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Commissioners Approve Appointments and Review 10-Year-Old Wage Theft Ordinance

5/21/2025

Cook County Board of Commissioners
Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
May 14, 2025

The Committee approved all the proposed appointments on the agenda, including the appointment of Dr. Kiran Joshi as the Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). Several of the Commissioners gave glowing statements about Dr. Joshi and his past work with the County and how glad they were to have him assume this position. Dr. Joshi said that his goal is to have the CCDPH be the best health department in the country. (Item 25-2308)
The appointment of Alexandra Lara to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) Advisory Board was followed up by comments from Comm. Degnan concerning the transition of the JTDC into 2 programs - a day program and an in-house program - and how important the Advisory Board will be to assist in this transition. (Item 25-2325)
Comm. Stamps wanted to have more clarification about the process for filling positions on the JTDC Advisory Board as she observed that there were several vacancies when she attended a meeting recently. She expanded this request to ask what the process is and how does one know about vacancies on any board/commission and also what are all the Boards and Commissions. Comm. Morita said they only find out about these positions when they come before them for approval. A representative from the President’s Office said there there is an application process and they also take recommendations when a position needs to be filled. She also said that there are so many boards and commissions that it is hard to keep track of all the vacancies. She said they are looking into a way of compiling the information and perhaps revamping the process for filling the positions as well as making the information more available.
The other item of business on the agenda - a proposed amendment regarding gender inclusive documents and forms (Item 25-1822) was deferred with no discussion or explanation.

Joint meeting of the Cook County Board Committees - Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee and the Labor Committee
May 14, 2025

These two committees met to hold a Public Hearing to review the effectiveness of the Cook County Wage Theft Ordinance that was passed 10 years ago to address the issue of wage theft and to protect workers from exploitive labor practices. (Item 25-2344)
Comm Anaya said that in checking with all the County departments named in the ordinance there have been no complaints filed since passage in 2015. While wage theft itself is not a violation of the Cook County Code, the ordinance does disqualify any businesses that have been found guilty of wage theft from obtaining contracts, a business license or a tax incentive from the County.

Three public speakers from agencies that work with the workers this ordinance was meant for, outlined the following concerns with the ordinance;

The ordinance does not detail how employees can file complaints.
Workers need to be educated so they know their rights and what to do if their rights are violated.
The ordinance does not include an effective way to hold employers accountable.
There needs to be a better route for enforcement than the lengthy legal route.
There needs to be better collaboration to ensure enforcement.

Commissioner comments:

Comm. Daley - asked what could be learned from this ordinance. There needs to be some mechanism for filing complaints and cooperation among the departments involved for sharing information about violations.
Comm. Britton - asked about tracking of private actions taken concerning violations. County does not get information from the Illinois Department of Labor about violations.
Comm. Lowry stated that the Illinois Department of Labor has jurisdiction on labor violations.
Comm. Vasquez - wanted to know how departments were working together and said they needed to ensure communications between departments on these issues.
Chicago Alderman Quesada (formerly a Cook County Commissioner) joined the meeting and was asked to make comments as he was one of the sponsoring commissioners for requesting this hearing. He stated that there is back-sliding of labor rights and it is necessary for partners to work together to ensure worker’s rights and to remain vigilant about the rights of workers.

Observer - Cynthia Schilsky

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Cook County Committees Hear about the Build Up Cook Program, CountyCare, and Open Audit Items

5/21/2025

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Cook County Board of Commissioners
May 13, 2025

Asset Management Committee
The Bureau of Asset Management presented its annual report on the Build Up Cook Program, highlighting their work in underserved communities. The Committee also approved a resolution declaring indoor air and indoor environmental quality as a public health crisis.

