Newsletter -September 2025

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Newsletter Highlights


League Observers Report on Cook County Budget Meetings


Inspector General - What That Office Does



Local Leagues Energized with Fall Events

When you pray move your feet

African proverb

LWVCC Observer Corp

LWVCC members observe and report on board and committee meetings of Cook County government entities to keep you informed.



To read more: LWVCC Observer Reports

Recent Observer Reports Highlights

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Finance Committee July 29, 2025

Office of the Treasurer – Maria Pappas

  • Treasurer Pappas presented information on revenue from her office. The actuals have exceeded budgeted as the office provided very conservative numbers during the budget process. 
  •  Pappas presented data on the numbers reached and results of their program “Black and Latino Houses Matter,” radio shows on stations popular in those communities. These programs are committed to presenting helpful information on avoiding the homeowner pitfalls of delinquencies, late payments, etc.
  •  The remainder of the time with Treasurer Pappas was reviewing her office’s issues with Tyler Technologies and the project for the Integrated Property Tax System. Pappas was extremely disturbed by the problems that have arisen in getting correct information for property tax bills, the time it takes to correct mistakes, and general non-responsiveness of Tyler. She indicated she documents all issues in letters to Tyler as she is concerned legal issues may arise from this project. Treasurer Pappas advised the Commissioners that she had plans to bring in a consultant she trusts to review Tyler’s work, progress and problems, with the intent of determining what may be done to resolve same. 


Office of the Sheriff – Tom Dart

  •  Sheriff Dart expects to be on budget at end of year with possible marginal increases generally related to increased costs of food at jail and increase in the jail population
  •  Dart indicated a major issue for those released can be lack of phone service, with no way to contact help or services, some get lost. 
  • The Office works with Cermak Hospital to identify programs for aftercare and connecting released people to behavioral/mental health providers
  • Electronic Monitoring: Transfer of responsibility to the Chief Judge is slower than expected; population in program is up; need to set level at which transition to Chief Judge is considered complete so can reassign officers currently used by the program to other areas
  • Cost of detaining individuals in County jail: $240/individual/day

 

LWVCC Interest Groups keep members informed about important activities of our local government.

Upcoming Meetings

All Local League members are invited to participate in these interest group meetings

Budget & Structure Tuesday Sept. 30, 10 am via Zoom

Contact info@lwvcookcounty.org


Criminal Justice Thursday, Sept. 18, 9 am via Zoom

Contact Jan Goldberg


Forest Preserve Thursday, Oct. 2, 8:30 am via Zoom

Contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com

Budget and Structure Interest Group

We Learn, We Report, We Make a Difference

Who are the Inspector Generals in County government?

 

  • Cook County, the Forest Preserve, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District have Inspector General Offices. These Offices are there to hold the governments and the people who work for, or do business with, the governments accountable. The purpose of the Offices is to detect, deter and prevent corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination or misconduct in the operation of the County/MWRD governments.

 

  • No one is exempt from an investigation by the Offices whether the person is an elected official, employee, contractor, or person seeking to do business with these governments. The Offices are authorized to conduct investigations due to a complaint filed with their office or to initiate an investigation on their own initiatives. 


  • Following completion of an investigation, the respective Office prepares a report that will contain a determination as to whether there has been any violation and recommendations as to what should be done or improved upon to prevent future issues from arising. A summary of these reports is then provided by each Office on a quarterly basis, which is available to the public. Those summaries never contain the names of those involved, whether the subject of the investigation or interviewed as part of the investigation. 

 

  • Tirrell Paxton is the current Cook County Inspector General, having been appointed to that positions last year. Through an intergovernmental agreement, he also serves in that role for the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Patrick Blanchard recently became the Interim Inspector General for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (“MWRD”). For the last several years, Mr Paxton and his predecessors also provided that service for the MWRD through a separate intergovernmental agreement. Mr. Blanchard was one of those predecessors. In fact, he was the County’s first Inspector General, serving in that position from 2008 thru 2022.


  • The Budget and Structure Group of the Cook County League reviews each of these quarterly reports. Periodically, the League will submit comments to the respective government Board, generally urging follow-up by the Board. To read the current (dated July 15, 2025) or past quarterly reports, go to Cook County IG Reports and MWRD IG Reports.


