HARVEY – State Senators Emil Jones III and Napoleon Harris joined the Illinois Department of Transportation and other community leaders at the groundbreaking of the $94 million reconstruction project of Wood Street/Ashland Avenue that runs through Harvey, Dixmoor and Riverdale aiming to modernize infrastructure and making critical investments to support and uplift nearby communities.

“The progress happening on Wood Street through 138th, thanks to Rebuild Illinois, is long overdue,” said Senator Emil Jones (D-Chicago). “Our community shares so much affluent history and it’s time that our streets and roads reflect this beauty. By advancing our transportation, storm sewer systems, railroads, landscaping and more, we will create greater opportunities for economic growth, and community development and expansion.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation will be reconstructing more than three miles of roadway, completely rebuilding the four-lane road to include new curbs, gutters and lighting. The project will also improve capacity, modernize traffic signals and turn lanes, implement smoother and safer railroad crossings, and include landscaping and aesthetic enhancements.

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is proud to be appointed to the inaugural Crime Reduction Task Force, a group of legislators working to reduce crime across the state.

“In order to prevent crime in the state, it is important to address the root causes of crime—including the multi-layered forces of systemic oppression, access to mental health resources, and rates of drug use and addiction in our communities,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “I look forward to serving on this task force to bring light to these issues, addressing them, and consequently reducing crime in our communities.” 

The Crime Reduction Task Force will review research and best practices to prevent crime in Illinois. Members will take expert and witness testimony and submit a report detailing its findings, recommendations and needed resources to the General Assembly and Governor by March 1, 2023. Senator Pacione-Zayas is excited to be a part of this task force to address rising rates of crime in her community.

“As a public servant, one of my highest priorities is ensuring public safety for all through establishing statewide systems of care,” Pacione-Zayas said. “By addressing interlocking systems of oppression that create conditions and circumstances that ultimately limit choices and can lead a person to commit a crime, we are laying the foundation for solving root causes. Additionally, we are also helping to identify solutions for mitigating the systemic racism in the criminal legal system individuals may face if found guilty of a crime, such as mistreatment in the prison system, and the ongoing struggle of finding work upon release and ostracization from their community because of their conviction.” 

Senator Pacione-Zayas was appointed to the Crime Reduction Task Force on Sept. 7, 2022.

Washington, D.C. — With growing momentum sweeping across the United States to rein in the power of dominant corporations, State Senator Robert Peters announces the launch of Fight Corporate Monopolies Task Force, a new coalition of state and local leaders leading the charge.

“Corporate monopolies extract wealth from working class communities, particularly communities of color,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Companies like Amazon make deals in the shadows that dangerously fluctuate prices, suppress wages and propel a race to the bottom. We have to fight back against the unchecked power corporate monopolies exploit and the illusion that if we don’t give into that power, then we’re blocking economic development.”

DECATUR – State Senator Doris Turner is excited to join community stakeholders to announce that T/CCI Manufacturing in Decatur is the first to be awarded the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois tax incentive package.

Turner (D-Springfield) is pleased to see Decatur becoming an economic hub in Central Illinois.

“This first award through the REV Tax Incentive Program and the grants awarded through Rebuild Illinois are just the beginning of what’s possible when we invest in local business and work together to drive innovation that will change the future of our transportation system,” said Turner. “It can be done, and together, through this public-private partnership we are paving a new road that will lead to economic growth, good paying jobs, and a positive contribution to long-term sustainability initiatives.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – With support from State Senator Christopher Belt, the Illinois State Police are constructing a new headquarters to house Metro East regional operations in East St. Louis.

“Law enforcement officers, detectives and support staff employed through the Illinois State Police work with integrity to protect families and improve public safety in the greater Metro East region,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “By constructing a brand new, state-of-the-art headquarters in East St. Louis, all who call the community home or plan to visit stand to benefit.”

Happy Labor Day!

Dear friends,

Happy Labor Day!

These days, the holiday is commonly celebrated with cookouts, boat trips, swimming or generally enjoying the last warm days of summer.

