Letters to Editor  

“Since announcing my campaign for Cook County Board President in December of 2008, I have been committed to repealing the sales tax increase. From Day 1, my focus will be on working to make that a reality.  I have already pledged to immediately take a 10% pay cut and call for a comprehensive personnel audit, beginning with the Office of the President.  

“Since Feb. 2^nd, we have put a lot of energy into trying to figure out what we are heading into. At this point, it has been suggested that we could be looking at a huge deficit next year. It would be irresponsible to cut resources without knowing more about the state of the County’s financial condition. I am committed to filling any budget gaps without burdening the people of Cook County.

“As Cook County Board President, my focus from Day 1 will be implementing responsible spending practices, eliminating waste and inefficiencies, and looking for non-tax resources so that we can repeal the remainder of the sales tax.

“Repealing the sales tax, while cleaning up corruption and providing services more effectively will feel like we’re fixing the plane while we’re flying it, but I am confident we will meet these challenges.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to remarks by Kentucky’s Republican Senate nominee, Rand Paul, who has repeatedly questioned the merits of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that bars discrimination.

“Rand Paul, Republican nominee for Senator in Kentucky , has startled the nation with his repudiation of hard won civil rights laws that have been central to the moral fabric of our democracy for half a century.  Those of us old enough to remember the images of lunch counters refusing to serve African-American diners are shocked that any 21^st century politician would even whisper let alone endorse a return to those days.

“Rand Paul is a proud Tea Party candidate who wants to represent the people of Kentucky and our nation as a whole as a United States Senator, yet he has a perspective that could not be further from the mainstream views of thoughtful, fair-minded Americans. It has become clear that Paul’s philosophy: “Let’s take our country back,” translates into, “Let’s take our country backward.”

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez greets retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at a legal luncheon in Chicago for the Chicago Bar Association.  Alvarez, who is the President of the CBA, introduced Justice O’Connor, who was the keynote speaker for the event.

A message from Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America — the Federal Trade Commission estimates that nearly 9 million people become victims of identity thieves every year.  Having your personal identification stolen can cost you financially, tarnish your credit record and take up months, if not years, to clear up.

There are several ways identity thieves gain access to your personal information:

• “Dumpster diving” – rummaging through your trash looking for personal information on discarded mail and old personal records
• Stealing mail from your mailbox
• “Phishing” – obtaining information over the internet through legitimate looking emails, websites and pop-up advertisements
• Pick-pocketing your wallet
• Obtaining your information from employees/insiders at banks, hospitals, schools and/or places of employment

You need to be vigilant about safeguarding your personal information.  While you cannot completely prevent someone from stealing your personal information, there are ways to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim:

• Don’t give it out your social security number unless absolutely necessary and never print it on your checks.  Don’t carry your social security card with you – keep it in a safe place.
• Empty your mailbox every day.
• Review credit card and telephone bills as soon as you receive them.  Call immediately if you see discrepancies, unauthorized or unexplained charges.
• Never give out personal information, including credit card or bank account numbers over the phone, email or internet unless you initiated the contact with the company.
• Shred any documents you are discarding that contain any personal information.
• Don’t carry unnecessary credit cards or other personal documents (passport, birth certificate) with you unless absolutely necessary.

You should also monitor your credit reports.  You are entitled to one free report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every year.  For information on how to request credit reports go to www.annualcreditreport.com. 

For more information on identity theft, visit my office website, www.statesattorney.org .

Consistently safeguarding your personal information can make an identity thief’s job more difficult, and keep your financial reputation in your own hands.

CHICAGO, IL - Cook County Assessor candidate Joseph Berrios unveiled a four-point plan for homeowners on his newly launched website www.electjoeberrios.com. The Berrios Plan will generate more money for Cook County, provide homeowners with fair assessments at market value, add new technology to make assessments more accurate, and improve customer service. It will also call for a blue-ribbon committee to reconvene so that it can review an existing ordinance that is causing homeowners undue hardships.  

One way Berrios plans to improve the Assessor’s office is by working hand-in-hand with township assessors. It was reported late Tuesday that in Evanston more than 1,500 building permits weren’t reported to Cook County over a three-year period, leaving Evanston officials trying to figure out how much tax revenue was lost as a result.

 ”This is completely unfair to the rest of the homeowners who have to make up for the remaining share,” Berrios said.

The Evanston Township assessor and the city’s building department share responsibility for getting the permits to the county, officials said.

