Will County Board votes down industrial zoning for 159th Street near Homer Glen
Homer Glen village manager Joe Baber speaks Oct. 17, 2024, against a proposed Will County zoning change for unincorporated Homer Township land near the village boundaries. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown)
The Will County Board voted unanimously Thursday to deny rezoning two vacant properties along 159th Street near Cedar Road in Homer Glen to an industrial use, siding with Homer Glen officials who objected to the proposal.
The two pieces of land total about 10.3 acres just east of 14928 W. 159th St., along South Cedar Road. One is zoned for agricultural use and the larger parcel, which is nearly 9 acres, has a commercial designation.
The property owner wanted to zone it industrial to market it for development, but no specific site plans are in place, said Joseph Hammer, the owner’s representative.
More than 100 residents from the Cedar Glen, Glen Walk Estates and Cinnamon Creek subdivisions submitted petitions in August opposing the zoning change because it was near already established residential communities.
Cedar Glen resident Kathy Reinhardt said there are two schools and neighborhoods near the proposed site, and an industrial use could lower property values and make homes difficult to sell. Other areas would be more appropriate for industry, she said.
“Help us avoid crime, noise pollution, soil contamination and much more,” she said.
Resident Brandon Voight said his family moved to Homer Glen 10 years ago knowing the nearby property in question was zoned for commercial use. He said his family would welcome new businesses.
But approving the rezoning case puts the rights of one landowner over the health and safety concerns of the existing residents, Voight said.
“The current zoning, in our opinion, provides plenty of possibilities for the property owner to sell this land without requiring changing the zoning to industrial,” he said.
Homer Glen has a vision for the vacant property that does not include an industrial use, said Janie Patch, the village’s economic development director. The area has prime potential for growth, she said.
Because the village’s corporate limits are located within 1.5 miles, it has a right to file an objection with the county, which would then require a supermajority of the County Board to approve the rezoning.
“From day 1 with our comprehensive plan, the 159th Street corridor has been envisioned as a mixed use commercial opportunity for the village, to become the economic engine of the community,” Patch said. “The fact that we have the tollway on the western side makes this possible as we continue to grow. Industrial (use) is not in the picture anywhere in that vision of the community.”
Homer Glen village manager Joe Baber said a neighboring piece of land has been used for semitruck parking and some of garbage has spilled over onto the properties requesting to be rezoned.
The county is working to correct these violations, officials said.
Will County Board member Steve Balich, a Homer Glen Republican who represents the area, said the county set a zoning precedent about two years ago when it approved industrial zoning to allow for a boat and recreational vehicle storage facility in the 15300 block of 159th Street. Balich objected to the project because he was concerned other vacant properties would request to be zoned for industry.
Since then, the county adjusted its zoning regulations for storage facilities back to a commercial zoning with a special use permit, Balich said.
Balich said the industrial zone would affect both Homer Glen and Lockport.
He said the zoning would allow for warehouse development, which residents oppose. Residents also do not want the truck traffic and noise that could come from an industrial zoning designation, Balich said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Originally Published: October 17, 2024 at 3:38 p.m.
Michelle Mullins / for the Daily Southtown Elizabeth Bilotta, executive director of the Will County Health Department, talks to WIll County Board members Oct. 17, 2024, in support of the Community Mental Health Board. (Michelle Mullins/for the Daily Southtown)
The Will County Board approved an $8 million levy Thursday for the Community Mental Health Board after Republicans and Democrats compromised on the allocation.
Will County voters approved creating a mental health board and adding another line item to their property tax bills via a referendum in 2022.
Despite voter support, Will County Board members last year debated how much to fund the new board and approved its first levy of $10 million along party lines, with Democrats in support of the levy, and Republicans opposed.
The Will County Board was headed into another political showdown on Thursday.
The board’s Finance Committee Chair Jim Richmond, a Republican from Mokena, initially proposed a $5 million levy, but Steve Balich, the Republican Leader from Homer Glen, asked to reduce the board’s funds to $2 million.
“I feel that is rather insulting to the residents of Will County,” said board member Elnalyn Costa, a Bolingbrook Democrat who is also the vice president of the Community Mental Health Board.
