Commissioner Suffredin calls on Todd Stroger to resign
I have today sent a letter to Todd Stroger asking him to resign as President of the Cook County Board. I call for this extreme action because of the continuing circumstances that demonstrate his lack of leadership or lack of interest in the functioning of the County. Cook County is one of the largest governments in the United States with a budget of over $3 billion it needs a competent full-time administrator.
His cousin, Chief Financial Officer Donna Dunnings, resigned in the dead of last night because of serious unexplained issues. Ms. Dunning has been the de facto President of the County Board telling her cousin when to talk and what to do. She has developed and put in place hiring processes that benefited President Stroger’s friends and family and is the architect of the latest plan to borrow more money than the County needs. If she has to resign, then the person who gave her all this power should follow her lead as he has on every other important County issue.
Unfortunately, Illinois does not have a recall provision for elected officials who have lost the confidence of their constituents.
Click here to read my letter to President Stroger.
Family movie night at Touhy Park
49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore, the Touhy Park Advisory Council and I are pleased to sponsor the showing of Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa at Touhy Park, 7348 N Paulina St., on July 22, 2009, beginning at dusk.
Property Assessments in Rogers Park Township open for appeal to the Cook County Assessor
Residents of Rogers Park Township are now able to appeal their 2009 property assessment to the Cook County Assessor. The deadline for appeal is July 31, 2009.
Click here for more information on the appeals process.
Statement by Commissioner Suffredin on sales tax veto
On May 5, 2009 I voted to repeal 1% of the Cook County sales tax. This measure passed 12-3 with 2 commissioners absent. President Stroger vetoed the bill and yesterday I voted to over- ride his veto. The over ride vote was 11-4 with 2 commissioners voting present. The over ride needed 14 votes to be successful.
After the over- ride vote I voted to repeal ¾% of the Cook County Sales tax immediately and 1/4% in a year. This measure passed with 10 votes but President Stroger indicates that he will veto it. If he does then the veto over ride would be taken up on June 2, 2009.
While I believed on February 28, 2008 that the 1% sales tax increase was the right approach to stabilizing the County, especially with the establishment of the Independent Professional Health Board, that I sponsored, to run our Health System. The Health Board now controls $1.1 billion in spending that President Stroger previously controlled and mismanaged.
Today, because of the economic reality of the times we live in and because the Independent Health Board is doing their job I believe we can and need to repeal the 1% sales tax. Repeal of this sales tax will stimulate the Cook County retail community and create more jobs. This repeal will also have a boomerang effect and cause shoppers who have left Cook County to come back and shop in Cook County.
I will continue to push for the repeal.
Statement by Commissioner Suffredin on Special Board Meeting of April 23, 2009
Today the Cook County Board held a Special Meeting to assure the citizens of Cook County that reasonable and prudent steps have been taken to protect the finances of Cook County in light of the sudden resignation of the Chief Financial Officer.
The meeting was necessitated by the lack of explanation from President Stroger about the circumstances of the requested resignation of the CFO and the procedures he was taking to protect the public’s money.
The meeting heard from four financial professionals who outlined the steps they were taking to show the public that there was no danger to the public’s funds.
The four were:
- Mr. Fratto stated he will be for a short-term basis the full-time CFO. Deputy Chief of Staff Pam Munizzi will handle his other duties. He then outlined a series of internal auditing procedures that that he has begun to investigate the integrity of the current financial situation. He believes his actions will protect the County’s funds and those funds generated by Federal Grants. He will be reporting to the Board on details of his work at each future County Board meeting.
- Mr. Morales has reviewed all expenditures personally generated by the former CFO and pending the completed audit he does not see any irregularities at this time. He reviewed the procedures in place by his office to limit the possibility of any irregularities. He pledged to support all audits internal and external and to release information in a timely manner.
- Mr. Morris stated that the former CFO has been the team leader on the Bonds the County has been working on issuing in May 2009 for $251 million. He believes Mr. Fratto will be able to substitute as the leader of the team. Mr. Morris and Mr. Fratto will deal with the rating agencies in an attempt to get a favorable interest rate for the County. Any downgrade in the rating of these bonds by the rating agencies could cost the taxpayers up to $10 million in additional interest.
