Champaign Housing Discrimination

Champaign's exception to their Human Rights Ordinance was in the news again this week. From the News-Gazette website:

Landlords, Champaign council members, candidates discuss city's rental code
With just weeks before the city council is set to study a section of city code that allows leasing discrimination on the basis of felony convictions, council candidates, members of the human relations commission and about two dozen local landlords and Realtors met Tuesday in downtown Champaign for a preview of what that conversation in April might look like.

Chapter 17 of the city code currently allows "discrimination in the leasing of residential property based upon a person's record of convictions for a forcible felony or a felony drug conviction or the conviction of the sale, manufacture or distribution of illegal drugs" for up to five years after release.

The question of what to do with the language, which is widely seen as discriminatory, has come up before the council before, but conversations about doing away with the section of the code altogether have stalled...

At Tuesday's forum, local landlords voiced strong opposition to a repeal — which the city's human-relations commission has recommended to the council — and were hesitant to change the language too much.

Many said they want the ability to choose whom they rent to, which sparked a back-and-forth between them and council members and candidates and some on the human relations commission. Landlords said they already face a difficult rental environment in the county, as Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul all have different leasing rules, so they want to be able to retain the ability to know whom they are renting to before they sign a lease agreement.

More details and some of the back and forth at the full article here (there wasn't a set date for the next study session last I checked). The article highlights the primary argument of landlords safety and financial concerns. Previously I've posted CU Indivisible's explanation of their competing perspective on the housing issue here.

The issue has been raised throughout the community and local government in relation to criminal justice reform. They often highlight the role housing access has in recidivism as well as housing being a basic human need and one of the biggest obstacles for people reentering communities from the criminal justice system. Recently it was mentioned in the City of Champaign's Human Relations Commission during the Champaign County NAACP's report on criminal justice reform. It could also be a hurdle for the Champaign County Housing Authority's efforts in reforming reentry housing in the area, mentioned in January's Champaign County Reentry Council meeting that works with government agencies and organizations in criminal justice and reentry issues.

The rock and the hard place of this debate is the basic human need for shelter and the community's desire for safety. It's complicated by our community's continued problems with segregation, racial disparities in mass incarceration at every step of the criminal justice system (including local public school discipline), and the history of housing discrimination throughout Illinois.

You can hear various arguments for and against going back to the original language of the Human Rights Ordinance at the previous Champaign City Council study session on the issue here (video link here). The landlords generally argued safety of residents and being able to ask questions of renters for their own liabilities. The folks on the other side arguing for basic human rights issue and pointing to the previous language which mirrors Urbana's current rules.

The proponents of the broad protections against discrimination believe the landlords can ask questions that don't depend on data and results from a system that is discriminatory and disparate on race. Landlords argue that it's not discrimination on their part to rely on the government's own results. Where one draws the line on technical legality and ethics in support or opposition to changing the law on this issue can certainly differ, however. In putting the responsibility for any further racial disparities perpetuated in housing by relying on discriminatory government mechanisms, the issue becomes a bit of a Milgram's Experiment.

A rich versus poor angle also pops up, as wealthy criminals who can afford their own home and even be landlords themselves, are protected from discrimination on the same issue. While arguably that circumstance applies to a select few people, the proponents of ending the discriminatory language argue that's exactly the point.  An older article mentioning the original change from the broad discriminatory protections to allowing discrimination against renters on this issue seems to bear that out:

"They're denying [housing] to themselves." pretty well sums up the exact type of discrimination the original law hoped to prevent before this exception was added. Whether one agrees with the sentiment or policy, if left in place it will make it harder for people reentering their community to do so successfully and lower rates of recidivism according to the data. Even if one believes the argument they'll manage to live somewhere else as opposed to homeless and desperate, then due to the disparities in the criminal justice system it will almost certainly add to the ongoing segregation problem in the area.

No matter what side you take, or if you have ideas for a compromise that can better protect the rights of landlords and reentering community members, I encourage people to engage their City Council member and mayor to better understand the perspectives on this issue and the Champaign City Council candidates in the upcoming election.

UIUC News Roundup: Title IX and More

This is another roundup of news items as I catch up from last month while attempting to stay reasonable current on local government news. This post covers a few areas of news from University governance, starting with Title IX, but you can also click to jump to more on renewable energy, the recent UI trustees meeting on hiring and health insurance, or a list of other topics covered in previous posts.

There have been a few stories on Title IX regulations on the rights and protections for accusers and accused in sexual misconduct investigations at schools. News-Gazette coverage of a panel discussion on the issue summed up the concerns:

UI '#MeToo and Academia' panel: 'Title IX is shrinking rather than growing'
Just as colleges and universities are shaping the future of how sexual-misconduct and -assault allegations are handled on campuses, one professor fears historical protections for victims are being chipped away at, as well.

"Title IX is shrinking rather than growing," University of Illinois law Professor Lesley Wexler said of the protections against sex discrimination during a "#MeToo and Academia" panel discussion Wednesday on campus.

That's how she views U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' recently announced plan to rework the definition of sexual harassment and narrow the types of cases colleges and universities are required to investigate under Title IX.

DeVos has said changes are needed in order to balance the rights of assault victims with those who are accused.

More at the full article here. The University sent a letter expressing its concerns with the changes available here and the News-Gazette broke down the issues addressed in that letter in an explainer here. The paper also ran an AP story last month explaining the concerns about off-campus assaults no longer falling under university obligations to investigate:

Sexual assaults at major colleges are more likely to be off campus, report says
At some of the nation's largest universities, the vast majority of sexual assaults take place not in dorm rooms or anywhere else on school property but in the neighborhoods beyond campus boundaries, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.

But the schools' obligation to investigate and respond to those off-campus attacks could be dramatically reduced by the Education Department's proposed overhaul of campus sexual assault rules. And that's alarmed advocacy groups and school officials who say it would strip students of important protections in the areas where most of them live.

More at the full AP article available here on NBC's website.


In other U of I news the past month:

The University is taking bids for its second solar farm project:

UI issues request for bids for Solar Farm 2.0 project
By next spring, a sea of blue solar panels could occupy a 54-acre farm field at the northwest corner of First Street and Curtis Road.

The University of Illinois has issued a request for proposals for a second large solar array to help meet its clean-energy targets.

UI Facilities and Services issued the RFP for the Solar Farm 2.0 project on Monday, seeking a 10- or 20-year power-purchase agreement with a private developer who would design, build and operate the facility and sell the energy to the campus at a fixed rate each year.

The UI's first solar farm, a smaller array that went online in 2015 along Windsor Road, was built under a similar 10-year agreement with Phoenix Solar Inc. The UI will buy that facility from the company at the end of the agreement.

More details at the full article here. This week the Daily Illini highlighted the University's role in the State "going green" by 2050:

UI leads Illinois going green
The state of Illinois will move to using 100 percent renewable energy, which includes solar, wind and other naturally replenished energy sources, by 2050, according to the Clean Energy Jobs Act that passed Feb. 27.

Rizwan Uddin, director of the energy systems program, said Illinois is the most nuclear state in the country, as almost 50 percent of its energy comes from nuclear power...

Currently, a small amount of energy used in the state comes from solar and wind, which cuts down the carbon, Uddin said. Nuclear is currently counted as non-renewable, but it is carbon-free, which makes Illinois a wonderful green state.

“If it is not nuclear, they can rely on batteries,” he said. “But the battery technologies are not at a stage where you can store a huge amount of electricity that you can supply the entire state.”

The University in its turn has always been a big proponent of renewable energy. Uddin said this bill will be in line with what the University already has a policy on, which pushes toward carbon-free.

“But the challenge is not how much electricity we can produce with solar and wind, but the time when there is no wind and sun,” Uddin said. “The University will need something to back it up.”

More at the full article here.


The News-Gazette also had an overview of the most recent UI Board of Trustees meeting that covered issues like increased hiring as well as increased health insurance rates for students:

UI to hire hundreds more faculty over next 5 years to handle rise in enrollment
The University of Illinois plans to hire hundreds of new faculty members across its three campuses over the next five years to accommodate rising enrollment and invest in strategic areas.

That would mean 168 new positions for the Urbana campus, in addition to faculty hired to replace professors who leave or retire...

Agenda items approved by University of Illinois trustees Thursday:

— New student health insurance rates, including a 20 percent hike at Urbana to $544 a semester, though students can opt out if they're covered on their parents' plans.

— A new travel safety policy requiring all undergraduates traveling outside the U.S. as part of a UI activity to register their plans with the university, carry approved international insurance and attend mandatory orientations.

— A designation to name the new running track at Demirjian Park Stadium after legendary Illini track coach Gary Wieneke.

— A $4.4 million contract with CannonDesign, a New York-based consultant, to help prevent budget overruns for building projects at Altgeld Hall and Illini Hall. Several budget increases for other projects were also approved, including another $4 million for the Illinois Street Residence Halls renovation, to $59.5 million.

— A new dean for the UI College of Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, surgeon and head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

More at the full article here. The News-Gazette had more on the health insurance rate hikes the day before in an article previewing the board meeting:

On UI trustees' agenda: Student health-insurance rate increase, mascot ideas
...
If trustees approve, undergraduates at the Urbana campus would pay $544 a semester for health insurance next school year, $89 more than before — a 20 percent rate increase. Graduate students would pay $696, up from $582 this year.

The health insurance, which is provided by United Healthcare, is optional for students who are covered under their parents' plans. About 54 percent of Urbana students opted out this year.

Executive Vice President Barbara Wilson said the insurer paid out $1.09 for every $1 it collected in premiums, with a rising number of claims and the average cost for each going up. That includes increases for prescription drugs, digestive-health and mental-health needs.

Undergraduate rates at the Urbana campus are second-lowest in the Big Ten, behind only Purdue, Wilson said. The graduate rate is higher because the Graduate Employees' Organization negotiated a top-tier health plan in their contract, she said. It falls in the middle among Big Ten schools.

But Urbana students also pay a mandatory $238 health-service fee each semester for the McKinley Health Center, which provides basic health services, counseling and generic prescription drugs without dipping into insurance.

More at that full article here.

Previous U of I related posts this month:

• UI Student Government and Elections
• U of I Research Park and Spygames
• VeoRide Dockless Bike Updates

Legal Roundup

I have a few legal news items to share ranging from a police lawsuit, information on a legal aid organization, and the local impact of a law change on sexual assault matters. The News-Gazette reported a lawsuit filed against the Champaign Police Department last month:

Man files suit accusing Champaign cop of forcing his way into home, beating him
...
The complaint said on Oct. 7, 2018, Wright, then 24, pulled into the driveway of a friend's home in Champaign, and Officer Tyler Darling then parked his squad car behind Wright's car and told Wright to get back in his vehicle. The suit said Darling suspected Wright of driving without valid registration.

The suit said Wright went into the house and tried to shut the door, and Darling then allegedly forced his way into the home, struck Wright in the face, pushed him into a wall and eventually handcuffed him.

Champaign City Attorney Fred Stavins said the legal department is aware of the lawsuit and is reviewing it.

Full blurb here. I haven't found any newer updates as of yet. The University is also facing a lawsuit, but on racial harassment. From the Daily Illini:

UI staff file racial harassment lawsuit
University employees filed a lawsuit on Jan. 28 in federal court, containing allegations of racial harassment of black employees and claims the office tasked with investigating discrimination is itself guilty of racial harassment.

The plaintiffs allege in the class action complaint filed with the court that racial harassment is “standard operating procedure” at the University.

The lawsuit alleges University staff used racial slurs, stereotypes and other offensive racial language toward black workers, calling them “n—–,” “boy,” “monkey,” “lazy,” “angry,” “rowdy” and “Aunt Jemima.”

According to the lawsuit, black employees were “exposed to threats of racial violence, such as nooses, swastikas, KKK garb, racist graffiti and confederate flags.”

...

Robin Kaler, associate chancellor of public affairs, said the University’s attorneys were still reviewing the lawsuit as of Sunday, and the University will not discuss specifics of the litigation at this time.

Full article with more details here. The lawsuit was recently expanded to the entire U of I system.

Mary Schenk's "Legally Speaking" podcast interviewed Brett Kepley who works for Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and a regular News-Gazette writer on legal issues for lay readers. Here's a couple excerpts on the legal aid program.

What does Land of Lincoln Legal Aid do?

Its mission is to provide legal aid, assistance, counseling, representation to low-income individuals and veterans and seniors. Because you are poor, you should not be denied legal representation.

The eight attorneys in the Champaign office (302 N. First St.) each have specialties. You do not handle criminal cases. What does your agency handle?

Primarily, we do family law, divorce and child custody, but it has to have involved domestic violence. (Other areas are) orders of protection between persons ... representing clients getting their homes foreclosed by mortgage companies ... helping individuals obtain Social Security claims, and debt relief.

More at the interview webpage here, including a link to the full podcast interview. The Daily Illini also had an article on Carle's local efforts when it comes to the treatment of sexual assault victims and the legal issues surrounding the evidence kits collected:

Law changes guidelines for evidence kits
A law was signed earlier this year that offers legal protection and provides sexual assault survivors with evidence kits that are to be kept for 10 years, access to showers and police reports at no cost.

Previously, if a patient was not ready to make a police report and release the kit, the kits were held at the hospital for up to two weeks...

The law also requires hospitals to provide an evidence kit, commonly referred to as a “rape kit,” and are required to keep this kit for up to 10 years so the patient may turn the evidence in to law enforcement when they wish...

To support and appropriately assist survivors with such specially trained nurses, the Illinois Attorney General’s office developed the Illinois Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program...

Stynoski said SANE nurses have extensive training in classrooms and clinical experience over the course of a year by spending time practicing anogenital assessments, learning about the role of advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors and assisting with sexual assault exams...

Carle Foundation Hospital has already been providing many of the new requirements of the law such as photography and 24/7 availability of SANE nurses all year round.

“We are working on contracts with area hospitals to formalize how and when patients should be transferred to Carle for medical and forensic services, as well as drafting a formal area-wide treatment plan that shows how the hospitals will work together to provide high-quality care to survivors of sexual assault,” Stynoski said.

Full article with more details here. In related local news, an "increased number of sexual complaints filed is leading to longer wait time at resource centers for sexual misconduct victims."

IHSA Bidding Preview

The News-Gazette had an article last month talking to local government officials about the potential of bringing the IHSA basketball tournament to Champaign-Urbana:

C-U likely to make another bid to host IHSA basketball tournament
After losing out to Peoria in 2015, Champaign-Urbana will likely try again to bring back the boys' state high school basketball tournament it hosted for 77 years.

With the contract set to expire in 2020, IHSA board members have begun discussions about the future of the event, which could see a major change — having all four classes play over one weekend instead of the current two — wherever it's held...

Visit Champaign County CEO Jayne DeLuce said that if approved, bids would likely be due in December 2019, with a vote in March 2020.

She said a bid is being "explored" and that Champaign-Urbana would be in a better position than it was the last time around...

Unlike in 2015, State Farm Center is no longer under construction, DeLuce pointed out.

More details and information at the full article here.

Early Voting Update

There's been some election related news lately, from the new County Clerk taking office with an election right away, to avoiding hours long winding staircase lines for students. From WCCU Tuesday:

The Champaign County Clerk is reminding residents how important local elections can be.

"Your local elected officials are the ones you are going to bump into at the bank or at the store. The ones you can walk into their office and have a conversation with and make sure they really understand what is your concern or your idea,” said Aaron Ammons, Champaign county clerk.

So far, Ammons said about 400 absentee ballots have been returned and about 200 people have voted in-person in Champaign County...

Starting March 27, the Champaign County Clerk’s Office will extend their hours until 7 p.m. to accommodate voters. Also, eight other early voting locations will open across the county.

Voting in the April 2nd Consolidated Election has already started! If you haven't voted yet, you still have a lot of options. Here are some quick basics (mostly linking to the Champaign County Clerk website):

Still need to register to vote?

Information on Grace Period Registration.


Need to check to see if you're registered to vote in Champaign County?

The County has a Voter Information Lookup page. The State of Illinois has a more general voter registration lookup here if you need it.


Need a candidate guide?

Votechampaign.org has you covered: Candidate Guide.

We had a recent post on candidate forums and meet and greets here.


Need to vote?

Early voting at Brookens Administration Center has already begun (more information here).

Early voting at all early voting locations starts March 27th in just under two weeks (more information here)... including on the first floor of the Illini Union for students concerned about a repeat of the winding staircase lines last year.


Want to vote by mail?

Vote by mail requests are still being accepted online. Applications to vote by mail can also still be requested by phone, mail, or email (more information here). The application is also available on the website to print here with directions. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is five days before the election (or slightly less than two weeks from now).

I haven't spotted any news on voting problems or calamities yet, but it's early, even for early voting. A month ago the new County Clerk, Aaron O. Ammons was assuring voters that they would be ready for this election in spite of some unexpected staff turnover. From the News-Gazette in February:

Tom Kacich | For new Champaign County clerk, 'it's been a learning curve'
Aaron Ammons, about two and a half months into his new job as Champaign County clerk, said the start hasn't been smooth but that citizens shouldn't be concerned about this spring's municipal elections or the preparation of property tax bills...

Soon after he took over Dec. 1, the county clerk's office was down six employees. Ammons said it was a foregone conclusion that his Republican opponent, Matt Grandone, would leave the office, as would former clerk Gordy Hulten and Hulten's Chief Deputy Jeremy Cirks.

But he said he was unprepared for the loss of three other employees almost immediately, plus a fourth who left within a couple of months. He said it was "disheartening" that two of the former employees gave two days' notice and another gave no notice at all...

Slowly, he said, he's filling positions. He's hired an information technology specialist, expects to have a deputy county clerk within a week and is close to hiring a chief of staff. By May he thinks all the positions in the office will be filled...

Although he'll be shorthanded, Ammons said he doesn't expect problems with the April 2 election or with the on-time distribution of property tax bills around May 1.

More at the full article here, which includes more from Ammons on the amazing staff that remained as he focused on preparing.

One early success appears to be working with the University to have student voting in a larger and more accessible first floor area of the Illini Union in future elections (including the Pine Lounge for this election). The previous County Clerk had assured the County Board that better spaces were neither available nor necessary to accommodate student voters prior to the election which resulted in long lines down winding staircases. Whether the changes will be enough to prevent bottlenecks in 2020 remains to be seen.