And I believe that’s exactly what those who began fighting for workers’ rights more than a century ago imagined when they set out to create a world in which workers had the right to pursue leisure, pleasure and a life outside of their jobs.

The labor movement began as a fight to recognize the dignity of workers in a time when they were treated as cogs in a machine.

Workers fought for and secured eight-hour workdays so that people weren’t leaving their homes and returning in the dark.

They passed child labor laws so that children could focus on learning and play.

They demanded fair wages so that hard work meant being able to feed your family.

They created weekends to enjoy time with loved ones or pursue individual interests.

And they enacted safety laws to affirm that workers’ lives are not dispensable.

Today, the Senate Democrats continue the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions and the right to organize.

On behalf of the Illinois State Senate Democratic Caucus, I offer a heartfelt “thank you” to all the hard workers in our great state and urge everyone find a moment of joy for yourselves and your loved ones this holiday weekend. It’s what generations of workers fought to secure.

Sincerely,

Senate President Don Harmon

Copyright 2022 - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - All Rights Reserved

WEST CHICAGO – In partnership with WeGo Together for Kids and more than 30 local businesses and organizations, State Senator Karina Villa and State Representative Maura Hirschauer distributed nearly 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to local families ahead of the new school year.

“It really does take a village, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent a community that so willingly takes care of its own,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “We asked our neighbors to give, and they donated their time, money, and goods without hesitation. Thanks to this tremendous outpouring of generosity by the community, nearly 1,000 of our students will be starting the school year off right.”

Villa and Hirschauer attended the 7^th Annual WeGo Together for Kids School Supply Event and assisted in distributing the backpacks to West Chicago District 33 families.

Several community organizations also pitched in to help make the drive a success. Casa Michoacan in West Chicago provided a space for staging and packing, as well as volunteers to distribute bags, and Dynamic Utility Solutions donated supplies, provided volunteers, and offered the use of their trucks to transport the backpacks.

The full list of donors includes:

• Art of Fadez
• Atlas Chicken
• AVIENT
• ComEd
• Costco Wholesale
• DuPage County Regional Office of Education
• Dynamic Utility Solutions
• Elgin Sweepers
• Ethekos Consulting
• Farmers Insurance
• Graham Packaging
• Hearth & Hammer
• Integrated Pain Management
• JelSert
• Lakeshore Recycling Systems
• LandCare
• Marian Chicago
• Mars
• Meridian
• Nationwide
• North Arrow Partners
• Owens & Minor
• Realty of Chicago
• Red Hive Market
• RJ Lipscomb Engineering
• Sandi Llano and Associates
• Andrew Lutheran Church
• Suncast
• The Kelly Family
• The Slice Spot
• Thoro Bred Fitness
• UPS
• Wise Plastics

"We are grateful for the outpouring of support from local organizations and the community as a whole," said Hirschauer (D-Batavia). "I am so excited to see our students grow and succeed in the classroom thanks to the supplies we helped provide to them."

More information about the WeGo Together for Kids initiative is available on West Chicago Elementary School District 33’s website.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of energy for area residents, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and state Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Cahokia, on Thursday introduced a $200 million rebate program that would deliver an estimated $170 to Ameren residential and small commercial energy customers.

“Residents are unfairly being hit with significant increases to their energy bills,” Hoffman said. “That’s why we’ve been negotiating for weeks with stakeholders and working on a proposal that will deliver real relief for families and small business owners. This isn’t a small rebate; this is real money that families need to receive.”

“With the cost of energy and inflation on the rise, families are feeling pressured to choose between paying their bills, putting food on their tables or being responsible for subsequent late fees,” Belt said. “This rebate plan for Ameren customers puts money back into the pockets of working families, and I look forward to advocating for its passage in the Senate. I appreciate my partnership with Rep. Hoffman, community stakeholders and the public for helping to craft this proposal.”

Hoffman’s House Bill 5799 and Belt’s Senate Bill 4226 create the Power Price Mitigation Rebate Act, focused on helping Ameren region residential and small commercial energy customers with monthly rebates for the months of August through December 2022. The $200 million rebate program would provide customers with a total fixed rebate of around $170 over multiple months.