Harmon passes bipartisan measure to prevent traffic obstructions at O’Hare

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) took a step today to improve traffic safety around O’Hare Airport.

In response to reports of dangerous conditions around the airport, Harmon passed legislation prohibiting drivers from stopping their vehicles on the shoulder of the road anywhere within a half-mile radius of O’Hare.

“O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country,” Harmon said. “With thousands of cars coming through daily, obstructions on the roadway present a threat to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”

The legislation was a bipartisan effort, originally introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont).

“This initiative is a proactive measure to ensure motorist safety on 190 and I-90 near the entrance to O’Hare Airport. Countless drivers have been parking on the shoulders of these roadways awaiting traveler arrivals instead of using the conveniently located cell phone lots within the airport property,” said Rep. Stephens. “We can’t station officers in these areas to address this safety issue as it’s not an efficient use of manpower, so I am happy to sponsor this measure in hopes that we have addressed an issue prior to anyone being injured or killed.”

The measure also directs the Illinois Tollway Authority to install automated traffic safety cameras within the same half-mile radius.

Anyone found in violation of the new provisions could be fined $100 per instance.

House Bill 5408 passed the Senate 50-5 and will now be sent to the governor’s desk.

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Senate Democrats Pass Legislation Establishing Chicago Elected School Board, Strong Ethical Standards for Members

Full statement from Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, regarding Senate passage of SB 15:

“The beauty of the legislative process is that there are often numerous ways to achieve a shared goal. Today’s action by the Senate puts parents, families and taxpayers of Chicago on the threshold of finally getting a choice in who leads their schools – a right already afforded to every other community in Illinois.

“This plan represents what the Mayor of Chicago and advocates argue is the best way forward, with a phased-in transition to an elected, representative school board paired with strong ethical safeguards. We hope the House quickly sends this measure to the governor’s desk so we can begin this exciting new era of community-led education.”

Key provisions of SB 15 include:

• Adopts Mayor Johnson’s hybrid election approach in which 10 CPS Board members will be elected in 2024 and 10 CPS Board members and the Board Chair will be appointed by the mayor.
• Beginning in 2026, all 20 CPS Board members will be elected from subdistricts and the Board President will be elected citywide.
• Potential candidates can begin circulating petitions on March 26 for the 2024 election, with petitions to be filed between June 17 and June 24.
• The first Board election will take place November 5.
• Ensures school board members will be held to strong ethical standards that mirror those for all other school boards across the state. That includes conflict of interest provisions in line with the state’s existing Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act.
• Creates the Black Student Achievement Committee within the Board, following feedback from education advocates, parents and community members about the need to focus on the disparity in academic performance among Black students.
• Allows the CPS Board to establish additional committees or advisory boards to seek guidance on addressing disparities and individualized needs.
• A map detailing electoral district boundaries, as well as demographic data and shape files, is available online at ilsenateredistricting.com. The map consists of 20 districts, including seven majority Black districts, six majority Latino districts, five majority White districts and two coalition districts.

President Harmon marks two years of decline in Chicago gun violence

On February 1, Senate President Harmon spoke to a broad partnership of government, business, civic, religious and neighborhood groups about putting resources to work in designated communities to save lives and end violence.

The event marked two years of double-digit declines in shootings in Chicago.

Video of the event and the full text of Harmon's remarks as prepared are below.

 

Good morning, all.

Thank you for the invitation to come here today and learn about the amazing strides you’re making to eradicate gun violence in our communities.

It is inspiring to see a group of such dedicated volunteers and advocates.

Our fight to end community gun violence has no easy answers and no quick solutions.

It can feel thankless at times.

Much attention is given to mass shootings, especially when they touch communities less familiar with gun violence, but Chicago deals with mass shootings every week – just not on the same sidewalk or street corner.

The carnage is just as devastating.

Thanks to the work of organizations like yours, though, it is lessening bit by bit.

We’re here today to recognize two years in a row of double-digit declines in shootings.

That number looks good on paper, but it’s more than just that. It’s dozens of parents, siblings and friends who still have someone in their lives who otherwise might have been taken from them by gun violence.

Progress like this is only possible when we work together and take a holistic approach to solving the problem.

Community groups, religious leaders, lawmakers and business owners must all collaborate, because gun violence impacts every corner of this city and state.

The Senate Democrats remain committed to supporting programs to reduce violence and improve outcomes, not only, for youth, but for all Illinois residents.

That’s what spurred the General Assembly to pass the Reimagine Public Safety Act several years ago.

We wanted to direct funding and resources to community members, because community members a know best what underlying concerns fuel the violence epidemic.

We will continue to prioritize and fight for resources at the state level.

But we also know that it takes more than resources from Springfield to solve this problem.

And that is what makes this effort, this group so special – the dedication from civic groups to go neighborhood by neighborhood to reclaim communities.

Together we will make a difference.

Together we will make things better.

In closing, I want to offer my sincerest thanks to all of you for your bravery, dedication and selflessness.

It can be hard to see in the midst of the daily struggle, but we are making progress.

It took 16 years and multiple failures to pass legislation requiring gun dealer registration.

Building on that success, a recent law banning the manufacture and sale of assault weapons had a much easier path to the governor’s desk.

We are headed in the right direction.

For that, I thank you. Keep up the good work.  

Harmon moves to ban deceptive marketing of firearms

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) passed legislation today prohibiting firearms manufacturers and sellers from marketing weapons to children and from promoting illegal militia activity.

The measure also makes it illegal for any firearms dealer to knowingly create a condition that endangers public safety. Examples of such situations include failure to prevent the sale of a firearm to a straw purchaser and failure to ensure that business practices comply with all local, state and federal laws. 

“At its core, this is to protect consumers and prevent firearms companies from marketing to children and promoting illegal militia activities,” Harmon said. “It also ensures that firearms manufacturers are not shielded from liability when their actions compromise public safety. These are reasonable, manageable steps we can take to help curb the scourge of gun violence in our state.” 

House Bill 218 passed the Senate 34-22.