Month: September 2023

CHICAGO – Welcome back to Continuing Corruption, the series about how the Illinois Democrat Party is filled with people who say one thing and do another. Our series was supposed to wrap up at the end of the summer, but the Democrat Party just keeps giving us content, and who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth? This week we’re talking about Chicago’s City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who is now being accused of misconduct and ethics violations.

Those allegations? Brought on by her own employees.

The claims came to light when a letter, written by a Chicago attorney on behalf of the former employees, was published by the Chicago Tribune. The letter alleges that Conyears-Ervin consistently misused city resources and funds for her personal benefit. An elected leader who is supposed to be a steward for the city’s finances was supposedly requiring staff to perform personal tasks — such as planning her daughter’s birthday party or grocery shopping — and of trying to force a bank the city does business with to issue a mortgage on her husband’s aldermanic office. You know, things that are necessary for the city of Chicago.

This investigation has led to the seizure of computers and documents from her office.

And you know the worst part? In 2021, those two former employees got $100K in a settlement after they rightly sued for wrongful termination. Just another example of taxpayer dollars being used to clean up a corrupt politician’s mess instead of benefiting the city.

The investigation is now focused on whether criminal political corruption was involved, particularly regarding allegations that Conyears-Ervin pressured the bank named in the story, a city business partner, to participate in her personal financial matters.

Conyears-Ervin is currently campaigning to be the Democrat nominee for Illinois’s 7th Congressional district, and we don’t see this investigation helping her election odds, but knowing the Illinois Democrat Party? Who can say.

CHICAGO — Videos from San Diego show migrants from countries like China and Pakistan being let go, with some already setting sights on their new destination: Chicago.

It’s no secret Chicago’s illegal immigrant crisis is going from bad to worse, but for Illinois Democrats trying to balance their sanctuary state policies with the growing unhappiness in Chicago communities, you have to wonder how Brandon Johnson and J.B. Pritzker feels watching Joe Biden’s border patrol drive even more bus loads of people towards the Windy City?

The crisis is growing. Chicago families are struggling to understand why Johnson and Pritzker are dedicating hundreds of millions to welcome thousands of illegal immigrants to Illinois when their own families struggle to make ends meet.

All this begs the question. As Brandon Johnson and J.B. Pritzker watch this video, are they comfortable with the Biden administration sending even MORE illegal immigrants their way?

CHICAGO — A prominent union leader calling to end school choice has revealed they send their child to a private school… no you’re not having deja vu or seeing double. We’re not talking about Stacy Davis Gates either, this week we’re talking about Sean Denney.

Sean Denney, the Director of Government Relations for the Illinois Education Association (IEA), has been a prominent opponent of school choice options in the state. Shockingly (or perhaps not so shocking now), Denney has exercised this very choice in his own household while advocating against school choice for low-income families.

Has lightning struck twice or are the alleged lead activists for public school teachers abandoning the principles they’ve claimed to hold for years? Think about this: two of Illinois’s top activists for public school education have more or less admitted that they have failed, choosing better educational opportunities for their children while opposing access to those same education programs for under-resourced families in Illinois.

Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), has been an outspoken critic of school choice, even characterizing it as “racist.” Yet, it has been discovered that she sends her own child to a private, Catholic high school in Chicago.

The Invest in Kids Act, a program that provides scholarships to underprivileged students for private school education, is a subject of debate solely because of people like Davis Gates and Denney. While some continue to oppose it, statistics show that it enjoys bipartisan support, with 63% of Illinoisans and 69% of Black respondents expressing support for school choice.

On Saturday, Rochford violated the Illinois Supreme Court’s Code of Judicial Conduct by being the keynote speaker at the Lake County Democratic Women PAC’s annual fundraiser.

NORTH CHICAGO — This past Saturday, September 9, Rochford was the keynote speaker at the Lake County Democratic Women Political Action Committee’s annual fundraiser. The fundraiser’s online donation page states ticket sales will benefit the PAC, whose purpose, according to their filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections, is “to support the election of Democratic women candidates in Lake County, IL.”

The Illinois Supreme Court’s Code of Judicial Conduct (Canon 4, Page 48-50) is clear: sitting judges who aren’t up for election shall not speak at political functions supporting the election of candidates:

“Except as may be specifically authorized in the context of judicial election campaigns, Rule 4.1 prohibits judges and judicial candidates from “publicly” endorsing or making “speeches” on behalf of political candidates or organizations.”

“Paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) prohibit judges and judicial candidates from making speeches on behalf of political organizations.to prevent them from misusing the prestige of judicial office to advance the interests of others.”

As recently as 2021, the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee issued a clear opinion on this very issue: “…an incumbent judge who is a judicial candidate may appear as a guest of honor at a political party’s fundraising event, but a judge not presently a candidate is forbidden from doing so.”

The Code of Judicial Conduct makes clear why these ethics rules for judges are so important: “Public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary is eroded if judges or judicial candidates are perceived to be subject to political influence.”

“Illinois voters deserve a fair and impartial state Supreme Court that’s free of and from politics, which does not appear to be the case here,” – Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Shaun McCabe

CHICAGO — After news broke of CTU President Stacy Davis Gates transferring her son to a private school, institutions she previously referred to as “the choice of racists,” Davis Gates defended her position claiming disinvestment in schools in the South and West sides.

In the last 10 years, 6 of which Davis Gates has been in CTU leadership, the CPS budget has nearly doubled, from $5.3 billion to $9.4 billion. For context, that is nearly 20% of the size of the ENTIRE STATE’S budget of $50 billion dollars. Per WBEZ, that translates to $13,200 per each of 403,000 students in 2013, and today that number is $29,400 for each of 322,000 students.

If disinvestment is the problem, as Davis Gates claims, it has happened right under her nose in the last 6 years she has been in CTU leadership. Between 2019 and 2022 – while Davis Gates was in CTU Leadership – enrollment declined at a rapid clip, with a nearly 10% drop in enrolled students.

If the Union’s focus is, as their website says, “advancing and promoting quality public education, improving teaching and learning conditions, and protecting members’ rights,” then it is clear that Davis Gates has failed.

Maybe some of that $2,415,000 of member contributions transferred to their PAC for political donations should have gone to actually working for better schools.

CHICAGO – As 2024 draws near, the Illinois Republican Party is gearing up for the November 5, 2024 general election. Chairman Don Tracy recently shared his insights and priorities.

Tracy emphasized the importance of expanding the Republican Party’s presence in Chicago and the suburbs. He highlighted that Republicans embracing early voting and securing support from small donors would be critical to achieving this goal.

“We’ve got to do more than ever to get all good conservatives off the sidelines, engage them in early voting, and also seek help from our dedicated small donors,” Tracy said.

The Illinois Republican Party aims to promote its core values, including parental rights, lower taxes, and public safety. 

The Illinois primary for the 2024 presidential election is scheduled for March 19th, and candidates across the state have already begun the process of gathering nominating petitions. The first step in the 2024 campaign trail has been marked by the circulation of petitions, as candidates strive to secure their spots on the primary ballots.

Chairman Tracy expressed the Republican Party’s intentions to regain influence by making inroads in the suburbs. Tracy stated, “We’ve got to do a better job with the suburbs, and our message should resonate there.” He added that while the Republican messaging has not drastically changed, it has grown stronger due to the Democratic Party’s relatively recent hard left turn.

We can say one thing for sure: the Illinois Republican Party is gearing up for a hard fought political contest in the 2024 general election.

CHICAGO —  The spotlight is firmly on Stacy Davis-Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU), and her hypocritical stance on school choice. Davis-Gates, a vocal opponent of school choice programs, is championing the teachers union campaign to terminate Illinois’ Invest in Kids Act, a program that provides scholarships to nearly 9,000 underprivileged students for private school education. Her mantra: “I can’t advocate on behalf of public education and the children of this city and educators in this city without it taking root in my own household.”

But let’s take a closer look at her hypocrisy. While Davis-Gates advocates against school choice, she sends one of her own children to De La Salle Institute, a private, Catholic high school in Chicago. Yes, you read that right – private school education for her own, while advocating for something entirely different for other children. Rules for thee, but not for me.

Now, let’s revisit some of Davis-Gates’ past statements on social media. She’s not one to mince words. According to her, “School choice was actually the choice of racists. It was created to avoid integrating schools with Black children.” She’s even gone as far as labeling private schools as “Segregation Academies,” and now she acts to provide her own child the benefits of a private education.

Stacy, if Illinois private schools are racist, why are you sending your child to one?

Davis-Gates’ actions speak louder than her words. They highlight the absurdity of the situation – advocating against something you choose to personally benefit from and can personally afford- unlike many other parents who cannot afford a private school without the Invest in Kids Act .

Davis-Gates’ actions, not her words, is proof positive that public education might not be the best fit for every student, and that parents should have the freedom to choose the education that best suits their children’s needs and aspirations.