Good morning.

The meeting to the Kirk County Board will come to order.

And Clerk, please call the row.

Ladies and gentlemen, pay attention.

Thank you.

The meeting of the Kirk County Board of Commissioners will come to order.

And the clerk will call the role.

Commissioner Aguilar.

Here.

Here Commissioner Aguilar is present.

Commissioner Anaya.

Commissioner Naya is absent.

Commissioner Britton.

Commissioner Britton is present.

Commissioner Daly.

Here.

Commissioner Daly's present.

Commissioner Degnan.

Commissioner Degnan is absent.

Commissioner Gaynor.

Commissioner Dana Gaynor is present.

Commissioner Laurie.

Present.

Commissioner Larry's present.

Commissioner McCaskill.

Commissioner McCapskill is absent.

Commissioner Miller.

Miller here.

Commissioner Miller is present.

Commissioner Moore.

Present.

Commissioner Morris present.

Commissioner Marita.

Present.

Commissioner Marita's present.

Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

Kevin Morrison here.

Commissioner Kevin Morrison is present.

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

Commissioner Sean Morrison's present.

Commissioner Scott.

Present.

Commissioner Scott is present.

Commissioner Stamps.

Commissioner Stamps is absent.

Commissioner Trevor.

Reverend here.

Commissioner Travers present.

Commissioner Vasquez.

Present.

Commissioner Vasquez is present.

Chairman, you have a quorum.

Commissioner Vasquez.

I do have the acknowledgement.

If not, um Commissioner Nye, do you have it?

Here's written.

Commissioner Cutton.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

President Pro Tem and members of the board.

Cook County resides on lands that have been home to indigenous people for thousands of years.

The Pottawatomie, Ojibwe, Ottawa, and dozens of nations were the custodians and caretakers of this land for centuries before European colonization.

Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building understanding and mutual respect across all cultures, traditions, and heritages.

By reading the statement, Cook County recognizes the past wrongdoings as well as the present harm upon people, tribal lands, and governments.

We honor the indigenous people, past and present, and pause to remember the acts of violence, displacement, colonization, and removal of the original inhabitants of this land.

With this land acknowledgement, Cook County commits to learning more about and doing better to support the county's native and indigenous residents as we work towards equity for all of Cook County.

Thank you.

We will begin with public speakers.

The secretary will outline the process.

Thank you, Chairman.

Commissioner Naya has her hand raised to be.

Commissioner Naya.

To be added to the role.

Yes, can I please be added?

If yeah, I have missed roll call.

Thank you.

Chairman, members of the public, too.

Thank you.

So did it.

Members of the public who wish to testify have up until 24 hours before the schedule start of the meeting.

Speakers will have three minutes to address the body.

Failure to act appropriately or failure to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and or disqualify a person from providing future testimony.

Written only comments have been added to the meeting record.

Chairman, we have a total of 10 speakers at the moment.

Lisa Clasklo Gain Charney.

Shalita Johnson.

If you in the room, please stand up.

Come to the public speaking mic so that we can acknowledge you and know that you are here.

Lisa Charney, Shalita Johnson, Kimberly Slight Walker, Jane Charney.

If you're here, stand, come to the mic.

And whoever is there first, please state your name and begin.

Hi everyone.

Hi everyone.

My name is Lisa Claslow.

I am the executive director of the Lupus Society of Illinois.

We are truly honored to be recognized during Lupus Awareness Month, especially recently.

We celebrated Lupus Awareness Day on May 10th.

For those of you who do not know much about lupus, it's a chronic disease that can affect anyone at any time.

Um, but mostly in the community of women that are ages of 15 to 44.

Um can pack any organ and any joint.

I have some wonderful lupus warriors behind me that will share a little bit more about that.

But in a recent global survey, 53% of Americans knew very little or nothing about lupus.

That's why awareness and education are so important.

At the lupus society of Illinois, we meet many people who are newly diagnosed and overwhelmed.

Often they leave a doctor's appointment with medication and very little information about living with lupus and what that really means.

Many have never heard of lupus before that day.

It can not only affect someone's physical health, but also their mental and emotional well-being.

That is why we are here at the lupus society of Illinois, also known as LSI, we provide support groups, resources, and community for people living with lupus and their families.

Sometimes people are asked, what do you do?

And honestly, it's really simple.

We're here to support lupus patients who need to turn to someone.

Since 1973, the lupus society of Illinois has worked to build support communities across the state and through support group, educational programs, webinars, and events.

All of our services are free and open to everyone.

Thank you again for your time and for helping us raise awareness in the lupus community.

Next, state your name, please come forward.

Good morning.

I'm Kimberly Spike Walker, and I'm a lupus advocate and a lupus warrior.

I have had lupus for 30 years now, and lupus, you are seeing lupus now in real life, real time.

This morning when I woke up, lupus was lupusing, as you can say.

So I was aching, my joints are swollen.

I when I was diagnosed with lupus, my all system failed.

My doctors didn't think I was gonna make it.

My brain right now has a lesion on it due to lupus.

I know the challenges that we live with as far as lupus.

Right now, there's 4,000 individuals right here in the county that you serve that has is living with lupus and have lupus.

Not to mention the ones that are struggling to find out whether or not they have lupus and going back and forth to doctors, seeing doctors run into one specialist to another.

So I stand here being a voice for the voiceless.

I stand here to speak voice for the individuals that's at home where lupus has ravaged their lungs and they can't be here to speak to you to address you and let you know how they're doing.

Because this is an invisible disease that you can't see.

So to say that I am the voice of lupus.

Thank you, Shalita Johnson, Jane Charlie, followed by Zoe Lee and Jessica Jackson.

Tell us your name.

Good morning.

My name is Shalipa Johnson, and I've been a lupus warrior for 26 years.

I was diagnosed much earlier than the statistics that are offered, which state that lupus commonly affects women during their childbearing ages, usually at 15.

I was diagnosed at nine.

University of Chicago, Coma Children's Hospital was the first institution in Illinois that took me seriously.

Nearly three years I visit psychiatrists, doctors, and hospitals, and was only told that my chronic symptoms was for schizophrenia.

It was not until I became a patient of Dr.

Wagner Weiner that someone finally listened to my symptoms seriously and diagnosed me within three years of my first symptom.

Lupus affects me every single day.

Not only does it share an anniversary with my birthday, but it also altered some of the most important moments of my life through flares, complication with my organs, and inflammation that prevented me from fully being who I wanted to be.

Lupus was has created unnecessary hurdles, but it has also revealed a resilience and a fight within me, unlike any other.

Doctors once told me I would not make it past 18, and that I would never be able to have a child.

Today I stand before you, letting you know that I am a graduate of high school at the age of 18.

I earned my bachelor's degree, my master's degree, and I am currently a doctoral student.

I was also told I would never have children.

And today I am a proud mother of a 14-year-old.

One thing doctors were correct about is that lupus can greatly affect childbearing years, and unfortunately, it has affected my daughter.

However, the lived experiences, resilience, and advocacy skills that I've developed has allowed me to advocate for her as she faces her own lupus journey.

I can remember more negative moments in my life than positive ones.

I use every opportunity that I have, the sight in my eyes, the breath in my lungs, and the willpower to keep going with this diagnosis to acknowledge lupus for what it is and stand for my battle.

I work with Gemma Pyro Lupus Aurora Incorporated in my own non-for-profit Lupus Leus to help the unheard and the unvalued of individuals battling lupus.

