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 […]

Testimony was originally given on April 12, 2021. CHANGE Illinois Testimony: Transparent and Accountable Redistricting Illinois House Committee on RedistrictingTo: Chair Hernandez and committee membersFrom: […]

Testimony originally given on March 17, 2021. Illinois Senate Redistricting CommitteeTo: Chair Omar Aquino and committee membersFrom: Madeleine Doubek, Executive Director of CHANGE Illinois Thank […]

This is the ideal time for government officials at every level to look at ways to streamline, economize and consolidate for struggling taxpayers.

Wasn’t it the Legislature that silenced the vote of communities of color in previous remaps?

Lawmakers have a responsibility to make it abundantly clear to the public they can participate. Our recommendation would be for subcommittees to postpone meetings so leaders can define what data will be used and so that general guidelines and uniform rules are established to ensure members of the public have ample time to prepare to participate and to incorporate more transparency and accountability into the process.

If this process is truly meant to be inclusive, then what steps were taken to ensure that the public was made aware?

These principles represent the fundamental ideals and values we believe must be considered to inform drawing a map. I submit these essential principles as a critical guide for Illinois’ redistricting process and hope these ideals, conceived by concerned Illinois constituents serious attention and use.

llinois’ districts belong to the people and they have made clear they expect an independent and transparent process that values the principle of one person, one vote. We urge you to meet their clear expectations.

We’re inviting Chicagoans to rise up and join in this effort to reshape the city in this critical redistricting year.

Population counts and political mapping are not arcane, bureaucratic, eye-glazing exercises. They’re crucial—and in desperate need of reform.