Contribute to Haitian Relief Efforts
The 13th District is home to one of the largest concentrations of Haitian Americans in the United States. As you know, a 7.0 magnitude has devastated the nation of Haiti and created a terrible humanitarian disaster.
Click here for information on how to contribute to non-governmental organizations that are already on the ground in Haiti and have the ability to immediately deploy additional relief resources.
Commissioner Suffredin sponsors ordinance that gives local cities and villages a say in any red light camera.
The measure passed June 15, 2010. The ordinance allows any municipality to "opt-out" of the County's pilot red light camera program.
Commissioner Suffredin authors and sponsors ordinances to restrict Todd Stroger's power and increase transparency
On May 4, 2010, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved three ordinances to increase transparency in County government.
Ordinance 10-O-23 requires the Purchasing Agent to notify the County Board anytime the County enters into a contract that is below the threshold for Board approval. This ordinance will stop the abuse of so-called "24-9" contracts.
Ordinance 10-O-24 requires that the County Board receive notice of any hiring, transfers, reclassification, salary adjustments or firing for high-level employees.
Ordinance 10-O-25 freezes County expenditures for personnel at levels commesurate with current staffing needs. President Todd Stroger vetoed this ordinance, but a motion to override his veto will be introduced for the next Board Meeting with enough cosponsors to override his veto.
UPDATE: I am disappointed that the County Board failed to override President Stroger's veto of the spending freeze. I will continue to work for transparency and accountability at the County.
Niles Township property reassessments open for appeal to the Cook County Assessor
Homeowners in Niles Township can appeal their 2010 Property Reassessments to the Cook County Assessor. The deadline for appeal is August 27, 2010 for Niles Township.
Click here for more information on the appeals process.
Commissioner Suffredin leads the way on sales tax repeal
The People of Cook County finally got sales tax relief! After four tries and a change in State law lowering the number of votes necessary to override a veto, the Cook County Board was able to override President Todd Stroger’s veto of a .50% reduction of the sales tax. The rate now for Cook County will be below 10% - a barrier that cost Cook County sales revenue and retail jobs. Thank you for your help in passing this repeal.
Yellow Line Extension to Old Orchard Road
The CTA is considering proposals to extend the Yellow Line from Dempster Street to Old Orchard Road. The scoping report summarizing the public's participation and comments thus far is available for viewing on the CTA's website.
Updates on 2009 Second Installment Property Tax Bills (payable in 2010)
It appears that the 2009 Second Installment Property Tax Bills will be issued past the statutorily-mandated deadline of August 1st. Delays in the issuance of these tax bills can have tax implications for homeowners and strain the finances of municipalities, school districts and other governments.
Click here to find updates from the Cook County Assessor and Cook County Board of Review on progress being made to finish the assessment of all Cook County properties so that tax bills can be prepared.
Foreclosure Mediation Program
Following the lead of the County Board in approving a Mortgage Mediation and Outreach Program, the Circuit Court of Cook County issued and Order signed by Judge Dorothy Kinnaird to implement the program, which will provide free assistance to Cook County homeowners facing foreclosure. Homeowners who received a foreclosure summons should call the toll-free help line at (877) 895-2444.
- www.cookcountyforeclosurehelp.org
- More information on the program is available here.
- Click here for the press release from Chief Judge Timothy Evans regarding the program.
- Click here for a sample foreclosure summons.
- Click here for a list of IHDA housing agencies.
Suffredin announces Re-Election to the County Board
After reviewing a run for President of the Cook County Board, Commissioner Larry Suffredin announced today that he will not run for President, but will run for re-election as Commissioner of the 13th District.
Suffredin said “I am committed to working to get new leadership in the Office of President of the Cook County Board. I will dedicate my efforts to insuring that the reform agenda that I worked on with Congressman Mike Quigley and Commissioner Forrest Claypool is the agenda of the next President. This reform agenda of both accountability and transparency is the only way to reduce taxes.”
“First, my efforts will go to overturning President Todd Stroger’s third veto of a repeal of the County sales tax at the Board meeting on September 1, 2009. The County is in a strong financial position and can afford to grant this tax relief. The $283 million crisis that the County faced in February, 2008, when the tax was enacted, has passed. The key to solving this crisis was the establishment of an Independent Health and Hospital Board which I proposed and which has brought -- for the first time-- professional management to the Health and Hospital System which spends nearly $1 billion and treats almost 1 million people annually.”
In keeping with that substantial advance, Suffredin assured that “I will work to strengthen and expand the Independent Health and Hospital Board’s powers to continue system-wide reforms”.
Other issues that Suffredin will be working on in the coming months include:
1. Immediate consideration and passage of the 2010 Budget with substantial cost savings;
2. Change in State law to reduce the extraordinary majority of votes now necessary to override a veto by the Board President;
3. Consolidation of the many property-tax functions in one centralized County office;
4. Full compliance with the Shakman Decree on hiring and transfers of employees;
5. Transparency on all County contracts; and
6. Continued improvement in land restoration at the Cook County Forest Preserve District and increased utilization of the Forest Preserves by our citizens.
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.
Have old computer equipment?
PC Rebuilders and Recyclers refurbishes donated computer systems and provides them to schools, non-profit organizations and families of at-risk children. Any unusable components are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. For more information, including drop-off hours and locations, go to www.pcrr.com.
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.”
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 2009 Annual Report for the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District. Past years' reports can be found on the District's website.
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.
Cook County Clerk's Report on TIFs
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.
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.
Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Updates
I will continue to post information related to the administration of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. The JTDC is under a court decree in the Doe case to provide a healthy and safe environment for the children it houses. Many problems exist in the operation and continued court monitoring is necessary to improve the situation.
You can see relevant information to the JTDC here.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Report
I am pleased to offer the report "Two Decades of JDAI: From Demonstration Project to National Standard," from the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative and the Anne E. Casey Foundation.
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.