Lupish should not be something people can't just pass over.

35 million people in the world have lupus.

Today I stand before you, asking you to support and recognize May as Lupics Awareness Month, May 10th is World Lupus Day in Cook County, and the county where I was raised, the county that has supported me, and the county that helped shape me into the woman I am today.

Thank you.

Jane, after you will be Zoe Lee, Jessica Jackson, Taiwan Sims.

You may begin.

Good morning.

My name is Jane Charney, and I serve as the associate vice president for local government affairs at Jewish United Fund, Jewish Federation of Chicago.

We're the central convener of Chicago's Jewish community and support a network of social service agencies that serve half a million people all throughout our region, regardless of faith, economic background, or affiliation.

I'm pleased to speak on behalf of JUF and our community in appreciation of the board's recognition of May as Jewish American Heritage Month.

I also want to express our community's steadfast commitment to celebrating our partner communities who share this month's special designation, Asian American Pacific Islander communities and the Haitian American community.

When I first moved to the United States from the former Soviet Union 30 years ago, I could never imagine that I would be standing here before you as a Jewish community professional to thank this esteemed body for recognizing and celebrating the contributions and experiences of my fellow Jewish Americans.

My family's immigrant Jewish story is akin to the migration stories of the first Jewish Chicago and Cook County residents who moved here in 1841, attracted by the Virginia City's economy.

Like them, my family came to pursue the American dream and escape from a place where dignity for Jews was scarce.

For the past 185 years, Jewish people have played a foundational role in building our region's commercial sector, developing civic and social service infrastructure, and organizing labor.

Today, our community is found throughout Cook County, from Homewood and Flossmore in the south to Oak Park and River Forest in the west to the North Shore.

Our people, our educators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, restaurateurs, and social workers.

We're your neighbors, your co-workers, and your service providers.

Even as we are thriving, we're also in the midst of an existential crisis.

Antisemitism has increased nationwide, and our community and our institutions are acutely aware of that fact.

It means celebrating holidays and milestones behind a cordon of guards.

It means teaching my kid to pay close attention on the bus when he's wearing a keeper.

It means choosing whether to wear a Star of David or read a Jewish author on the L.

But these experiences won't prevent us from living our lives, from being proud of our heritage, and from celebrating our contributions to the broader society.

Today, I honor my community that has shaped and has been shaped by America since the dawn of our nation.

And I'm proud to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Zoe Lee, Jessica Jackson, Taiwan Sims, then George Blake Moore.

Oh, happy Jewish Heritage Month.

Um it's great to hear all the great things that they still have in their communities.

You know, my uh godfather had a business for 43 years called the Sampiper Lounge.

And Richard M.

Daly, your brother decided that they were going to give it to Quakinbush with the rest of the land that they gave to save a lot to.

And uh the city is paying them rent, and my godfather's just homeless, you know, and my mother, you just took all her investment.

So I just need you to make sure that you tell your brother that someone's gonna have to sit down with Leroy Singleton.

He's still alive.

They're about the same age.

Just like your dead, just like your brother's still alive, he's still alive too.

Right?

And then I'm gonna need you to sit down with my mom.

She's 77, she's still alive too.

So make sure that you pass that on to your brother.

Because I'm going, I'm doing a famous Friday on the whole Daily Enterprise and how they just continue to tear down the South Side.

From your daddy to your brother to you.

You just, I don't even know why you're still here.

Anyway, Torah Stamps, I don't know who is gonna stamps, but they want to say to this B I T C H at Zoli, that publicly called Commissioner Terrace Domps a goofy B I T C H.

I'm gonna start with watch your mouth.

I've been really quiet out the way, but you need to understand she ain't by herself.

That is all keep it moving, Miss Stamps.

Okay, so I don't even know what that is.

But I'm gonna let you know this.

Shorty, Torah Stamps, October 17th, 2025.

She decided to be Stacy Doug, they Stacey Davis Gates and Brandon Johnson's lap dog and decided to bring up Flips Red N CTU video.

She owes me an apology.

So until her and them dusty braids that she's had in since the first term gives it to me.

Then it's up.

30 seconds.

Then it's up.

Because she started.

Y'all gonna start, y'all gonna stop this.

Just like you're gonna stop stealing property.

Y'all gonna stop doing this.

This is my first amendment.

I'm trying to tell you on my first amendment.

She better watch out.

She better already sue and CTU.

I got cases on all y'all.

And they say you stealing Harvey money, Keisha McHale's castle.

They said your mom, they said your husband and your and your daughter.

So I'm just letting you know.

So that gerrymandering thing that you start with, we're not gonna vote.

Nah.

The issue is y'all gonna stop getting these these positions and then steal all the money out the communities.

We tired of it.

Chairman, time is expired for the speaker.

Our next speaker is Jessica Jackson, followed by Taiwan Sims.

George Blake Moore and then CND Norman.

Jessica, please begin.

The reality is this.

Black people's voting is not in danger.

And you know it's not.

And you know it's not.

I'm 63 years old.

I've been voting since I was 18.

I have never had a problem voting.

Now that may apply to my mother and father, it applies to my grandparents.

Surely it does.

And in fact, because it does, every single person in this room, including that Jewish lady that just got up and talked, need to really be thanking us.

Really need to be thanking us for getting y'all the right to vote, for getting y'all the right to be here.

Instead of sitting up here manipulating the voting rights act like something just getting ready to happen, y'all right to vote when you know that's not true.

So now you are gonna drag black people in here, definitely some senior citizens, and gonna have them come up here and talk about how they scared to vote.

How this messed up your right to vote.

Women need to vote.

All that junk when you know it's not true.

Just like you sit up here and make like black people can't get IDs.

Us requiring IDs to vote.

It's gonna stop black people from voting.

Why black people ain't got IDs?

See, you all get more and more ridiculous.

But you can't in this room full of these black people talk about that federal case that just got filed Monday.

That's talking about how you all are stealing property at Cook County sales.

Where the black people in here raise your hand that if they told you to come in here to talk about how your property got stolen.

Where you at?

Huh?

Because we got commissioners in here that know for a fact it's happening.

Caskill, you know it's happening.

Laurie, you know it's happening.

Michael Scott, you know it's happening.

Lamar Williams, come on, you give up cases for the county.

You know it's happening.

Donna Miller, you know what's happening.

Well, come on, y'all black people that they didn't send here with these 501c3s, that they got y'all in here talking for them.

Why y'all ain't in here talking about how they stealing our property?

One minute.

Where y'all at?

Come on, because y'all getting ready to come up here to this mic and lie for the cameras to say that black people's voting is done by uh by this Louisiana thing and Donald Trump and the Trump administration when Donald Trump is at the in front of the Supreme Court right now, fighting for the 14th Amendment, saying that black people, that that amendment was for black people.

Not for birth rights, not for people that anchor themselves over here illegally, and they got y'all black people in here getting ready to talk against him.

I mean, y'all real sick up in the head.

You sick in the head and more sicker in your spirit.

This is insane.

Time has expired for the speaker.

Next speaker is Taiwan Sims, Taiwan Sims, George Blake Moore, Sandy Norman, Jacqueline Mack, Alex Meitner is our last speaker.

Mr.

Taiwan Sims, go ahead.

Um, good afternoon, Commission.

My name is Taiwan Sims spelled T I W O N S I M S.

And Miss Jackson is not a pro-Trumper.

She supports the commander in chief, but unfortunately, that's wrong.