I've found that the politicos in Champaign County have varying amounts of reasonableness behind their skepticism of the opposite party controlling the County Clerk's Office. The partisan suspicions can be healthy to pressure candidates to prove their claims of fairly managing elections, even if only to avoid feeding the conspiracy theories that often don't need help.

There are some serious disagreements to be had about what constitutes fairness, wise management, and the ethical bounds of a political office that serves all constituencies. Those disagreements may not always fall down party lines in local offices, but they can and often do. These local elections are a first test for County residents to gauge the success or failure of the Democratic change in this office... and whether it will be held by them or flip back to the Republicans.

VeoRide Dockless Bike Updates

Well, first off, some of them are going to be electric now. From the Daily Illini:

VeoRide introduces electric bikes to campus
VeoRide announced its plans to replace 150 of its 500 bicycles in Champaign-Urbana with electric models after students return from spring break.

This arrives after Champaign City Council members decided to renew the dockless bike sharing program for another year.

Bruce Knight, planning and development director for Champaign, said VeoRide reported nearly 165,000 rides have been taken within the community as of Feb. 5, making Champaign-Urbana the top performing VeoRide market nationally. 

Linda Jackson, media representative for VeoRide, said the 150 bicycles will arrive in March.

“VeoRide aims to serve a variety of customers, and some prefer e-bikes because it’s easier to pedal longer distances,” Jackson said. “The front-drive motor can assist e-bike riders to pedal up to 18 miles per hour and responsively adjust torque to match riding conditions.”

Jackson said the battery itself is a rechargeable unit that can be replaced on the spot. When a battery needs replacing, technicians will go to the bike and swap out the battery. Each battery will last up to 68 miles.

More at that article here. The News-Gazette had coverage of the Champaign City Council study session meeting referenced which highlighted some of the various arguments and concerns raised:

Champaign council set to renew bike-share program; electric versions on way
Perceived by the city council as a success overall, the dockless-bike-sharing program will be renewed this year, officials decided in a study session Tuesday...

But other officials brought up many issues associated with the bikes. Often, they're left in less-than-desirable places, council members said, and that could impede access in the city for people with disabilities.

There's also the fact that some bikes are left in the same places for days, weeks or even months...

A more controversial point among council members was whether to keep VeoRide as the sole bike-sharing company in the area.

Council members Matt Gladney, Tom Bruno, Brix and Mayor Deb Feinen all staunchly opposed having a sole provider.

More at the full article here with various takes on adding competition and whether bikes in the same places are due to regular use. Urbana followed suit this week:

Urbana council feels similarly to Champaign on bike-sharing program
Aldermen spent less time than their counterparts in Champaign discussing the renewal of an intergovernmental agreement for the dockless-bike-share program, but they seemed just as favorable to limiting increases in the number of bikes available and the number of companies allowed to operate...

Champaign last month signaled that it was willing to increase the number of bikes a "reasonable amount" to 700, and will weigh the pros and cons of keeping VeoRide as the sole provider. On Monday, Urbana aldermen also advocated for a "modest increase" up to 750 bikes, with Alderman Eric Jakobsson saying he was happy keeping VeoRide as the sole provider for some time.

Full article here. The company has also been pitching electric scooters they've introduced in other markets:

Electric slide: VeoRide set to bring out new bikes, with scooters a possibility
...
The company recently announced it has designed an electric scooter with a swappable battery that would soon be available in Texas, Alabama and Tennessee.

"We would love to bring them," said Ben Thomas, VeoRide's general manager of the Champaign-Urbana fleet. "We're in the process of talking about what that would actually look like."

Ben LeRoy, associate planner for the city of Champaign, said the scooter issue will be introduced at Tuesday's council study session about renewing the bikes.

"We're basically asking council, 'Are you interested in hearing a future study session on scooters?'" LeRoy said. "If so, we would prepare that after we finalize renewal. It'd be sometime after July 1."

That full article is here. That possibility remains down the road and is not part of the current amendments being considered. From the Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole meeting agenda yesterday:

Although the topic of e-scooters has been raised among various community members, it is  not a part  of  proposed  amendments  to  the  [intergovernmental agreement]  at  this  time.  Staff  anticipates  conducting  additional  research and bringing information regarding that topic to the Committee and BPAC in the future.

On scooter speed, I keep coming across VeoRide's assurance it will set maximum speed to a community's wishes. Their electric bicycles top out at 18mph according to the News-Gazette article. This recent Vox article on rental scooters including VeoRide's appeared to assume a max speed of 15 mph. The News-Gazette had an article earlier last month had a bit more of the local speculation and general background on VeoRide scooters as well here.


St. Joseph's Village Board was apparently not too thrilled with the idea of allowing them in their town. From today's News-Gazette:

Officials from VeoRide were scheduled to present to the St. Joseph Village Board in February.

The licensed dockless bike share operator asked to have its presentation removed from the agenda, but that didn’t stop village trustees from discussing the issue...

Village officials say VeoRide was interested in its turquoise-colored bikes — of which about 500 are currently in the Champaign-Urbana area — being used on the Kickapoo Rail Trail that passes through St. Joseph...

Some of the biggest complaints with the program come from users leaving the bikes wherever they want, a concern St. Joseph Trustee Roy McCarty also shared.

McCarty said he routinely goes into C-U and sees bikes in people’s yards and in the middle of sidewalks.

 “I wouldn’t like it,” he said.

Added Gherna: “The same bikes are in the same spots on campus for weeks on end. In theory, it is a great idea, but in practice, it is done horribly, and they are all over the place.”

Sounds familiar. The company managed to get folks in C-U to see past that annoyance, so maybe they'll change some minds? 

City of Urbana Roundup

Here are some more general City of Urbana news items from the past month. If you're looking for updates on Urbana candidates, Urbana High School violence, Urbana poverty information, or Urbana Park grants, just click on the links for those earlier Cheat Sheet posts. Most of the regular City Council news was about the "Gather" development details being debated prior to Council  approval at the February 25th Special City Council Meeting. From the News-Gazette the next day:

Urbana council approves rezoning agreement for 'Gather' developmentThe city council signed off Tuesday on plans for a mixed-use development just north of the West Main Street Historic District.

