Working for Illinois Caucus

Allow me to share my truth with you.

Yes, I am a state representative of a major municipality in the State of Illinois. A position that brings influence and the power to convene; it is also a position that is often viewed as corrupt based on history — and I understand that.

But I am also a black man, a husband and a dad. As a matter of fact, I am the only black legislator in the northernIllinois region, so often my posture is different because of my own personal lived experiences.

I know how it feels to be judged before my mouth opens simply because of my dark skin and large physique. To this day, I find myself in rooms where my local counterparts are acknowledged, and I am forgotten.

I can’t talk to my colleagues about this, they will never understand because they are white men. That’s been my truth all my life and I, along with a lot of you, have learned to live with it.

I bring this up so that you can understand why it’s hard for me to fully support and appreciate this quote from State’s Attorney J Hanley concerning the misinformation that was shared with you regarding the SAFE-T Act;“I regrettably probably contributed to this in a way that I do regret. … It’s not going to be a purge.”

More:Rockford-area state’s attorney contemplates dropping out of SAFE-T Act lawsuit

It’s hard for me to accept the walk back because the misinformation that was spread about this legislation strategically led people down a path to think of dark-skinned people being let out of jail to destroy our community.

Once that bell is rung, you can’t un-ring it.

Consider the Rockford Sun. A fake newspaper that we found in our mailboxes shortly before Election Day with pictures of black and brown individuals to put the “fear of god” in you concerning the bill.

I saw yard signs that read, “Don’t let the Black Caucus write our laws.” They mentioned the “end of days” and “the purge” and now that Election Day has come and gone, a deafening silence.

Now, let’s apologize and pretend that all is well?

My only desire is to protect our community. Protecting our community is protecting my daughter, my wife, and my parents. Protecting our community is protecting the people that I love, and the people that you love.

And yet here’s the truth: this misinformation campaign has led to confusion and anger in our community and threats to me and my family personally — especially since I can’t hide the color of my skin.

My skin tone, in some eyes, means that I’m anti-police; even when my message has consistently focused on restoring trust between our law enforcement community and all community members.

Because of this misinformation, my faith was questioned, my life threatened, and the N-word was used so expressively and easily by some. All while my fellow local elected leaders, on both sides of the aisle, threw me under the bus for their political survival.

I get it. It’s politics and this is an occupational hazard in this arena. And I’m still standing.

But to those of you who are not elected leaders: I humbly ask that you consider your source moving forward. Even if that source is me.

Verify that the words that are coming out of my mouth are valid before we share misinformation. Let’s not be influenced, but informed.

To my fellow elected leaders, to States Attorney Hanley, let us strive to do better and be better. The end of misinformation in government starts with us.

Let’s focus on the power of convening rather than division. To our law enforcement officers who strive todo good, be good, and value and respect every community member that you are charged to protect — I value and respect you.

Now, let’s get back to work for the betterment of our community.

State Rep. Maurice A. West II, D-Rockford, represents the 67th District.

Oswego State Representative Stephanie Kifowit is hosting a toy drive now through December 9th. It’s through the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Kifowit is a Marine Corps Veteran.

Toys can be dropped of at her office at 1677 Montgomery Road, suite 116, in Aurora from eight to four Monday through Friday. The toys should be new and unwrapped.

More information can be found by calling 630-585-1308.

Under the Pretrial Fairness Act, a section of the Safe-T Act, the end to cash bail and the implementation of its alternative goes into effect January 1. In the meantime, State Representative Dave Vella, a Democrat from Rockford, continues to meet with the public safety working group in the Illinois House. They’re looking at questions that are still unanswered, like how much the new process is going to cost and other legitimate concerns about the law.

The Illinois Safe-T Act was a major focus of misinformation and Republican opposition during the past election campaign.

“We’re going to be losing money out of the system, but also [we’re considering] how much cheaper it’s going to be, because there won’t be as many people in custody,” Vella said.

“So, we’re trying to figure out what that number is, then trying to allocate the funds for that. So we’ll probably need some kind of special allotment.”

He said it varies across the state how much court systems and jails depend on fees from bond money to fund their operations.

After January 1, in place of bail, folks charged with low level, non-violent offences will be ticketed and required to appear in court at a later date. A judge can decide to hold a person in detention before they have been sentenced if they are deemed dangerous or a flight risk, using certain criteria.

Prosecutors can also petition the judge for detention. But the threshold they must meet, some state’s attorneys said, is too high. Vella, a former defense attorney, said legislators are working on developing language that addresses their concerns.

“You don’t want somebody who misses the bus, to get a warrant out for them taking into custody, they spent time in over the weekend, and they lose their kids and lose their job,” he said. “But you don’t want somebody who just said, ‘I’m not going to court’ just to be out there without impunity.”

Another item under negotiations is how the law applies to individuals who are currently detained and who have posted bond. Some state’s attorneys have previously told WNIJ that if the law is retrospective, a mechanism will have to be in place that allows for the court system to review and decide on whether current detainees meet the criteria for release.

Vella said he can’t say for certain what proposals will be brought forth for the legislature to consider.

Earlier this month, State Senator Scott Bennet, a Champaign Democrat, filed an amendment, supported by the State’s Attorneys Association, which states pretrial release begins on January 1 but doesn’t apply to those currently detained. It would also lower the threshold for a judge to detain a person they deem a flight risk or a threat to the public.

While Democrats hold a supermajority in both chambers, any amendments will have to gain support from those who have opposed the Safe-T Act, including some Democrats. It will take a two-thirds vote to approve amendments to the law during the veto session which ends on December 1.

Since June of 2021, a taskforce of the Illinois Supreme Court has hosted educational seminars to help the court systems implement changes under a no-cash bail system.