That's a bad assessment.

She's not a pro-Trumper, though.

But she does support the president.

Yes, facts.

But uh, but but this this individual three minutes.

Thank you.

But I believe that by and in this, I'm gonna go off because I uh I have more pressing issues to speak about.

But if they can convince so many black Americans to that Trump is wrong, then they can confuse us all.

We're not losing voters' rights and have not lost any voters' rights, but we have lost representation full on by the representatives like you, you, you, and our black communities, and what Mr.

Blake Moore said is true.

Look at the degradation, look at the disregard, look at the blight.

How can y'all say that y'all represent these communities?

And then y'all, but but but then we have the parlor tricks that continue on and on in the name of foundational black Americans.

But this is the only time y'all really pay attention or consider us when y'all have a parlor trick in mind.

There's been a young man, me coming to you all talking about case 23D79597, which you all have all the power to help in, but did nothing.

There has been no referral to the IG, no one is approached me.

Lamont Williams seems to believe that right now in 2026 that I've contacted him and hasn't returned the contact.

But I was when did I start in 2024?

And y'all knew y'all had the ability to help me.

So let's not try to confound the people by pointing the finger at Donald Trump because he does not manage this city.

He is not a commissioner in this city, he is not the mayor.

Y'all represent us, and y'all have not represented me.

Anybody in this room have you represented me?

Anybody up?

What y'all say pro-Trump's?

I'm not a pro-Trumper, but I do support the commander in chief.

Thirty seconds.

But y'all haven't supported me.

And I guess that's why.

So that's a that's a violation, though.

Because y'all cannot not support me.

That's political discrimination from a whole group of people.

And if they can trick y'all into hating one man, they can trick y'all into hating me and not wanting them to support me or not allowing them to support me.

That's their job to do it.

George Blake Moore, followed by Sandy and Norman.

Yes.

The voters' right act.

For Oklahoma.

The Black Wall Street throughout the United States.

It wasn't a vote, miss.

It was not the vote.

It was the blood sweating tears of black people coming together, helping each other, respecting each other.

And another thing these black people was doing.

They was tending to their business.

Don't have any business.

No economic development, abandoned buildings, miseducation in their schools, no business, no banks, no grocery stores, no service stations, bacon lots, high crime.

You need to kin my black brothers and sisters to your business.

And the vote didn't do that.

And so the vote didn't do that.

So you're misleading the people.

Black people, you got to tend to your business.

This country is built over.

What?

Black label.

Well, where did they get it from?

Where did they get it from?

Well, how did they get it?

They enslaved you.

They took it.

It wasn't a boat that did that.

And some of you, you don't have on your white kidney coupa clan, but they are right here today.

Right here today.

They don't call you an in, but they treat you like one.

We got all these black patriots and halfway turning black people out.

Other ethnic group work with each other.

Love each other.

Help each other.

Don't go there with the boat.

You're here.

You you black to here.

Now look at Kukati.

Now look at the ghetto.

Look at the look, look.

It's terrible.

Black faces in high waiters.

Turn black people out.

We got to tender our business.

30 seconds.

This is a Catholic system.

Who goal and rule is he who has to go?

You're a consumer.

The shoes that you uh wear, the food that you eat, the bed you slay sleep in, or whatever in that day.

You didn't make it.

You didn't make it.

So we got all these black faces and high places.

No business.

And time has expired.

And you're Sandy Norman.

Jacqueline Max and Alex Meitner is our last one.

Now turn to your visitor.

You don't have no beard.

Please begin.

Go ahead.

Reverend.

And we won't interrupt anyone.

Yes.

Well, praise the Lord.

I want to just say that I honored the Lord.

And I do honor this council.

I honor everybody that has a voice respectively that I've had the opportunity to speak because all voices matter, whether you like that voice or not.

One of the things I want to say is that Martin Luther King, he was he was viewed as a leader that some people didn't like because instead of dealing with issues behind closed doors and really issues that a lot of people wanted to be quiet.

He was very uh vocal and he brought things to the light.

I want to say that when uh people have issues, the only how you're gonna sometimes get your issues heard.

Sometimes everything is not meant to be quiet because sometimes when you're quiet, nobody hears you until you begin to speak.

I want to say today, I'm Pastor Sandy A.

Norman.

I come down here a lot.

I'm on the Cook County side, I'm on uh the City Hall side, and I want to say I'm an advocate, of course, for CBI violence prevention.

I'm gonna keep it at the forefront.

We had a tragedy.

Um, I see deaths every day.

I'm in the communities where young men die.

Some young men that I deal with on the street, I can see them one day, and the next day I may not see them.

And so I'm very serious about what I do.

I have a son uh that was also a victim of gun violence.

I don't get paid by anyone, I'm not a part of a system, but I want to continue to bring to awareness some of the things that I see, and I'm not here to say that every program is wrong.

So let me just say that.

Because a lot of times when black people, when we voice our concerns, and if it does not agree with what people in seats want, we're viewed as the enemy.

But somebody has to really speak up.

That's the only how you're gonna see change.

In the city of Chicago, as I keep reiterating, I spend sometimes I'm on the street 24 hours in durations.

I turn in guns, not from a gun turn in, but because young men surrender their weapons to me because that is the real power of God, and they know that I care.

I came here, you know, um to seek assistance, yes, for funding after funding my own self for eight years.

So let me be clear.

I don't come here for a handout.

I really care about the things that happened in our city.

I was in a meeting last night with young men, and they were I'm gonna start bringing them down here so they can come and talk to you all.

A lot of these programs, when we talk about funding being cut, I can't stick up and say that the funding should not be cut because when I see some of the abuse that we have with these programs, it is it's it's ridiculous.

Young men are in re-entry programs, and what a lot of these programs do, they wait for you all to come and do a visit and they clean up, and then once you're gone, it's back to normal.

That is not right, and as a pastor, a real pastor, I just can't uh be silent and not come and speak out about these CVI programs that get all of this money.

I cannot name 10 pastors in the city of Chicago, and some of y'all go to churches.

Who can you really say that you ever see active on the street going on those corners helping those young men?

If you're a pastor, evangelism is what you supposed to do.

And ma'am, you don't do that just for because you create a program to get money.

Thank you so much for my for my time.

Jack respectively respect you all.

Jacqueline Mack is next.

Our last speaker is Alex Meitner.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

As a product of Chicago Humboldt Park area, I would like to share my story of resilience, advocacy, and survival.

In 2023, I received the worst news that I could have ever received.

I was diagnosed with glupus.

Not knowing anything about it, not knowing what to do and where to go, it was a challenge.

But my diagnosis wasn't that easy.

It wasn't that simple.

It was years and years of pain, doctor's appointments, unnecessary surgeries, organs removed, and lots and lots of you need to seek mental health awareness.

And while I knew deep down inside there wasn't anything wrong with me, I didn't know how to express that to medical professionals.

It wasn't until my body shut down that this expression was able to be heard.

In 2023, I went through hospitalizations.

Years and years of struggles, as well as visits to professionals that did not want to hear me.

And it took a nurse practitioner to run one test.

It only took one test to provide me with my diagnosis.

And not only at that time was I diagnosed with lupus, I was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.

And one test did that.

And I spent years and years of seeking answers and seeking help.

Soon after that diagnosis, the first thing I did was started to research.

And upon my research, I found Lupus Society of Illinois.

She became a mentee to me or mentor to me, and she helped me with my diagnosis.

She helped me advocate for myself.