- Mr. Hagen said that the external 2008 audit will continue as planned and that preliminary results should be available shortly. He stated that his team will perform additional reviews to insure the integrity of the County’s financial system in light of the CFO’s departure. He also said that his team will make suggestions to the County Auditor on procedures to be used on an internal review of all matters pertaining to the CFO.
At the end of the meeting these four witnesses had vouched for the current integrity of the financial system of the County. All stated that they will report immediately any changes in their view to the County Board. At this time they have taken on the responsibility to protect the public’s treasury.
Click here for the meeting agenda.
Click here to read my letter to President Stroger concerning witnesses at the Special Meeting.
2009 Cook County Budget Lacks Incentives for Accountability from President Stroger
On February 20, 2009 the Cook County Budget was passed without any incentives to make President Todd Stroger accountable to the citizens of Cook County. I voted along with Commissioner Mike Quigley against the budget. The budget contained no new taxes and modest cuts in spending.
While I was able to stop a last minute attempt to bond $740,000,000 worth of unnecessary debt, this issue is not dead yet. President Stroger has said he will continue to push for this borrowing. I will continue to oppose all bonding.
This budget contains serious underestimates of key revenues and no requirement for real management of the County’s business. The underestimate of revenue takes away any incentive to maximize various earned revenue sources from the Federal and State governments. It also allows for a sloppy management style since there will be no incentive to meet budgeted goals because there will be extra funds available during the year.
In addition, the budget doesn’t hold President Stroger responsible for properly managing the County workforce and procurement practices. As the recentcourt losses on hiring issues pertaining to employees fired for egregious reasons show, this type of mismanagement can cost taxpayers millions. Also, improper procurement practices have led to millions in contract overpayments.
The only bright spots in this budget are the management gains taxpayers have seen from having the Cook County Health and Hospitals System Board, the independent board that has operated the county’s healthcare system for nearly 6 months, and having Chief Judge Timothy Evans run for the last 8 months the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. These two changes, which I sponsored, have begun to correct years of patronage and contracting abuse. Both changes have increased our ability to maximize Federal and State funding and protect Cook County taxpayers.
I will continue to fight for accountability from President Stroger. I will also push for incentives to make President Stroger more responsible to the taxpayers.
Commissioner Suffredin refutes Cook County Pension Board tactics to scare retired senior citizens
The Cook County Pension Board and President Todd Stroger are taking advantage of retirees in an attempt to pass an ill-advised bond issue by sending out letters implying their pensions are at stake, according to Commissioner Larry Suffredin.
“The Stroger administration has hit a new low by using scare tactics on retirees in order to gain support for an ill-advised bond deal that will needlessly cost taxpayers millions in the long run,” said Commissioner Larry Suffredin. “The Stroger administration wants future generations to pay for their current mismanagement.”
In a letter sent out to pensioners, the Cook County Pension Fund alleges that the fund’s financial health is in jeopardy if the Cook County Board of Commissioners fails to approve a bond order to fill a funding gap. The Cook County Pension Fund is currently the best funded public pension fund in Illinois. Current pension benefits are not in jeopardy.
“There are plenty of alternatives to make a contribution to the pension fund, other than saddling the taxpayers with the costs of an expensive bond,” Commissioner Suffredin said. “The Stroger administration is endangering their relationship with retirees with these reckless claims.”
Commissioner Suffredin Announces Support for Shakman Awards to Cook County Residents Injured by Patronage Abuses
In November 2006, I was designated to negotiate the current Suppliment Relief Order (SRO) that the Cook County is now required to follow under the Shakman patronage case. I was able to negotiate an SRO that is the strongest protection the citizens of Cook County have ever had from political corruption. A copy of the SRO is attached here [LINK]. The SRO set in motion a process to give monitary payments to people who have been harmed by the business as usual Cook County patronage practices. I am happy that retired Judge Julia Nowicki was able to determine that 108 people will share $3.2 million. The current awards and the names of individuals are available here.
