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Record of Proceedings

Cook County Workers' Comp Subcommittee Meeting - May 13, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Wednesday, May 13, 2026
BodyCook County, Illinois
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:01

We are ready.

0:02

We will recall the uh Cook County Workers' Compensation Subcommittee.

0:07

Do we have quorum?

0:08

Chairman, at your recess, you had uh all members quite present.

0:12

There's a quorum.

0:12

You do require a remote participation for Commissioner Marita.

0:19

I make a motion to allow members not in person to participate remotely.

0:22

Moved by Commissioner McCat.

0:24

Commissioner Vasquez and or Commissioner Trevor.

0:30

Thank you.

0:30

Thank you.

0:30

Looking at my notes here and it's throwing me off.

0:32

Thank you.

0:32

Commissioner Vasquez, Commissioner Trevor to participate to do remote participation.

0:38

So McCasco is McCaskill.

0:42

Have you connected?

0:44

Commissioner McCasco is absent.

0:47

Commissioner Marita.

0:50

Morita present.

0:51

Commissioner Rita is present participating remotely.

0:53

Commissioner Trevor.

0:56

Thank you.

0:56

Commissioner Vasquez.

0:59

Thank you.

0:59

And Chairman is present.

1:00

Yes.

1:01

Chairman, you do have a quorum of one member present.

1:03

I'm sorry, one member absent.

1:05

Commissioner McCaskill.

1:06

Excellent.

1:06

Ma'am Secretary, public speakers or change the city agenda.

1:09

You have two public speakers still in the room.

1:12

I am not aware of any changes to your agenda.

1:15

Please be reminded of the public speaking rules.

1:17

You have three minutes to address the body.

1:19

George Blakemore is present as well as Zoe Lee.

1:23

We welcome our speakers, Mr.

1:24

Blakemore.

1:24

You may begin, sir.

1:26

Workman compensation.

1:28

When a work uh a worker of the county should be compensated if they have an injury or anything.

1:39

But uh what I was told several years ago that some of these lawyers, someone from the I forget his name, it was a Roger.

1:53

We have two Rogers.

1:55

Uh one is uh historical uh with his family uh during the great uh from Tuffers so two Rogers.

2:08

I get these royals mixed up, but one did this royal that they work here, they say he gets all of the workmen's compensation cases, all of them, and that other rod is a cream of the crop.

2:26

He comes his people came from Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

2:31

I said, and I get these roses.

2:33

I shouldn't get them mixed up.

2:36

It got the same name or something, similar, but but they're totally different.

2:42

One is classy, the other is is milking the system.

2:48

He works for the system, and he has a law firm.

2:53

And uh it's been a rumor, and it's true that all everybody that falls slip down with some waddle at the county, whatever, fall off with her or whatever, go to him, and then he wins the case.

3:09

So work McCompensation.

3:12

Did you know that that's why some of them they don't like Miss Oh, Mr.

3:16

Brigmo, you look so bad you need to shave your hair all out.

3:19

You you look like death.

3:20

Death coming to everybody.

3:23

See, I one minute.

3:24

I have a history here.

3:27

I go back a long way here to the days all the way back to old man shows your son on back even farther.

3:38

History.

3:39

That's what makes me a unique citizen when I get up and speak.

3:46

I know where you're coming from, Miss Lane.

3:50

30 seconds.

3:51

The first lady of the church.

3:54

The church has been a hornbrother Christ.

3:57

A religious person, a real first lady will treat you very nice and dignified.

4:04

Oh, yes.

4:05

I'm not the one.

4:08

I am not the one.

4:10

Oh Lord.

4:11

So again, if I have exceeded my minutes, please don't call the sheriff, but throw me out.

4:16

Look over here talking.

4:17

Wait, what?

4:18

Stay away from this lawyer.

4:20

Stay away from her.

4:21

Y'all been going crazy.

4:24

Stay down, stay away from her.

4:26

Chairman, time has expired.

4:27

Our next speaker is Zoe Lee.

4:29

Thank you, Mr.

4:30

Blake for that's not the time to talk to her.

4:36

Well, since we have an attorney, we got a few attorneys in here now.

4:43

I'm not sure if they take the bar, and because they don't know any of the law.

4:49

But uh Monday, a federal judge ruled that Cook County is liable to pay back millions of dollars to people who lost their homes in the county's annual property tax sales three years after U.S.

5:03

Supreme Court ruled the system unconstitutional.

5:06

Now the city of Chicago unlawfully demolished my family's building that was paid off.