“Building permits are the main way the Cook County Assessor’s office knows whether it should inspect a property to evaluate whether it has increased in value,” Berrios said. The failure to move forward those permits means the property has been undervalued and that other residential property owners are paying more than their fair share. Most of the under-reported permits happened under the watch of former Evanston Township Assessor, and current Republican candidate for Cook County Assessor, Sharon Eckersall.

Eckersall claimed the township’s permit department wouldn’t turn over permits, but it was her job to make sure that happened, Berrios said.

“Candidate Eckersall can pass the blame around all she wants, but the responsibility ultimately lies at her feet,” Berrios said.

The Berrios plan announced on Thursday will also:

• Thoroughly examine the ‘Claypool 10/25 Ordinance’ 

It was promised by the current Assessor that this ordinance would bring transparency and simplicity to the property tax system. Instead, it has resulted in an unfair and confusing methodology that has caused undue hardship on homeowners. Berrios will ensure that the ordinance is studied thoroughly by a blue-ribbon panel to assess viability and determine necessary changes. This study will include a “consequences” section so that the Cook County Board of Commissioners understands the potential effect of the ordinance and any revisions.

• Use new technology to make land assessments more accurate

Cook County is losing millions upon millions of dollars because some properties are assessed as vacant land, yet there are homes being built on some of these properties. Through the use of a new computerized system, we will be able to review every parcel using aerial photographs. These pictures could be compared to assessment records and used to verify vacant land parcels. As Assessor, Berrios will also improve human communication between my office and township assessors, as well as the City of Chicago, to make sure that building permits are submitted to my office in a timely fashion. This will help ensure that assessments are accurate and filed promptly.

• Fairly assess properties at market value

Homeowners are being unfairly hit with tremendous fair market value increases by the current Assessor during the most serious economic decline in decades. Transparency is key to understanding your assessment notice. Berrios will make sure that properties are fairly assessed and that assessment notices are easy to understand.

• Improve customer service

This will happen in a variety of manners. 

“As a customer, you will be treated with the respect you deserve,” Berrios said. “I will make sure that phones are answered promptly, messages are returned, and that the office is open on several Saturdays each year during tax calendar crunch time.” This will allow working families to visit the office without having to take time off from their jobs.

 Berrios says he will also keep suburban offices open so homeowners don’t have to travel downtown.  

Finally, Berrios says he will rely on staff more effectively than any previous assessor. Homeowner counselors will be available to help serve you on a one-on-one basis so that you, as a property owner, understand your rights, your benefits, your taxes and your options.”

Berrios has been a commissioner on the Board of Review since 1988. Prior to being elected five times to that post, he served three terms as an Illinois state representative. He is chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and Committeeman of the 31^st Ward. Berrios was the first Hispanic elected chairman of the party, a commissioner to the Board of Review and to the Illinois General Assembly.”

Tamika Catchings, six-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medallist and President of the WNBA Players’ Association, has become the latest high-profile sport star to become an Ambassador to Beyond Sport.

In her new Beyond Sport role, Tamika will help to spread the word about the global initiative and its mission to promote, develop, and fund the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. 

In addition, Tamika will offer her input during the final judging process for the Beyond Sport Awards which provides funding and business support worth $1 million annually to projects across the world that use sport to address issues within their communities.

Tamika’s appointment as an Ambassador also represents a substantial show of support in Beyond Sport’s mission and associated values by the Women’s National Basketball Association, the most successful women’s sports league in the world.

Speaking about her new role, Tamika said: “I am delighted to become an Ambassador for an initiative that looks to show how sport can make a tangible difference to the lives of disadvantaged individuals all across the world. I cannot wait to get started and help Beyond Sport spread the word about the impact sport can have on the poorest and most socially excluded communities.”

As well as her on-the-court exploits, Tamika has also led from the front in terms of her commitment to social development.

She was born with a hearing disability as a young girl and, drawing from her first-hand experiences, she was moved to set up the Catch the Stars Foundation which helps disadvantaged youth achieve their dreams. In 2008, Tamika was awarded the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her work in the Indianapolis community with her foundation.

She joins 22 other Ambassadors, all who bring unique experiences and visions to the Beyond Sport initiative, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; the multi-Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson; Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London 2012; HRH Prince Faisal Al Hussein of Jordan; and two-time Women’s World Cup winner and former president of the Women’s Sport Foundation, Julie Foudy.

Beyond Sport is partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, United Airlines, TIME International and UNICEF.

For further information visit www.beyondsport.org or contact

 State’s oldest and largest business advocacy group represents Illinois employers of all sizes from all sectors of the economy;

 Kirk: “I am honored to earn the support of employers across Illinois who share my vision of lower taxes, fiscal discipline and economic growth.”

