IC-SS 01-09-23: For You - More Forums, More Resources!

Join Us Jan. 31: Voting in YOUR Police District

In Chicago’s upcoming municipal elections, you’ll be voting on something new – and you’ll have more say over police accountability. Get informed – attend our January 31 online info session! RSVP here.

Now that the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance is in effect, citizens in each of Chicago’s 22 police districts will be choosing 3 council members to represent the community on their newly established District Council. In short, each of Chicago’s 22 District Councils will have 3 council members representing the community in their police district.

On Tuesday, January 31st, 7:00-9:00 pm, Indivisible Chicago-South Side will hold an online info session on the ECPS ordinance and District Councils. RSVP here.

The info session will open with a teach-in on ECPS by Frank Chapman of CAARPR, including an explanation of the role of the newly established police District Councils. Then we’ll hear brief presentations from the four candidates running for the District Council in the 2nd police district: Coston Plummer, Julia Kline, Ephraim Lee, Alexander J. Perez.

TO ATTEND: RSVP here to get the Zoom link.

NOTES:

If you’re in Bronzeville, Douglas, Hyde Park, Kenwood, or Woodlawn, you’re likely in the 2nd police district.
Check your police district here – IMPORTANT: be sure to find the DISTRICT number, not “area” number.
Even if you do not live in the 2nd police district, our info session will still have important information for you about the ECPS ordinance and the election.

Defeating MAGA – Watch, Read, Learn, Act

LET’S DEFEAT MAGA. Get inspired by Barbara Arnwine and the Transformative Justice Coalition. Then dig into national Indivisible’s 2023 new guide.

Our Freedoms, Our Vote Tele-Townhall – Watch the Recording

This past Friday marked a terrible anniversary — two years ago, insurrectionists attacked the Capitol in support of an attempted coup. Today, the MAGA threat continues, this time in the chaotic House of Representatives as well as outside its walls.

We need energy, strength, and intellect to keep fighting to defeat MAGA and supporters of fascism. For inspiration, watch the recording of the January 6, 2023 Tele-Townhall “Our Freedoms, Our Vote” presented by the Transformative Justice Coalition, with founder/president Barbara Arnwine. Watch here.

Get The 2023 Indivisible Guide

National Indivisible has released its full 2023 guide: A Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA. Indivisible says that the 2023 guide will “break down the stakes, go over our game plan, explain the framing for both Democrats and Republicans, and bring together big-picture tactics for how we want to activate in the new session.” Find the guide here!

Learn More at Indivisible’s Webinar – Thurs., January 12

Once you’ve peeked at the new Indivisible guide, register for the Deep Dive on the New Guide: Our 2023 Indivisible Guide Launch Call this coming Thursday, January 12th at 7:00 pm CT/8:00 pm ET. Register here.

Candidate Forums for City Elections

Chicago’s municipal Election Day is February 28, but early voting begins in late January. While IC-SS won’t be making endorsements, we’ll help you get the info you need to cast your ballot. Check out these events.

Mayoral Forums

1. 2023 Women’s Mayoral Forum – Sat. Jan. 14

In the mayoral race, 10 candidates are currently running. Want to learn more about them? This coming Saturday, January 14th, 2:00-4:00 pm, Chicago Women Take Action (CWTA) is hosting the 2023 Women’s Mayoral Forum at the Chicago Temple downtown. All ten candidates have confirmed they will appear.

Currently, all tickets for the Chicago Women’s Mayoral Forum have been claimed. But you can join the waiting list to attend in person. If tickets become available, CWTA will notify you, and you will have 24 hours to accept those tickets.

Additionally, you can watch this event airing LIVE on CAN TV 27, streaming live on cantv.org and CAN TV’s Facebook page, and on the new CAN TV+ app.

The event is organized by Chicago Women Take Action, with support from the Indivisible Chicago Alliance and other groups.Moderators will be Cheryl Corley & Carol Marin.

