Road improvements totaling more than $30 million, body cameras for police officers, more revenue from sales taxes and real estate taxes and a reduction in the tax levy. That was some of the good news outlined in the City of Joliet’s proposed 2022 budget presented Monday by Jim Ghedotte, the city’s finance director. Ghedotte presented the budget on behalf of City Manager James Capparelli. It includes revenues of $388.7 million and expenditures of $438.1 million. The estimated $50 million shortfall will be made up by selling bonds to pay for $28 million in water and sewer replacement projects, as opposed to paying for them in cash. Also reserves funds from the current budget are projected to total $250 million. Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk and the city council are expected to take a closer look at the proposed budget and likely make some adjustments prior to putting it to a vote on Dec. 21.
Joliet’s finance director delivers mostly good news on proposed budget
Local kids will not go without this Christmas
For many families, having presents under the Christmas tree for their children is expected every holiday season. But in some instances, families must decide between giving a toy or putting food on the table for their children. To help with the need in the area, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy counties is hosting a toy drive for families this season on Saturday December 10. The program specifically targets children who are in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Supreme court hears arguments in landmark case challenging Roe V. Wade
As the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that may change the constitutional guarantee to legal abortion, Black women rallied outside on First Street to demand Reproductive Justice. “Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks is unconstitutional and endangers the lives and restricts the rights of all women and pregnant people. If the high court uses this case to strike down Roe v. Wade, it will make official what’s already in practice in most counties across this country: safe, legal abortion is too often an inaccessible right – most especially for Black women and women of color,” In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Vice President of Communications Racine Tucker-Hamilton, said in a statement.
Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial run provides a jolt for the 2022 midterms
A Democrat and noted voting rights advocate, Stacey Abrams lost to Kemp by just over one percentage point in their controversial 2018 battle. Her activism helped Democrats claim the majority in the U.S. Senate when Georgia Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeated Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the January 2021 runoff election.
City of Joliet holiday lights map returns for 2021
Joliet residents who decorate the exterior of their home can submit their address to the short form found at: www.joliet.gov/holidaylights. Submissions are open beginning now through Thursday, December 30 and available for viewing through Monday, January 3, 2022 (no submissions after December 31, 2021.) Please note that addresses submitted do need to be within Joliet city-limits to be included. Addresses will be available in list format on the website in addition to the map.
Joliet Pace service relocation
On Monday, December 6, 2021, buses will now serve the new Pace Transit Center, and service to the temporary transfer site at Joliet and Webster will be discontinued.
Nominate a local charity
TTW staff
The Kindness Gala Foundation is seeking recipients for their 2022 Pink Party Gala where they will recognize and honor local charities. Besides being honored that night, Founders Amy and Vince Logan, will also award the selected charity $5,000 to be used for their mission.
Study Shows Police Killings in U.S. Have Been Widely Undercounted
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Last summer, after the May 25, 2020 killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, there were protests in the streets around the U.S. The moment brought forward even more analysis over police violence. Over the last five years several high-profile killings of African Americans in the U.S. have been caught on camera and forced legislatures to re-evaluate policing policies.
OP-ED: Time to Lower Telephone Rates to Call Prisoners in America
NNPA NEWSWIRE — They’ve brought in a number of outside advisors, including attorney and entrepreneur Yusef Jackson, who earlier this year joined the executive team of Aventiv, Securus’ parent company. Aventiv announced in April 2021 that Jackson, the son of Rainbow/PUSH founder The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, would be helping with the lowering of the price of calls and other services for the incarcerated as Aventiv worked to change some of its business practices and respond to criticism of the industry.
OP-ED: FCC Should Adopt Rule Change Empowering Minority-Owned Media Businesses
NNPA NEWSWIRE — We commend the Biden-Harris Administration thus far in its first year striving to move the nation forward on equity and diversity matters even during the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the epidemic of partisan politicization of issues and supporting public policies that will improve and enhance the quality for life of all Americans. On this issue of media reform, we hope and resolutely call for the FCC in 2022 to be aligned fully with the official stated commitments of the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure fairness, equity and diversity.