The Bureau is using ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds to provide resources to underserved communities for badly needed infrastructure projects such as fire hydrant replacements and sewer and stormwater projects.
The projects are managed by Asset Management staff, using County contractors.
One project highlighted was being able to help the Village of Robbins when a supply water main broke. The Bureau of Asset Management worked with other Cook County Departments to get it quickly repaired.
The Bureau is also using funds for workshops so that community employees develop the skills to manage projects and obtain financing through grants.
The Bureau wants to continue the workshops beyond the ARPA funding to help communities find and obtain grants from State funding options. It is anticipated federal funds for infrastructure projects will not be forthcoming.
To read more about the Build Up Cook Program, see the County website, https://arpa.cookcountyil.gov/build-up-cook. The report was received and filed. Item 25-1896.
The Committee approved a resolution declaring indoor air quality as a public health crisis. The Committee took action on this issue at its meeting last month when the Commissioners approved a contract with the University of Illinois to develop a process for evaluating the air quality in Cook County buildings. Item 25-2342.

League Observer: Kathi Graffam

Health and Hospitals Committee
Aaron Galeener, Chief Administrative Officer of CountyCare, and Dr. Yvonne Collins, Chief Medical Officer of CountyCare (the Medicaid managed health plan operated by Cook County Health) presented a PowerPoint overview of CountyCare services.

Health Benefit for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) Medicaid program is being sunset by Governor Pritzker effective July 1, 2025 which will affect over 16,000 CountyCare members and approximately 32,000 statewide, likely to have a significant financial impact.
Commissioner Aguilar, Stamps, Degnan, and Vasquez asked what threats to CountyCare Medicaid the current Congressional debate calling for Medicaid cuts were. Galeener said federal Medicaid cuts might include work requirements, as well as decreased federal funding for those Medicaid recipients who are covered by the expanded Medicaid coverage provided under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) which provides 90% federal funding for this group of individuals vs 51% for traditional Medicaid recipients. He said this could impact over 100,000 CountyCare members and a potential loss of $100 million in revenue. ACA expansion programs have a trigger to sunset in Illinois if federal contributions fall below 90%, Galeener noted.
Commissioner Degnan asked what programs CCH/CountyCare will need to cut? Galeener said programs that are “value added” components of Medicaid in Illinois that are not required by Federal Medicaid. He indicated that increasing redetermination of eligibility from once a year to 6 months might be implemented.
CCH’s housing program as a social determinant of health is funding organizations who are engaged in locating shelter for CountyCare members who are homeless or live in a shelter. Flexible Housing Pool (CountyCare invested $5 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2025) and other CountyCare housing programs currently house 432 individuals. Health outcomes for persons housed by this program show 33% reduction of inpatient stays, 19% reduction in ER visits, 22% reduction of jail registrations, 30% reduction in all cause mortality. Commissioner S. Morrison questioned whether CCH should be paying toward housing-- not in the mission of hospital system. Galeener commented that “we are a health care entity, need better solutions to housing and need to transition them to more sustainable affordable programs”. (Item 23-0202) motion to defer adopted.

League Observer: Susan Kern

Audit Committee
The Committee periodically follows up on open audit recommendations. Bill Carroll, Deputy Auditor, reported on the four audit items currently open. The report was received and filed. Item 25-2074.

The oldest and most concerning item was a finding from the 2015 audit of the Clerk of the Court concerning the process on uncollected revenue on traffic court fines. The audit recommended that the Clerk’s office make every effort to collect the fines before turning them over to a collection agency. Once they are given to a collection agency, there should be closer monitoring of the revenue.
In 2015 the uncollected amount was $3M and has increased since then. Commissioner Sean Morrison pointed out that the collection agencies take 30%-40%.
Mr. Carroll reached out to the new Clerk of the Court administration and is setting up a meeting with the Finance Manager. He will review their current process. Commissioner Degnen asked to be included in the meeting.