Aldermen voted 4-1, with abstentions from Maryalice Wu and Jared Miller, to approve a rezoning agreement that would allow construction of the five-story section of the "Gather" development, a project that is expected to bring 200 apartments, 16 townhomes and 50 extended-stay hotel rooms, as well as 15,000 square feet of lobby, small-scale retail and outdoor public areas.

Many of the concerns raised by future neighbors of the proposed development during plan commission meetings took center stage Monday as aldermen considered the zoning change and a special-use permit, which the council approved unanimously.

Full article with more details here. Details of the developers original vision for the development in this January article. More background on the disagreements going into the vote in the News-Gazette article previewing the City Council meeting here. One of the issues that was raised in that article and an earlier blurb was whether the development would be capped at 65 feet in height. The final approval included that limit "except that the building height may reach 70 feet near the northeast corner of the building to accommodate roof access."

Other City of Urbana highlights in the last month or so involved parking lots and their respective owners. True story:


Fighting over parking spaces:

In an earlier City Council meeting there was a fight over a dangerously laid out parking lot. From the News-Gazette earlier in the month:

Urbana council's plan for Broadway Food Hall's parking lot has co-owner upset
After a contentious meeting between Urbana City Council members and a Broadway Food Hall co-owner over the illegally striped parking lot at the restaurant, city officials voted on a plan that would reconfigure the lot.

The parking lot, right now, does not conform to the city's design standards, staff argued Monday, and frequently results in illegal parking that makes accessibility difficult and pedestrian activity in the area potentially dangerous.

The city plans to narrow one of the lot's two wide driveways, remove three parking stalls and install wheel-stops in all parking spaces that abut the public sidewalk.

More details and arguments about the costs and cost sharing here.


"Arts-centered housing project"

Another development, described as an "arts-centered housing project" fell through:

Developer pulls out of proposed arts-centered housing project near Lincoln Square
A Northbrook-based developer is pulling out of an arts-centered housing project planned near Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana, officials told News-Gazette Media today.

Brinshore Development Director Richard Sciortino cited "external funding factors" as the reason.

The project, announced in December, would have used city-owned parking lots south of the mall and included an arts and cultural center operated by the city.

It also would have included nine "tiny" homes and six artist "live-work units," the city said in December.

Last month, the city council approved removing the parking lots where the project would go.

Full article here. Previous Cheat Sheet post on approving the parking lots to be used for the project here.


Lincoln Square ideas... and the owner's opinion too:

And finally, the results of the Lincoln Square survey are in. The one the city did to solicit ideas about what to do with the Lincoln Square property they don't actually own:. Tom Kacich asked him about it when the city first started soliciting ideas for it:

It's great that people have grand ideas for what to do with the Lincoln Square mall and its parking lots that lie smack in the middle of downtown Urbana...

But wait a minute. Lincoln Square may feel like a public space, but it isn't. It's not owned by the city of Urbana or the university or Carle.

It's owned by Jim Webster, a guy who took a fly on a downtown mall about 15 years ago and deserves some respect before we all decide what to do with his property...

Webster said he's grateful for all the interest in Lincoln Square, although he sounded a little miffed that no one seems to be including him in the discussion about its future.

With the results of the survey (available here) in hand, it seemed to help confirm the owner's intuition:

None of this was too surprising to mall owner Jim Webster.

"I don't think the results were too surprising or anything, yet it reinforces some intuitive thoughts we had concerning what's wanted and what's needed," he said. "So that was very helpful in that respect because a lot of it's consistent with what we'd like to do."

He said "developing the whole arts idea is always something we really thought was a natural in Urbana, and more greenery. And developing more of a streetscape along here with tables, chairs, plants, so people feel like it's an indoor-outdoor type of environment."

But don't expect him to open up the roof.

"It wouldn't be feasible," he said, citing the heating, cooling and infrastructure changes that would need to be made. "We're in a climate where you don't want to be outside the majority of the year."

And while grand ideas were suggested for the mall, Webster cautioned, "I still have to try to make it profitable."

Full article with the survey results here.

State and Local Resource Fair and disABILITY Resource Expo

Two events are coming up this March for people who are looking to find information and ask questions about resources that may be available for themselves or family members on everything from health care, disabilities, employment, aging issues, veterans in need, and more. The first event involves State and local agencies and organizations this Thursday, March 14th. From Champaign County government facebook page:

"The Illinois State Treasurer's Office is partnering with the Champaign County Supervisor of Assessment's office to provide Champaign area residents one-stop access to local and statewide agencies. All are welcome to attend this event on Thursday, March 14th.

The following organizations will be at the event to provide you with information and assistance:

• Senior Resource Center at Family Service
• Champaign County Health Care Consumers
• Health Alliance
• Illinois Dept. on Aging
• City of Champaign Township
• Illinois Comptroller's Office
• Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Office
• Illinois Home Care Ombudsman Program
• IlliniCare Health
• Veteran’s Assistance Commission
• Board of Review (Champaign)
• Molina Healthcare
• Illinois Dept. of Employment Security
• Illinois Epilepsy Foundation
• Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's Office (not mobile services, informational table)
• Champaign County Supervisor of Assessments"

Also later this month: the disABILITY Resource Expo on March 30. More information on that event here. Their mission statement: "To provide full access to information and resources from a wide variety of agencies and organizations, to promote a better quality of life for people with disabilities in Champaign County and East Central Illinois." They have a searchable interactive resource guide on their website here.

Champaign County Community Coalition

There were a few updates on the work of the Community Coalition in February. Here are some of the highlights I found in the news heading into their March meeting this Wednesday (more information on that meeting here). WCCU had a quick blurb and a short video segment with highlights of the February meeting here. Excerpt:

Every month Champaign County leaders and concerned citizens gather to discuss community issues.

On Wednesday, the room was packed.

Since the last meeting in January, there have been five shootings in Champaign and six shots fired calls in Urbana.

The police chiefs continue to ask the community for their help in reporting this violence.

The coalition has also created a subcommittee to tackle gun issues — that includes developing a crisis plan when there is a shooting to keep everyone informed.