CHICAGO, IL - The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Congressman and Navy veteran Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate citing his commitment to pro-growth, pro-jobs policies that will turn the Illinois economy around and put people back to work.

Speaking in front of rolling printing presses at a small business on Chicago’s North Side, Congressman Kirk pledged to add private sector jobs with pro-growth, pro-employment policies that allow employees to succeed.

“You cannot talk about creating jobs without talking to Illinois job creators,” Congressman Kirk said.  ”I am honored to earn the support of employers across Illinois who share my vision of lower taxes, fiscal discipline and economic growth.  We know that government does not create jobs – employers do.  We need policies that help small businesses add employees rather than policies that add government spending and higher taxes.”

The Illinois Chamber is the state’s oldest and largest broad-based business advocacy group representing small and large employers across all sectors of the state’s economy. 

“Congressman Kirk is as prepared for this position as anyone could be,” Illinois Chamber President Doug Whitley said. “Illinois Chamber members from Rockford to Carbondale, from Moline to Danville – and everywhere in between – want to support a pro-business candidate for Senate. With Congressman Kirk, we have someone who believes in a strong national defense and has a national view and a world view that is informed by years of military and public service.”

In Congress, Mark Kirk led the effort to stop the Bridge to Nowhere, worked to end wasteful earmark spending and voted to cut taxes more than 40 times.  He opposes a state income tax increase, opposes the death tax and opposes a Value Added Tax (VAT).  Congressman Kirk recently proposed a Small Business Bill of Rights to protect small business owners from higher taxes, rising costs and increasing government red tape.  A strong supporter of Illinois agriculture, exports and infrastructure, Congressman Kirk brings a proven record of working across party lines to stand up for Illinois jobs.

A recent study by Chief Executive Magazine found Illinois to be the 6th worst place to do business in America – falling from 17th best just five years ago.  Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias supported 12 new federal taxes in the health care bill and a hefty increase in the state income tax that would further reduce Illinois’ competitiveness, driving more jobs out of state.  Giannoulias also supports the death tax, refuses to take a position on a potential VAT tax and opposes a worker’s right to a secret ballot in union elections.

“This was a clear choice for the Chamber board, which is impressed by the Congressman’s depth of experience, his pro-business proposals, military experience and extensive knowledge about international issues,” Illinois Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Calvin Butler said.  “Congressman Kirk will use his knowledge and experience to work for policies that drive job growth and prosperity.”

Following the announcement, Congressman Kirk toured Cardinal Colorprint Printing, a 50-year-old small business on the city’s northwest side, and greet employees.  Cardinal, certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative, has been lauded for its environmentally responsible “Go Green Initiative.”

(From Kirk for Senate Campaign)

Tour Begins Effort to Screen and Educate over 20,000 African American Men for Diabetes, Hypertension and Prostate Cancer in 2010 

Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) — Visiting a barbershop in California this Saturday could mean more than getting a haircut. It might be a lifesaver. The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, a unique, grassroots approach to health screening and education, will be held at more than 80 barbershops in 23 cities statewide on Saturday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This Saturday’s launch marks the first cities where the outreach program will be rolled out this year. In coming months, the program will be held in 27 other cities, or 50 overall. In hundreds of nearby barbershops, African American men nationwide will receive free screening for diabetes and hypertension, and learn why early detection of prostate cancer can be a life-saving decision.

Led by Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M., founder of The Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation, along with a squadron of volunteers, the outreach program seeks to empower African American men to better understand cardiovascular diseases through education, testing and prevention. The program was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, UCLA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“The need to address health care disparities in African American men is paramount in light of the fact that they have the lowest life expectancy of any group in the U.S.,” said Dr. Releford a podiatric surgeon. “For decades, the black barbershop has served as a centralized gathering place where African American men feel comfortable discussing the most important issues that impact their lives: politics, social trends, family and finances. Now, we are introducing an important discussion of health and the critical need for health awareness.”

The statewide effort involves more than 80 barbershops, and aims to screen more than 2,500 men in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Bernardino, Pomona, Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Paris, Redlands, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Compton, Watts, Gardena, Carson, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Oakland, San Diego and other cities.

Those tested also will receive the Real Black Book, a resource guide that helps them find additional medical care providers. This year’s sponsors of the book include: Novo Nordis, PhRMA, Davita Inc., Entra Health Systems, Pfizer Inc., and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Recent figures show that black men suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases. For example, African American men are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than white men, according to the Office of Minority Health, an arm of Health and Human Services, a federal agency. Also, black men experience prostrate cancer at a level that’s more than twice the mortality rate for any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S., according to the CDC.

