WHY ARE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORRIED?

January 13, 2016 Cook County Commissioners’ Board Meeting

County Commissioners called for a special hearing during the February Finance Committee meeting to determine the impact on grant revenues because of the failure of Illinois’ government to pass a 2016 Budget. At least $75 million dollars are at risk for human services grants that have been awarded by the County with the expectation that they would receive state funding in 2016 [Resolution 16-1090].

Criminal Justice issues were also very prominent.  Approved was the call to appoint a Special State’s Attorney to handle the prosecution of Officer Jason Van Dyke [#16-0577] and to expand the Justice Department’s examination of Chicago policy practices to include the detention facility known as Homan Square.  Emotional public testimony was given by lawyers and advocates in support of this Resolution [16-0964].

A resolution to establish a CC Task Force to research the expansion of affordable and quality healthcare to uninsured residents of Cook County [16-0690] was presented by the Workforce, Housing & Community Development Committee and approved by the full Board. Both human need and the cost of providing emergency room services were cited.   

Other Resolutions referred to Committee:  

• League of Women Voters (LWVCC) recommendations for improving the CC Criminal Court’s pre-trial operations was sent to the Criminal Justice Committee [#16-1023].
• A Call for the dignified treatment of Central American asylum seekers was also sent to the Criminal Justice Committee [#16-1065 as amended].
• While deferred within the CC Finance Committee, a $500,000 and above legal settlement would trigger an ordinance-required report from the State’s Attorney to the Committee [16-0692].

Observed by:  Diane Edmundson
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