She helped me seek a lot of answers that I need.

She helped me become heard.

And that's the one thing anyone that's sick wants to do is just be heard.

I thank you guys for taking the time and women for taking the time to hear us today and recognize May 30 seconds as lupus awareness month, as well as May 10th as World Lupus Day.

If it wasn't for Gamma Pyro Lupus Sorority Incorporated and LSI, I probably wouldn't be sending here today.

Thank you.

Alex Meitner is our last speaker.

Hello, commissioners.

Thank you very much for the time.

My name is Alex Mexer.

I am the VP of Policy and Advocacy for the ALS Association.

If you're not familiar, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease is an always fatal neurodegenerative disease.

It normally takes one to two years to even diagnose it, at which point you normally have a two to five-year life expectancy.

Someone uh living with ALS told me years ago, and he's since passed on that ALS should be uh should stand for always losing something because that's the experience of it.

It generally starts at your fingers and toes as you lose the ability to use those muscles and eventually you'll use the lose the ability to walk, to talk, and eventually to breathe.

All along that uh spectrum, though, your mind remains sharp.

And I have met more than uh I can count uh of uh folks living with ALS who have had enriching incredible lives after diagnosis, folks that have had kids after diagnosis, and some folks do end up living for you know a decade or more after diagnosis, and it's that hope that we tend to focus on that we want to focus on at the ALS Association.

That's why I'm grateful for you all recognizing ALS Awareness Month today.

I should mention about 500 individuals are currently living in Cook County with ALS, and those 500 are supported by thousands of family, friends, neighbors, because truly this is a community disease.

As the uh as the disease progresses, people need more and more care.

And when that happens, you know, likely your insurance isn't gonna cover in home care.

So you're gonna need to reach out to your kids, your uh your your parents, your aunts, your cousins, your neighbors, people from church, anyone you know to come and fill that gap.

And it's truly that network of community that allows people to live these lives.

Now, I should say uh it's been about a hundred years since Lou Garry played for the Yankees, and there have in all those decades been very few signs of hope, but that's starting to change.

There are now three count them three drugs on the market that have been approved by the FDA for ALS.

The first two really just give you a couple of more months.

They slow progression a little bit.

One, that this uh this third one, approved about a year and a half ago, has been shown to not only stop progression of disease, it is actually restoring function in some folks that have it.

Now, unfortunately, this uh this uh specific medication is only geared towards one genetic subvariant.

So it's about one and a half percent of the total ALS population.

So it's not doing what we need it to do in terms of population reach, but it is providing that hope, that proof of concept that this disease is beatable.

And that's why we are excited to do the work we do at the association where we say our job is to make ALS livable until we can cure it.

So we work directly with the community with families living with ALS, give them the equipment they need, the respite care they need, the rides they need to clinic, whatever it might be.

Uh, and then we also work with researchers at great institutions like those here in Cook County, as well as uh clinicians that provide the care at uh CCH or other uh other centers of excellence throughout the county and beyond.

So, really, this is an exciting time for what is a truly devastating disease, but we can't lose sight of the fact that somebody today in Cook County, more than likely than not, is going to get that diagnosis.

And if it's not today, it'll be tomorrow, and that will change their life, change the lives of everyone they know, uh everyone around them that is gonna have to dig in to help that family bend but not break.

And so, as uh I leave my comments here.

Uh I'll leave it with this.

Uh, if you know anyone in your life, a neighbor, a friend, someone from church that uh has been given that diagnosis, reach out and see if they need a little bit of a help.

If they need an hour of uh respite time where they can go to their kids' basketball game, they can get to the grocery store.

That's something we can all do.

Uh that can be incredibly impactful for uh for citizens, even as you as a body recognize this as ALS awareness.

Time is conclude your statement.

Thank you.

Ma'am, that does conclude our speakers for this meeting.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to uh I motion to approve the entire consent calendar.

We do need to add two commissioners to the role.

Um Clerk, confirm who they are.

Who do we need to add?

Commissioner Dagnan, thank you.

And then Commissioner Stamps, when she returns, um, thank you.

This is an extraordinary moment, Ann.

Commissioner Gaynor has a resolution that you'd like to share.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, this is a resolution honoring the life and service of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew.

John Bartholomew faithfully served the Chicago Police Department for 10 years and 11 months, and his life is tragically taken in the line of duty on Saturday, April 25th, 2026.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Renee Bartholomew, and three children, Oliver, Miles, and Sophia.

John will be remembered as a devoted family man for whom life was defined by love, loyalty, and service.

He was the first to step in and give without hesitation, finding joy in life's simple things.

He was deeply dedicated to his work as a Chicago police officer, serving his community with honor, integrity, and an unwavering sense of duty.

He has a strong knowledge in history and passion for sharing it, and he has left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Now, therefore, it'd be resolved that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby honors the life, service, and sacrifice of police officer John Bartholomew, and expresses its deepest gratitude for his dedication to the people of the City of Chicago, Cook County.

And be it resolved that a copy of this revolution be presented to his family and the police department.

We'd like to call for a standing vote.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you, Commissioner Gana.

Normally we would uh take pictures or ask folks to come up, but there are no family or yes, we will um share this with the family, and they were aware.

Thank you.

All right, 2615 15.

We have a resolution honoring the Illinois Accountability Commission and witnesses who contributed to their final report.

And if not, here she is.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

If I may um ask the honorable Judge Ruben Castillo, Honorable Judge Patricia Holmes Brown, Rick Estrada, Linda Sochil Tortolero, Hina Mahmoud, the Executive Director, and I don't know if Professor Susan Gesh has left, but if you could please join me up here at the Dais.

And Commissioner Almanai as well, please.

Thank you.

What they have been able to do is to be the first commission, the first states to investigate federal law enforcement misconduct and release a full report.

It documents illegal and violent conduct during Operation Midway Blitz and calls for accountability with referrals sent to local and state authorities.

I am incredibly grateful to the Illinois Accountability Commission for all of their work, and we'll give uh the honorable Judge Ruben Castillo a moment uh to speak.

I just want to thank the uh Cook County Board and all the commissioners, Madam President, Commissioner Vasquez, uh, for all your support.

Um all we did, and I'm speaking on behalf of all the commissioners on the Illinois Accountability Commission is answer the governor's call to undertake this task.

Uh we wish there wouldn't have been this task to take on because in all my years of federal service as a federal prosecutor, 25 years as a federal judge, six years as chief judge, and never saw the kind of misconduct we saw in Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz.

And when I think of the murder of Mr.

Villegas Gonzalez, the unnecessary shooting of Midi Mar Martinez and all the other tear gas victims that included police officers, children, mothers, fathers.

Um I draw strength from the fact that our communities stood together and was not divided, and everybody uh did the best they could.

And I will say this continues on.

So please read our report.

I think other states will look at it.

Um hopeful that Congress will look at it.

Accountability still needs to be done.

Uh, and I appreciate this board's support for the appointment of a special prosecutor uh to investigate the crimes that were committed by these federal agents.

So thank you very much on behalf of the commission.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So um I just want to thank them as well because the the report that came out um single-handedly is like one of the biggest uh compiling of evidence, testimony.

It took them many, many months to get here.

Uh it was a big uplifting.

It was a volunteer position, but um it because of the meaning of what it could do.

It can it it's definitely a step into justice um to ensure accountability uh for some of the law enforcement and the heinous things that we saw on the streets.