The board supports initiatives related to mental health, substance abuse and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Mental health is not a partisan issue,” Costa said. “It affects all of us.”
A vote on the $2 million funding motioned by Steve Balich the Republican Leader failed when Republican Annette Parker of Crest Hill was the only Republican to reject the plan.
Parker then proposed a compromise of $8 million that was approved by a 19-3 vote, with both Republicans and Democrats saying they appreciated the bipartisan support. County officials said the levy would roughly cost the homeowner of a $250,000 home $21.75 a year.
Democrats had considered a $10 million levy, the same as last year.
Balich along with Republicans Julie Berkowicz, of Naperville, and Judy Ogalla, of Monee, voted against the $8 million compromise.
“Citizens are struggling to live within their means in this inflation-driven economy,” Berkowicz said. “At the end of the day if these people cannot pay their property taxes, there is no mercy for them.”
Balich said the County Board funds the Will County Health Department, which offers mental health services.
“To me this is just another way of taxing people more money, and I’m not going to vote for it,” Balich said. “I think it’s dumb.”
Board member Natalie Coleman, a Plainfield Democrat, said Will County and the country has a mental health epidemic.
“If we take the funding and put it into proactive measures, we will be in a better place,” Coleman said.
This past May, Will County residents received their property tax bills with the mental health board’s first levy. When the first round of property taxes were collected, the board gave $4 million to the Will County Health Department, said Teena Mackey, executive director of the Community Mental Health Board.
“Our vision along with the vision of the (mental health) board is looking for long-term outcomes and that’s what requires the collaboration of numerous organizations working towards a big picture,” said Elizabeth Bilotta, executive director of the Will County Health Department.
The Health Department used its funds for its behavioral health division to hire more psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, a Spanish-speaking interpreter for the Bolingbrook satellite location, additional counseling services and more services in both Bolingbrook and Monee so people don’t have to drive to the main branch in Joliet, Mackey said.
Wait times for services have been reduced by months, Mackey said.
The Community Mental Health Board collected the second half of its levy this fall, Mackey said. The board is finalizing its grant applications to spend the remaining $6 million, she said.
The mental health board plans to accept applications for funding from Jan. 2 to Feb. 14 and award grants in March to community organizations that offer mental health services. Some of the initiatives it hopes to support include suicide prevention and mental health issues in children, young adults and those leaving incarceration, Mackey said.
“You don’t tackle mental health and substance abuse individually,” Mackey said. “They have to be addressed simultaneously.”
The board will have a rubric on how to score grant applications so it can help the most people and get the most results for the money, Mackey said.
Mackey said she was thankful there was bipartisan support for funding.
“I think it was a wonderful example of negotiation on the County Board level,” she said.
It is easier and more accepted to get treatment for a physical problem than a mental illness, which is a stigma mental health providers are trying to break, Mackey said. When someone is sick, they may see a doctor or take a day off work, but when someone is suffering from a mental health problem, they tend to isolate or not tell someone, she said.
About 25% of adults nationally struggle with their mental health and half will not reach out for support, Mackey said. About one in every six children from ages 8 to 15 have a mental health issue, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among this age group, she said.
Many barriers to receiving treatment include the cost, transportation and the availability of services in one’s area, Mackey said.
Mackey said while the board is relatively new, it plans to deliver measurable results for county residents.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Originally Published: October 18, 2024 at 2:14 p.m.
Homer Township Supervisor and Will County Board member Steve Balich has raised alarm bells over what he perceives as escalating issues related to illegal immigration and rising crime rates and their impact on local residents.
He voiced particular disdain for what he considers to be ineffective federal policies and what he understands to be the failures of local governance.
“There are people coming from all corners, including many who are undocumented, and they are exploiting our system,” Balich told the Will County Gazette. “The federal government isn’t giving them enough support, and now they are turning to alternative ways to survive. This results in increased crime and disorder, which our communities have to bear the brunt of.”
Balich is proposing a new ordinance aimed at addressing what he describes as a crisis in housing and public safety.
“We need to take drastic measures,” said Balich. “I’ve instructed my lawyers to prepare a bill for our next township meeting that will outlaw squatters. This isn’t just about people occupying vacant homes; it’s about the surge of individuals who are exploiting our legal system, claiming squatter rights and essentially taking over properties without any legal recourse for the owners.”
