City of Champaign Summer Updates

Whether or not varsity football games may be played on McKinley Field  appeared to dominate the attention on local government this past month. A lot of the controversy stems from the fact that during the referendum to "keep Central central," promises were made to the neighborhood that the improvements to Central High School wouldn't include such events. The News-Gazette had a lengthy overview of the situation here and some of the arguments being made here.

Gun Violence

There were also some important updates on gun violence and efforts to reduce the problem locally. In the 8/12/2022 News-Gazette "Meeting Minutes" feature, there were updates on new City hires in the Department of Equity and Engagement as well as an update on local gun violence statistics from the Champaign Police Department (subscription eEdition).

More updates on local gun violence can be found with the monthly Champaign County Community Coalition meeting (latest Police Chief Updates just after the 28 minute mark in the video here, with CPD updates leading them off). The News-Gazette covered the topic of unruly late night gatherings raised in the update here. The News-Gazette had an overview of the July meeting updates here, that got into the details of the recent decreases in gun violence from the high spikes in recent years.

The News-Gazette had a detailed overview of their new Equity and Engagement Department here. WCIA had some updates on the organizations working together locally to reduce gun violence here. CU-CitizenAccess also had an overview of the City's gun violence reduction blueprint here. They also had a breakdown of the impact of gun violence especially on African American youth.

The University of Illinois Police Department is taking over some of the patrol duties in the Champaign areas of campus town to help alleviate the stress on the CPD's staffing shortage. Illinois Newsroom had more details about that agreement here. Excerpt:

Faced with a shortage of officers, the city of Champaign will pay $840,000 per year to the U of I  for the patrol services. 

U of I Assistant Police Chief Tim Hetrick said the new patrols will operate from Neil Street to the city’s eastern border at Wright Street, and south from Springfield Avenue to Windsor Road. He said two officers will be on duty for each shift...

The Champaign City Council voted last April to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the university to provide the patrol services for two years (with an option for a third).

WCIA also had additional coverage of the agencies assisting Champaign with downtown police coverage. More updates on gun violence and policing will be at this link on the Champaign County Cheat Sheet soon.

Homeless Shelter

There were City of Township updates on a year-round and less restrictive homeless shelter. The News-Gazette's "Meeting Minutes" feature on Friday 8/19/2022 had details of the approved plan, location, costs, and potential timeline. The paper had additional articles on some community opposition here and earlier proposal details here. Smile Politely had an editorial in support here. WCIA had a blurb on the Council voting to approve the measure here.

More

Back in July there was an update on some of the City Council drama as the News-Gazette reported the return of councilwoman Alicia Beck to City Council meetings after an extended absence. From their 7/29 "Meeting Minutes" reporting:

Beck said her extended absence was due to having to attend to “some personal family issues” related to her dad’s death earlier this year and she appreciated those who checked in on her.

Beck didn’t respond to multiple inquiries from The News-Gazette during her time away, which included five council meetings. Nor, apparently, did she read a July 13 story in which councilman Tom Bruno called the subject “kind of an awkward interpersonal hot potato.”

That full article here, which also highlighted the planned increase in traffic code enforcement in the area. There was additional criticism and coverage the following week in the 8/5 "Meeting Minutes" feature on the same issues.

Council member Beck denied following local news coverage and claimed she was going to donate half of her annual City Council member stipend in lieu of the absences. The long absence occurred after she admonished a victim of gun violence who made public comments at a City Council meeting. Given the News-Gazette's coverage and amplification of the public outcry before the municipal elections, I leave it to the reader to decide if she was just avoiding reporters questions. A previous Cheat Sheet post got into the context, details, and coverage of that incident.

WCIA also had some coverage of the meeting here and Beck's return to meetings here. 

Other July Updates:

• Champaign Public Library board meeting and re-elected board officers. From the News-Gazette eEdition here. The meeting documents are here, with the Directors Report being a good place to start for a general overview of Library updates.
• The Champaign Park District's Martens Center opening has been delayed.
• WCIA had coverage on the approval of a new building in downtown Champaign.

Other August Updates:

• That same "Meeting Minutes" feature had coverage of the City of Champaign City Council meeting that week, including approval for funding of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail project.
• There were updates on the City Council's approval of honorary street signs for Bishop King James Underwood and Dawson Banks Sr. (click the names for additional information from previous News-Gazette articles). A brief overview was in the eEdition "Meeting Minutes on 8/12 here.
• This week's "Meeting Minutes" feature highlighted additional funding for 40 North (local arts) and the Mayor's experience with a CPD ride-along.