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As a colleague recently noted, last week was a heckuva month. As we approached the deadline where most bills have to be out of substantive committees, we continued to negotiate amendments to bills that are still in progress while also looking ahead to critical budget negotiations. I’m also working in response to recent events: reports describing deeply troubling issues related to hospitals reporting sexual abuse committed by health care providers, hospitals not complying with state law concerning access to specialized care, and evidence collection for sexual assault survivors at hospital emergency rooms, and the tragic murder of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins who was killed while trying to protect his mother, Laterria Smith from an attack from her abuser recently released from custody after a parole violation hearing. I’ll focus on those things this week and will provide an update on our bills post-committee deadline in next week’s newsletter.
In all of these cases, there is certainly plenty of human error to point to, but working with stakeholders, advocates, colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and leadership in the Governor’s office, we are looking at areas where changes to our laws could help prevent future cases like these.
On the hospital and healthcare provider issues, we have been in discussion with hospital leaders, advocates for sexual assault survivors, law enforcement, and regulatory agency leaders to address several key issues:
- Clarifying who is responsible for reporting allegations of sexual abuse by health care providers and the appropriate time frame and process for reporting, investigating, and tracking cases,
- Establishing accountability measures for hospitals, healthcare organizations, and healthcare providers who fail to protect patients from abuse,
- Requiring hospitals and health care organizations to prominently post information about provider abuse and the steps to report incidents,
- Dedicating a portion of the fees and fines assessed against violating organizations to services for survivors of sexual abuse and assault,
- Clarifying who is eligible to conduct sexual assault forensic exams and ensuring sufficient resources for training and staff,
- Establishing parameters for the Department of Public Health to determine the responsibilities of hospitals that seek to establish themselves as what’s known as a transfer hospital that is authorized to redirect survivors to a different hospital for sexual assault services and what their responsibilities to survivors they maintain,
- Reviewing questions of funding shortfalls in specific service areas, as well as examining all solutions for unintended consequences.
Examining the issues that have been raised by the multiple system failures that led to Jayden Perkin’s murder has been an intense and painful process. As someone who has long worked to improve how multiple government systems treat survivors of gender-based violence, I’m all too familiar with scenarios where simply believing a survivor might have made all the difference in the world, and it never gets easier. I’ve had multiple conversations with policy experts in the domestic violence advocacy community, law enforcement, legal advocates, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and members of Jayden’s Pierce School Community. I recently heard from a member of Laterria’s family whom I hope to connect with soon. While this is still very much a work in progress, some areas that are being examined for change include mandatory training in gender-based violence for members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, changes in process and procedure that would bring more accountability and transparency to board proceedings when determining release eligibility, examination of various victim notification systems to identify improvements to ensure victim safety, and funding for emergency safety needs for victims. A few different proposals are floating around and our team is working on compiling a summary of the issues in each proposal to allow for the most cooperative and inclusive process possible.
I’m excited for Monday’s solar eclipse. When Candace and I got married, it was the same week as the last one in 2017 and we were very close to the totality in Wyoming. We ultimately decided not to try to get closer after hearing dire warnings of the expected traffic in the area and were pretty happy to enjoy it from the comfort of our home away from home though the sparkling crescent-shaped shadows dancing on the deck were about the most amazing things we’d ever seen. We did talk a bit this time about trying to go to southern Illinois or over to Michigan to grab Ethan and head to Ohio, but it’s hard to add travel this time of year with so much time in Springfield. We’ll be up at Jarvis Square with two of the 1000 eclipse glasses we distributed across the ward in the last couple of weeks after a surprise delivery from the good folks at the Illinois Optometrists Association. Big thanks to our amazing team for taking on this unexpected task during the height of session.
We head back to session on Wednesday through Friday and will start taking floor action on the bills that have been passed out of substantive committees. I’m told I’ll get to visit with some Rogers Park Girl Scouts that day, so that’s likely to be the highlight of my week!
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Solar Eclipse Information: Monday, April 8 | |
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A solar eclipse occurs when the moon travels between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible over approximately 128 miles of Illinois April 8. Totality enters Illinois as it crosses the Missouri state line southwest in Carbondale at 1:58 p.m. The eclipse will follow a diagonal line crossing over Fairfield and exit Illinois at Mount Carmel at 2:06 p.m
To learn more about the path of the eclipse and expected travel conditions, visit the following LINK.
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Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough Dies at 73 | |
Late Sunday evening, we learned that Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough died after an illness. While she had been clerk since 2018, she was my colleague in Springfield for a few years as the beginning of my term in the House in 2011 overlapped with the end of hers in 2018. Not long after I came into office, she took me aside and shared her pride in having carried the bill to repeal the death penalty in Illinois. She told me then that she wasn’t going to be around forever and told me she was counting on me to hold the line on that important part of her legacy. Over the years, whenever I saw her she’d pull me into a hug and tell me she was proud of me and I’m pretty sure on several occasions I was causing her headaches for my outspokenness. I am so thankful to have gotten to work with her and learn with and from her. There’s no information yet about services. | |
Dubkin Park Community Gardens | |
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The Dubkin Park Community Gardens at 7442 N Ashland was awarded an in kind grant of $500 each. That’s $1,000 of plant materials for planting and eventually beautifying Dubkin Park. The Community Gardens want to thank the Community Gardens in the Park team at the Chicago Park District for their generosity in awarding these grants. We also want to thank Misty Mitchell, our park supervisor, for her support during the grant application process.
We are looking for volunteers to help with late Spring and early Summer garden needs. We have several available times to come help out. If you're interested in volunteering please go to this form and fill out when you're willing to come help out. Ideally we are looking for volunteers to come when their able to with some availability on the weekends.