5:13

No reverse mortgages, no mortgages, no delinquent taxes, all the equity down.

5:20

So as an attorney, what does that mean?

5:23

Does anybody know?

5:24

Oh, okay.

5:26

They just knocked down all my equity, all of it.

5:30

No property taxes, but you, Commissioner Morrison, the only Republican that's here, have heard me come down here for three years.

5:39

You know I have a brand.

5:40

Chicago flips red, you follow it.

5:43

I can't get you to sit down and talk about the property theft in our communities.

5:51

Because you can't, because they say you meet with Tony Preckwinkle every week for lunch.

5:56

So if you do that, and she is the one who's stealing our properties, with the help, because she bought her million dollar home through the land bank, which I don't know how that's even possible.

6:07

But you know, y'all do whatever y'all want to do.

6:10

What makes you think I'm gonna get behind anybody that you are aligned with, and that's Aaron Del Mar.

6:17

Why would I why when I when he lied to me?

6:20

Why will we get why will we get behind Darren Bailey?

6:26

Like we got an active genocide crisis going on in our communities.

6:32

We have a property theft crisis going on in this and is in this any crisis.

6:37

One minute in this in in Chicago, and we can't get no help from either side.

6:42

I'm done with the Democrats.

6:43

They they are done.

6:44

But what makes you think that I'm going to deal with the established Republicans here who are exactly like them?

6:54

No, no, no, no.

6:55

That's why we got to revamp it all.

6:58

Y'all all gotta go.

6:59

Because y'all don't care.

7:00

Y'all all work together.

7:02

And if we continue stay in these seats, we are not gonna have anything, no generational wealth, nothing.

7:12

We're just gonna have statues because that's what y'all usually do anyway.

7:16

So just wanted to let you know that uh Commissioner Morrison.

7:21

Peace.

7:22

Chairman, that concludes your list of speakers.

7:25

Thank you.

7:26

The chair will not entertain a motion to approve item number 26148.

7:29

Sorry, Commissioner McCaskill's Highness.

7:31

I'm sorry, Commissioner McCaskill.

7:32

Yes, thank you.

7:33

Commissioner McCaskill.

7:35

Just acknowledging that I'm on remote.

7:37

Thank you.

7:38

Thank you.

7:38

Thank you, Commissioner.

7:41

Okay.

7:41

Uh the chair will now entertain a motion to approve item number 26-147, which is the minutes of the meeting of April the 14th, 2026.

7:48

Moved by Commissioner Trevor and seconded by Commissioner Marito.

7:52

Is there any discussion on that?

7:53

Hearing none, all can we need a roll call?

7:56

Voice.

7:57

Oh all in favor say aye.

8:00

Opposed nay in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

8:02

Uh to Miss Flowers or any of our colleagues, is there any need for us to go into executive session?

8:08

None from the Ms.

8:09

Flowers.

8:09

Any of our colleagues hearing none.

8:11

Okay, the child chair will now entertain a motion to approve the settlements as recommended by the state's attorney's office, and under their guidance, we will name each item number.

8:19

Item we'll bundle them.

8:21

26120, 26130, 26119, 261355, 26132, 26138, 261328, 26134, 261314, 261250, 261252, 26137, 261358.

8:45

Those are moved by Commissioner Trevor and seconded by Commissioner.

8:52

Commissioner Marita.

8:54

Is there any discussion?

8:58

We need to roll call those.

8:59

We need to ask guys in the room.

9:01

That's quizzes here.

9:02

Thank you.

9:02

Everyone's here present.

9:03

Thank you.

9:05

Yes, it is a roll call.

9:06

Roll call vote, please.

9:07

Bundle motion.

9:08

Uh Commissioner Mas Casco, your vote, please.

9:13

Commissioner McCatco, aye.

9:15

Commissioner McCasco is aye.

9:16

Commissioner Marita.

9:20

Commissioner Marita is aye.

9:22

Commissioner Trevor.

9:23

Aye.

9:23

Commissioner Trevor is aye.

9:24

Commissioner Vasquez.

9:26

Commissioner Vasquez is aye.

9:27

Chairman.

9:28

Chairman is aye.

9:29

Chairman vote is aye.

9:30

Previous votes are all aye.

9:32

Five ayes, zero, nay, sir.

9:34

Very good.

9:34

In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

9:36

The settlements are approved.

9:37

Having no further business, the chairman will take a motion to adjourn.

9:39

So moved by Commissioner Vasquez.