The Illinois Safe-T Act, a piece of legislation that permits the release of accused criminals without requiring bail, has drawn skepticism from Balich.
“The Safe-T Act makes it easier for criminals to evade consequences,” he said. “Gang members and thieves are thriving under these new regulations. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for law-abiding citizens to feel safe.”
Balich said he has heard reports of illegal immigrants engaging in public disorder and criminal activity.
“We’re seeing more incidents where people are getting beaten up, not just by organized gangs but also by individuals who are exploiting the lack of oversight,” he said. “We’re witnessing theft becoming commonplace, with people walking out of stores with goods without paying.”
He also shared concerns about the broader societal impacts of the influx of undocumented immigrants.
“These individuals are coming in from every direction—by border crossings, flights, trains, and boats,” he said. “How can we even begin to account for how many are entering? We’re talking about potentially 20 million people, and the citizens are expected to cover the costs of their needs.”
He said selective prosecution by prosecutors, who are more likely to go after those defending themselves rather than illegal alien perpetrators, emboldens would be criminals.
“You hear that you can carry a gun on Metra trains now,” he said. “But what happens if someone with a knife attacks you? You’re forced to defend yourself, but then you face legal battles and potential financial ruin. It feels like the system is set up against us, the citizens, and in favor of those who break the law.”
Balich did not shy away from controversial statements regarding asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants.
“We’re told to call them asylum seekers, but as far as I’m concerned, they are illegals. They’re being used as pawns to shift electoral dynamics in favor of certain political agendas,” he said. “With so many people moving in, we’re facing a real threat of our communities being overwhelmed. The costs are astronomical, and the average citizen is left footing the bill.”
With nearly 700,000 undocumented residents in Illinois, the economic and social costs are substantial, including billions spent by taxpayers annually.
Balich added that he believes politicians, in charge of Illinois, are attempting to increase the number of residents in the state prior to the next U.S. Census in order to maintain congressional representatives and electoral votes.
“They’re using the illegals as a way to get more electoral votes because they’re losing seats in the Democrat areas, because everyone’s moving out, because they can’t afford the taxes. Sure. And their people are replacing them in the Democratic areas. Otherwise they are losing the electoral seats.”
Illinois, notably, lost a congressional seat in the 2020 Census due to population loss.
The rise in organized crime activities, such as human trafficking and drug dealing linked to foreign cartels, has intensified the debate over the consequences of sanctuary city policies.
Balich’s comments come after reports emerged of illegal alien gang members, allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, who were accused of taking over an apartment building on South King Drive in Chicago.
This incident coincided with a series of threats made on social media by a TikTok user claiming involvement with local street gangs.
The TikTok user, who identified himself as affiliated with native Chicago street gangs, issued a chilling threat in response to the alleged gang activities.
“This ain’t Colorado. This is just like where you’re from. The only difference is… we got switches,” he said.
In gang parlance, a “switch” refers to a device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into an automatic weapon, underscoring the potential for increased violence. In Aurora, Colorado, similar fears have been stoked by video footage showing gang members armed with long rifles overtaking apartment buildings, further fueling concerns about gang violence.
Balich said he fears native gangs, and those linked to cartel syndicates, will get into a turf war, warning of dire consequences if current trends continue.
“We’re on a path that could lead to a situation similar to what happened in Detroit in the 90s,” he said. “If we don’t address these issues, we could see our communities deteriorate, with rising taxes and dwindling public services.”
NBC Chicago has noted that Venezuelan gangs have emerged in the city. The situation has sparked fears about escalating violence.
Jean Torres-Roman, a known member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was arrested in Chicago for illegal possession of a weapon but was subsequently released by a local judge, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s request for detention.
Torres-Roman’s release came just a month before he was involved in a violent jewelry heist in Denver, Colorado. He was later apprehended in New Mexico after fleeing from the Denver incident.
The situation raises significant questions about sanctuary city policies, particularly Illinois’s TRUST Act of 2017, which designated the state as a sanctuary for illegal aliens.
The TRUST Act has come under scrutiny for complicating law enforcement efforts against organized crime.
Homer Township Supervisor and Will County Board member Steve Balich has expressed strong support for messaging critical of Democrats and their policies that were displayed on billboards throughout the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago Aug 19-22.
The messaging on the billboards, such as “Welcome to America’s murder capital” and “Welcome to the unemployment capital of the Midwest” were designed to challenge the narratives being promoted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, according to Dan Proft, head of The People Who Play by the Rules PAC—the group responsible for placing the ads that were visible throughout the DNC and in the days after.
But placing the ads did not come without challenges, with Proft revealing that billboard companies JCDecaux and Clear Channel Outdoors attempted to censor their messaging.
“The ads and speeches sound like a graduation party where someone is asked what they’ll do next, and their answer is ‘I have no clue.’ It’s frustrating because (Democrats) are not offering any real solutions,” Balich told Will County Gazette.
Balich argued that significant financial backing for political messaging from Democratic leadership is difficult to combat.
“Money is important, but sometimes the issues outweigh the financial influence,” he said. “The media’s bias and the Democrats’ control over major cities make it incredibly difficult for Republicans to compete.”
Balich said he supports the messaging on issues like rising crime rates and unemployment, suggesting that these problems have not been effectively addressed under Illinois Democrat rule.
“Crime is escalating, and the murder rate is high,” Balich said. “They haven’t fixed these problems in the last three and a half years, and now they’re making promises they haven’t kept.”
In 2023, Chicago topped the U.S. in homicides for the twelfth year in a row with 617 murders, despite a 13% decrease from 2022, according to Wirepoints. Homicides in Chicago were 23% higher than pre-COVID 2019 levels, and overall major crimes increased by 16%.
The city’s murder rate remains five times higher than New York City’s and is only surpassed by Philadelphia among major cities.
Balich also expressed concern over job losses, citing the recent layoffs at John Deere, which is moving its manufacturing operations to Mexico, and the expected closure of several grocery stores in the Mariano’s and Albertsons chain.
“A lot of people I know are working part-time jobs or struggling to find full-time work,” Balich said. “With big companies shutting down, it’s clear there are serious job problems.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation at 5.2%.https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htmInstead of addressing real issues affecting voters, Balich likened the political discourse on display at the DNC to a high school graduation party where the graduating student has no clear plans for the future.
Highlighting frustrations with local governance and political dynamics, Balich expressed hope for change with the potential re-election of former president Donald Trump, yet remained uncertain about reversing job losses and economic challenges.
“I just hope if Trump wins, we can turn things around quickly, but it’s hard to see how we can bring companies back from Mexico,” he said.
While criticizing the current state of political advertising and media influence, Balich compared the refusal of Proft’s ads to a bakery being forced to bake a cake with a design that is contrary to ownership’s personal beliefs, drawing parallels to the situation with the political ads.
“They fight about whether they should be denied the cake or not and the Supreme Court said, ‘you can deny them a cake if it’s against your religion,’” he said. “So these billboards kind of would be the same thing if they think that the message on the billboard is contrary to what their beliefs are, then they should be able to say no” adding that, “If a business doesn’t want to support a particular message, they should have the right to say no. But if they choose to put up something controversial, they should expect backlash.”
Case in point, in June Colorado’s Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips was sued for discrimination after he declined requests to make cakes celebrating a gender transition and another depicting Satan smoking marijuana, citing his First Amendment rights.
Phillips’ case has drawn support from 23 states and various free-speech advocates who argue that no one should be compelled to express messages they oppose.
Still, Balich pointed out the hypocrisy in billboard companies who will take money from pro-Abortion activists but not Proft’s PAC. Pritzker himself ran pro-abortion billboards outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in mid July.
Positioned near major highways and the convention venue, the billboards urged voters to reject Trump.
Last year the organization “Shout Your Abortion” installed several billboards along Interstate 55, featuring the provocative message “Shout Your Abortion” aimed at women living in southern states.
Since 2020, Illinois’ abortion rate has increased by 72% due to those traveling to the state for procedures.
The Democratic National Convention last week has drawn criticism from opposing viewpoints across the state with Homer Township Supervisor and Will County Board member Steve Balich leading the charge in Will County.
Balich, who runs the Will County Freedom Caucus, highlighted what he perceives as a disconnect between the Democratic Party’s narrative and the realities faced by many Americans.
