Idle Threats

The past few years of state and city budget woes has witnessed leaders issuing threats of massive cuts as a way to exert pressure and ultimately mitigate the cuts:

Witness Ron Huberman at the CTA in 2007, using threats to seek emergency funds from Springfield.

Or Pat Quinn in 2010, using school funding threats to seek an income tax hike.

Here in 2011, Quinn is threatening brutal cuts to health and human services, while seeking to borrow $8 Billion, some of which would surely be used to mitigate these funding cuts.

But all of this maneuvering masks and distracts from the central task -- the need to make sacrifices across the board, in all areas of government. This can only happen if the people demand it and we develop a shared sense of sacrifice - that everyone is giving something up for the greater good and long-term stability. It is not easy, but to have any chance, we need leaders who can appeal to a wide public and speak in plain English, rather than leaders who try to exploit threats and paper over problems with temporary fixes.

Governor's Borrowing Proposal

Governor Quinn is proposing to borrow $8.75 billion to pay unpaid bills and help balance budget for FY12.

Chicago Commons does not take a position on this.

However, for those so inclined, here is a summary of the PRO and CON positions:

1. PRO -- State of Illinois has already borrowed money from all of the providers and contractors like Chicago Commons. So Quinn’s proposal can be described as just “refinancing” existing debt in a more responsible, less expensive manner.

2. CON -- Some of this borrowing will allow the State to avoid some budget cuts in FY12, effectively "kicking the can down the road". The borrowing just allows the State to dig its long-term hole deeper, delaying cuts and avoiding decisions.

Ultimately, the answer is somewhere in the middle.

For example the State may have to borrow something to pay some of its unpaid bills, but it must not borrow in order to defer hard decisions.

Sun Times Editorial did a good job, I think, of communicating this balanced message.

What do we really value?

The current government budget debates in Illinois and nationally are rising to a fever pitch and the flurry of complex proposals and counter-proposals can be overwhelming. Before you burry your head in your hands, read NYT columnist David Brooks.

Here’s a key excerpt from his Jan. 3^rd column:

"The size of government doesn’t tell you what you need to know; the social and moral content of government action does. The budgeteers and the technicians may not like it, but it’s the values inculcated by policies that matter most.

The best way to measure government is not by volume, but by what you might call the Achievement Test. Does a given policy arouse energy, foster skills, spur social mobility and help people transform their lives?"

He really nails it.

At Commons, we view our work in the same way. We should invest most heavily in the things that are truly transformative, the things that “spur social mobility”.

I am convinced that Commons' early childhood education work is transformative. We don’t have the long-term scientific study yet, but there are just so many families who have used our pre-schools who become motivated to choose their child’s elementary school, who are seeking out summer enrichment and whose children are now in college – beyond the norm for our neighborhoods. This is why we have invested so heavily in this work – more than almost anything else.

In terms of state budget advocacy --- transformation should be our primary message. Expand the transformative things like early education… investments in our future. Moderate the things that simply consume in the present.

Warming Hearts

Thanks to Operation Warm, Rotary of Winnetka and The Chicago Community Trust, we distributed over 600 coats to children this past week. Also we distributed gifts from Rabine Group, Toys R Us and Toys for Tots. And thanks to all the staff who helped with all the logistics.

The families who come to Chicago Commons come here for education -- to build a brighter future. The outpouring of support over the holiday season spurs all of us to keep pressing forward.

Humboldt Park Portal

Check out the Humboldt Park Portal! It is the neighborhood home page. Great calendar of local events and happenings. Chicago Commons has always been about being an active resource for neighborhoods, so we are proud to be part of the group building this new online presence for the neighborhood. As you will see, there is much more to Humboldt Park than violence and poverty, there are amazing things happening all over.

For compelling facts and figures about Illinois fiscal crisis, visit Illinois is Broke website.

Chicago Commons has made tremendous strides the past five years. We are growing. We are making a tremendous impact in our neighborhoods.

But all of this hard work is at risk due to the failure of leadership at the state level.

The only way the crisis will be addressed is if voters become informed and demand tough action from public officials -- including more pension reforms, budget cuts and tax increase.

Windsurfing!

Thank you to Jackie Butzen of Windward Sports for the sailing experience in Pilsen! Sailing in Pilsen? Yes, that is right, sailing in Pilsen. Jackie brought a training board that could be set up on a special rotating stand in Harrison Park near our Guadalupano Center. A school age classroom that had been making boats with paper got to see how a windsurfer is set-up and then experienced hoisting the sail and feeling the pull of the wind. Now the group wants to head to the beach to see the real deal, stay tuned...