My hope is that all Cook County elected officials and administrators have learned their lesson and we will never have to pay out awards like this again.
Commissioner Suffredin’s Statement Opposing the President Todd Stroger’s Blanket Authority to Borrow or Refinance up to $3.75 Billion. Some of the borrowed money would be used to meet operating obligations.
Sadly twelve members of the Cook County Board, including four Republicans and eight Democrats passed a blanket Bonding Authority that allows President Todd Stroger to borrow or refinance up to $3.75 Billion without prior Board approval of the borrowing and to use the proceeds for operating obligations.
I along with Commissioners Forrest Claypool and Mike Quigley opposed this proposal. Our objections where based upon “prudent financial management standards” that would require President Stroger to obtain Board approval before any borrowing and would not allow borrowing for operating obligations. Our counter proposal would also have allowed for tax relief based upon any savings caused by refinancing existing debt.
As the three of us fought for these basic principles the other Commissioners passed window dressing amendments to make it appear they were meeting our concerns. In the end, though, their amendments did not change the basic premise of the borrowing authority: Todd Stroger has the sole authority to borrow or refinance up to $3.75 billion and he can use the proceeds to meet operating expenses. Todd Stroger is also under no obligation to use any savings to offer meaningful tax relief to our citizens.
As the financial markets continue to go through difficult times this is absolutely the wrong thing to do. This action will not stabilize our government’s future it will put us in a precarious position that could lead to financial problems for decades to come.
In the last year, I have fought hard to limit President Stroger’s control over County government. I sponsored the action that lead to taking control from Stroger of key governmental services at the Cook County Bureau of Health and the Juvenal Temporary Detention Center. These actions have removed Stroger’s control from over more than $1.1 Billion in spending and over 7,000 jobs. Authority for these services have been given to either an Independent Governance Board or the Chief Judge. I will continue to do what is right to protect the Taxpayers of Cook County.
Civic Federation Report on Real Property in Cook County
I am pleased to offer the Civic Federation’s report: Estimated Full Value of Real Property in Cook County: 1997-2006
North Shore Mosquito Abatement District
I am pleased to offer the 2008 Annual Report for the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District.
David Orr announces “Cook County Genealogy Online”
David Orr announces the launch of www.cookcountygenealogy.com, an online index and purchasing platform for Cook County Genealogy records.Genealogy records are defined as birth certificates older then 75 years, marriage licenses older than 50 years, or death certificates older than 20 years.These are all public records.
In its first two weeks, the 6,200 people from over 40 countries registered to use the site.
Questions about paying your property tax, your property tax refund, or exemptions?
Get answers at the Cook County Treasurer’s website” and link it to www.cookcountytreasurer.com.
Court upholds right of County to enact gun control laws
click here to read the Judge’s opinion.
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER LARRY SUFFREDIN ON 2008 BUDGET PASSAGE
At midnight on February 29th President Stroger was threatening to shut down Cook County Government unless his sales tax increase passed. I voted for a compromise that I believe offered the best chance for reforming Cook County and insuring that all vital services continued. I'm not totally happy about the compromise but it was a case of choosing the lesser of two evils.
As you are aware, President Stroger has been working for months to impose a sales tax increase to fund the county's budget. I have fought hard to stop that increase, because I do not believe a tax is necessary. We should reduce our spending to make government more efficient and avoid the tax. I presented many ideas to stop a tax increase that were voted down by the Commissioners supporting President Stroger.
Read more
Below find President Stroger's remarks at the presentation of his 2008 Budget recommendation and a link to information on the date and location of four public hearings on the budget.
