A whirlwind end to a historic legislative session has resulted in two important pieces of good news for Illinois trucking companies: a new capital bill to fix our infrastructure, and the end of a misguided truck fee that only added to the work we have to do to address our roads and bridges.
We give tremendous credit and a hearty thank you to a bipartisan group of legislators and Gov. J.B. Pritzker for their leadership in approving a new capital bill that will make the first major investment in fixing our transportation system in 10 years.
Our trucks drive every day over broken and crumbling concrete and asphalt and are stuck in congested traffic. With Illinois a national leader in transporting good and services around the country and the world, often by truck, the billions of dollars we will spend over the next six years under this plan will save us tremendous costs.
Included in the capital bill is a repeal of the commercial distribution fee, created in 2004 as a hidden sales tax on truck license plates. The CDF adds as much as $400 to the cost of a semi-truck license plate and has cost the industry nearly $1 billion since it was implemented. Worse, the money is swept into the general revenue fund, not used for infrastructure.
No one likes higher fuel prices, but we strongly support this plan that ensures we are investing in our infrastructure through protected funds and repealing the CDF. Illinois’ economy moves ahead with trucks, and we can roll on with this help from Springfield.
—Matt Hart, executive director, Illinois Trucking Association
Traffic laws apply to bicyclists, too
As we are now heading into a beautiful summer in Chicago, more bicyclists are on the roads. While I support everyone's right to use bicycling as a means of transportation, I do not support bicyclist scofflaws.
I always drive with extraordinary care to and from work, while bikers weave in and out of traffic, and refuse to follow the rules of the road. They blow through stop signs and traffic lights, imperiling law-abiding motorists.
I have avoided many collisions with bicyclists who wear headphones and do not hear traffic and horns. I have seen near misses with other cars in intersections and parked cars opening doors. I have almost been run down by bicyclists in intersections while I am walking in the city with my small children and small dogs.
Are bicyclists ever held accountable for breaking the laws of the road? I urge our new mayor and the city council to address this problem.
— Karen Cotler, Chicago
Clarify Just Housing Amendment
For the past several years, Chicago-area policymakers have wrestled with the best way to provide a second chance for some criminal offenders seeking housing, while also guaranteeing a measure of safety and protection for property owners and renters.This debate resulted in action by the Cook County Board of Commissioners to approve the Just Housing Amendment which initially limits property owners from using someone’s criminal background when screening rental applicants.
To be clear, Illinois Realtors believes opportunities should exist to provide a meaningful path back into society for past offenders. This core value fits neatly with work the association has done for many years to ensure property owners understand their role in screening applicants for rental housing and how to adhere to Fair Housing protections.
However, property owners must be able to ensure that their properties are occupied by persons who are not likely to commit crimes on the property, and will not do harm to other residents. Owners and tenants need to know that their homes are safe. As the Cook County Human Relations Committee prepares the rules under which the amendment will be implemented, there are a number of key questions which must be answered.
How much control do property owners have in establishing a review process? As passed, the amendment provides little guidance on how a property owner should set up criteria for evaluating former offenders. This leaves uncertainty for the property owner and the applicant as to what the rules might be.
How far back can a property owner look when establishing an applicant’s criminal history? Property owners need to be able to make determinations about violent past offenses and use a reasonable “look-back” period when reviewing applicants.How long does a landlord have to wait and keep open an apartment when a rental applicant disputes a finding in a criminal screening? The new ordinance states an applicant has to be given this opportunity. We are concerned that this process could be unnecessarily lengthy.
Property owners need assurances they can fill vacant units as quickly as possible and will not be confronted with a bureaucratic maze of paperwork and hearings. Delays can make rental units unavailable perhaps for months, something that could have an impact on lower-income residents. As property owners, Illinois Realtors applaud any opportunity to provide second a chance to those who deserve it. At the same time, we want to make sure the process is fair for all. A lack of clarity can easily result in confusion, which could potentially harm Cook County renters and property owners.
— Hugh Rider, chairman, Illinois REALTORS® Public Policy & Government Affairs Committee
O’Hare’s friendly skies
This shout-out is long overdue but deserving to the City of Chicago and those responsible for running Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport.
Granted, my overseas travel has been limited to Western, Central and Eastern European countries. However, having flown out/into O'Hare Airport nearly a hundred times, and having experienced many of the airports in Europe, I think I have a pretty good handle on the airport situation.
At O'Hare, I am always struck by the ease of checking in, going through security, passport control, picking up my luggage etc. There is always someone available wherever and whenever assistance is needed. Chicago has many problems to overcome, but having a first-class airport is not one of them.
—Richard D. Shaw, Des Plaines