Um it seemed like there were you know war zones outside of a lot of our communities um and in our streets, so we wanted to acknowledge and thank them for all of their hard work.

Thank you, Judge, for your work.

I've I've seen in my community, I've been to the tenure center, and I seen the horrendous behavior at the agents have attacked our inner people, and it's just not horrible.

There's no reason for it, and I appreciate you what you've done, Judge.

Thank you for everybody for for uh holding Derek Carnival, and we just we have to continue this this struggle.

Thank you.

Commissioner Stamps.

Yes, thank you.

Would the secretary please add Commissioner Stamps to the role?

Thank you, ma'am.

Resolution 26 1427 honoring Tanya S.

Anthony.

On the occasion of her retirement, so I wear black and blue, and Tanya wears yellow and purple and orange.

Tanya's been an indisp it's indispensable part of the county for the last decade.

As budget director, chief administrative officer, and chief financial officer.

She's left an indelible mark here and played an essential role in the work we all do.

Under leadership, Cook County strengthened its financial foundation, advanced pension funding, guided equitable and essential pandemic spending, and earned multiple, multiple credit rating upgrades that reflect discipline management and long-term planning.

Tanya has played an incredible and significant role within the county and has done it all with grace and infectious laugh, deep consideration for others, and a desire to make the county better each day.

Because of her good work, Cook County is stronger, more stable, and more compassionate, and her presence will not be forgotten by anyone who had the privilege to work beside her.

Tanya has been a great CFO, but an even greater person.

She's brought a great deal of thought, thoughtfulness and compassion to the job.

And for that, we admire and appreciate her.

So we're very happy that she's going to be retiring.

She's going to be able to enjoy her retirement, but she will surely be missed.

Thank you so much.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

It's been indeed a great honor to uh work with your tanya in your various uh capacities as outlined by the president.

Cook County has been stated is better today financially because of your leadership.

I rejoined our humor together, our jokes back and forth up on the stage.

But to c as a friend, I thank you for your friendship, and I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Tanya Anthony, CFO, respected veteran, and fellow Libra.

As public officials, we must maintain the public trust.

And that includes the oversight of the finances of Cook County government.

As we each and every day must be transparent in integrity and fair.

Thank you for modeling these traits and more for all of us.

Thank you also for your very forthright yet compassionate leadership, and I will miss you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I was lucky enough to meet Tanya about 20 years ago, and I know that seems like a long time ago because we both look like we're 20.

Um but I met her at the Yeah, she does.

Uh I met her at the Chicago Park District, and it was amazing to see a woman of color uh the only person in the C suite.

And um I've admired her work since then, and she's been a confidant.

I can go and talk to her.

Um she helped me through a couple of issues at the park district, and I saw her kind of move over to the county, and as I became alderman, we would speak in the hallway and was always cordial because she is such um a warm and inviting person.

Um I've had the pleasure to work with her on this side of this building and marvel at the work that that you and she have been able to do.

Um where I came from, finances were not always in order.

Um, and to say the very least, um this administration led by your work um has put the county in a better position um and and a better outlook moving forward.

There are huge shoes to feel uh in your place, but you deserve your retirement, and I look forward to seeing you on the other side.

Gospee.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Member Madam President, members of the board.

Tanya.

I sometimes say about the president that sometimes I I feel it's a little unfair the number of challenges that she's been having to face over the course of her turn here.

You had to share those with her and with all of us.

Um and you've able to do that with incredible uh talent and verve.

And I also can say just personally that I knew you always had my back when I needed to do something that wasn't always pleasant or fun.

And I also know that you made it clear to me what we needed to do uh without sugarcoating it.

And that is exactly what we wanted somebody in your position.

We've been very fortunate with your predecessor and you.

It is an incredibly difficult job to fill that kind of role in an organization of over 10 billion dollars coming in and out.

But you've done it with uh not only grace, but with the friendship that you've shown to many of us.

I just want to say thank you and congratulations on your retirement.

Thank you, Madam President.

Tanya, I've had the pleasure, we we've had a pleasure of ten and a half years together.

Um and we've been able to watch as you've gone from up the ladder from uh position to position in the last several years as our CFO leading one of the largest counties in the country.

Um we have had countless conversations based on all things finance and budgets and those things, and I've appreciated those immensely.

Uh you have always uh you've always put put the needs and the the intents of the county first, which is why, by the way, I might take take a moment to mention that we're in we're in the good position as a government body.

We're in a good position from the financial sides that the president has put forth, and that uh uh you and many of my colleagues here over the last 10 years have have worked to put together.

Um, but let's not kid ourselves.

You've done a great deal of the hard work putting it all together, presenting it to us in order to ratify and approve.

Uh and I appreciate you as a friend, and and I hope that you have a great future uh and enjoy your time.

Thank you.

Thank you, madam president.

Um I when I heard I was uh absolutely uh devastated, Tanya.

I hope you I hold you at high regard.

Um, you know, I've been here for for many years, um, and I think uh I feel like you're always that North Star for a lot of things.

And I just want to, you know, appreciate you for working with this body so diligently and for really uplifting um a lot of the things that we close we have we hold close to our hearts.

I know you uh were instrumental in some of my budget amendments and some of the areas that um that I really cared about and that my constituents and the people that I represent really care about.

Um and your inclusivity, um, your grace throughout it all, the fact that you're willing to, you know, bring up budgetary things, but also just good management and operational things forward and here and there, you know, uplifting veteran communities.

Um so I think you you your range is so uh wide and your dedication and your public service to Ka County will leave a forever footprint.

And I just want to thank you for for all of your years of dedication.

And uh I'm gonna miss you a lot.

Thank you, Madam President and Tanya.

Just want to say congratulations on your retirement, fellow Lane Tech graduate.

Apparently I wasn't there at the same time as you because I'm not retired yet.

It's like that's a missing link there.

But thank you also for being such a great veteran and uplifting the veteran community.

Um and thank you for sharing your cell phone number with all of us because I know we used it probably too much.

I know I called you in the car or at night and was like, okay, one more thing.

But thank you for just always explaining everything without judgment or without making sure that we uh might have covered it, but we might have to recover it and making sure that we understand everything.

You did an excellent job with making the budget digestible and hiring great staff that also help make that happen as well.

And we're gonna miss you, but I know where I'll see you.

So congratulations.

Commissioner Dagman.

Thank you, Madam President.

So Tanya, you know, being the budget director and then steering us all through COVID and all the financial implications that came with that.

First, like the outlay of all the money that we had to do to keep people safe, but then the COVID money that came in, how to spend that.

Then we had the ARPA money.

We had to figure out what to do with that, how to spend that.

You know, you are a whiz and great with the really complicated federal treasury guidelines and the maestro amount of work that came with that.

And then, you know, the sheer amount of intergovernmental work and public relations work that you have to do in order to maintain and grow relationships is a huge part of maintaining a strong budget and a strong finance capability for this county.

So, you know, amidst amidst all of that that is in that work, you are also a really great DJ.

And the amount of time and energy that you have given to that to make people happy here, you know, and and the side quests that we have done for holiday issues, just the work that you have done has like spread its way beautifully throughout the county.

So for that I am forever grateful.

So thank you for all the work and you will be missed.

Thank you.

Um Tanya, you're a total pleasure to work with both in content and intelligence, um, but also in temperament and personality.

And so whether it was pension fund issues or things with the board um or the budget, you know, a budget is a statement of our values, but only if we have the money to back it up.

