Sunday, October 28, 2012

Cook County Budget Hearing, Skokie Courthouse, October 25, 2012

The Cook County Budget Hearing took place at 6:30 PM at Skokie Courthouse, Skokie, IL


Commissioners Present: John Daley, Larry Suffredin, Earleen Collins and Gregg Goslin

The following people testified before the commissioners.

1) George Blakemore (a citizen) urged commissioners to maximize use of tax dollars and not to employ illegal immigrants, who take jobs away from the black community.

2) Nefertiti Smith (AFSCME Council 31) was pleased that the budget contained no wholesale layoffs.  She was concerned that no one is being hired to fill current vacancies in the public defenders office, state's attorney, e.g. clerical positions.  Attorneys are forced to handle paperwork themselves because of short staffing.

3) Teayonia Cannon (AFSCME, Local 3696) was pleased that there were no layoffs, but she, too, was concerned that vacancies are not being filled in juvenile probation, forensic clinical services, and public defenders, e.g. She urged commissioners to look for additional revenue for these support staff positions.

4) Joel Africk (Respiratory Health Association) spoke in support of the $1 increase in the cigarette tax.  Young smokers are sensitive to cost and many will quit or not start in the first place.  We can save $25 million in medical expenses if we keep people from smoking.

5) Bruce Edenson (a citizen) said that he is a legal firearms owner and a member of the NRA.  He shoots for recreation and is opposed to the tax on firearms and ammunition.  He cited the 2nd amendment right to bear arms.  There have been 400 homicides in Chicago, but 99% of bullets used were used in hunting and shooting.  This tax imposes a hardship on the gun owners and does not impede crime.  Gun owners will go outside Cook County for bullets and firearms.

6) Mary Kenney (AFSCME, #3486) represents probation officers.  The budget cuts 35 positions in the adult probation department.  They have lost 14% of work force, number of cases have jumped 82% and 40% of officers are working above case load.  The paperwork is burdensome. With the “second look” program the court will further stress the probation staff.  She urged restoration of at least 35 positions.

Commissioner Collins asked if there was any data on probationers’ recidivism.  Is the probation department effective? She supports reduction of jail population, but then there needs to be good probation services instead.

7) Barry Roseth (a citizen) objected to the taxes related to guns.  He stated that gun owners were being singled out and that is unfair.

8) Don C. Haworth (Owner of firearms school in Chicago and a private investigator) felt that he was being harassed because he recently was ticketed for a sign violation.  He wondered why the County doesn’t do something about all the unsupervised kids. He advocates concealed carry and is against the tax on bullets.  Gun owners will only go to other counties to buy bullets.

9) Jennifer Bobay (a community college teacher) had four students shot and killed.  She supports the tax on firearms and bullets.  She said if something can take someone’s life, it should be expensive to obtain.

10) Richard Feiss (a citizen) said he is a Vietnam vet with many pre-existing conditions.  Many of his fellow citizens are hurting now and need the safety net in Cook County. One should not have to commit a crime to get free health care in the jail. 

11) Diana Hackbarth (Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco) has a PhD. in nursing and takes care of patients with tobacco-related diseases.  She approves of raising tobacco taxes because it will discourage kids and adults from smoking. Taxes will result in savings to long-term health costs for Cook County.

12) Becky Dea Kyne (a citizen) is the mother of a child lost to gun violence.  She supports the bullet tax to combat violence that took her son.

13) Leonard Simpson (SEIU, Local 73) supports tax on tobacco and firearms.  He does not support managed competition and privatization of services. Union workers can provide better services with fewer turnovers. There should not be a “race to the bottom” in wages.

14) Anna Cienkowski (a citizen) opposes the tax on firearms and bullets.  She said she needs to protect her home.  She does not feel safe.  Taxes on “Mom & Pop” shops that sell guns are a hardship.  She supports concealed carry.  She asserts that guns are already regulated by the State Police.  She is against providing services to undocumented people.

15) Vidan Cienkowski is a naturalized citizen who objects to the rise in taxes.  Government makes excuses for raising taxes.  She is opposed to firearm and bullet taxes.

16) Lynn Morris (owner of Morris Gaming) is a naturalized citizen opposed to gaming terminal tax.  The video gaming tax will destroy her business.  It will hurt jobs.

Hearing was declared closed by John Daley. 

--Submitted by Georgia Gebhardt

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