“I look at what the Democrats are spewing out of the mouth of the convention, and it’s the opposite of reality,” Balich told the Will County Gazette.
“They’re pretending like they’re poor people when everyone’s taxes are going out of the sky, and the cost of living is outrageous, and crime is outrageous, and illegals are outrageous—and we can go on and on.”
In fact, at one point during the DNC, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker trumpeted his wealth, noting his billionaire status, the bulk of which he received from an inheritance.
A 2023 Wallethub study noted Pritzker has presided over the most tax heavy state in the nation.
The group found Illinois households face the highest state and local tax burden in the U.S., with an average of $10,463 annually, which represents over 15% of their income. This tax rate has increased by 22% since 2017, continuing Illinois’ trend of having the highest tax rate in the nation. Additionally, Illinois ranks second in both gas and property taxes, exacerbating the financial strain on residents.
Balich, known for being outspoken about his conservative views, expressed frustration over what he sees as a failure of Democratic leadership both on the state and national level.
“What have they done since they’ve been in charge and in Illinois?” he asked. “Look how many years they’ve controlled everything and it just keeps getting worse and worse and worse and more people leave.”
The convention, held at the United Center in Chicago, saw significant unrest, documented by independent journalist Andy Ngo and other media sources.
The protests included clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with some instances of violence and controversial incidents making headlines, including a widely shared video of a man in a bra and keffiyeh—a traditional middle eastern headdress—confronting police officers, and another where Antifa members were seen roughing up a man who attempted to retrieve a American flag before it was set aflame.
“I thought there was going to be actual riots like 1968 but, evidently not, which is a good thing, because we don’t need that crap,” Balich said.
He added that with no cash bail under the Safe-T Act the cause to lock up overt criminals was dubious.
“What are we supposed to do, not obey the Safe-T Act now? Because they’re not allowed to touch these people. How are they holding the peace unless they’re breaking the Safe-T Act?” he said.
On the international front, Balich criticized President Joe Biden’s acknowledgement of the pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protests outside the convention, suggesting it reflected a broader partisan bias, while also noting that pro-Israel supporters were denied a permit to protest prior to the DNC.
“Obviously the Democrats don’t like the Israelis,” Balich said. “At least in Illinois, the Democrats didn’t give a pro-Israel group protest permit, and they gave it to the other side. It just seems to me like this is against the constitution.”
Prior to the convention, pro-Israel activists alleged unfair treatment after the city of Chicago granted a protest permit to a pro-Palestinian group but denied one to the Israeli-American Council (IAC). The IAC, which sought to hold a demonstration to express solidarity with Israel, was offered an alternative route that they declined, leading to the rejection of their permit. IAC organizers criticized the city for not accommodating their request and expect the same protection as other minority groups.
Balich also expressed frustration with what he views as a double standard in media, including politicized reactions depending on the event.
“The way I believe about January 6th, it’s the first insurrection in the history of the United States that ever happened without a weapon,” Balich said.
He criticized the federal response to the Jan. 6 riot, arguing that it was exaggerated and politically motivated.
Critics, including Balich have drawn comparisons to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, where a small police force was overwhelmed by activists, a situation described by former U.S. Capitol Police Lieutenant Tarik Johnson as a “set-up and…an enormous size cover-up.”
“None of the people that were arrested for insurrection were carrying a weapon,” Balich said. “The only person that was killed, despite what the Democrats are saying, was Ashli Babbitt. She was the only one that was killed by a cop, and she didn’t have a gun. If a policeman killed somebody else at a different time, that policeman would be in jail.”
He also noted the disparity with which politicians like Democrat candidate for vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stood by while over 1,000 buildings were damaged, largely in Minneappolis and St. Paul, during the 2020 George Floyd riots.
“There’s no comparison to all this stuff,” Balich said. “The riots from BLM and all of them, they could burn everything down, that was okay and so then they pulled this January 6th.”
Balich added that video released from inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 shows police clearly escorting so-called “QAnon Shaman” Jacob Chansley around the capitol during the riot.
“There’s video of (police) escorting people all over the place and the guy with the Viking hat on. Sure. There show him walking through the halls with the police,” he said. “This was a big set up and just think the federal government is now part of a weaponization for the Democratic Party. I saw a clip of one of the guys talking that if Trump wins, ‘he’s going to weaponize the DOJ and the FBI, the CIA.’”