* Budget remarks
* Budget briefing presentation
* Public hearing information
* 2008 Executive Budget
* FY2008 Department Hearing Schedule (no opportunity for public comment)
Suffredin Unveils Ordinance to Rein in Gun Shops
View the press release
View the proposed ordinance
Cook County Clerk's Report on TIFs
* Press Release from the Cook County Clerk
* TIF Report Executive Summary
* TIF Summary – Cook County
* Clerk's Website
Forest Preserve Restoration
Support restoration efforts and good stewardship in the Forest Preserves. Here's how you can help:
* Action Alert: Support Prescribed Burning
* Action Alert: Support Forest Preserve Restoration
Non-profit hospital tax-exempt status
Cook County Assessor James Houlihan report on tax exempt hospital valuation.
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability 2009 report on tax exemptions for non-profit hospitals
Health Policy Report
Protecting the Legacy of Caring for Vulnerable Populations:
An Action Agenda of the Cook County Health System
Through the efforts of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine Institute for Healthcare Studies, Health Management Associates and the Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute, a comprehensive study of Cook County health delivery systems was conducted. The resulting report and executive summary are attached. I will work in the coming days to implement the key recommendations of the study.
View Executive Summary
View Full report
Cook County Revenue System Report
Below find the Report on the Cook County Revenue System presented by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.
* Executive Summary
* Report
Chicago Public Schools and Gun Violence
Attached is the letter from CEO Arne Duncan that was part of the back to school packets given to all CPS students on the first day of school.
Veterans Benefits Resolution
The County Board passed a resolution authorizing a referendum to be placed on the February 5, 2008 primary election ballot. As a co-sponsor of this measure, I believe that an affirmative vote on this referendum will show a strong show of support for our Veterans and our troops.
Read resolution.
Cook County Clerk's Voting Equipment Reports
* Final April 17, 2007 Election Assessment
* Election Report 4-19-07
* Election Report 3-36-07
* Election Report 3-19-07
* Election Report 3-12-07
* Election Report 3-5-07
* Election Report 2-26-07
* Election Report 2-19-07
* Election Report 2-12-07
* Election Report 2-5-07
President Steele's Transition Report
I am pleased to present President Steele's Health and Hospitals Transition Team's final report.
View report
Evanston Legislators call upon residents to help combat domestic violence by recycling old cell phones
Are you getting a new phone this holiday season? U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg, State Representative Julie Hamos, and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin encourage you to donate your old cell phones to help combat domestic violence.
Used wireless phones can be dropped off at the Evanston Legislative Offices during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, located at 820 Davis St., 1st Floor, Evanston, IL 60201.
More information
Cook County Transition Team Final Report
I am pleased to offer the final report of President Steele's Transition Team. This report will be given to President-Elect Todd Stroger as a guide to reforming Cook County.
View report.
Shakman Settlement: Statement of Larry Suffredin
On November 29, 2006, The Cook County Board of Commissioners agreed to enter into a settlement agreement on behalf of Cook County with the plaintiffs in the federal court Shakman lawsuit. The settlement will resolve all pending civil matters related to any alleged violation of the Shakman consent decrees under the offices of the President and will allow the citizens of Cook County to have full confidence that the County is moving forward with both fair and honest administration of government and that the hiring of non-exempt positions are done so without the influence of politics. U.S. District Court Judge Wayne Andersen entered the order on November 30, 2006 accepting the settlement agreement. Read full statement .
Read related documents:
* County Shakman Administration Information Page
* Judge Nowicki's Report (1/3/07)
* Judge Anderson's Order
* Shakman ordinance
Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Update
Please see the latest report of the John Howard Association on the JTDC. This report is disappointing since The Board had been assured that many of the issues raised had been corrected. As the link to both the Tribune and Defender Stories on this report indicate we have a long way to go before we can be proud of the work at the JTDC. I will continue to push for reforms.