And so you've been able to play both of those roles so well by helping to articulate what our values are, but then also having the confidence and assurance that we can actually keep those promises.

So thank you very much.

Um I hope you enjoy retirement and find lots of great things to do.

Um, it's just the beginning of a wonderful chapter.

So congratulations.

Commissioner Moore.

But we have been we have been through some wars together.

Um we had a six point five billion dollar pension deficit.

That was scary.

Um we had the one percent sales tax in 2015.

In 2017, we had a soda tax to cover a 200 million dollar shortfall.

We had protesters, we had people that were angry with us.

Um during the pandemic between you and the president, you got all 17 of us to agree to vote for your pandemic budget, including Sean Morrison.

That's a feat within itself.

Um done some amazing things.

You're gonna be remembered for some amazing things that you've accomplished at this board.

Um, you know, we started out just as colleagues, but we became friends, you know, and you're smart, you're talented, you very active.

You do a lot of things that people would never think that you would ever do.

Uh not just DJing, but a lot of other things that you were capable of doing and and very active doing.

Uh I'm proud to have worked with you.

Proud to have uh fought many wars next to you.

Um that were were really good in that position from Ivan to Amar to you.

Um we believe that you're gonna leave us in good hands, so you pick the right people to replace yourself.

And uh I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for the work that you've done.

Thank you for the work that you have made our job much easier.

I think you've made all of these commissioners who don't realize that they had to take those hard votes.

They were very tough votes, they weren't easy.

I mean, when you make decisions that affect people's lives, it's a serious thing.

I don't think people realize the responsibility of sitting in this seat and having to take a vote that could end someone's career or send them home without a job.

That's I take that very seriously.

And so the work that you did saved jobs, saved lives.

It made a difference.

So I don't want you to think that that is something light.

I want to thank you for the work that you've done, and I look forward to staying your friend and working with you on other things outside of Cook County government.

Thank you, Tanya.

Commissioner Marita.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm gonna I think kick off a row of uh of some of us who would consider ourselves the lucky ones uh who came onto this board um when everything all a lot of the hard struggles that others have referred to had already been done.

And I know that so much of that was your work and your leadership.

And when I came onto the board as a new commissioner, I think the budget was my first vote because Larry left two weeks early.

Um, and being able to call you then and call you now and know that I'm gonna get the truth, the good truth, the ugly truth, the full truth, and a very clear truth on very complicated issues.

Um I don't know how you do it, your calm and your clarity and also being super cool.

Um and some of the hardest work um that you know we do here.

And so I just appreciate you and being always able to call and and be able to have a real conversation um and then figure out what the path forward is on things that you know I have to deliver bad news, I have to explain things that people don't want to hear.

Um, but having that, you know, full conversation with you always has equipped me to be able to do that, and I appreciate you, and you're just fun.

And I was, you know, even just this, you know, this morning I was able to text you.

I love your your piece out yellow um today.

And so uh we know you're you're leaving us, uh, but you won't be far, and we just appreciate everything you've done and who you are as a person.

Um, and I've had so much fun working with you.

Thanks.

Commissioner McCaskill.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um you already know how I feel about you in just this very short time.

You have demonstrated exceptional leadership, and I appreciate that for you.

Um, I look forward to your next venture.

Um, the what you have poured into me in just this very short period of time, I am truly humbled by it, and I look forward to utilizing every tool, every rule that you have sent to me or told me.

I am looking forward to utilizing those things.

But I want you to know that you are truly exceptional.

You're a special person.

It takes a strong, confident, and courageous person to sit in those seats.

And so I want you to know um that that is very heartfelt and what you've done for us as rookies in just a very short period of time.

We honor that.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bass.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, so when I learned that you were leaving, I looked through rules and procedure to see if there was any way I can block you from leaving.

Um, unfortunately, I cannot.

Um, congratulations.

I'm uh sad to see you go, but um as uh Commissioner McCasco has said, I truly appreciate all of your support and the help that you gave myself and individuals, you know, my team.

Um you will be sorely missed.

Thank you.

Thank you, President.

Uh Tanya, as you retire your chief financial officer of Cook County, we honor a woman who has brought excellence, integrity, and grace to public service every single day.

Tanya understood that budgets are not just numbers, that they reflect our values and impact people's lives through your leadership and your professionalism.

You have helped move Cook County forward in so many meaningful ways.

But beyond the title, Tanya, you have brought authenticity and honesty and compassion and patience to us.

You showed us that black women can lead with brilliance and precision while still bringing joy, warmth, style, and soul to work.

Uh whether you're managing complex financial decisions, uplifting colleagues, reminding us that you can DJ and set the atmosphere.

You have always brought your full self to the table, and I do not take that lightly because we're not always able to do that in so many spaces.

So thank you for demonstrating that it can be done with grace, elegance, and style.

As a proud fellow Libra, uh you carry balance and calm and diplomacy into spaces that often needed exactly that energy.

So for many of us, especially black women in leadership, you have represented what is possible, excellence without apology, and leadership without losing your humanity.

So today I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for your service, your wisdom, your professionalism, and your light.

And if you know you know, I will see you on the other side.

In due time.

Commissioner Kevin Morse.

Tanya, it is incredibly difficult to put my feelings into words.

When I joined this board, you were our budget director.

And the advice, assistance, and patience you provided me and my office over these last seven and a half years have been crucial.

I am so grateful for all your incredible work.

I know that you have been just as much a part of this board as any of us commissioners.

And I don't know how I feel going through my last uh budget as a commissioner without you here.

You will be sorely missed.

Uh, and you definitely leave incredibly big shoes to fill.

Uh, but I want you to know how grateful I am for you.

Uh the programs that we have moved forward these last seven and a half years have saved lives, especially after dealing with the insane pandemic crisis we had to deal with in my first couple years in office.

Um I just want you to know I so greatly appreciate your work, and I wish you all the best in your retirement.

Thank you.

Commissioner Trevor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh Tanya, thank you for being there for my rookie uh term.

Um my background is in the business world, and unfortunately, I have had experience with really nightmarish budgets uh in the in that realm.

And so I truly appreciate first of all having come on to the board when I did, and having uh people uh in you and your position and people in uh this administration's position who are um extraordinarily talented, uh give great information, great transparency.

Um, and it has been a joy working with you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Tanya, um just want to appreciate everything you've done, keeping my staff on behalf of my staff, keeping the us informed and always answering questions that we had and helping us make decisions.

You know, you set a standard.

You set a standard for other uh budget directors, and you should be proud because you've been a big factor in you know making College Cook kind of look good and balancing the budget.

So that's something great accomplishment.

You know, maybe you should write a book about this.

You know, you're so uh, you know, other financial executives in government and in the corporate world should really follow your lead because you're tremendous and a very, very well uh uh rounded person.

And thank you again for all your work.

So good luck on your future endeavors.

Madam President and Commissioners, esteemed colleagues, and my friends and family.

It is both an honor and I will go ahead and say bittersweet.

It's more sweet to be honest.

Uh but it is uh a great moment to be here before you today as I mark the close of more than 30-year journey in government service.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the experiences, challenges, and accomplishments that I have shaped, not only shaped my career, but my entire life.

Um throughout this time, I've had the privilege of working alongside some dedicated professionals whose commitment to public service has inspired and motivated me every single day.

I also uh think about some of those now funny moments like uh being accused of using kabuki math.

Remember that.

Um being told that my team has provided gobbledygoop.

