Commissioner Josina Morita

Nonpartisan · IL District 13 · Board of Commissioners · cookcounty

Recent votes by Commissioner Josina Morita

Voted Yea on Cook County examines criminal justice enforcement gaps — PROPOSED RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON IMPROVING THE “LAST MILE" OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INCLUDING THE SERVICE OF ORDERS OF PROTECTION, FOID REVOCATION ENFORCEMENT, AND ELECTRONIC MONITORING VIOLATIONS WHEREAS, the goal of the criminal justice system is to provide safety for society, protection for victims and just application of the law for the accused. The ability to achieve these goals depends on 1) the crafting of effective, fair legislation, 2) provision of equally rigorous prosecution and defense, 3) the thoughtful discernment of judges and issuance of judicial orders, and 4) effective enforcement of those orders in real time; and WHEREAS, the “last mile of criminal justice” refers to the critical final stage of implementation in which law enforcement agencies, courts, and other partners must ensure that the products of judicial review other than incarceration: orders of protection, electronic monitoring (EM) conditions and Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card revocation result in the timely execution of those orders; and WHEREAS, challenges to effective enforcement undermine public safety and victim protections. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s data, approximately 45% orders of protection go unserved. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s report on FOID revocation, 68% percent of owners of revoked FOID cards do not comply with the transfer of firearms. While Cook County has strengthened EM protocols, there have been recent high-profile incidents linked to unauthorized absences of EM participants; and WHEREAS, high rates of failure to protect survivors, family members and the larger community in the last mile require the consideration and use of new tools and recourse, including adapting technology to community safety; and WHEREAS, survivors of violence rely upon the timely service and enforcement of orders of protection as an immediate safeguard against harm. Insufficient staffing, lack of information and technology coordination between agencies, and inconsistent enforcement practices can undermine the effectiveness of court-issued protections; and WHEREAS, the use of electronic communications in the transmission of orders of protection has been successfully implemented in other states and could be considered in Illinois; and WHEREAS, while a FOID card has a very high bar for revocation including felony conviction, active orders of protection, domestic battery charges, or being deemed a “clear and present danger,” less than 30% of owners of revoked FOID cards comply with the surrender of firearms. For the safety and protection of family members and survivors, new enforcement mechanisms such as the inability to renew a drivers license while out of compliance with a firearms license should be considered; and WHEREAS, electronic monitoring programs are intended to provide accountability, supervision, and public safety protections, yet concerns have been raised regarding monitoring compliance, response times to violations, interagency coordination, and enforcement capacity; and WHEREAS, there is a massive investment of taxpayer resources to insure a well functioning criminal justice system and lapses in the “last mile” expose addressable failures and ultimately undermine safety; and WHEREAS, a public hearing would provide an opportunity for the Cook County Criminal Justice Committee to hear testimony from law enforcement agencies, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Office of the Chief Judge, the Sheriff’s Office, advocates for survivors of violence, legal experts, community organizations, and impacted residents regarding existing challenges and potential reforms. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Criminal Justice Committee will convene a “Last Mile of Criminal Justice” hearing on June 9, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. to examine challenges, delays, and systemic gaps related to the service and enforcement of orders of protection, electronic monitoring compliance and enforcement, and FOID revocations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the hearing shall evaluate current procedures, response timelines, interagency coordination practices, staffing capacity, data collection, and enforcement mechanisms to identify operational failures and opportunities for improvement.
Voted Yea on Stone Park 911 dispatch moves to county sheriff — PROPOSED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT Department: Cook County Sheriff’s Office Other Part(ies): Village of Stone Park, Stone Park, Illinois Request: Enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Stone Park Goods or Services: The Cook County Sheriff’s Office will provide 911 System dispatching/radio monitoring/call taking services for the Village of Stone Park, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week Agreement Number(s): N/A Agreement Period: Upon execution by all parties and shall continue for five (5) years from the effective date Fiscal Impact: None - Revenue Neutral Accounts: 11324-ETSB - 911 Special Purpose Fund Summary: Authorization for the County of Cook on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office to enter into and execute an Intergovernmental Agreement for 911 System dispatch/radio monitoring/call taking services for the Village of Stone Park, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Village of Stone Park dispatch will transmit on a Cook County 800 mhz frequency. The Village of Stone Park agrees to reimburse the Cook County Sheriff’s Office monthly for all personnel and operational costs associated with this IGA, including but not limited to cost associated with any additional positions necessary for performance services (“Sheriff’s Reimbursement”). Reimbursements shall take place in accordance with the following schedule, with any partial year prorated based on the number of days the IGA has been in effect for that year: 1st year of service - $112,365.00 2nd year of service - $114,150.00 3rd year of service - $115,970.00 4th year of service - $117,827.00 5th year of service - $119,721.00 The Sheriff’s Office will send the Village of Stone Park an invoice monthly. Payment to the Sheriff’s Office will be due within thirty (30) days if receipt of the invoice.