League Observer: Kathi Graffam

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Finance Committee Approves Money to ImproveLibrary Services across the County and Gets Update on the Equity Fund

5/21/2025

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Cook County Board of Commissioner
Finance Committee
May 14, 2025

The Committee approved or voted to receive and file all items on the agenda. Following are a few noteworthy items approved, followed by some information on the presentation on the Equity Fund, one of the County’s Special Purpose Funds.
The Committee approved:

Providing $850,000 from the Equity Fund for the design and implementation of a County-supported, library-led Digital Navigator Network that will improve library services and create stronger connections among public libraries and County government. There were several public speakers urging passage of this item 25-2339, stating it was particularly needed in light of the recent loss of federal funds to libraries.
Creation of a new special purposed fund, the State’s Attorney Fraud Case Settlements Fund, for monies issued pursuant to governing statute from the investigation, prosecution and settlements of insurance fraud and other fraud cases. (Item 25-2405.) Also provides for transfer of $602,607, which was collected in 2024 from these cases from the General Fund to this new special purpose fund to comply with the law. In response to a question from Comm. Stamps, it was explained that the governing statute provides how the money may be spent, which is why the fund is being created so such expenditures can be more easily tracked. As of the date of this meeting, the State’s Attorney’s office knows that at least an additional $2 M from 2025 will go into this new fund.
$44.9 M in settlements. The largest amount is $24 M for a medical malpractice claim. There are also 2 settlements for $7.45 M for alleged violations of civil rights against the State’s Attorney’s office.

President Preckwinkle’s Chief of Staff Lanetta Haynes Turner gave a presentation on the Equity Fund, which has a $68 M budget for expenditures in 2025 (Item 25-2781).

The Equity Fund has 3 purposes: (1) Address historic and continued disinvestment and resulting inequities that have negatively impacted Black, Latino/a/x and other marginalized residents; (2) fundamentally shift how County uses grantmaking; and (3) incorporate service providers, advocates, and residents in resource allocation.
There are 3 sources of revenues for the Equity Fund: (1) the Cannabis Tax, (2) the Firearm and Firearm Ammunition Tax, and (3) the County’s portion of the Illinois Gaming Casino Tax imposed by the State.
Monies from the Equity Fund are allocated to County departments, which in turn utilize established procurement and the sub-recipient process to seek Board approval for contracts or grants utilizing the Fund.
As of the end of February, 3.4% (or $2.33 M) of the total $68 M budgeted has been allocated. As the procurement process continues, it is expected that this will pick up. Departments are first using American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which can often be used for the same types of programs as the Equity Fund.
One example of the use of the Equity Fund is the $850,000 approved by the Committee for the Digital Navigator Network (see Item 25-2339, described above).
Avik Das, Executive Director of the Justice Advisory Council, discussed grants for community violence intervention, the wrap-around services for survivors of gun violence, the domestic violence intervention and support services, and the services to help for those leaving prison (“re-entry”) such as help with finding a place to stay and finding a job.
Jessica Caffrey, the head of the County’s Land Bank, talked about 3 initiatives using the Equity Fund: (1) the purchase of Fannie/Freddi/HUD REO properties at below market values to then resell; (2) assistance to qualified homebuyers of 6% up to $20,000 for the purchase; and (3) preservation to remove existing blight.
Commissioners Degnen, Aguillar, and Sean Morrison all asked about performance metrics and return on investment for the programs funded by the Equity Fund. Ms. Turner said that metrics can be difficult, but the proposals by recipients for grants identify what the funds would be used for, and the County does confirm that the monies are indeed spent that way.
Initiatives in 2025 include adding community representatives to the Equity Fund Taskforce and to do a pilot on participatory budgeting.
Rather than a separate, formal report on the Equity Fund that was prepared after the first year, information on the Equity Fund is now being incorporated into the yearly Policy Roadmap and Equity Fund Progress Report. The most recent one was issued in January of 2025. Ms. Turner said that the use of the Equity Fund is so integrated with the Policy Roadmap that it makes sense to have a single report.

League Observer: Priscilla Mims

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Commissioners Approve Appointments and Review 10-Year-Old Wage Theft Ordinance

Cook County Committees Hear about the Build Up Cook Program, CountyCare, and Open Audit Items

Finance Committee Approves Money to ImproveLibrary Services across the County and Gets Update on the Equity Fund

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