Chansley was released from prison early just after the videos, which had been suppressed, were made public.
Balich pointed out the hypocritical stance of Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow who warned fellow Democrats at the DNC that “Donald Trump would be able to weaponize the Department of Justice to go after his political opponents; he could even turn the FBI into his own personal police force.”
Balich noted the Biden Administration, in an unprecedented move, has already been responsible for pursuing several questionable criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.
“What the hell do they think has happened right now!?” he said. “Biden already did it. So to me, it’s like, okay, they’re telling us what they did. And I get really frustrated—when you think about it, they’re on TV saying all these people died–I forgot the number that it’s total was about 11 people when the guy got done talking. And one person died, it was an innocent girl climbing through a window.”
Balich said viewers need to contrast the treatment with which the Republican National Convention, happening in the immediate aftermath of an assassination attempt on Trump, unfolded versus the DNC.
“If you compare the Republican convention to the Democratic convention,” he said, “the Republican convention was about God and unifying the United States bringing it back to its old splendor. The Democrat one is all about saying things that are not true and talking about how they’re the best, and they’re going to get their way.”
Aldi, a retail and wholesale company based in Batavia, was founded in 1976. (David Allen/Patch)
ILLINOIS — Aldi, Grainger and Hyatt Hotels are the best employers with headquarters in Illinois, according to a new ranking from Forbes.
The Forbes report, America’s Best Employers By State, is based on a survey of more than 160,000 employees of companies with at least 500 people working in U.S. operations.
The survey, conducted by the market research firm Statista, asked participants how likely they were on a scale of zero to 10 to recommend their employer as a good place to work. Respondents were also asked to evaluate employers they’d worked for within the past two years, and organizations they knew within their industry or through friends or family who worked there.
By those measures, the top 10 employers with headquarters in Illinois are:
Aldi, a retail and wholesale company based in Batavia with 25,000 employees; Jason Hart is the CEO of the company, founded in 1976.
Grainger, a retail and wholesale company based in Lake Forest with 22,100 employees; D.G. Macpherson is the CEO of the company, founded in 1927.
Hyatt Hotels, a travel and leisure company based in Chicago with 51,000 employees; Mark Samuel Hoplamazian is the CEO of the company, founded in 1957.
Northwestern Medicine, a healthcare and social services company based in Chicago with 30,000 employees; Howard B. Chrisman is the CEO of the company, founded in 2016.
Rush University Medical Center, a healthcare and social services company based in Chicago with 1,900 employees; Omar B. Lateef is the CEO of the company, founded in 1972.
Ulta Beauty, a retail and wholesale company based in Bolingbrook with 56,000 employees; Dave Kimbell is the CEO of the company, founded in 1990.
John Deere, an automotive company based in Moline with 83,000 employees; John C. May is the CEO of the company, founded in 1837.
University of Illinois Chicago, an education company based in Chicago with 17,939 employees; Marie Lynn Miranda is the CEO of the company, founded in 1859.
Zurich North America, an insurance company based in Schaumburg with 9,000 employees; Kristof Terryn is the CEO of the company, founded in 1912.
Illinois Institute of Technology, an education company based in Chicago (editor’s note: number of employees not listed); Raj Echambadi is the CEO of the company, founded in 1890.
Workers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia answered the most recent survey. Those findings were supplemented with data from the previous three surveys. In all, 1,294 organizations made the final cut.
Rep. Darin LaHood: Democrats’ Chicago coronation puts failed policies on full display
August 19, 2024
By: Rep. Darin LaHood
Racketeering, bribery, fraud and extortion. Ask almost any Illinoisan and they’ll tell you a story, long ago, or recent, about a Chicago Alderman, Illinois Governor, or another elected official who has been convicted in a political corruption case. Four out of our last ten governors have been in prison and the Democrat Party machine, masterminded and advanced by former Illinois House Speaker, Mike Madigan, still remains. Chicago is the heart of the political corruption that has plagued our state for decades, which makes it the perfect place to host this year’s Democratic National Convention.
This year we are not witnessing a nomination, but a coronation of Kamala Harris. As much as I disagree with his policies and believe he was unfit to run, President Joe Biden won the primary only to be thrown under the bus by Democratic Party elites who forced him to hand over the nomination to someone who has not won a single primary vote. A failed candidate who during the 2020 election, couldn’t even make it to the Iowa Caucuses, has been forced upon the American people.
Chicago is an incredible city, one that I love dearly, but failed policies and failed leadership in Illinois have put our great city on a path of decline. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the lowest polling official from this year’s veepstakes, and Mayor Brandon Johnson, whose short time in office has already been marred by controversy, are doing their part by reading their lines and setting the stage for this week’s convention.
Pritzker and Johnson’s mission as hosts is to put on a façade good enough to fool a nation for a week. The illusion will include moving tenants out of tent cities and hiding their failed sanctuary city policy that has caused a massive influx of illegal immigrants and disenfranchised Chicago taxpayers, specifically in low-income areas. At the same time, convention planners are negotiating with radical left protesters who are planning to disrupt and shut down this week’s events across the city. Our men and women in Chicago law enforcement will also be stretched thin — dealing with ongoing crime. The directions coming from the national Democratic Party are clear this week: put on a smile and wave to the cameras while hiding the disastrous effects of liberal policies backstage, out of the public’s view.
Since taking office, Pritzker and Johnson have made it their mission to turn Illinois into the most liberal state in the nation. Laws like the SAFE-T Act have been enacted, making Illinois the nation’s first state to end cash bail. Our business tax climate has worsened under Pritzker’s watch, and educational outcomes and student proficiency are on the decline. As a result, Illinois families and workers struggle, our streets are less safe, and residents are fleeing Illinois for better opportunities elsewhere.
Similarly, Kamala Harris has avoided scrutiny from the public by stiff-arming the press and hiding her record as the media remains complicit in letting her read off a teleprompter. Her time as vice president can be defined in a single word: “failure.” Americans can see right through her new act as she distances herself from the Biden-Harris administration’s failed economy, the failed border, and the failed global leadership that she has helped create and sell as vice president.
While she is trying to play this new role, straddling the fence on a multitude of issues, she is still flirting with the far-left Hamas supporting wing of her party, which will be on full display in the streets of Chicago this week. Just look at her pick for Vice President. As Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz’s failed leadership in the summer of 2020 allowed Minneapolis to burn as riots raged. At the same time, the lackluster presidential candidate Kamala Harris was crowdfunding bail money for criminals.
This convention will hold no surprises, at least inside the convention room. Harris and Walz will undoubtedly continue to spew a slew of progressive ideas to appease their base, and the delegates will go along to get along with this new plan from party elites. It’s reminiscent of the many Chicago officials who have ruled the same way: top down, with extreme loyalty demanded.
As national Democrats put the Pritzker-Johnson model of weak governance on display this week, it’s important that Americans looking for common-sense, conservative leadership get off the sidelines and make a difference by voting this fall. We must reject the many failed policies of Democrats and the Biden administration and move our country in the right direction toward a future where our citizens are safe, our economy is strong, and we all have more opportunities for success.
Homer Township Supervisor and Will County Board member Steve Balich has expressed strong concerns about the state’s escalating drug crisis and its connection to immigration policies.
Speaking on recent events, Balich criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border.
“The biggest concern I have is with the proliferation of fentanyl,” Balich told Will County Gazette. “This drug is the most dangerous of all, and its presence will only worsen as long as the border remains open. The cartels will continue to exploit the situation, leading to potential street wars as they vie for control.”
Balich’s remarks come in the wake of a significant drug bust in Marengo, where Gloria Gastelum and German Vargas were caught with 120,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone.
This latest arrest follows a previous incident where two Mexican nationals were apprehended in McHenry County for allegedly smuggling 17 kilos of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“This seizure is a stark reminder of the dangers we face,” he said. “If the National Guard were stationed at the border, we could potentially prevent such incidents. We need to close the border completely—no more airplanes, no more trains—just shut it down entirely and address the issue.”
In response to the influx of undocumented immigrants, Balich has implemented stringent measures in Homer Township.
