Originally published on chicago.suntimes.com 12/31/19 | Image : Tom Schuba / Sun-Times

A day before Illinois is set to lift the prohibition on recreational marijuana, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday granted pardons for 11,017 low-level pot offenses from 92 counties statewide.

Flanked by allies and fellow Democratic leaders, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Pritzker announced the wide-reaching effort during a news conference at the Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side.

“Over the past 50 years, the war on cannabis has destroyed families. It has filled jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders. It has disproportionately affected black and brown communities” Pritzker said.

“We will never be able to fully remedy the depth of the damage that has been done,” he added. “But today, here in Illinois, we can govern with the courage to right the wrongs of the past.”


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Originally published on news.wttw.com 12/23/19 Last month, Preckwinkle announced the launch of the Southland Development Authority, a plan designed to spur economic growth in the south suburbs. According to a statement announcing the launch of the SDA, the Cook County’s Bureau of Economic Development will invest $50 million in 2020 on affordable housing, critical social services, infrastructure, disaster recovery and job training as part of that plan. Read more



Originally published on chicago.suntimes.com 12/31/19 \| Image : Tom Schuba / Sun-Times A day before Illinois is set to lift the prohibition on recreational marijuana, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday granted pardons for 11,017 low-level pot offenses from 92 counties statewide. Flanked by allies and fellow Democratic leaders, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Pritzker announced the wide-reaching effort during a news conference at the Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side. “Over the past 50 years, the war on cannabis has destroyed families. It has filled jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders. It has disproportionately affected black and brown communities” Pritzker said. “We will never be able to fully remedy the depth of the damage that has been done,” he added. “But today, here in Illinois, we can govern with the courage to right the wrongs of the past.” Read More





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