The Rundown: Democrats face pressure to take action on crime

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during an assembly
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during an assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during an assembly
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during an assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Manuel Martinez / WBEZ

The Rundown: Democrats face pressure to take action on crime

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Hey there! It’s Monday, and I’m revisiting this classic clip in honor of National Library Week. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. Illinois Republicans are making the handling of crime a major theme of this year’s elections

State Democrats are under pressure this week to take legislative action to combat crime — an issue that could help define upcoming elections.

With their spring session set to end Friday, Democratic supermajorities in both the House and Senate are running out of time to shore up their public safety records. Republicans have already seized the party’s perceived inaction on the issue as a key part of their campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who is seeking a second term this fall.

As my colleague Dave McKinney reports: “Crime is an issue that threatens to move voters, potentially displacing typical election year themes like education, health care and state finances in importance.” [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot today announced a new program that offers “rebates up to certain limits” to cover security cameras, motion sensors and vehicle GPS trackers.

As Fran Spielman at the Chicago Sun-Times reports: “All subsidized camera systems will be registered with the Chicago Police Department to serve as a force-multiplier in crime-plagued neighborhoods and help provide inundated CPD officers with the video evidence they need to solve violent crime.” [Sun-Times]

The news comes as recent police data shows that shootings and homicides in the city were down in the first three months of 2022 compared to last year. However, experts warned that it’s too soon to say if the surge in violent crime will continue to decline. [Tribune]

2. President Joe Biden says civilian killings in Ukraine are a war crime and vows to impose more sanctions

As images showing mass graves and civilian bodies scattered across residential streets emerge from Ukraine, President Joe Biden said today he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin should be charged with a war crime.

“This guy is brutal, and what’s happening in Bucha is outrageous, and everyone’s seen it,” Biden told reporters today, adding that the U.S. plans to impose additional sanctions on Moscow in response.

His comments come as Russian troops retreat from the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Moscow has denied responsibility for the killings, dubbing them a “cynical lie” perpetrated by the West. [NYT]

Meanwhile, two pro-Putin leaders won reelection in Hungary and Serbia. [NPR]

3. A lawsuit alleges a clout-heavy company fraudulently collected millions from Illinois

For years, a small handful of companies have made millions through an Illinois program that allows them to buy state debt and charge Springfield penalties for late payments.

Now, a recently unsealed lawsuit alleges one of those businesses — the Chicago-based Vendor Assistance Program LLC — engaged in fraud to avoid paying Illinois taxes on their profits, WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos and Dave McKinney report.

The civil suit accuses VAP’s investors, which include a Chicago lobbyist with ties to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, of setting up two out-of-state companies and making “secret and illegal” transfers of debt they purchased from the state to those other entities.

In a statement to WBEZ, a spokeswoman for the company denied the charges: “VAP has never violated any terms or conditions of the Vendor Payment Program and has accurately reported all income it has received from the Program.” [WBEZ]

4. Politics are getting in the way of climate action, a new U.N. report warns

The latest United Nations climate report is out today, and there’s good news and bad news when it comes to global warming.

The good news? The world is already well-equipped with solutions to combat climate change, especially as renewable energy sources like wind and solar power become cheaper and therefore more attractive substitutes for emission-heavy fossil fuels.

However, the report’s authors warn, many global leaders lack the political will needed to implement those solutions — and time is running out to prevent the worst environmental impacts.

Here’s a look at what immediate actions experts say must be taken to stave off the crisis. [CNN]

5. Elon Musk is now Twitter’s largest shareholder

The tech billionaire known for self-driving cars and commercial space flights now has a 9.2% stake in the popular social media platform.

Regulatory filings made public today said the purchase — worth $3 billion — fit the criteria for a long-term “passive” investment. But some experts doubt the outspoken entrepreneur will stand back for long. A frequent Twitter user with more than 80 million followers, Musk has questioned the platform’s approach to free speech and said he has given serious thought to creating his own social media network.

“Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?” he tweeted in late March, giving his audience the option to respond. “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.”

Twitter stock was up nearly 30% on Monday. [AP]

Here’s what else is happening

  • As expected, Senate Democrats today advanced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination toward a full Senate vote. [NPR]

  • General Iron wants to reopen its Lincoln Park scrapyard after the city rejected its proposed move to the Southeast Side. [Sun-Times]

  • A trial begins today to decide whether Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a Florida high school, gets the death penalty. [NPR]

  • DIY GRRL, a new woman-led collective in Humboldt Park, is teaching Chicagoans life skills like how to change a tire. [Block Club Chicago]

Oh, and one more thing …

A few months ago, a Lincoln Park High School student posted a video online featuring classmates making offensive comments about race and dating.

In response, Curious City partnered with WBEZ’s education team to talk with teens about their experiences with racism in Chicago’s public schools.

Here’s what five students had to say about stereotypes, relationships and how schools can do better at helping people from different backgrounds relate to one another. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

We’ve been stuck with a bunch of rainy weather lately, but you know what they say — April showers bring May flowers! What are you planting in your garden or windowsill pots this spring?

I’ve been contemplating giving an herb garden another go, but given that my green thumb is sorely lacking, I’ll probably just try to keep my one remaining houseplant alive. (Sorry, Grandma!)

What about you? Send us your ideas and we may share them here this week.