Voted Yea on Cook County secures federal grant eligibility — PROPOSED RESOLUTION WHEREAS, System for Award Management (SAM.gov) the official U.S. Government System for entity information, contract opportunities, contract data, wage determinations, federal hierarchy, and entity reporting; and WHEREAS, an active registration with SAM.gov is required for the County of Cook, Illinois ("Cook County"), and is also required for various individual Cook County departments and/or Cook County agencies ("Cook County entities") to obtain a unique entity identification number which enables County entities to apply for and receive federal grants; and WHEREAS, on April 4, 2022, the federal government implemented changes to the SAM.gov registration procedures, replacing the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number with the "Unique Entity ID" (UEI), managed by SAM.gov; and WHEREAS, the UEI is now the official 12-character alphanumeric ID used by the U.S. government to uniquely identify businesses, organizations, or entities that receive federal funding or do business with federal agencies. Entity registration, searching, and data entry in SAM.gov now require the use of this new UEI; and WHEREAS, SAM.gov’s Entity Validation Services (EVS) now require that official documentation used for validation explicitly include entity-specific information within the body of such Resolution to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud; and WHEREAS, this transition necessitates a consolidation of all current identifiers under the umbrella term "Cook County accounts" to streamline the identification process for Cook County entities; and WHEREAS, failure to comply with the revised entity validation document requirements by SAM.gov’s Entity Validation Services (EVS) has resulted in rejections of County entities' registrations due to inability to verify addresses for various Cook County departments; and WHEREAS, such rejections of Cook County entities prevent the County from receiving federal grant funding; and WHEREAS, the County seeks to address this issue by providing an official document to SAM.gov that verifies all Cook County entity names, addresses, UEIs, and entity star years, in accordance with SAM.gov registrations; and WHEREAS, the Resolution will serve as an acceptable document for entities during the entity validation process, ensuring successful registration, renewal and compliance of all Cook County entities with SAM.gov requirements; and WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the need for an approved document for the registration and annual renewal process, during which SAM.gov mandates entities to demonstrate proof of name, address, entity start year, and state as part of their entity validation process; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board recognizes the Resolution as a proper document for the registration and annual renewal process, addressing the entity validation set forth by SAM.gov. List of Entity Registrations Entity: Cook County Division Name: Cook County, Illinois Unique Entity ID: HFEFPN1L2US5 Cage Code: 49W76 Physical Address: 118 N Clark St, RM 537 Chicago, IL 60602 USA Entity Start Date: January 1, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Cook County Sheriff's Office Unique Entity ID: T95LE61PJEY1 Cage Code: 309N4 Physical Address: 50 W Washington St, RM 704 Chicago, IL 60602-1457 USA Entity Start Date: January 1, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Sheriff's Dep Unique Entity ID: JCELNK4L3PA4 Cage Code: 34EZ1 Physical Address: 1401 Maybrook Dr Maywood, IL 60153-2434 USA Entity Start Date: October 29, 2004 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Justice Advisory Council Division Name: Justice Advisory Council Unique Entity ID: MB1MP23XLXD8 Cage Code: 6K4N1 Physical Address: 69 W Washington St, Ste 1410 Chicago, IL 60602-3152 USA Entity Start Date: March 17, 1975 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Cook County Health Division Name: Grants Finance Administration Unique Entity ID: JHMSN8C8KJ58 Cage Code: 3LWV4 Physical Address: 1950 W Polk St, Chicago, IL 60612-3723 USA Entity Start Date: October 14, 1991 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Department of Environment and Sustainability Division Name: Cook County Department of Environment & Sustainability Unique Entity ID: QBHPT6LKE8J2 Cage Code: 4VXV0 Physical Address: 69 W Washington St, Ste 1900 Chicago, IL 60602-4052 USA Entity Start Date: January 1, 1831 Entity: Cook County Emergency Telephone System Board Doing Business as Name: Cook County Emergency Telephone System Board Unique Entity ID: VEN3URW11BU6 Cage Code: 7SK72 Physical Address: 9511 W Harrison St, Des Plaines, IL 60016-1563 USA Entity Start Date: April 20, 1993 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Administration, Bureau of Division Name: Bureau of Economic Development Unique Entity ID: TAQGTNNU9YC3 Cage Code: 5MKS9 Physical Address: 69 W Washington St, Ste 930 Chicago, IL 60602-3023 USA Entity Start Date: January 15, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security Division Name: Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security Unique Entity ID: JRQ1D7QN1395 Cage Code: 7S3D1 Physical Address: 69 W. Washington St, STE 2600 CHICAGO, IL 60602 USA Entity Start Date: January 15, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: State's Attorney Unique Entity ID: F6T8N7J3EQ14 Cage Code: 38WA7 Physical Address: 69 W Washington St, Ste 3200, Chicago, IL 60602-3174 USA Entity Start Date: January 1, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Clerk of the Circuit Court Division Name: Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Unique Entity ID: ZRMGKPNJQGK5 Cage Code: 48G57 Physical Address: 69 W Washington St, Ste 2500 Chicago, IL 60602 USA Entity Start Date: January 1, 1964 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Cook County Clerk Division Name: Cook County Clerk Unique Entity ID: CF2TK25VT7S5 Cage Code: 6FML1 Physical Address: 118 N Clark St, RM 434 Chicago, IL 60602-1304 USA Entity Start Date: January 15, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Cook County Highway Department Unique Entity ID: VZTEWZDGT875 Cage Code: 7TK86 Physical Address: 69 W. Washington St, STE 2300, Chicago, IL 60602 USA Entity Start Date: January 15, 1831 Entity: Cook County Doing Business as Name: Medical Examiner Unique Entity ID: X21WGXWNFJZ5 Cage Code: 7TLN8 Physical Address: 2121 W. Harrison St., Chicago, 60612 USA Entity Start Date: December 6, 1976 Entity: Judicial Courts of the State of Illinois Doing Business as Name: Circuit Court of Cook County Unique Entity ID: C8NTUTN1FPJ4 Cage Code: 5PVC0 Physical Address: 50 W. Washington St, RM 2600 Chicago IL, 60602-1305 USA Entity Start Date: September 29, 2010