9:41

Seconded by Commissioner Marita.

9:43

All in favor say aye.

9:45

Any discussion?

9:46

Hearing none.

9:47

Thank you.

9:47

Items approved.

9:49

Uh this meeting is adjourned.

Summary of Proceedings

Cook County Workers' Compensation Subcommittee Meeting - May 13, 2026

The Cook County Workers' Compensation Subcommittee convened on May 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments, and approval of settlements. Key actions included a vote to allow remote participation, approval of prior meeting minutes, and unanimous approval of a bundle of settlement items.

Consent Calendar

  • A motion to allow remote participation for Commissioner Marita was moved by Commissioner McCat, seconded by Commissioner Vasquez and Commissioner Trevor, and approved. Commissioner McCaskill was absent.
  • The minutes of the meeting of April 14, 2026 (item 26-147) were moved by Commissioner Trevor, seconded by Commissioner Marita, and approved by voice vote without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Blakemore spoke about workers' compensation cases in the county, alleging that a specific lawyer (referred to as a "Roger") receives all such cases and wins them, implying unfairness in the system. He also made unrelated personal remarks and referenced historical figures. Time expired at three minutes.
  • Zoe Lee addressed the committee, stating that a federal judge ruled Cook County liable to pay back millions to people who lost homes in the county's property tax sales. She claimed the city of Chicago unlawfully demolished her family's building and criticized elected officials, including Commissioner Morrison and Toni Preckwinkle, for alleged property theft and lack of response. She expressed disillusionment with both Democrats and established Republicans.

Discussion Items

  • No substantive discussion items were debated beyond the approval of minutes and settlements. The chair asked if there was a need for executive session; none was required.

Key Outcomes

  • Remote Participation Vote: A motion to allow remote participation for Commissioner Marita was approved by voice vote (quorum present: Chairman, Commissioner Marita, Commissioner Trevor, Commissioner Vasquez; Commissioner McCaskill absent).
  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the April 14, 2026 meeting (item 26-147) were approved by voice vote without objection.
  • Approval of Settlements: A bundle of 14 settlement items (numbers 26120, 26130, 26119, 261355, 26132, 26138, 261328, 26134, 261314, 261250, 261252, 26137, 261358) was moved by Commissioner Trevor, seconded by Commissioner Marita, and approved by roll call vote: Commissioner McCaskill (aye), Commissioner Marita (aye), Commissioner Trevor (aye), Commissioner Vasquez (aye), Chairman (aye). Five ayes, zero nays. The settlements were approved as recommended by the state's attorney's office.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned upon a motion by Commissioner Vasquez, seconded by Commissioner Marita, without further discussion.

Meeting Transcript

We are ready. We will recall the uh Cook County Workers' Compensation Subcommittee. Do we have quorum? Chairman, at your recess, you had uh all members quite present. There's a quorum. You do require a remote participation for Commissioner Marita. I make a motion to allow members not in person to participate remotely. Moved by Commissioner McCat. Commissioner Vasquez and or Commissioner Trevor. Thank you. Thank you. Looking at my notes here and it's throwing me off. Thank you. Commissioner Vasquez, Commissioner Trevor to participate to do remote participation. So McCasco is McCaskill. Have you connected? Commissioner McCasco is absent. Commissioner Marita. Morita present. Commissioner Rita is present participating remotely. Commissioner Trevor. Thank you. Commissioner Vasquez. Thank you. And Chairman is present. Yes. Chairman, you do have a quorum of one member present. I'm sorry, one member absent. Commissioner McCaskill. Excellent. Ma'am Secretary, public speakers or change the city agenda. You have two public speakers still in the room. I am not aware of any changes to your agenda. Please be reminded of the public speaking rules. You have three minutes to address the body. George Blakemore is present as well as Zoe Lee. We welcome our speakers, Mr. Blakemore. You may begin, sir. Workman compensation. When a work uh a worker of the county should be compensated if they have an injury or anything. But uh what I was told several years ago that some of these lawyers, someone from the I forget his name, it was a Roger. We have two Rogers. Uh one is uh historical uh with his family uh during the great uh from Tuffers so two Rogers. I get these royals mixed up, but one did this royal that they work here, they say he gets all of the workmen's compensation cases, all of them, and that other rod is a cream of the crop. He comes his people came from Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I said, and I get these roses. I shouldn't get them mixed up. It got the same name or something, similar, but but they're totally different. One is classy, the other is is milking the system.

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