Criminal Justice Interest Group


  • Jan Goldberg, Laura Davis, Bev Graham, Tina Brady-Pettis, and Mamie Smith visited the University of Chicago Crime Lab Director Katie Hill on Aug. 12. The were treated to a long interview in which Ms. Hill anticipated many of questions by providing data-driven charts. The Crime Lab make policy recommendations for educators, police, and to the community violence intervention groups based on their research.


  • Five Appleseed Lawyers have released a new report on the effects of the Pretrial Fairness Act on Electronic Monitoring. They graded the act as successful in reducing the number of re-arrests for minor infractions. They graded as unsuccessful the 60 day review mandated for judges.


  • The Civic Committee and other Chicago area businesses will be donating $100 million to community violence intervention groups to help make up for federal funding cuts.


  •  Our next book discussion will be on Thursday October 23 at 9AM via zoom. The book will be "The Many Lives of Mama Love" by Lara Love Hardin.


  • Our next regular meeting will be on Sept. 18, 2025 9 am via zoom.

  • To participate in these meetings, please contact Jan Goldberg


Forest Preserve Interest Group


Nature is our Business

Forest Preserve Educational Events


Cook County Forest Preserves present many educational events. Recently, they have partnered with the Midwest Undergound Railroad Network on walks through the Forest Preserves following the trail of "Freedom Seekers" who traveled the Underground Railroad through the south Chicagoland region. Check out the Forest Preserve Web Site for an event near you.

Forest Preserve Encroachment


Here is an example of encroachment on Forest Preserve land. This homeowner created a walkway from his property into a Forest Preserve.

Next team meeting is Thursday Oct. 2, 2025 - 8:30am on zoom. If interested, contact Laura Davis  Lauramdavis90@gmail.com

Local League Honored

The LWV of Oak Park River Forest was honored by the Village of Oak Park marking August 26 Women's Equality Day. See their Facebook Page for a video of the event.

Local League Upcoming Events

September 18, 9:30 am In Person

LWV Oak Park River Forest

Coffee and Conversation

BUILD Chicago: Gang intervention, violence prevention, youth development in Austin

Oak Park Public Library

834 Lake St.

Oak Park, IL 60301


Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 pm In person

LWV Palos Orland Area

Becoming an Informed Citizen

How to Spot Mis & Dis-Information and AI generated deepfakes

Speakers: LWVPOA Co-President Elaine Savage & VP of Communications Sheryl Szot Gallaher

Lemont Public Library District

50 E Wend St, Lemont, IL 60439



Thursday, September 25, 7-8:30 pm In person

LWV La Grange Area

Recent Supreme Court Cases

Speaker: Jan Goldberg

Brookfield Public Library

3541 Park Avenue

Brookfield, Il 60153


Thursday, October 2, 7-8:30pm In person

LWV La Grange Area

Project 2025 and Our Democracy: Can Both Survive?

La Grange Public Library,

10 W. Cossitt Ave.

La Grange, Il 60525


October 9, 6:00 pm In Person

LWV Oak Park River Forest

Can Local Journalism Survive?

Oak Park Public Library

834 Lake St.

Oak Park, IL 60301


October 16, 6:30 pm In Person

LWV Oak Park River Forest

Drinks and Dialogue

Use of the National Guard within the United States.

Speaker: Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy, ACLU Illinois

Friendly Tap

6733 Roosevelt Road

Berwyn, IL 60402
 


2025-2026 Cook County League Board Members 

OFFICERS: President: Diane Edmundson, Chicago; Vice-President, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Vice-President, Susan Gregory, Glenview-Glencoe; Secretary: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Treasurer: Trudy Turner, Evanston.

Board members: Victoria Cerinich, Palos-Orland Park Area; Laura Davis, Palatine;  Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area ; Betty Hayford, Evanston; Pris Mims, Chicago; Sandra Slayton, Homewood-Flossmoor

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government; to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.

_________________________

League of Women Voters of Cook County

332 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 634, Chicago, IL 60604

312-939-5935

lwvcookcounty.org

League of Women Voters of Cook County | 332 S. Michigan Av., Suite 634 | Chicago, IL 60604 US

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