Through black-owned barbershops, which represent a cultural institution of familiarity and trust, the outreach program has adopted a novel means to spread health information. Data collected from the California barbershops will be analyzed and processed at Charles Drew University. Cardiovascular disease risk factors for African American men will be compared in various cities around the country.

“This is an amazing program on many levels,” said Dr. Keith Norris, interim president, Charles Drew University. “Not only is the idea of screening African American men in barbershops critical for reaching many who may otherwise not be captured in the health care system, it creates a model for education and empowerment, which is needed to reduce health disparities.”

Nearly 15,000 African American men have been tested through the outreach program in 23 cities, including New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, and New York City (Harlem) since 2007 when the program was launched. The ultimate goal by 2012 is to screen more than a half-million African American men.

The outreach program also enjoys support from health and community partners, such as: L.A. Care Health Plan, St. Mary’s Hospital of Long Beach, Heritage Community Initiatives, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mu Chi Chapter Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Solano Coalition for Better Health, 100 Black Men of Long Beach, CA and the National Black Nurses Association.

Since 2007, nearly 400 black-owned barbershops have participated in the program. To learn more about the health outreach effort, and to view a complete list of those barbershops involved, please go to www.BlackBarbershop.org.
Brief Profiles of the Program’s Largest Sponsors:

The Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation
The DAP Foundation’s mission is to help decrease the diabetes-related amputation rate among high-risk populations around the world and to address the escalating number of individuals with undetected cardiovascular disease. The DAP Foundation’s outreach program seeks to partner with community groups and organizations to improve health conditions that adversely affect African American males through education, prevention and early detection screenings. The foundation’s efforts already have been duplicated in Oakland, Chicago, New York City (Harlem), St. Louis, Kansas City, Atlanta, New Orleans and other metropolitan areas. For more information on participating in the program, or learning about sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.BlackBarbershop.org.

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
CDU is a private nonprofit, nonsectarian, minority-serving medical and health sciences institution. Located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles, CDU has graduated more than 550 medical doctors, 2,500 post-graduate physicians, more than 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals. The only dually designated Historically Black Graduate Institution and Hispanic Serving Health Professions School in the U.S. CDU is recognized as a leader in translational and health inequities research, specifically with respect to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. The university is among the top 7 percent of National Institutes of Health-funded institutions and rated one of the top 50 private universities in research in the U.S. Recently, the CDU/UCLA medical program was named the “best performer” in the University of California system for producing outstanding underrepresented minority physicians. For more information, visit http://www.cdrewu.edu/

UCLA
UCLA is known worldwide for the breadth and quality of its academic, research, health care, cultural, continuing education and athletic programs. The university is a shared public asset that benefits society by educating students, creating knowledge through research discoveries, powering the economy and improving quality of life. It is the most popular campus in the nation for freshman applicants. UCLA ranks among the nation’s leaders in competitively awarded grants and contracts to universities, receiving more than $996 million during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. UCLA has had five faculty members receive Nobel laureates.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research focused on discovering better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $370 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 research projects at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental research funds. PCF advocacy has helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer since 1994. More information about the PCF can be found at www.pcf.org.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For over 60 years, the CDC has been dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability. The agency is committed to programs that reduce the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability, thereby ensuring a long, productive, healthy life for all people.

• Age:  The potential to be denied coverage because of a diagnosed pre-existing condition affects Illinoisans of all age groups.  16.7 percent of young adults aged 18-24, almost 36 percent of adults aged 45 to 54, and almost half – 46.7 percent – of adults aged 55 to 64, as well as 226.900 children under 18 years old have a diagnosed pre-existing condition that could lead to a denial of coverage.

• Income:  The report shows that higher income is not necessarily a barrier to denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions. 22.1 percent of individuals in Illinois families with incomes between 100 and 199 percent of poverty—between $22,050 and $44,100—are affected, and nearly three-quarters (72.9 percent) of those with pre-existing conditions that could lead to a denial of coverage are middle class and higher-income Americans. These are individuals in families with incomes above 200 percent of poverty, or more than $44,100 for a family of four in 2010.

• Race: Individuals in every racial and ethnic group in Illinois have diagnosed pre-existing conditions that, absent reform, could lead to a denial of coverage, including one-quarter (24.9%)  of whites, one-quarter (24.6) African-Americans, and almost a third (30.7%) of the American Indian and Alaska Native population in Illinois.  The Hispanic population shows a lower percentage (17.3%) of those with diagnosed pre-existing conditions, but this is likely because many individuals have pre-existing conditions that have not been diagnosed.