And also being asked, Tanya, is there any fluffin' stuff in this budget?

Um so there's been some funny moments that are funny now.

Um, but together we face some complex issues, as Commissioner Moore mentioned, um, and we've navigated significant changes and celebrated meaningful accomplishments that have improved our communities.

I thank each of you for your support, your partnership, and the lasting friendships that we've established to my family.

Thank you for your unwavering encouragement and understanding those that are watching online.

Thank you guys too.

Um, throughout the years of uh my government service, especially the many summers to my uh husband and children where there were no family vacations because budget season.

Um your patience and support have been my foundation.

So as I retire, I carry with me cherished memories, invaluable relationships, and a sense of fulfillment.

I am proud of what we've accomplished and what we've achieved.

I pray that the contributions that I've made lead the county in a better place, and like my predecessors, have established a foundation for my amazing team to build upon.

I look forward to new adventures, but I will always hold a special place in my heart for my colleagues and the work that we've accomplished together.

Thank you all for this rec recognition and for being part of my journey.

It has truly been a pleasure to serve.

Thank you.

I don't want to overall yellow in the middle as my thought.

Oh, here's the ticket.

I feel like I hear it, but let me sneak down a little bit.

Okay, how are you?

Oh, come on.

Okay.

This is like digitization of pictures.

Okay.

Come on.

Yes, we'll go.

All right.

Could I ask those who are leaving the chamber to do so quietly?

I would ask commissioners to resume their seats.

We have a resolution honoring another longtime public service.

All right.

This is celebrating the retirement of Tim Casey and honoring his 30 years of dedicated public service.

I have yes, I have Tim.

Let me begin by just thanking you, your entire family, your mom is here for it.

And in looking at this resolution, I noticed that I have you beat by four years for county government.

But that being said, in your years of the LONA, whether it be the Senate, County government, in your various roles, every single time position that you had, you've done it.

Respect integrity.

And you learned from your parents that you respect people.

And that's what you've done to the for the members on this board.

But I know you have a great future going on, but Tim, all really.

Um as I said, uh working in county government, uh many in county government and various forms of government.

Many people criticize individuals who are county government.

You are a class act of an individual who has done a job well.

I wish you the best.

Thank you.

Commissioner Gaynor.

Thank you very much.

Um, Tim, I do want to thank you very sincerely.

We've known each other a very long time.

I know your family very well.

Your mother had my wedding shower, so we've known each other a very long time.

But uh to build upon what Chairman Daly said, you really you have a deep sense of public service, and you got that from your family.

Both your parents um have served our community.

Your dad is a lawyer.

Um pretty some famous cases in his background, your mom at DePaul, and in our community for a long time, and I think that steady calm commitment to the county and to everyone that we serve and do is is incredibly important.

So we wish you all the best of luck.

Um, we know this isn't full retirement, but it is leaving us.

So have a great time at your new venture.

Congratulations to your family to to Francay and to everyone who's here with you here.

Thank you.

Commissioner Commissioner Moore.

Thank you.

I think um Tim Casey has probably never shared it, and I probably didn't tell anybody either.

But we've probably known each other now 33 years.

It's been a long time, Tim.

Thirty-three years ago, two young men met in Springfield, Illinois.

Neither of us knew that we were starting a career in government, and neither of us knew that 33 years ago we would sit in the hallways of the Capitol and be given an opportunity to work on appropriation committee for STEN Senator Emil Jones.

We were both bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and excited about the opportunity given to us.

But our first real job out of college found us at a desk analyzing our first $3.5 billion budget, and that was the budget of the state of Illinois at that time.

$3.5 billion.

And we were handling communications for the Democratic Senate.

But never in a million years did I ever think that we would still be doing this type of job so many years later.

Time goes by quickly.

And now here we are, you closing the chapter, and I'm still here after 30 years of service.

To the citizens of Illinois to Cook County.

So Tim, thank you for your service to the people of Cook County.

And please enjoy the next chapter of your life moving forward.

And thank you to your family for sharing you with us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Britton.

Thank you, Madam President, members of the board.

Tim, when I came in on uh only eight years ago, I'm a newbie.

Uh I only knew Matt DeLeon.

I didn't really know anybody else.

I knew the president a little bit, but I didn't really know a lot of other people that I thought to work with.

And I I was always wondering how that was gonna go.

And because you never know.

Uh but I can tell you that people like you and Matt and Lynn have continued to provide the highest level of service that I can imagine, and not just in the public sector, but in any sector.

And that's the kind of thing that we don't get to uh to lionize people that often, and I really appreciate the fact that we get to recognize all the great work you've done and the tremendous uh assets you've been to the county since I've been here, and obviously before that.

I'm also thinking you're probably pretty happy you you're probably tier one, right?

Yeah, so yeah.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to work another 37 years to get any money.

But that's okay.

I mean, I'm I'm I'm good.

I'm I feel good.

I feel I'm feeling all right.

So congratulations and good luck on the next round.

Thanks.

Commissioner.

Commissioner Aguilar, and then Commissioner Morrison.

Yeah, Tim, congratulations, great working with you.

I think I met you in Springfield.

You had darker hair, so we were back in 30 years ago.

So again, thank you for all your help, your support, your you know, keeping up information, and we greatly appreciate your uh your work.

So good luck in your future endeavor and uh keep in touch.

Thank you.

What did I miss?

Commissioner Sean Morrison.

Thank you, Madam President.

Tim, thank you very much for your time here.

Uh since since I've been around, any time we had questions in our staff that we went to you, they were addressed immediately.

Uh, your competency is is off the chart, as is really the whole secretary of the board.

Um, for the general public, I don't know if they realize what the but the secretary of the board really kind of drives the bus here.

They are certainly the master sergeants of Cook County government.

Um and you guys do you guys do tremendous work for us, and whenever we have we have asks or needs, uh you've always been right on top of it.

Uh 30 years and you're going, and you are a young man for that.

Um, good for you.

Um, but I I just want to wish you all the best and and uh you know carrying on to your next chapter of the folks are gonna be really good that they got you.

Thanks.

Commissioner Marito.

Thank you, Madam President.

I know I'm newer on the board, but I feel like you've just been this omnipresent kind of you know, presence here of keeping all of us functional and moving and everything operational.

But I also just want to say on behalf of one of my favorite constituents who very rarely comes back to the board, um, who's here today, Matt Dalion.

Um, just wanted to say thank you.

Commissioner Miller.

Thank you.

And Tim, I just want to say congratulations, enjoy retirement.

Great to see your whole family here celebrating with you, and you'll be missed.

Commissioner Trevor.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I also want to wish you congratulations on retirement.

You've been a great resource for me and my staff, and I truly appreciate the job and and enjoy your retirement.

Thank you.

Hello.

Uh, thank you very much, everyone, for the kind words.

And I'm actually not retiring, retiring.

I have two kids to get through college, so until that happens, uh, I'll keep working.

Um I just want to thank the the board and your staff.

Um, it's been a pleasure working with you, and I want to thank you, Madam President, and your staff.

Um, I love working with the president's office.

Um, I want to thank the secretary's office, which is such a great group of people.

They're the only people that could get me to dance as I walked into the office.

Um, I want to thank Lynn and Brandy, and Lynn, you are I told you this.

You're you're the best boss I've ever had.

And you know, everyone here knows you're a great secretary, but you're the best.

Now, I do have to say, Matt DeLeon is here, and that he it was very, very close.

She just edged him out.