Read related documents & articles:
* Monitor Report - 2/07
* March 28, 2007 report from the John Howard Association
* Chicago Bar Association Blue Ribbon Committee Report (1/11/07)
* Stroger's wise move (Tribune 1/12/07)
* Modified Implementation Plan (1/3/07)
* Juvenile center reforms detailed (Chicago Tribune, 1/9/07)
* Plan for Fixing Jail Ready (Sun-Times, 1/9/07)
* Juvenile center boss rips reform report (Chicago Tribune, 11/30/06)
* Juvenile center not cooperating: monitor (Sun-Times, 11/21/06)
* Friction at Youth Center Reported (Chicago Tribune, 11/21/06)
* Juvenile center chided on reform (Chicago Tribune, 10/18/06)
* New report indicate county juvenile detention center flawe (Chicago Defender, 10/19/06)
* John Howard Association report
Crain's: Suffredin seeking $200 million a year to fund county system
By Mike Colias and Greg Hinz (October 8, 2006)
A Cook County commissioner wants to squeeze as much as $200 million a year from local hospitals to help fund the county's cash-starved health system.
Commissioner Larry Suffredin says he'll introduce a measure in coming weeks that will pose a choice to the county's more than 50 non-profit hospitals: Offer more free medical services to ease the burden on the struggling county hospital system, contribute cash to that system or pay property taxes.
Read the entire article.
Forest Preserve Land Management
I am pleased to present the Executive Order issued Oct. 3, 2006 by President Steele concerning best management practices in the Forest Preserve District.
View Executive Order.
The County & The FBI
Statement of Larry Suffredin
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois have done the citizens of Cook County a favor by executing a search warrant and serving Grand Jury subpoenas concerning Cook County 's hiring process. This investigation is an opportunity for the County Board to redesign the employment rules and bring transparency that will give the citizens and our County and Forest Preserve employees confidence that merit and qualifications are the sole criteria for hiring, transfers and promotions.
The nearly 26,000 County and Forest Preserve jobs belong to the public and the public has a right to fair access to those jobs. President Bobbie Steele has made a good first step in issuing Executive Order 2 on employment. This Executive Order and the Shakman Consent Decree on hiring, transfer and promotion must now become the basis for a new employment ordinance. I will introduce such an ordinance at the October 4, 2006 Board meeting.
We should all be glad that the Federal Government has helped exposed the old system of hiring that was part of the 1950's or earlier style of politics. A new ordinance must have clear job rights and protections similar to Federal workers. The lack of a strong law has made County and Forest Preserve workers the object of scorn.
I trust that this action will give hope to our many dedicated County and Forest Preserve workers and that their futures will be decided by their efforts and not by outside political forces. If we are successful, then in the future County workers will have the same standing in society that Federal workers have now.
See related articles:
* Feds seize county hiring records Chicago Sun-Times 9/22/06
* FBI raids county Daily Herald 9/22/06
* FBI raid targets county job files Chicago Tribune 9/22/06
* Steele's Executive Order 06-2- Banning Political Hiring 8/29/06
Military Style Assault Weapons Ban Referendum on 11-7-06 Ballot
In order to protect our children and communities, I sponsored the attached resolution to place the following question on the November 7, 2006 Ballot:
“For the health and safety of children and the entire community, shall the State of Illinois enact a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, sale, delivery and possession of military-style assault weapons and .50 caliber rifles?”
Please encourage your friends and family to vote for it.
Read Resolution.
Online Legislative Library Launched
I am pleased to announce the launch of a new, comprehensive Cook County and Forest Preserve District legislative library accessible on this website.
www.suffredin.org/legislativelibrary
The library is the first of its kind for Cook County government and includes all ordinances passed or proposed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and Forest Preserve District of Cook County since I took office in December 2002. My office will be working to ensure that this library is continuously updated.
Rogers Park to receive new Federally Qualified Health Center
Heartland International Health Center, an affiliate of Heartland Alliance
to be new community health provider. Read more
Chicago Journal: Just what the doctor ordered IndiaPost.com: Quality care for diverse Rogers Park community
Heartland Alliance Report
I am pleased to present the Heartland Alliance recent report, Building on our Success: Moving from Health Coverage to Improved Access and Comprehensive Well-Being for Illinois Children and Youth. This report, funded by the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, documents the barriers in Illinois to achieving a healthy life in the areas of physical, mental and oral health, as well as nutrition issues and insurance coverage, and makes recommendations for improving well-being for children and youth.
* View Report
* Press Release
* Youth Survey
