The county’s 5.2 million residents will see the tax on all sugar and artificially sweetened drinks, including pop, sports drinks, lemonade and iced tea. Preckwinkle cast the deciding vote after a tie on the tax. I have family and friends who complain that every aspect of life (even putting words on your business windows) are taxed or subject to permit fees. Despite those deals (and horrendous give aways like the infamous parking meter deal), those politicians were simply reelected and no one has faced any repercussions for the poor (and at times corrupt) decision making. Those deals got them endorsements but gutted the state. The entire state is still struggling with ruinous pension deals cut by politicians with unions, particularly the teachers’ union. The law combines two problematic trends in Chicago: ever rising taxes on every aspect of life and paternalistic regulations dictating proper living.Ĭook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle proposed the tax which will bring in more needed money. The tax passed yesterday by a close vote. While I agree with the sentiment (and we try to keep sugary drinks away from our kids except on rare occasions), I view these laws as ineffective, regressive, and paternalistic. Now he has successfully targeted my home city of Chicago with a $1 million contribution to pass a heavy tax on sugary beverages in Cook County and it appears that it may pass. Years ago, I wrote a series of columns contesting the legality and the logic of his ban on sugary drinks, which were later struck down by the courts. Leaders in Cook County and Chicago got a hand from experienced volunteers in the Rockford chapter, and now they're ready to mentor new leaders who are kicking off a new chapter on March 4th in DuPage County, Illinois.Michael Bloomberg is back with his Big Gulp obsession. watermelon water (blend watermelon to a liquid, then strain)ģ or 4 mint leaves What's next? A new chapter kickoff Illinois volunteers are celebrating with an original cocktail developed by Yvonne Petterson - the Crook County Corruption Buster.ġ oz. One other secret to the chapter's success? Keeping your sense of humor and having fun. Represent Rockford chapter leaders were there to offer guidance to the chapters while they navigated the resolution process. The chapters leading the charge on this campaign were relatively new, but they didn't have to go it alone. "Volunteering is about showing up," Steven told a group of Represent.Us volunteers on a victory call. Once you've made that decision, he says, it's about being present. "I've seen politics divide and take control, and I've seen how partisanship can divide families. Steven Herrmann, who helped launch Represent Chicago, got started by deciding he had to do something. New chapter leaders from Cook County and Chicago stepped up to push this campaign forward. What Does Victory Taste Like? Stepping up, Getting Advice, and a CocktailĪt the core of this success story? Leaders rising to the occasion, and taking the time to help each other out. The chapter found a champion on the inside in Cook County commissioner Tobolski, and brought the Resolution to the full group of commissioners when the tide turned their way. They mentored a newly launched Represent Chicago chapter, and together reached out to Cook County commissioners to set up one-on-one meetings, pitching the Anti-Corruption Resolution to them and rallying support. It was a big goal for a city with a " culture of corruption" and a list of corruption scandals so brazen they sound like politicians stole them from a 1940's noir film.īut the chapter wasn't about to let a bad Hollywood-esque history stop them. Nine months ago, the chapter set its sights on passing an Anti-Corruption Resolution in Chicago and Cook County. The Cook County chapter launched in April of 2017 and built its leadership team and strategy, growing in size to seven leaders and dozens of chapter members. Winning in a City With a Culture of Corruption Here's how it happened, and how Represent.Us volunteers had fun along the way. With a population of over 5 million people, it's the largest population area that’s passed one yet. Represent.Us members in Illinois just won our biggest victory of the year by passing an Anti-Corruption Resolution in the city of Chicago and all of Cook County.Īfter nine months of work from Represent.Us members in the Cook County and Chicago Represent.Us chapters, lawmakers unanimously voted to pass the resolution - a recommendation from the local government to adopt a binding Anti-Corruption Act. RepresentUs has a smart plan to fix our broken political system. Copy and paste the text below, or send it in a new email message: You should really see this.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |