FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  For all inquiries, please contact:  Chaundra Van Dyk Chicago Project Manager, Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission T: 904-404-2179 cvandyk@chicagoswards.org Diverse Chicago Advisory Redistricting […]

Why is it that the Governor and supermajority lawmakers are waiting for full census data to draw congressional districts, but they will not even attempt to do the same for our state house and senate districts? They are fooling no one.

Given the state we’re in, this is not nearly enough. This ethics bill must not be the last attempt to curb bad actors from further damaging the people’s trust in our government. As federal prosecutors continue to probe corruption in state government and new indictments come to light, Illinoisans must renew their call for stronger reforms.

CHANGE Illinois strongly objects to lawmakers passing new state House and Senate district maps based on insufficient data and we urge Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto these maps and stand up for counting every Illinoisan and giving them equitable representation for the next 10 years.

The number of hours and times that hearings were held are meaningless if you rob people of the opportunity to be part of the discussion. The hours are meaningless if the people who did show up have their voices and views and input ignored. The hours are meaningless if all the decisions are made without them in a locked backroom.

That’s what the state’s political bosses are doing right now as they draw community districts and decide how we’ll be represented for the next 10 years.

May 28,1954 – May 18, 2021 May 18, 2021–The Board of Directors and staff of CHANGE Illinois mourn the death of groundbreaking former Republican Lt. […]

The argument that we should wait for federal lawmakers to make it right is a red herring that can be applied to literally any issue when you don’t have a good reason for the state to step up. And we can spend years on what-about-isms for this state and that state while real representation and our voices continue to be stifled.

There’s the bare minimum, and then there’s what our lawmakers want to do—which, not surprisingly, is far less.

The Legislative Inspector General’s office was created to serve as a watchdog over the legislative branch of government. It defies common sense that the Legislative Inspector General must receive approval from a group of lawmakers before launching an investigation of a lawmaker.

Testimony originally given on April 5, 2021. Illinois Senate Committee on RedistrictingTo: Chair Harris and committee membersFrom: Syamala Krishnamsetty (she,her,hers), Advocacy Director at CHANGE Illinois […]