Legislation shepherded by Rep. Nekritz takes aim at ‘tough-on-crime’ statutes

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today hailed action by the governor in signing into law juvenile justice reform legislation she championed this year. 

HB 6291 sponsored by state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, which will take effect January 1, 2017, will reduce or eliminate mandatory five-year probation sentences for juveniles and reduce commitments to juvenile prison for drug crimes. Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, was Senate sponsor of the bill.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners today authorized acceptance of a three-year $2 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant to remove lead-based paint from homes in specific high-risk suburban areas.

In accordance with requirements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Bureau of Economic Development will provide lead hazard mitigation in conjunction with the County’s Residential Resilience Program. Both agencies worked together on the grant application.

With an Excessive Heat Warning issued for northern Illinois until tomorrow evening, the Cook County Department of Public Health is urging all residents to stay safe.  Hot temperatures and high humidity may combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible. 

“This weather can be very dangerous,” said Cook County Department of Public Health Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Terry Mason. “It is important for residents to take care in the heat by increasing their fluid intake and reducing their outdoor activities.”

The Center for Digital Government (CDG) today named Cook County one of the Top 10 Digital Counties with a population of 500,000 or more.

The award was announced at the National Association of Counties (NACo) annual conference in Long Beach, CA.

The CDG’s Digital Counties Survey provides an annual measure of performance and innovation by counties throughout the U.S. in using technology.

New Initiative to Attract Industrial Businesses, Accelerate Job Growth and Drive Neighborhood Investment

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today launched an unprecedented effort to generate new industrial investment in Chicagoland neighborhoods. The Industrial Growth Zones program will accelerate neighborhood development in seven designated areas over the next three years by removing longstanding hurdles to development and providing a broad set of services to support property owners and industrial businesses. 

Dr. Ponni Arunkumar was named as Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County following her appointment by President Toni Preckwinkle and approval today by the County’s Board of Commissioners.

Dr. Arunkumar had been serving as interim chief since June. Before that, she had been the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner since September 2012.

Five transportation policy priorities define agenda

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the preliminary forecast for the County’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget, signaling that difficult financial choices are on the horizon as the County develops its budget over the next several months.

Preckwinkle announced a projected operating shortfall for FY2017 of $174.3 million, driven by factors including gridlock over a state budget, growing legacy debt service costs and increased technology spending needed to upgrade antiquated and outdated systems.

Funds will assist four organizations with community-based initiatives

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today the County will award four grants of $200,000 each to support local violence prevention programs, the first in a total of $1.9 million in such awards to be made in FY 2016.   

The County Board approved the grants at its meeting today. Use of the grants will be monitored by the County’s Justice Advisory Council.