The blurb and video segment available here. A more detailed explanation of what the Community Coalition is and does at an earlier post here. Tracy Parsons, who facilitates the Community Coalition meetings, spoke later that same week as part of a lecture series at the campus YMCA on building a culture of nonviolence:

As communities across the U.S. grapple with gun violence, data from the city of Champaign suggests part of the problem stems from kids using guns to solve personal conflicts, according to Tracy Parsons, the city's community relations manager.

Parsons leads the Champaign Community Coalition, which brings together organizations and groups working to address local gun violence.

Speaking at the University of Illinois YMCA Friday Forum on February 15, Parsons said most shootings in Champaign-Urbana follow domestic incidents, or when interpersonal conflicts are handled with guns...

To help stop the shootings in Champaign-Urbana, Parsons said the University of Illinois should do more to address its root causes, which include poverty, racism, and lack of access to opportunities for black children...

Parsons said U of I faculty and staff too often swoop into black communities, collect data about kids and social issues, publish research studies, and then move on.

Full WILL article and audio segment here. WAND also had coverage in a short article and video segment on the same here. In the WAND interview he touched on the issues of reentry from the criminal justice system by formerly incarcerated people. Extreme difficulties in housing, employment, and educational opportunities can play a role a significant role in recidivism. For the latest updates on reentry issues, see this post on the most recent Champaign County Reentry Council meetings here.

As far as the crisis plan for shootings incidents, here's the explanation as I understood it from the January Community Coalition meeting:

A crisis plan is being worked on by the gun violence subcommittee of the the Community Coalition. As a community we have plans for fires and tornadoes and other tragedies, but the chaotic aftermath of gun violence still results in uncoordinated needs for trauma care, counseling, up to and including opposing gangs fighting in emergency rooms while health care providers desperately try to save lives. But it also includes a need to interrupt patterns of retaliation and community intervention to tamp down on the multiplicative effect that can have.

 Additionally, there was an update to the C-U Fresh Start program, now on its 5th call-in. Article and a short audio segment from WILL:

Eleven young men who had been involved in violent, gun-related offenses were offered a choice Thursday night --- stay on a path that could lead to prison or death, or accept an offer of help to turn their lives around. The choice was offered at a “Call-In” session held in downtown Champaign by C-U Fresh Start.

The event at the Illinois Terminal Building was the fifth such Call-In for the Fresh Start program, which was launched in 2016 by the Champaign Community Coalition, in response to a rise in gun violence in the community.

116 shooting incidents, including nine homicides, were reported in Champaign-Urbana in 2018. So far in 2019, there have been at least 16 shootings and one homicide.

The men heard messages from police, ministers, and from Shirley Bailey Phillips of Champaign, who admonished one of the young men to look at her, not at the floor, while she told how her daughter, Erica Cox, was killed by a stray bullet in 2016...

However, all of the participants who were offered help through C-U Fresh Start are 18 or older, on parole or probation, have a prior felony arrest or gun arrest or a violent crime conviction, or have been identified through credible information as having a recent involvement in violent crime.

The eleven participants later went to another room for the second part of the call-in, where they learned about the “Services Pillar” of C-U Fresh Start. This was the help they could receive in completing their parole or probation, educational and job training opportunities and help in finding employment.

More information and details at the full article here. More information about C-U Fresh Start at their webpage here. There are numerous organizations, activist groups, service providers, churches, and government collaborations working on criminal justice and equity issues from prevention to felon rights. A small sampling of organizations I've gotten to understand better are on our Organizations page with links to more information. It is far from an exhaustive list.

C-U Gambling

There's been all sorts of gambling news popping up in the last month locally and at the State level. An article last month about gambling regulations in Danville had information about gambling revenues in Champaign and Urbana:

Not all in Danville want to gamble on proposed $100 terminal fee
...
Among multiple other options, the Danville City Council is considering imposing a $100 annual fee on all video-gambling terminals in the city. Acting Mayor Rickey Williams and staff anticipate it would generate less than $15,000; according to 2018 Illinois Gaming Board revenue reports, there are 141 terminals in the city.

If the fee is enacted, Danville would join a host of other area communities that have one. A year ago, Champaign enacted new video-gambling regulations that included a $250 annual charge for each terminal. Urbana charges between $1,010 and $1,080 per terminal; Rantoul, $50 per terminal; and Savoy, $25 per machine...

And while the amount of revenue that the new fee would generate is small compared with nearby cities — Champaign collects $70,000 a year from its fee, while Urbana gets roughly $117,000 — it could help balance a proposed budget that includes more than $791,000 in new expenses, including new police and fire chiefs and three new police officers...

About a third of the 61 establishments in Champaign that offer video gambling are cafes or lounges, which make 50 percent or more of their revenue from gambling — far more than what nonprofits like VFW Post 5520, American Legion posts 24 and 559 and others make. Champaign's regulations, adopted about a year ago, also placed a cap on the number of cafes and lounges at 23.

More, mainly on the Danville proposals, at the full article here. More details on the latest gambling regulations in Champaign after a new law was passed last year: Champaign council approves new video-gambling regulations. Urbana's gambling regulation may be best understood as an evolution that began with video gaming, added gaming halls, and recent machine terminal fee hikes (described here prior to passage). Gambling was a topic of the Champaign mayoral candidates at a recent candidate forum (coverage here, more links and video here).

Gambling and tax revenues from it are also getting a lot of additional attention due to the new governor's tax proposal relying on plans to legalize and tax sports betting. From NPR Illinois:

Unpacking Pritzker's Tax Proposals: Gambling 
...
Less than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed sports gambling outside of Nevada, eight states have jumped in on the opportunity to regulate and tax it. According to the American Gaming Association, at least 22 other states, including Illinois, have filed or will file legislation to do the same.

Pritzker has included sports gambling licensing fees to go toward what the administration calls "essential services". He is counting on $200 million from 20 licenses at $10 million each, with an annual renewal fee of $5,000. Wagers would also be taxed. But lawmakers have yet to settle on a bill they and other stakeholders, like the casino and video gaming industries, can get behind.

And he’s not stopping there. His budget proposal also counts on $89 million dollars generated from a higher tax on video gaming. For years, the industry hasn’t supported higher taxes. 

