LWVCC in favor of Independent Inspector General for MWRDTestimony presented at Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Study Session - May 3, 2018
Read testimony here |
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LWVCC Testimony to Cook County Board
Given on July 13 addressing
Implementation of Performance Management within Cook County and Meeting Process
TESTIMONY
Given on July 13 addressing
Implementation of Performance Management within Cook County and Meeting Process
TESTIMONY
LWVCC Testifies in Support of Establishing an
Independent Inspector General for the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Read our public testimony of March 31, 2017
and our letter to the Board of Commissioners - August 18, 2017
LWVCC Submits Letter to Cook County Commissioners
Supports amending their Rules of Organization to allow Witness Slips
LWVCC Letter of Support
Amendment approved at July 19, 2017 Cook County Board Meeting
Read LWVCC Observer Report of the meeting
Press Release:
Online “Witness Slips” Will Improve Public Participation in County Government
LWVCC Supports the INDEPENDENT MAP AMENDMENT
with
Letter to the Editor in July 11, 2016 Chicago Sun Times
with
Letter to the Editor in July 11, 2016 Chicago Sun Times
LWVCC Testifies at Cook County Board Meeting
Supports Efforts to Investigate Assessor's Office
At the June 28, 2017 Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting, Nancy Marcus, LWVCC Co-President, spoke in favor of the Commissioner's resolve to have a hearing to investigate alleged unfairness in Cook County's Property Tax System and to discuss the statutory responsibilities of the office of the Cook County Assessor. Read the Full Text of her statement including suggested metrics and questions for the Assessor's Office.
LWVCC Press Release:
Cook County League Recommends Measures to Improve Property Tax Assessments
Cook County League Recommends Measures to Improve Property Tax Assessments
On the Topic of Cash Bail
The Following Letter was submitted by LWVCC as a Letter to the Editor - Chicago Tribune on March 7, 2017
Dear Editor,
Thank you for your editorial, “Foxx’s Political Risk” (3/6/16) that outlined the rationale for releasing detainees before trial if they are charged with nonviolent offenses and cannot afford even the smallest amount of bail. The Leage of Women Voters of Cook County’s Criminal Justice Interest Group has advocated this position. After 18 months of research that included numersous visits to Central and Suburban Bond Courts, interviews with all key stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System of Cook County, professors of Criminal Justice and major politicians at the county and state levels, we issued a report that listed the elimination of cash bail as our first recommendation. We are pleased that public officials are putting this policy into effect. We are also pleased that the new State’s Attorney will be diverting detainees with drug and/or mental health issues, as you ediitorial pointed out, to treatment programs. This was also one of our recommendations.
We would like to point out that Kim Foxx is not the only pubic official taking action on this issue. Sheriff Dart has long pushed for the elimination of cash bail. Commissioner Garcia held a hearing last November which included testimony from experts in jurisdictions around the nation that have moved to eliminate cash bail. At the state level, Representative Mitchell has introduced a bill for this purpose.. Bond Court Judges in Cook County have a new tool to help them determine a defendant's flight risk and the risk for reoffending (while awaiting trial ) called the public Safety Assessment Tool. This should improve the consistency among bond court judges. Equal justice in our courts should always be our guidiing principal.
Sincerely,
Karin Hribar, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Cook County
Co-Chair of the League of Women Voters of Cook County’s Criminal Justice Interest Group
Diane Edmundson, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Cook County
Thank you for your editorial, “Foxx’s Political Risk” (3/6/16) that outlined the rationale for releasing detainees before trial if they are charged with nonviolent offenses and cannot afford even the smallest amount of bail. The Leage of Women Voters of Cook County’s Criminal Justice Interest Group has advocated this position. After 18 months of research that included numersous visits to Central and Suburban Bond Courts, interviews with all key stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System of Cook County, professors of Criminal Justice and major politicians at the county and state levels, we issued a report that listed the elimination of cash bail as our first recommendation. We are pleased that public officials are putting this policy into effect. We are also pleased that the new State’s Attorney will be diverting detainees with drug and/or mental health issues, as you ediitorial pointed out, to treatment programs. This was also one of our recommendations.
We would like to point out that Kim Foxx is not the only pubic official taking action on this issue. Sheriff Dart has long pushed for the elimination of cash bail. Commissioner Garcia held a hearing last November which included testimony from experts in jurisdictions around the nation that have moved to eliminate cash bail. At the state level, Representative Mitchell has introduced a bill for this purpose.. Bond Court Judges in Cook County have a new tool to help them determine a defendant's flight risk and the risk for reoffending (while awaiting trial ) called the public Safety Assessment Tool. This should improve the consistency among bond court judges. Equal justice in our courts should always be our guidiing principal.
Sincerely,
Karin Hribar, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Cook County
Co-Chair of the League of Women Voters of Cook County’s Criminal Justice Interest Group
Diane Edmundson, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Cook County
LWVCC has been advocating for some changes
to improve the workings of County Board meetings - and gets some results.
From The Daily Line - Online detailed reporting from a political perspective
Cook County Committee Preview: Consent Calendar Changes
By A.D. Quig - January 17, 2017
"Cook County’s consent calendar changes kick in today. Instead of considering honorary resolutions marking deaths, anniversaries, or congratulations before the regular Wednesday board meetings, they will be the first order of business on Forest Preserve Board meeting days–normally the Tuesday before full Board meetings."
to improve the workings of County Board meetings - and gets some results.
From The Daily Line - Online detailed reporting from a political perspective
Cook County Committee Preview: Consent Calendar Changes
By A.D. Quig - January 17, 2017
"Cook County’s consent calendar changes kick in today. Instead of considering honorary resolutions marking deaths, anniversaries, or congratulations before the regular Wednesday board meetings, they will be the first order of business on Forest Preserve Board meeting days–normally the Tuesday before full Board meetings."
LWVCC Highlights Pre-Trial Recommendations at
CC Board Criminal Justice Committee Meeting
Feb. 9, 2016
Three of the eleven recommendations of the LWVCC report on Pre-Trial Systems were highlighted by Jan Goldberg, Co-Chairperson of the LWVCC Criminal Justice Interest Group, when she provided comments at the Cook County Board of Commissioners Criminal Justice Committee meeting* on February 9. The 3 highlighted recommendations were:
CC Board Criminal Justice Committee Meeting
Feb. 9, 2016
Three of the eleven recommendations of the LWVCC report on Pre-Trial Systems were highlighted by Jan Goldberg, Co-Chairperson of the LWVCC Criminal Justice Interest Group, when she provided comments at the Cook County Board of Commissioners Criminal Justice Committee meeting* on February 9. The 3 highlighted recommendations were:
- Discontinuation of cash bail
- Expanded Crisis Intervention Training for all police officers within Cook County
- Better coordination and evaluation of diversion programs within the system
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
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