Immediate need - We need help planning or designing the gardens’ space so we can effectively install these plant materials. We have two distinct gardens that need planning or design.
Upcoming need - We expect delivery of the plant materials in late April. Once those materials have arrived we will need help planting them. We can schedule a workday for a Saturday morning or other days depending on the response. We have some garden tools at the Park but you may want to bring your personal favorite.
Ongoing need - Newly planted perennials will need watering throughout the spring and summer. And, controlling weeds is always an issue. We will need a few volunteers to water and if you’re willing weed the garden’s through the spring and summer.
We have access to a water box so watering will be able to use a hose or sprinkler. Garden tools are are also available at the Park, but bring your own if you have your favorites!
Dubkin Park Community Gardens were first established in 2012. That first garden was a group of vegetable garden beds available to community members. Over time the Gardens expanded their reach to include prairie perennial plantings within the Garden’s picket fence. Then, the Gardens added the Ornamental garden along the Ashland sidewalk. The Ornamental garden benefited from the installation of permanent fencing to protect the plantings from dog and people traffic. The Community Gardens want to thank the Community Gardens in the Park team at the Chicago Park District for their generosity in awarding these grants. We also want to thank Misty Mitchell, our park supervisor, for her support during the grant application process.
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Chicago Park District Earth Day Cleanup | |
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The Chicago Park District, citywide, is hosting an earth day park cleanup on Saturday, April 20 from 9AM-12 PM.
Earth Day Cleanup sites in the 14th District include:
- Rogers Beach Park (7705 N Eastlake Terrace)
- Touhy Park (7348 N Paulina Street)
- Leone Beach Park (1222 West Touhy Ave)
- Loyola Park (1234 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
- Park 559 (6151 N Sheridan Rd)
To register for a cleanup or to be a site cleanup captain, visit the following LINK.
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AARP Community Group Event with Carol Marin | |
Join the Chicago Northside AARP Community Group on May 7th for a FREE discussion with Carol Marin! The event takes place at 716 W Addison at 12:30 PM. The event can also be viewed over zoom. To request a zoom invite, email northsideaarpcommunitygroup@gmail.com. | |
Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society Living History Talk | |
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The Rogers Park West Ridge Historical Society is Hosting the event: Living History: A West Ridge Family's 45-Year Story of Dealing with Grief and Finding Unity. The description of the event is as follows:
Meet Kim Jockl, Melody Smith, and Jim Borchers, the authors of Safe Landing, as they share the story of losing their parents in the crash of American Airlines Flight 191. The tragic 1979 crash near O'Hare Airport remains the deadliest aviation accident in the United States.
Share in the moving story of grieving the sudden loss, coming together as a family, and working to honor all 273 lives lost that day.
Time/Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 @ 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Budlong Woods Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Avenue. Chicago, IL 60659
Living History programs are free and open to all.
Pre-registration helps us plan, but walk-ins are welcome.
To register for this event, visit the following LINK.
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20th District Monthly Meeting | |
The 20th police district is hosting its monthly meeting on Monday, April 8 from 6:00-7:30 PM at 5630 N. Lincoln Ave. To RSVP for this event, visit the following LINK. | |
Chinese Mutual Aid Association Seeking Tutors | |
The Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) is looking for volunteer tutors for Adult English and Citizenship learners! If you have a passion for helping new arrivals and want to make a meaningful difference in your community, get involved with CMAA. Interested? Email tutoring@chinesemutualaid.org | |
Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Basics | |
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Wills, Trusts and Estate
Planning Basics
Tuesday, April 16, 6-7 p.m.
Edgewater Branch Library
6000 N. Broadway
Learn about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and guardianship. Take the first step to create or update a plan that is appropriate for you.
Attorney Jacob K. Ehrensaft will explain how to ensure your final wishes can be protected.
This program will discuss how to select the correct person to make healthcare and financial decisions on your behalf when you cannot. The importance of updating existing documents to reflect changes in the law and personal circumstances shall also be reviewed.
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Our office (1507 W. Morse) will serve as a drop off location for The Diaper and Menstrual Care Drive that will support Care for Real. We are accepting drop offs Monday - Friday from 9am-5pm. Please call 773-784-2002 to make sure we will be in the office. | |
Chicago Park District Spring Programs | |
One Summer Chicago Now Accepting Applications | |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have launched the One Summer Chicago (OSC) application portal. OSC aims to connect an additional 4,000 young people to jobs this summer.
Access the portal at OneSummerChicago.org
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Chicago Coalition for the Homeless 2024 Scholarship | |
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The Chicago Park District is hosting a series of summer opportunity fairs for teens. Teens can earn a paycheck, make friends, keep active, have fun, and make a difference by working in the parks!
A variety of employment opportunities are available to suit all interests, schedules, and experience levels.
Positions available for Chicago residents ages 16 and older include Lifeguard, Recreation Leader (for Day Camp), and Junior Laborer (landscape maintenance). Additional positions are available for ages 18+.
To learn more visit the following LINK.
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Wild Onion Market General Manager | |
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The Wild Onion Market is accepting applications for its first General manager Position.
Per the job description: The General Manager (GM) plays a pivotal role in leading our cooperatively owned grocery store to achieve the mission, vision, and Policy Governance as articulated by the Wild Onion Market Board of Directors and ownership. This is an onsite, store-based role with extensive public contact in a dynamic environment.
To learn more about this position, visit the following LINK.
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
1507 W. Morse Ave
Chicago IL 60626
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773-784-2002 (phone)
Info@repcassidy.com
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