To get the money, Pritzker’s administration will need a sports betting program up and running by the start of FY20 and video gaming stakeholders would have to approve a higher tax.

Full article with more details and perspectives here. Beyond news articles on the political and budget issues this raises are the more traditional concerns that are raised with gambling: addiction, crime, and financial ruin. Just this past Tuesday, the News-Gazette had a blurb about the State's latest offering to help gambling addicts:

Illinois website offers help for gambling addictions
Illinois is launching a new state website aimed at helping people affected by gambling addictions.

The Illinois Department of Human Services on Monday announced the website WeKnowtheFeeling.org.

The new website comes as gambling is expanding across the nation . In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is looking to expanded sports betting to help close a multibillion-dollar state budget hole. The Legislature would first have to legalize expanded wagering.

Illinois already operates a hotline for people with gambling problems. Deputy Governor Sol Flores says Illinois' 24-hour hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER, receives thousands of calls each month. Flores says "we hope to see a large number of people utilize our website the same way."

And a recent letter to the editor from an addiction counseling organization to the News-Gazette warned of financial calamities and easily fed impulses:

Legalizing internet and sports gambling will expand gambling in homes and on mobile devices. Access to sporting events worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week makes gambling a touch away and fuels addiction...

People check phones frequently, and gambling apps entice them to gamble with free spins, free sports bets for trying casino games and multiple "nudges" to bet. Tell legislators to reject another bad bet.

The editorial board itself was skeptical of the revenue potential, but ended as a bit of a harbinger of moral doom:

If Illinois follows, it will be a game-changer in terms of social mores, one not necessarily for the better. People will just have to wait and see what follows.

But don't buy the hype that another expansion of gambling will represent some kind of financial panacea for our financially challenged state.

Legal gambling generates revenue, but it also generates costs, including a fraying of the social fabric of society. After all, everyone can't be a winner.

The full editorial here. Whether over morality, economics, mental health, criminality, acceptability, desperation or vulnerability, the arguments have been raging back and forth for years. Government entities in need of revenue can rationalize almost anything, so I'd watch out for any promises that sound too good to be true. Never hurts to see if the counter-arguments have inconvenient merit.

Local Candidate Roundup - UPDATED

UPDATE: Latest post with more information and links 3/27/2019: Candidate Information

It's catch up time for the Cheat Sheet! We've been running behind, but will have a bunch of overviews of February local government information as we get swinging in March. A quick reminder that early voting for the April 2nd municipal elections has already begun:

The first early-voting opportunities will be at one Champaign County location only — the county clerk's office in Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 E. Washington St., U.

Eight other locations in Champaign-Urbana, Mahomet, St. Joseph, Rantoul and Tolono will be available for early voting starting March 27, and will be open through Election Day.

More information at the full News-Gazette article here and the Champaign County Clerk's website here. The Champaign County Voter Alliance has a candidate guide here.

Here are links to videos and coverage of recent local candidate forums organized by the News-Gazette, Champaign County NAACP and League of Women Voters:

February 27th Candidate forums: (video from CGTV)

• Urbana School Board Candidates: Additional News-Gazette coverage here.
• Champaign School Board Candidates: Coverage here.
• Parkland Community College Board Candidates: Coverage here.

February 28th Candidate forums: (video from CGTV)

• Champaign City Council Candidates: Coverage here.
• Champaign Mayoral Candidates: Coverage here.
• Urbana Park District Candidates: (video only)

March 6th Candidate forum: Tonight at the Champaign Public Library. UPDATE: News-Gazette coverage here. Facebook event information.

Candidate Meet & Greets:

• March 2nd Champaign Municipal Election Candidate Meet & Greet event video.


• Upcoming March 9th Urbana Municipal Election Candidate Meet & Greet event information. UPDATE: Video of this event on YouTube here. Video is also available on their facebook page  here.

[Updated: originally posted on 3/6/2019 at 10:12am]

Area Park Grants and Updates

Local parks in Champaign County will be receiving State grant money soon, according to a recent announcement from the governor. Below there are also a couple news updates about local trees. From a blurb on Smile Politely earlier last month:

Governor Pritzker just announced $28.9 million in grant money that will fund 89 projects throughout the state through Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and a few Champaign County spaces will benefit:
Champaign County Forest Preserve District: $152,400 for expanding accessibility at Lake of the Woods
Champaign Park District:  $400,000 for Human Kinetics Park Development
Village of Rantoul: $360,000 for Rudzinksi Park Redevelopment
Urbana Park District: $400,000 for Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Project
You can find out more about the statewide grants here.

Since that blurb, there's been additional coverage in the News-Gazette and the Rantoul Press on the individual projects that will benefit from the grants. Starting with the coverage on Champaign County Forest Preserve and its use of the Lake of the Woods grant here at their eEdition. Excerpt:

Lake of the Woods will expand its lake accessibility within the next two years following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s awarding of $152,400 from the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant, which assists parks in acquiring open space or developing and improving local recreational facilities throughout the state.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Mary Ellen Wuellner, executive director of the Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

Grant coordinator Jarrod Scheunemann said the money will be used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities in the area near the intersection of Tin Cup and Lake of the Woods roads, commonly referred to as the peninsula.

Full article here (requires digital subscription). The grant for the Champaign Park District was covered here:

Money from the grant will pay for outdoor sports fields and courts, a path system, a shelter and a playground...

The grant money will be added to a $4.4 million donation from Rainer and Julie Martens to construct a community center, called the Martens Center, on the site.

This state-of-the-art multipurpose facility will be owned and operated by the park district...

Among the offerings will be exercise and nutrition classes, English as a second language programs, business courses and swimming lessons.

The development is part of a partnership with the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club.

Full article here. The Rantoul Press had coverage for the Rudzinski Park grant:

A new playground and swing set, shade structures and circuit-training area are among the items to be added to Rantoul’s Christopher Rudzinski Park.

Work could begin this spring on a redevelopment of the park, thanks to a $360,000 state grant...

The state will provide 90 percent of Rantoul’s $400,000 project cost. The village will kick in the remaining $40,000.

Mayor Chuck Smith formally announced the award at last week’s Rantoul Village Board study session.