2. PRN Mayoral Forum – Public Union Jobs, Services – Sun. Jan. 15

The People’s Response Network (PRN) is holding an in-person mayoral forum Sunday. January 15th, 2:30 pm at Quinn Chapel AME Church, 2401 S. Wabash. As of yesterday, PRN has announced that two candidates have confirmed they will appear: Kam Buckner& Ja’Mal Green.

The forum will address this question: What are candidates’ positions on expanding public union jobs and services for our communities and reversing privatization? Register here.

City Council – 4th, 5th Ward Forums

In the 4th and 5th wards, Ald. Sophia King and Ald. Leslie Hairston are stepping down. Who’ll be the new alders?

5th Ward – League of Women Voters Aldermanic Forum – Watch the Recording

Yesterday, the League of Women Voters of Chicago presented a 5th Ward candidates forum at Montgomery Place in Hyde Park. All 12 candidates participated (find list of 5th ward candidates here). Missed the event? You can watch the recorded livestream at the League of Women Voters of Chicago’s Facebook home page.

Candidates (all seated): Marlene Fisher, Wallace Goode, Joshua Gray, Jocelyn Hare, Martina “Tina” Hone, Adrienne Irmer;
Kris Levy, Robert Palmer, Dee Perkins, Gabriel Piemonte, Renita Q. Ward, Desmon Yancy

Thanks to the League of Women Voters of Chicago for this informative 5th ward forum!

5th Ward – Save Jackson Park’s Aldermanic Forum – Jan. 15

Sunday, Jan. 15th at 1:30 pm, Save Jackson Park presents a 5th Ward Aldermanic Candidates’ Justice Forum at Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn. Save Jackson Park says the forum will feature “6 Candidates, 5 Questions, and Audience Questions, too. Candidates will be asked questions in these 5 subject areas: Social Justice, Community Justice, Economic & Reparative Justice, Educational Justice, and Environmental Justice. Audience is invited to ask questions on any topic area.”

If you would like more information about this forum, please contact Save Jackson Park via their Facebook page.

2. 4th Ward – Aldermanic Forum, Thurs., Feb. 9th

On Thursday, Feb. 9th, 6:00-8:30 pm, attend the 4th Ward Aldermanic Forum in person at Grace Place in the South Loop (637 S. Dearborn). The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook. All 7 candidates have agreed to speak. (Scroll to full list of 4th ward candidates here.)

Tickets are free, but you must RSVP at this registration page.

Forum organizers include Grace Episcopal Church, Indivisible Downtown Chicago, League of Women Voters, and South Loop Neighbors.

Resources for You, the Voter

As a Chicagoan, you’ll be voting for multiple races in the February 28 municipal election.

Here are resources we’ve compiled for you:

See who’ll be on your Feb 28 ballot: Ballotpedia – municipal elections
See who’s running for mayor: Ballotpedia – Chicago mayor’s race
Find out which ward or police district you’re in: The Triibe
Read about aldermanic races:
Read about the police District Council races:

What’s Happening with the SAFE-T Act?

The Pretrial Fairness Act, a significant provision of Illinois’s SAFE-T Act, was due to go into effect January 1. The Pretrial Fairness Act would eliminate cash bail, meaning a person could be jailed pretrial for posing a threat to others but could not be locked up simply because they are poor.

However, at the end of December, a Kankakee County judge sided with authorities in 64 counties and ruled the Pretrial Unfairness Act unconstitutional.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul immediately appealed the decision, and now the Illinois Supreme Court has determined that the Pretrial Fairness Act cannot go into effect in any Illinois county until the Court considers the appeal – in March.

IL State Senator Robert Peters, a champion of the Pretrial Fairness Act, has said, “We have fought to ensure that all Illinoisans are treated fairly in the criminal justice system and able to exercise their rights under the SAFE-T Act and the Illinois Constitution. The fight continues.”
We stand behind the Pretrial Fairness Act and look to the Illinois Supreme Court to rule in favor of the Act and end the unfair and harmful system of cash bail in our state.