Citizen's Bulletin: The Week in Chicago Politics
UChicago Democracy Initative
April 15 - April 21, 2019
The Citizen Bulletin’s news highlights from these weeks include: Leslie Hairston was declared winner in the 5th Ward aldermanic race; Senator Duckworth called for the release of the full Mueller Report; and President Trump announced new economic sanctions on Cuba.
CHICAGO CITY GOVERNMENT
Alderman Leslie Hairston (5th Ward) ~ call your alderman! (773) 324-5555
Apr 17: Declared winner in the 5th Ward aldermanic race with a lead of 172 votes; challenger William Calloway has asked for a recount
Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward) ~ call your alderman! (773) 955-5610
[No news]
Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) ~ call your mayor! (312) 744-3300
April 17: Announced a plan to repave 315 miles of streets and alleys in 2019
April 19: Announced plans to improve CTA bus service and pedestrian safety through the Bus Priority Zones Program
COOK COUNTY BOARD
President Toni Preckwinkle ~ call your Cook County board president! (312) 603-6400
[No news]
ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT
Representative Curtis Tarver (D–District 25) ~ call your state rep!
[No news]
Senator Robert Peters (D–District 13) ~ call your state senator!
April 16: Spoke at a protest at Loyola in support of their graduate student union
Governor JB Pritzker (D–IL) ~ call your governor!
April 17: Announced new appointments to various state offices including the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Student Assistance Commission, the Prisoner Review Board, and the Teachers’ Retirement System
April 19: Signed a law which would simplify the zoning process for setting up wind farms
U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Representative Bobby Rush (D–IL1) ~ call your representative! (773) 779-2400
April 17: Announced the 2019 Congressional Art Competition for high schoolers in the first congressional district of Illinois; the winner’s artwork will be put on display in the US Capitol Building
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) ~ call your senator! (312) 886-3506
April 16: Called on the EPA and the army corps to reverse their proposal to eliminate certain Obama-era protections on many water sources
April 18: Criticized Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for her decision to delay the implementation of the Equity in IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) rule, which would seek to address the disproportionately high rate at which students of color are placed into special education programs
April 18: Criticized Attorney General William Barr, claiming that that his press conference regarding the Mueller Report was biased and calling for the release of the full report
April 19: Announced $70,000 in federal funding to support economic and job growth in South Central Illinois
Senator Richard Durbin (D–IL) ~ call your senator! (312) 353-4952
April 15: Reintroduced the American Cures Act and the American Innovation Act which would create a fund to provide support for research at American research agencies
April 16: Introduced the What You Can Do for Your Country Act of 2019 which would expand the number of public servants that qualify for The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
President Donald Trump (R) ~ call your president! (202) 456-1414
April 16: Resumed the “Remain in Mexico” policy that requires certain non–mexican immigrants who claim asylum at southern border entry points to remain in Mexico while their cases are being processed.
April 17: Halted practice of disclosing current nuclear weapon stockpile
April 17: Proposed a rule that would end the Clinton–era policy that allows undocumented immigrants to receive federal housing assistance
April 17: Introduced new guidelines encouraging opportunity zones investment. These guidelines provide clarity, allow a more flexible timeline to invest cash, and establish a one–year grace period to sell assets and reinvest proceeds for investors in designated low-income areas
April 18: Announced new economic restrictions that limit nonfamily travel to Cuba, cap money that can be sent back to family members, and allow exiles to sue for property seized by the Castro government
April 19: Received an injunction from a Montana federal judge that ruled the Trump administration acted illegally by inadequately studying the environmental effects of coal mining in public lands
The Citizen Bulletin is a product of the University of Chicago Democracy Initiative (UCDI). UCDI is proudly supported by Andrew Goodman Foundation’s nonpartisan Vote Everywhere project. In addition to the UCDI website, you can find past versions of the bulletin here. For news closer to campus, subscribe to the twice weekly newsletter produced by our partners at the Chicago Maroon.
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