Recreation Department Superintendent Luke Humphrey said in November, the goal is to upgrade the park area west of Baerman Drive. The upgrade would include new playground equipment, swing set, rubber safety surfacing, parking lot, shade structure, furnishings and an outdoor circuit training area...

He said because Rantoul is considered a “distressed community” economically, it qualified for 90 percent funding of the project.

Full article here. And finally on the Urbana Crystal Lake Park grant:

Plans to revitalize the area around Crystal Lake Park have been at the top of the Urbana Park District's wish list for years...

Hopes are that the $400,000 will fund work on a large section of the lake edge, in an effort to rehabilitate it "into more naturalized systems," [Executive Director Tim Bartlett] said.

The strategy for improving the water quality at Crystal Lake calls for removing as many invasive tree species and shrubs as the park district can without damaging existing ecosystems.

The money will also go toward construction of a new nature-themed playground, a family game area and a boat dock with an accessible kayak launch.

But it's the water quality piece that's most important for attracting more visitors. Last fall, when park district officials presented the Crystal Lake improvement plans to the Urbana City Council, then-council member Aaron Ammons said it should be a top priority to decrease the level of pollution in the lake from runoff nitrates and invasive species.

Bartlett said the water quality will improve once the edge of the lake is planted with native species that can filter and cleanse the water of chemicals and runoff.

Full article here.


And finally a couple local tree updates: 

• The Daily Illini on how MCORE construction includes planning to replace lost trees. Tom's Mailbag answers a question on the same subject.
• The emerald ash borer beetle continues to menace area ash trees. News-Gazette had coverage yesterday and today about the ramifications, as laid out by a local arborist, and to let people know why Champaign County Forest Preserve staff are cutting down affected trees:

  If you’ve visited Champaign County Forest Preserve District parks this week, you may have seen freshly cut tree stumps or trees actually being felled. Unfortunately, there’s a very good reason. District crews were cutting ash trees, a species that’s been decimated by the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle native to Asia that’s killed millions of ash trees in Illinois and more throughout the Midwest. Preserve district staff were taking down trees at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet this week and at Homer Lake Forest Preserve on Thursday, along trails and the road, said Michael Daab, director of natural resources. A lot of ash trees have also been felled at Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Oakwood.

U of I Research Park and Spygames

Most updates coming from the U of I Research Park fall along the lines of this recent story of people debating the qualities of a proposed new building, its lab potential, its kitchen facilities, etc:

UI Research Park board gets first look at EnterpriseWorks 2.0 design
...
University of Illinois Research Park board members heard a presentation Monday for what could be a $15 million expansion of the EnterpriseWorks incubator space...

"The large atrium includes a much larger kitchen. The kitchen we have right now is tight, and it wasn't meant to serve as a catering kitchen, plus the high volume of people really making that a space that you use every day," said Research Park Director Laura Frerichs. "In a lot of new incubators, the kitchen is the centerpiece, so if you go into a WeWork type of space, you'll know that the kitchen is the star and that's where people choose to work around as part of a coffee-shop kind of environment. So that's part of what we envisioned here..."

At Monday's meeting, board members questioned everything from the site location to the biosafety level of the new building's labs to the size of the elevators...

And College of Engineering Associate Dean Liang Liu asked if the labs would be designed to biosafety level two, which would let them handle pathogenic organisms such as HIV or the bacteria that causes staph infections, or three, which could handle more dangerous microbes, such as the West Nile virus or yellow fever...

The board didn't take any action Monday on the concept.

The full article is here, but you probably get the gist. Meanwhile, in national news, you may have heard various stories about Chinese or Russian technology firms being accused of possibly aiding the intelligence services of their home countries. Example from Reuters:

U.S. officials allege Chinese telecom manufacturers are producing equipment that allows their government to spy on users abroad, including Western researchers working on leading-edge technologies. Beijing and the Chinese companies have repeatedly denied such claims.

The University of California at Berkeley has removed a Huawei video-conferencing system, a university official said, while the UC campus in Irvine is working to replace five pieces of Chinese-made audio-video equipment. Other schools, such as the University of Wisconsin, are in the process of reviewing their suppliers...

The moves are a response to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Donald Trump signed into law in August. A provision of that legislation bans recipients of federal funding from using telecommunications equipment, video recording services and networking components made by Huawei or ZTE. Also on the blacklist are Chinese audio-video equipment providers Hikvision, Hytera, Dahua Technology and their affiliates.

U.S. authorities fear the equipment makers will leave a back door open to Chinese military and government agents seeking information. U.S. universities that fail to comply with the NDAA by August 2020 risk losing federal research grants and other government funding.

Full article here. Here locally that has affected how the University of Illinois is dealing with foreign technology companies, including local "Western researchers working on leading-edge technologies":

Like other schools, UI has moved to keep Huawei disconnected on campus
The University of Illinois took steps in 2016 to forbid equipment from a Chinese telecommunications-equipment maker that the U.S. government now considers a national-security threat.

In December of that year, the UI, with the College of Engineering, took the initiative to forbid the "connecting of any equipment or other items from Huawei that would connect to our networks by wired, wireless or any other connection," spokeswoman Robin Kaler said...

Around the same time the UI took those steps, the UI Research Park added Huawei as a tenant.

It opened an initial office in the fall of 2016, according to the Research Park website, and held a grand opening for its space in October 2017.

But Kaler and the Research Park developer said Huawei employees there don't use university internet or equipment...

"They have a lease just like any other tenant," she said. "So it's a binding contract between the owner of the building, the landlord and Huawei. The university is not part of that agreement."

Regarding their equipment and networking, Ruedi said, "They set up everything themselves."

More at the full article here. Maybe this is just ramifications of diplomatic tensions. Maybe the risks of espionage are roughly the same as always. A little paranoia might be appropriate in this case, however, especially for "Western researchers working on leading-edge technologies." Rich Warren had some advice about the various security warnings for Russian anti-virus software or Chinese cell phones last year:

If, in fact, China and Russia are spying on me, there must be some very bored snoops tracking me. In fact, I would bet most of us are putting those snoops to sleep, because few of us have much to hide. A University of Illinois physics or chemistry professor specializing in cutting-edge research or someone mulling becoming a political candidate might want to be more wary.

More on his take at the full article here and a follow up on when the US security warnings made updates unavailable on his ZTE phone.