Voted Yea on Tightens Cook County contract oversight rules — PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT AMENDMENT TO MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTS REQUIREMENTS BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 34 Finance, Article IV Procurement Code, Division 9 Contract Management, Section 34-302 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as Follows: Sec. 34-302. Management of contracts. (a) Using Agency responsibilities are as follows: (1) Assign Using Agency personnel with the knowledge, skills, ability, and ability to manage the Contract; (2) Monitor performance of the Contract in accordance with its terms; (3) Track Contract budgets and expenditures and review invoices and charges to ensure compliance with the Contract and the County’s Code Part 1, Chapter 2, Article IV, Division 10; (4) Document the timeliness and acceptance or rejection of deliverables and initiate appropriate action to enforce the Contract terms; (5) For Contracts over 1,000,000.00, evaluate and document compliance with Contract requirements on a periodic basis during the term of the Contract and submit to the CPO; and (6) Track Contract expiration dates and extension options and, where applicable and necessary, make timely requests to the CPO to exercise extension options or to initiate a new Procurement. (b) CPO’s duties: (1) Create evaluation forms for use by Using Agencies, to evaluate the extent to which the Contractor satisfied the Contract terms; (2) Establish appropriate procedures to ensure that evaluations made within the past three years may be utilized in determining whether a Person is Responsible; (3) Assist Using Agencies in obtaining contract management training.; and (4) Require that all Contracts exceeding $3,000,000.00 include a statement providing that a vendor’s failure to perform or failure to deliver may result in a minimum 10% penalty. Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
Voted Yea on Party committeepersons fill four county vacancies — PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT VACANCIES BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 2 - Administration, Article IV (Officers and Employees, Division 1 - Generally, Section 2-142 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as Follows: Sec. 2-142. Vacancies. The following provisions shall apply to the following separately elected positions: Assessor, County Clerk, Sheriff, and Treasurer (hereafter also referred to as “County Office” or “County Officer”): (a) Committee of same political party to appoint. In the event of a vacancy, such vacancy shall be filled to no longer than the end of the unexpired term as dictated by this Section by appointment. The appointment shall be done by the appropriate committeepersons of the political party of which the incumbent was a candidate at the time of the candidate's election or appointment. The appointee shall also be of the same political party that the incumbent was at the time of election or appointment. (b) Composition of committee. In the event of a vacancy, the committee that shall appoint the separately elected County Officer shall consist of Cook County committeepersons of the same political party that the incumbent was at the time of election or appointment. In making appointments under this Section, each committeeperson shall be entitled to one vote. A candidate is required to receive the majority of the total number of votes in order to be appointed. In making appointments under this Section, each Cook County township or ward committeeperson shall be entitled to one vote for each vote that was received, in that Cook County township or ward which the committeeperson represents on the committee, by the County Officer whose seat is vacant at the general election at which that County Officer was elected to the County Office which has been vacated (or the County Officer’s elected predecessor, if the County Officer whose seat is vacant was appointed), and a majority of the total number of votes received in such general election by the County Officer whose seat is vacant is required for the appointment of the successor. (c) Written appointment filed with County Clerk. Appointments made under this Section shall be in writing and shall be signed by members of the committeepersons whose total votes are sufficient to make the appointments. Such appointments shall be filed with the County Clerk. (d) Duration. An appointment made under this Section shall be for no longer than 28 months to the end of the unexpired term. If more than 28 months of the unexpired term of an elected official remains, a special election shall be held at the next general election to elect a person to serve the unexpired term of the elected official. In the case of a special election, the appointed officer shall serve until the election results are certified and the person elected at the special election is qualified. If 28 months or less of the unexpired term remain, the appointed officer shall serve for the remainder of the term. Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption...end
Voted Yea on Matteson hotel gets property tax break — PROPOSED RESOLUTION 5210 Hotels, LLC CLASS 8 PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE REQUEST WHEREAS, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development received and reviewed a Real Property Assessment Classification 8 application containing the following information: Applicant: 5210 Hotels, LLC Address: 5210 Southwick Drive, Matteson, Illinois Municipality or Unincorporated Township: Village of Matteson Cook County District: 6th District Permanent Index Number: 31-21-402-016-0000 Municipal Resolution Number: Village of Matteson, Resolution Number 1394-0325 Number of month property vacant/abandoned: One month vacant Special circumstances justification requested: Yes Proposed use of property: Commercial use- Hotel Living Wage Ordinance Compliance Affidavit Provided: N/A WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a Real Property Assessment Classification 8 that provides an applicant a reduction in the assessment level for an abandoned commercial facility; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Classification System for Assessment defines abandoned property as buildings and other structures that, after having been vacant and unused for at least 12 continuous months, have been purchased for value by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest; and WHEREAS, in the instance where the property does not meet the definition of abandoned property, the municipality or the Board of Commissioners, may determine that special circumstances may exist that justify finding that the property is abandoned for purpose of Class 8; and WHEREAS, in the case of abandonment of less than 12 months and purchase for value, by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest, the County may determine that special circumstances justify finding the property is deemed abandoned; and WHEREAS, Class 8 requires the validation by the County Board of the shortened period of qualifying abandonment in cases where the facility has been abandoned for less than 12 consecutive months upon purchase for value; and WHEREAS, the municipality states the Class 8 is necessary for development to occur on this specific real estate. The municipal resolution cites the qualifications of this property to meet the definition of abandoned with special circumstances; and WHEREAS; commercial real estate is normally assessed at 25% of its market value, qualifying commercial real estate eligible for the Class 8 can receive a significant reduction in the level of assessment from the date that new construction or rehabilitation has been completed, or in the case of abandoned property from the date of substantial re-occupancy. Properties receiving Class 8 will be assessed at 10% of the market value for 10 years, 15% for the 11th year and 20% in the 12th year; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, that the President and Board of Commissioners validate the above-captioned property is deemed abandoned with special circumstances under the Class 8; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Office of the Cook County Assessor
Voted Yea on Tax break for Bedford Park warehouse development — PROPOSED RESOLUTION Common Market Philadelphia, Inc.6B PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE REQUEST WHEREAS, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development received and reviewed a Real Property Assessment Classification 6b application containing the following information: Applicant: Common Market Philadelphia, Inc. Address: 7424 S Lockwood Ave Bedford Park, Illinois Municipality or Unincorporated Township: Village of Bedford Park Cook County District: 11th District Permanent Index Number: 19-28-102-008-0000 Municipal Resolution Number: Village of Bedford Park Resolution Number 25-014 Number of month property vacant/abandoned: Six (6) months vacant Special circumstances justification requested: Yes Proposed use of property: Industrial use - warehousing and distribution Living Wage Ordinance Compliance Affidavit Provided: Yes WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a Real Property Assessment Classification 6b that provides an applicant a reduction in the assessment level for an abandoned industrial facility; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Classification System for Assessment defines abandoned property as buildings and other structures that, after having been vacant and unused for at least 12 continuous months, have been purchased for value by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest; and WHEREAS, in the instance where the property does not meet the definition of abandoned property, the municipality or the Board of Commissioners, may determine that special circumstances may exist that justify finding that the property is abandoned for purpose of Class 6b; and WHEREAS, in the case of abandonment of less than 12 months and purchase for value, by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest, the County may determine that special circumstances justify finding the property is deemed abandoned; and WHEREAS, Class 6b requires the validation by the County Board of the shortened period of qualifying abandonment in cases where the facility has been abandoned for less than 12 consecutive months upon purchase for value; and WHEREAS, the municipality states the Class 6b is necessary for development to occur on this specific real estate. The municipal resolution cites the qualifications of this property to meet the definition of abandoned with special circumstances; and WHEREAS, industrial real estate is normally assessed at 25% of its market value, qualifying industrial real estate eligible for the Class 6b can receive a significant reduction in the level of assessment from the date that new construction or rehabilitation has been completed, or in the case of abandoned property from the date of substantial re-occupancy. Properties receiving Class 6b will be assessed at 10% of the market value for 10 years, 15% for the 11th year and 20% in the 12th year; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, that the President and Board of Commissioners validate the above-captioned property is deemed abandoned with special circumstances under the Class 6b; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Office of the Cook County Assessor
Voted Yea on Cook County examines property tax delivery delays — PROPOSED RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A MEETING OF THE LEGISLATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUES WHEREAS, according to a 2024 Tax Year Bill Analysis, the Cook County Treasurer collects nearly $19.2 billion in property tax dollars from property owners across Cook County (https://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pdfs/taxbillanalysisandstatistics/taxyear2024analysisenglishversion.pdf); and WHEREAS, the property tax system involves several separately elected offices including the Cook County Assessor’s Office that sets assessed values and decides appeals; the Board of Review that conducts appeals and revises assessments; the Illinois Department of Revenue that sets the state equalization factor; the Cook County Clerk’s Office that calculates taxable rates based on taxing districts’ property tax levies pass; and the Cook County Treasurer’s Office that prints and mails tax bills, as well as calculates and distributes the collected property tax revenues to taxing districts; and WHEREAS, there are 685 taxing districts within Cook County, including but not limited to municipalities, townships, school districts, park districts, library districts, road districts, sanitation districts, fire protection districts, pension districts, mental health districts, special service areas, TIF districts, and water commissions (https://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxingdistrictsearchbyname.aspx); and WHEREAS, the Cook County Board President and Cook County Board of Commissioners have heard testimony and have received correspondence from numerous taxing entities, predominantly school districts and library districts, about the adverse effects of delayed property tax bills and revenue disbursements; and WHEREAS, to ensure that future property tax bills and disbursements are made in a timely and reliable manner, it is imperative that the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer maintain functional, efficient, and accurate property tax systems; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that a meeting of the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee be convened to update the Board of Commissioners and public at-large on measures that will or are being undertaken to improve processes and oversight within the property tax systems managed and controlled by the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer are requested to participate in the meeting and provide the updates requested in this Resolution relevant to their work determining and delivering property tax bills, the receipt of property tax collections, and disbursement of property tax collections.
Voted Yea on Cook County backs gun conversion device ban — PROPOSED RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ILLINOIS SENATE BILL 2801 AND HOUSE BILL 4471 WHEREAS, federal and state statutes long imposed stringent prohibitions on the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of fully automatic firearms, including machine guns, in recognition of their inherently indiscriminate lethality and profound threat to public safety; and WHEREAS, recent technological adaptations enabled certain semi-automatic handguns to be illicitly modified into fully automatic weapons through the installation of a diminutive, yet highly dangerous device commonly referred to as a “switch,” often composed of plastic or metal and readily obtainable through unlawful channels; and WHEREAS, once converted, these firearms can discharge ammunition at an alarming rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, rendering them exceedingly difficult to control and exponentially increasing the likelihood of mass casualty incidents, collateral damage, and loss of innocent life; and WHEREAS, once converted, these firearms can discharge ammunition at an alarming rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, rendering them exceedingly difficult to control and exponentially increasing the likelihood of mass casualty incidents, collateral damage, and loss of innocent life; and WHEREAS, the proliferation of such conversion devices directly correlates with a troubling escalation in gun violence across urban and suburban communities alike, undermining decades of public safety progress and placing an undue burden on law enforcement, emergency responders, and healthcare systems; and WHEREAS, evidence indicates a limited number of firearm manufacturers are cognizant of the susceptibility of certain semi-automatic handgun models to facile conversion, yet continued manufacturing, distributing, and marketing such weapons without sufficient design modifications or safeguards to mitigate this risk; and WHEREAS, Illinois Senate Bill 2801 and House Bill 4471, sponsored by Senator Celina Villanueva and Representative Justin Slaughter, seek to address this critical public safety vulnerability by prohibiting licensed firearm dealers from selling or transferring to civilians any semi-automatic handgun that can be readily converted into a machine gun by hand or with commonly available tools; and WHEREAS, this legislation establishes a framework of escalating civil penalties to ensure compliance and accountability, thereby deterring negligent or complicit conduct within the firearm marketplace; and WHEREAS, these measures are narrowly tailored and judiciously crafted so as not to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners, as they do not affect the lawful possession or carrying of currently owned firearms, and explicitly provide exemptions for sales to law enforcement agencies and members of the military; and WHEREAS, the proposed legislation represents a balanced, evidence-based approach that harmonizes constitutional considerations with the urgent imperative to safeguard communities from preventable violence; and WHEREAS, Cook County remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing policies that promote public safety, reduce gun violence, and protect the health, welfare, and security of all residents. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THE 3rd DISTRICT, AND TONI PRECKWINKLE, PRESIDENT OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, do hereby resolve, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners formally expresses its unequivocal support for Illinois Senate Bill 2801 and House Bill 4471; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County urges the Illinois General Assembly to enact these measures with all deliberate speed in order to curtail the proliferation of illegally modified firearms and to enhance the safety of communities throughout the State of Illinois; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Illinois, members of the Illinois General Assembly, and other relevant stakeholders to advocate for the passage and implementation of this critical legislation. Office of Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry 3rd. District.
Voted Yea on Cook County appoints acting finance chief — PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WHEREAS, the Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the Bureau of Finance, as well as the management oversight for the Comptroller, Budget, Revenue, Risk Management, Procurement, and Liquor Commission; and WHEREAS, in the case of a vacancy in the position of Chief Financial Officer, it is necessary to appoint an Acting or Interim Chief Financial Officer to perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer and said Acting or Interim Chief Financial Officer shall have the full authority to otherwise execute the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer until the appointed candidate for Chief Financial Officer can be confirmed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the current Chief Financial Officer will vacate the position on 5/15/2026; and WHEREAS, it is imperative to the successful operation of County government that the duties of the Chief Financial Officer continue to be carried out in an efficient and transparent manner; and WHEREAS, President Toni Preckwinkle has appointed the Director, Department of Risk Management, Deanna Zalas, to serve as the Acting Chief Financial Officer; and WHEREAS, Ms. Zalas is highly knowledgeable of the County operations and finances and the Finance Bureau operations and is highly qualified to manage the operations of the Bureau of Finance and assumes the duties of the Acting Chief Financial Officer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the appointment of Deanna Zalas as Acting Chief Financial Officer effective 5/16/2026, and grants Deanna Zalas the full authority to fulfill the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer and execute the duties of the Chief Financial Officer until a successor is confirmed.
Voted Yea on Cook County seeks public hearing on workforce challenges — PROPOSED RESOLUTION PROPOSED RESOLUTION REQUESTING A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT’S STATE OF OUR LABOR WHEREAS, Cook County Government has an employee base of over 22,000 dedicated professionals that provide wide-ranging services to its 5.18 million residents; and WHEREAS, the nation’s unpredictable business climate and volatile job market have placed increasing pressures on Cook County Government to attract, develop, and retain the workforce needed to provide necessary services to residents; and WHEREAS, Cook County Government has positioned itself as an employer of choice by supporting and investing in its workforce through equitable and innovative approaches to recruitment and retention; and WHEREAS, Cook County Government counts on the leadership of independently elected officials to run and deliver essential services, including the Cook County Board President who oversees Offices Under the President, the Cook County Assessor, the Cook County Board of Review, the Clerk of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the County Clerk, the Sheriff, the State’s Attorney, and the Treasurer. Additionally, operations and policy for Cook County Health are governed by the independent Cook County Health Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, the Bureau of Human Resources directs and coordinates all human resources activities for those departments under the jurisdiction of the President of the Cook County Board; and WHEREAS, Cook County Health and independently elected offices count on the support of their individual human resources department to maintain hiring policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is tasked with prioritizing transparency and accountability in County operations and services, which includes understanding the current state of Cook County Government’s workforce. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request a public hearing of the Labor Committee to understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding Cook County Government’s workforce, and requests an update on the following matters: a. Efforts to reduce current vacancy rate and decrease hiring timeline; b. Efforts to reduce employee turnover rate; c. Presentation on aggregate demographics of the agency’s current workforce, limited to race and gender; d. Efforts to work collaboratively with labor unions on hiring initiatives; e. Efforts to establish and expand pathway programs to create and sustain a future workforce. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners requests the following agencies to provide a short presentation on the status of their workforce describing matters (a) - (e) above: 1. Cook County Bureau of Human Resources; 2. Cook County Health; 3. Cook County Assessor; 4. Cook County Board of Review; 5. Clerk of the Circuit Court; 6. Cook County Clerk; 7. Cook County Sheriff; 8. Cook County State’s Attorney; 9. Cook County Treasurer; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be distributed to the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources, Cook County Health, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Sheriff, Cook County State’s Attorney, and Cook County Treasurer. All relevant stakeholders will facilitate participation in the hearing with the goal of strengthening Cook County Government’s workforce.
Voted Yea on Funds specialized prosecutors for domestic violence cases — PROPOSED GRANT AWARD Department: State’s Attorney’s Office Grantee: State’s Attorney’s Office Grantor: Northwestern University Request: Authorization to accept grant Purpose: Through this program, the SAO will create two victim specialist positions, two investigator positions, and one data collection specialist position to be dedicated to the Targeted Abuser Call (TAC) Program. This specialized prosecutorial intervention targets domestic violence cases that are assessed to be at high risk of severe harm. Grant Amount: $1,549,797.00 Grant Period: 5/1/26-4/30/29 Fiscal Impact: None Accounts: N/A. Concurrences: The Budget Department has received all requisite documents and determined the fiscal impact on Cook County, if any. Summary: The funds will allow the SAO to add personnel to allow Northwestern University’s Institute for Policy Research to implement their research project “Causal Evidence on Survivor-Centered Prosecution & Domestic Violence Outcomes.” This research will examine whether a survivor-centered intervention that makes sustained, proactive efforts to safely engage victims after contact with law enforcement can improve both prosecution outcomes and long-term victim safety.
Voted Yea on Broadview warehouse gets property tax break — PROPOSED RESOLUTION Clear Height Acquisitions, LLC 6B PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE REQUEST WHEREAS, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development received and reviewed a Real Property Assessment Classification 6b application containing the following information: Applicant: Clear Height Acquisitions, LLC Address: 2400 S 27th Ave, Broadview, Illinois Municipality or Unincorporated Township: Village of Broadview Cook County District: 1st District Permanent Index Number: 15-21-202-079-0000 Municipal Resolution Number: Village of Broadview, Resolution Number R-2025-19 Number of month property vacant/abandoned: One month vacant Special circumstances justification requested: Yes Proposed use of property: Industrial use- warehousing, manufacturing, or distribution Living Wage Ordinance Compliance Affidavit Provided: Yes WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has adopted a Real Property Assessment Classification 6b that provides an applicant a reduction in the assessment level for an abandoned industrial facility; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Classification System for Assessment defines abandoned property as buildings and other structures that, after having been vacant and unused for at least 12 continuous months, have been purchased for value by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest; and WHEREAS, in the instance where the property does not meet the definition of abandoned property, the municipality or the Board of Commissioners, may determine that special circumstances may exist that justify finding that the property is abandoned for purpose of Class 6b; and WHEREAS, in the case of abandonment of less than 12 months and purchase for value, by a purchaser in whom the seller has no direct financial interest, the County may determine that special circumstances justify finding the property is deemed abandoned; and WHEREAS, Class 6b requires the validation by the County Board of the shortened period of qualifying abandonment in cases where the facility has been abandoned for less than 12 consecutive months upon purchase for value; and WHEREAS, the municipality states the Class 6b is necessary for development to occur on this specific real estate. The municipal resolution cites the qualifications of this property to meet the definition of abandoned with special circumstances; and WHEREAS, industrial real estate is normally assessed at 25% of its market value, qualifying industrial real estate eligible for the Class 6b can receive a significant reduction in the level of assessment from the date that new construction or rehabilitation has been completed, or in the case of abandoned property from the date of substantial re-occupancy. Properties receiving Class 6b will be assessed at 10% of the market value for 10 years, 15% for the 11th year and 20% in the 12th year; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, that the President and Board of Commissioners validate the above-captioned property is deemed abandoned with special circumstances under the Class 6b; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Office of the Cook County Assessor
Voted Yea on Cook County renews retirement plan administrator contract — PROPOSED RESOLUTION PROSPECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH NATIONWIDE RETIREMENT SOLUTIONS WHEREAS, on February 2, 1978, the County adopted the County of Cook Employees Deferred Compensation Plan for employees of the County of Cook and Cook County Forest Preserve District pursuant to Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States; Public Act 78-1277 of the Illinois General Assembly (40 ILCS 5/24-101 et seq.) and Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2025, the County updated The Deferred Compensation Plan for Public Employees as Amended and Restated for the County of Cook (“Plan”); and WHEREAS, the declared purpose of the Plan is to enable all participants to better provide for their retirement security; and WHEREAS, the Plan entails no County or taxpayer funds as the funds are voluntarily contributed by employees as payroll deductions; and WHEREAS, an Administrative Services Provider is required to perform reasonable and necessary third party administrative services to the Plan on behalf of the 20,000 Plan participants; and WHEREAS, in exercising its duties and responsibilities, the Deferred Compensation Committee (“Committee”) has the authority to “issue from time to time competitive Requests for Proposals and take such other action as necessary or appropriate to negotiate prospective agreements with selected Administrative Services Providers(s) or professional consultants;” and WHEREAS, in exercising its duties and responsibilities, the Committee also has the authority to enter into contracts with an Administrative Services Providers as deemed necessary, advisable or prudent by the Committee; and WHEREAS, the Committee has determined it is necessary and in the best interest of the participants to continue with the current Administrative Services Provider, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, who was selected in 2019 pursuant to a competitive Request for Proposals, with agreement to reduce plan fees evidenced by a Letter of Intent; ; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, in accordance with the Plan, the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby support the Committee’s decision to negotiate an Administrative Services Provider contract with Nationwide Retirement Solutions for the Plan; and BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that the Chair of the Committee is authorized to execute the negotiated contract with Nationwide Retirement Solutions on behalf of Cook County in accordance with the Plan.
Voted Yea on Cook County adds $2M for homebuyer down payment help — PROPOSED RESOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR ARPA FUNDING- MARKET RATE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385 of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 21-3654 accepted the ARPA federal award allocated to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19 in the amount of approximately $1,000,372,385.00; and WHEREAS, Resolution 21-3654 further authorized the Cook County Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement a Special Purpose Fund for the ARPA award and other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of the federal award; and WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for ARPA programs approved via Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637; and WHEREAS, to further the Policy Roadmap Goals, the Bureau of Economic Development has developed a menu of programs to support economic recovery, inclusive of the development of affordable and supportive housing in the post COVID era, which have undergone review and approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant to the issuance of grants, contracts, and loan agreements; and WHEREAS, Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637 provided that any awards issued regarding ARPA programs in an amount over $1M shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Cook County (“the Board”) determined it to be advisable and in the best interests of the County, its residents, and its taxpayers that the County continue the promotion of economic development, affordable housing, and home ownership within the County; and WHEREAS, the Board further determined it to be advisable and in the best interests of the County, its residents, and its taxpayers that the County initiate and administer a program through which qualified buyers of residences in the County might more easily obtain competitive fixed-rate 30-year mortgage loans coupled with assistance for down payments and closing costs, herein referred to as a Market Rate Down Payment Assistance Program (Market Rate DPA Program); and WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 16-1343, as amended, authorized the Market Rate DPA Program that has been in continuous operation, most recently amended via Resolution 24-2513 to create a direct homebuyer subsidy utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding in an amount of $3,000,000; and further amended via Resolution 25-2057 utilizing Corporate Funds in the amount of $8,579,599 to advance the Program; and WHEREAS, the Department of Planning and Development is recommending funding an additional $2,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA) to Stifel, Inc., to further fund Down Payment Assistance to prospective homebuyers; and. WHEREAS, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated (Stifel, Inc.) and Club 720 have been and will continue to be the County’s Program Co-Administrators representing both marketing and underwriting of the Down Payment Assistance program. Stifel, Inc., is a wealth management and investment banking firm providing services to individuals, institutions, corporations and municipalities, while Club 720 provides buyer assistance, training and support in the homebuying process. The Co-Administrators will contract with mortgage service provider(s) and mortgages bankers to provide multiple options of both services and products to homebuyers. The network is projected to continue to have more than twenty lenders in the overall Cook County market, including the City of Chicago; and WHEREAS, Funds will be used to directly support homebuyers in Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIA), HUD Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) and the general market with the latter supporting homebuyers with incomes less than 120% of Area Median Income. Buyers purchasing properties within the DIA and QCT will not have income limitations. All homebuyers must reside in the property as their primary residence. WHEREAS, Homeowners will have two primary benefit options that may be used unilaterally or in combination to maximize benefit to the homeowner: 1. Using Down Payment Assistance to buy down the principal amount of their home mortgage 2. Using Down Payment funds to buy down the interest rate of the permanent mortgage Down Payment Assistance awards will be evidenced by a subordinate mortgage on the property requiring buyer affordability provisions and primary residency through a five-year period. Subordinate mortgages may be partially satisfied or forgiven pro rata annually during the initial five-year period to allow immediate wealth accumulation and to not limit homebuyer mobility during the residency period; and WHEREAS, Down Payment Assistance will be the least of five percent (5%) of home purchases or $25,000 to the extent it closes the homeownership gap of projected homeownership costs to 30% of Household Income. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the allocation of $2,000,000 in ARPA funds to support homebuyer down payment assistance and authorizes the Director of Planning and Development to further amend the agreement with Co-Administrators Stifel, Inc., and Club 720, to administer the down payment assistance program over an additional two-year period to complete the subject funding and program.

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