“I issued an executive order last Christmas Eve stipulating that if illegal immigrants are brought to our town, we will impound the bus and impose a $1,000 fine,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that Homer Township’s limited amenities make it less attractive for immigrants compared to larger neighboring towns.
Balich also voiced skepticism about the broader implications of immigration policies, suggesting they are politically motivated.
“I believe the Democratic Party is leveraging this situation to gain more electoral power,” he said. “They’re increasing their congressional seats by allowing undocumented immigrants to stay and even vote, which distorts the democratic process.”
According to Bloomberg News, the state’s illegal alien population has risen over 821% in the past two years. The current illegal immigrant population in the state sits at around 100,000.
According to the Heritage Foundation, critics of current policies claim that Democratic-controlled states have gained disproportionate political power by counting illegal aliens, which impacts congressional districting and Electoral College votes.
Former President Donald Trump had attempted to address this issue by excluding noncitizens from apportionment, but President Biden reversed this policy, fueling concerns about representation being distorted by a border crisis.
A legislative proposal, backed by U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) seeks to ensure only American citizens are counted, aiming to restore fairness in electoral representation.
Hagerty said the current state of affairs would result in Democrats picking up 13 congressional seats after the 2030 Census, noting the Democrats “want these illegal migrants to create more electoral power for them in their blue states.”
Elon Musk also accused Democratic politicians of using illegal immigration to enhance their political influence through congressional apportionment.
In a post on X, Musk highlighted that allowing noncitizens into the country increases the electoral power of Democratic-controlled states, as these states receive more representation in Congress and the Electoral College based on total population counts.
Musk argued that this practice distorts political representation and warned of the potential for long-term impacts if Democrats gain control and grant citizenship to these individuals.
“Increasing illegals boosts Dem voting power, causing them to recruit even more! If Dems win the President, House & Senate (with enough seats to overcome filibuster), they’ll grant citizenship to all illegals & America will become a permanent one-party deep socialist state,” he said in a post on X.
Musk, an advocate for legal immigration and a legal immigrant himself, also criticized the current system for its inconsistencies and inefficiencies, emphasizing the need for reform.
Balich criticized state leadership and questioned the integrity of current policies.
“We’re living in a state governed by what seems like a dictatorship,” he said. “The Democratic representatives are causing harm, and every resident is affected by these policies. It’s time for a change, and I believe the voters will make their voices heard at the polls.”
(The Center Square) – Illinois now ranks as the least affordable state for housing in the Midwest, with 1 in 3 households paying more than 30% of their income for housing as property taxes continue to rise.
U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by the Illinois Policy Institute also shows that at least 15% of households pay upwards of 50% of their income for housing, rendering them by federal standards as “severely burdened.” At the same time, data shows that the typical homeowner’s property taxes have jumped by $756 since 2019, leaving the state home to the second-highest rates in the country.
Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, is sounding the alarm as property taxes are on the rise.
“It’s having a devastating effect and it’s only getting worse,” Caulkins told The Center Square. “We’ve seen our population decline and it’s also a deterrent for new businesses to come to Illinois. In order to keep or attract businesses, we’re having to give them all kinds of incentives. It’s if you’re taking money out of the left pocket and putting it in the right pocket and claiming that you’re creating jobs.”
Caulkins said the taxpayer cost of government continues to increase.
“It’s clearly a testament to the Democrat government,” Caulkins said. “We’re forcing local municipalities, taxing bodies with all of these mandates. It pushes that burden, that decision on local governments to find a way to replace that revenue.”
Overall, the typical Illinois homeowner now pays roughly $5,055 in property taxes or more than double the national average of $2,457.
Caulkins frets there is little relief in sight with Democrats holding the supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly.
“They’ve got a $52 billion piggy bank and they don’t feel threatened because they’re able to draw the map and they don’t face any serious electoral challenges,” he added.
Caulkins is also quick to point out that the state has now lost population for 10 straight years. More than 50% of voters polled in a recent survey cited high taxes as the primary reason they would leave if given the chance.
“The more we require these communities to do, the higher our property taxes go,” he said. “The more people leave, the fewer people are here to pay the bill.”
Still, the veteran lawmaker argues there’s a simple solution.
“We need a cap on property taxes until we get our house in order and quit mandating all of these things down to the local level,” Caulkins said.
