WWHP Newsletter February 2016

Vol. 3, No. 5

January 2016

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS,
GIVING YOU A VOICE IN THE SYSTEM

In the Illinois 2014 primary, the Republican primary voters picked Bruce Rauner to run and the Democratic primary voters gave Governor Pat Quinn the nod to run for re-election. Chicago had a record low turnout of 16 percent (the State's was 19%). Thus, when you ask, "Did you vote?" of someone who complains about something the governor or a senator is doing, unfortunately, the usual response will be " no." Even in the general election in 2014, turnout was only about 50 percent.

The primary is a time you can make your vote count more than the general election. In the general election, now Governor Rauner received 1,781,052 to Governor Pat Quinn's 1,609,152. If you voted, your vote was literally one in 3.3 million. However, in the Republican primary, Rauner received 328,934 votes and Kirk Dillard received 305,120 votes. Less than 21,000 votes separated the now governor from his closest opponent. If you add the democratic votes in the primary, fewer than 1.3 million people voted. So, a vote in the primary can be three times as powerful as it is in the general election.

So why is this important? In a primary with a low turnout, an excited, energized minority is more likely to control who wins the nomination. Then, candidates do not need to focus on what the average citizen wants or cares about; they only have to cater to the vocal minority. That is one reason we are seeing more extremes taking over our politics. With only 16% of the population voting, it only takes a few people to shift an election. In addition, candidates running for re-election only need to move a small number of people to insure they stay in office for another two to four years.

However, it isn't just statewide races that are important. If you are lucky enough to live in a district with an open or contested Congressional seat, State Senate or House seat, your votes are very important. For example, in the 10th District for the Illinois General Assembly, the current Representative Pamela Reaves-Harris won by only 313 more votes than the indicted incumbent, Rep Derrick Smith.

Your Vote Matters

But voting isn't enough. Being informed is also a requirement for our democracy to work. In Chicago there are many uncontested races. So, if you feel that your neighborhood is not being well represented, you should get involved in your local political organization. You should find someone able and willing to run against the incumbent to help shape your community, to make it a better and more vibrant place to live and work.

The primary is very important! So, LET's VOTE on March 15, 2016!

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Jacqueline B. Vaughn, Chicago Teachers Union Leader

Jacqueline B. Vaughn,the first African American and first woman to become president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), had a long history as an educator and union activist. Having started her teaching career in 1956 following graduation from Chicago Teachers College, Ms. Vaughn became part of the CTU's 800-member House of Delegates in 1957 and served in that capacity until 1961, when she was named a union field representative. In 1968, she became CTU's recording secretary, and in 1972, its vice president. In 1984, she was elected to succeed Robert M. Healy as president. During her tenure as the head of the CTU, Jacqueline Vaughn led three strikes in four years: 1984, 1985, and 1987. The last of those ended with the preservation of union seniority rights, pay and benefits.

Ms. Vaughn was also instrumental in securing a $1,000,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T.MacArthur Foundation to launch Chicago Teachers Union's Quest Center, which provides professional learning opportunities for CTU's members. The Quest Center observed its 23rd anniversary in 2015.

While serving in her various capacities at CTU, Jacqueline Vaughn also held leadership roles in larger teachers' organizations: as the vice president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1974 to 1994; as the vice president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers beginning in 1968, and then as its president from 1989 to 1994. Speaking about Ms. Vaughn, Rose Meyer, former Functional Vice President for High School Teachers in the CTU, and also a board member emeritus of Working Women's History Project, said,"She opened up the way for other women to ascend to leadership positions, and encouraged them in their progress."

At the time of her death in 1994, Jacqueline Vaughn was still serving as CTU's president. She will long be remembered as a fierce advocate for labor rights, one who achieved positive results for CTU's members.

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One Child Care Center, State Cuts, Three Stories

Patricia Payne, a social worker who retired in May, 2015, from the South Shore United Methodist Child Care Center at 7350 S. Jeffrey Boulevard tells of a parent, who works as a secretary at a different child care facility. She is the sole source of support for two children, one of whom has attended the Center since the age of three. When the Governor's emergency cuts took effect on July 1, 2015, she no longer qualified for a subsidy because her earnings exceeded 50% of the Federal Poverty Level. Leaving her daughter at the Center for a half day did not work with her schedule, so she put her into another center, paying the full fee. Her income was too high to qualify for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and getting a second job would require paying for more child care. Result: a sharply diminished income.

What happens to staff at the Center? As a Head Start Center, it provides services to children and families, and the Federal Government pays to provide half-day (3-hours) care. With too little income to support the two full-day classrooms, Director Corlis Wright explains that it falls to her to reduce one classroom to half time and to make 3 of her 8 staff half time. Those employees are extremely upset. They have worked there for a number of years and now their pay,not high to begin with, is being cut in half.

At the end of a school year students matriculate and leave the Center. In this case, 20 of the 40 students who usually attend are leaving. It is up to Director Wright to fill those slots. In early November when the Illinois legislature raised the eligibility to 162 percent of Federal Poverty Level from the previous 50 percent, some parents began moving their children back from half-day to full-day care. However, the Center only receives more money after that parent's application to the State has been approved. Processing of those papers takes over a month. In the meantime, the Center's cash reserves are at an all-time low.

So how does a Center like this survive? The fact is that not all do. South Shore belongs to the Henry Booth House / Near South Head Start and a couple of those centers have just folded. Asked how she deals with the tensions that these cuts have caused, Director Wright says at the end of some months, she looks at the balance in their bank account and tries to decide whether to pay the staff or pay the taxes owed for the previous quarter. Not an easy job.

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