan and COAL News - Economic Generator: South Suburban Airport

The March 28, 2019 Issue of COAL NEWS included the following:

Now in 2022, with infrastructure and other funds readily available, with both the Mayor of Chicago and the Governor having at one point or another expressed support for the Southland Airport, with support from numerous elected officials, support from impacted communities, support from organizations and others interested in improving opportunities for Black people, with the need for good-paying jobs and opportunities for small business growth, and the unrealized need for a major economic engine to spur sustained economic growth in the Southland areas, the funding of the Southland airport, represents the most pressing of investment imperatives.

Recently, COAL, along with partners Delmarie Cobb and Mark Wallace, met with State Rep. Sonya Harper, Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) to discuss the Southland Airport and its importance in economic growth for the Black community. This group committed to meeting with the full ILBC in the near term for further discussion towards moving this development forward. A presentation for candidates for the 1^st Congressional seat is also in motion.

Bottom line: The Southland Airport needs to be funded and the development launched immediately, and before one dime is expended on a Rockford airport or one more dime committed to O’Hare or Midway upgrades/expansions.

At the July 2021 Coalition Power Breakfast, COAL introduced the FBRK Impact House and TRECC initiative as model efforts for addressing intransigent issues affecting the black community such as homelessness, hunger, economic development, and equity resources. Over the past year the TRECC initiative has been expanded and deepened into the TRECC Human Service Centers Proposal which would place a service center in a number of underserved neighborhoods to address mental health, public health, violence, unemployment, community development, broadband access and nutrition, in an inter-connected, holistic and transformative manner. TRECC Human Service Centers.

In the April 5, 2022 issue of COAL Quick Hits, COAL called for participation in a press event supporting the funding of multiple TRECC Human Service Centers and included State Senator Emil Jones III's Press Release which states:

– Senate Deputy Majority Leader Emil Jones III met with Governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, unveiling the TRECC Human Service Centers plan backed by Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas, State Representative Cyril Nichols, and Community leaders. A host of other state and federal elected officials have offered their support along with the following community organizations: Coalitional of African-American Leaders (COAL), Urban Tech Academy, Books over Balls, National Block Club University, and Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living…

We encourage Governor JB Pritzker to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity of federal and state resources to ensure that underserved communities have a place of hope assisting them with living a safe and healthy life for generations to come. It takes a healthy village to raise a child!

Bottom Line: The TRECC Human Service Centers Proposal, a plan that is widely supported as a solutions-based initiative, put forward at a time in which everyone is looking for substantive solutions to intransigent issues plaguing our communities, should be fully funded. This is an investment imperative.

Voters and those yet to be registered and mobilized:

We must stop dancing around the edges of real change for Black people. We must use our political strength to demand major economic investments that our community requires to build sustainable wealth, that provide hope and opportunity for our youth, substantive capital and true support for our black business sector, and that provide an environment for the ideas of our Black entrepreneurs and visionaries to thrive and take flight.

Therefore, the Mayor should focus more on reducing the burden of regressive city fines and fees that are hurting communities of color, starting with the decreased threshold for speeding cameras auto-generating traffic tickets, and followed by eliminating the unconscionable doubling of traffic fines for late payment;

The City Council Black Caucus should get behind Ald. Beale’s legislation to move that threshold back to 10 mph over the speed limit, and get it out of the rules committee and on to the floor for a vote;

The ILBC must recognize the harm done by SB508 Section 5, and redress this immediately by passing SB3402 to negate that hidden increase in property taxes.

The Governor should demonstrate a commitment to creating real economic opportunity for the Black community by investing in a major economic engine, bringing the vision of the Southland Airport, a fully vetted project, to fruition;

The Cook County Board President should never let the agenda of a Chicago Mayor block developments that are of significant benefit to the economic future of Black suburban constituents. The Southland Airport should be a major agenda item for any Cook County Board President;

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) must prove its strategic pillars go beyond an articulation of bringing racial equity to Illinois and must include major projects that have the potential for achieving the goals of the strategic pillars. The ILBC, as a group, should be on the doorstep of the Governor’s mansion, demanding that not one dime go to a Rockford Airport until the Southland Airport is fully funded and in progress;

The Governor should demonstrate his commitment to all aspects of the wellbeing of the Black community by funding the TRECC Human Services Centers, a fully vetted initiative that is backed by many organizations, across our communities; and by the way, if you disrespect our elected representatives by not bothering to honor your word that you will get back to them, then you are disrespecting the Black constituents they represent;

The ILBC should stand behind Senator Emil Jones III and demand the Governor fund multiple TRECC Human Service Centers;

These are some of the true metrics to be used in judging the performance of our elected and appointed leaders. And if they are not delivering on efforts such as these, efforts that enhance black lives and/or lesson burdens on black lives, then there must be consequences.

To our elected officials, we suggest that you take note of the above. If Black lives matter to you, then addressing the speeding cameras burden, knocking down SB508 Section 5 property tax increase, investing in TRECC Human Service Centers and bringing the Southland Airport to fruition must be high on your agenda.

To our community, it is beyond time to step up the fight for the future of Black people. This requires that we use one of our most powerful tools, our collective vote, more effectively and in every election. When our elected representatives deliver, we must support them; When our elected officials don’t deliver for Black people, there must be consequences.

 What We Believe