Um, but no, I've lucky I've I've had a lot of great, great bosses um, you know, here and and at the Senate.

And so I just want to thank everyone and and most importantly, I want to thank my family.

And um that's it, thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

Don't forget where we are in the house.

I see.

Um by Alex May is a ALS awareness month, which is a crucial time to highlight that ALS is one hundred percent fatal um disease that causes uh a tremendous effect on an individual's body at death, usually within two to five years of diagnosis.

Uh key goals of this month are to raise funds for research support for caregivers, which is so important.

Um, not only on this on this for every other illness.

And advocate for the policy to support those with ALS.

So Alex, I I'm not sure if he's still here.

I want to oh, he is okay.

And I if we do a quick picture with Commissioner Danger.

President, there's two resolutions in honor of our county to make you as well as of David Cahope who passed away.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Could I ask you to chair the rest of the couple?

Thank you.

Commissioner.

Commissioner Dagnan.

I have two.

Um we have two resolutions.

The first one is uh to honor my good friend.

His name is Ted Robleski.

He is a resident of the Cook County's 12th district, and he is a community leader.

Ted has served the Sheffield Neighbors community since 1976, and he was elected to their board on the Shuffles Neighbors Association in 1981, where he served for over four decades.

Ted is a lifelong Chicagoan who has dedicated his life to serving his community and leadership positions on committees, boards, and churches and advisory councils.

The 12th district and the Lincoln Park community have benefited in immeasurable ways as a result of Ted's work.

And I wanted to publicly express my gratitude for his service here today.

Congratulations, Ted, on your many decades of good work.

Would you like to say hello and anything to the board?

You don't have to, but you may.

Well, I just like to say thank you very much.

I'm glad I'm here on retirement day.

And it's been a long time, but I've really uh considered it a privilege to serve uh the Lincoln Park neighborhood and also uh the entire city.

I grew up on the south side.

And uh it's been a long time, and this is about time to retire and let other people like my uh fellow uh Sheffield board members who are here today uh continue on good work and uh making uh this a vibrant city with the help of county board commissioners and other various representatives of the community.

So thank you very much.

Thank you, Ted, for all you do, and he is accompanied today by Brian Comer, who is the Sheffield Neighbors Association board president.

So thank you.

Most commonly developed between the age of 15 and 44.

Lupus disproportionately impacts black, Latina, Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander women who are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than white women.

Yet more than half of Americans report look knowing little to nothing about lupus, underscoring the need to increase public awareness like we are doing here today to the serious and often misunderstood disease.

I want to thank the Lupus Foundation of America, Lupus Society of Illinois, and grassroots organizations, including Gamma Phi Row Lupus sorority that provide support services and education, advocacy and research, and funding to improve outcomes for individuals, especially women living with lupus.

The color purple is recognized as the color of lupus awareness, and it symbolizes passion, courage, and hope.

And the purple butterfly, which we all receive today, is widely recognized as the symbol of the disease.

The resolution also recognizes my good friend Kimberly Spitewalker as an advocate and a member of Gamma Phi Row Lupus Sorority Incorporated, who's here today and spoke earlier public comment.

I also want to thank and recognize Lisa Clasco of the Lupus Society of Illinois, who is joining us today and spoke earlier as well.

And I want to sincerely thank the advocates and recognize individuals living with Lupus, their families, advocates, and organizations that are working towards awareness, improved treatments, and hopefully a cure.

Thank you so much for all the work you do.

Thank you, Commissioner Panzer.

Thank you.

This is such a great accomplishment for the Lupus community.

We have struggled for many years trying to find a cure for Lupus, and we still don't have one.

It can only be managed and treated.

So with this awareness and support of everyone out here in the Cliff County surrounding areas, as long as you are out here wearing your purple, supporting us, helping us to find the cure.

We are so appreciative.

Thank you so much for this honor.

We truly appreciate you.

Thank you so much.

Commissioner Stampson.

I I just wanted to know two of my guests need to leave, one to the back to the hospital, another back to the school district.

I didn't know if I could jump the line.

I don't know what's the proper language for that.

Commissioner Stamps.

Oh, thank you so much.

Thank you, Commissioner Britton.

Oh, thank you.

Everybody heard it.

Don't be jealous.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm going to read them both and then have them to come up so we can uh be as expeditious as possible.

So today it's my honor to recognize an educational leader whose vision and innovation and commitment to students and educators.

Continue to move Billwood School District ADA forward, Dr.

Victoria H.

Stockton.

Please come up.

With nearly two decades in education, Dr.

Stockton has led with purpose and passion and very clear her commitment to ensuring that every student has an opportunity to grow and succeed.

This year, a Dr.

Stockton was uh honored as being superintendent of the year by a national superintendent organization, and I just want to recognize her as an amazing educator within the first district.

Sorry, this is your soror.

You probably should have been called up.

So we'll get you make sure you get a picture with Donna, your Akasara.

Okay.

Yes, yes, sir.

Um, honoring Dr.

Pierre Johnson for excellence in black maternal health and women's surgical innovation.

And um, this is my guess who really does have to get out.

So today it is my honor to recognize an extraordinary physician, advocate, son of Chicago, Dr.

Pierre Johnson, known as the Fibroid Slayer.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Dr.

Johnson dedicated his life to women's health care and fighting the health care disparities that disproportionately impact black women in underserved communities.

A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, a University of Chicago College of Medicine, and Southern Illinois University of School of Medicine, Dr.

Johnson has become nationally recognized for his expertise and minimally invasive gynecological surgery and complex fibroid care.

Recently at Loreto Hospital in the first district, one of our safety net hospitals, Dr.

Johnson performed a groundbreaking surgery removing a 27-pound fibroid from a pregnant mother while preserving both her pregnancy and fertility.

Yes.

After others' providers told her his directomy and termination were her only options.

That moment was bigger than medicine.

It was about listening to black women.

It was about advocacy, innovation, and equitable care.

Dr.

Johnson continues to remind us that every woman deserves options, dignity, and compassionate health care.

Beyond the operating room, he is also mentoring the next generation through pulse of perseverance project, helping young black youth see themselves in medicine and leadership.

So today we honor the doctor.

I just wanted to commend Dr.

Johnson and thank you, Commissioner Stamps, for recognizing him and his work.

He did testify at our maternal health hearing a few years ago.

And to know that there's a doctor on the west side of Chicago or even in a community-based hospital doing this type of work where patients are coming from literally across the world to see him is truly an honor.

So congratulations, Dr.

Johnson.

You know, I uh first and foremost, I want to say thank you uh very much, you know, as a South Side of Chicago kid that always wanted to, you know, come back and serve uh my city.

Uh I just want to, you know, I'm very proud and humbled um to be able to, you know, live my dream.

Uh but you know, there's so much work to be done.

Uh, you know, there's there is a lack of equity, um, not just in medicine, but in law and engineering and everything else uh that we have in this country uh to really make changes and to really make movements uh that are going to make a difference.

We have to make it so that you know the kids that look like me uh have the opportunities and have not only the access, the mentorship, and the guidance to get to these places uh of professional excellence.

Um and and that starts, you know, with legislators legisl legislation and it starts with funding, um, but it also starts with you know putting the emphasis on what's important um for these kids uh to do well because quote unquote I don't look like a doctor um is something that they hear as well.

And when I walk through the hallways, I don't see me as well.

Um, but you know, I'm living proof and testimony um that a kid from the south side of Chicago, uh parents addicted to drugs can actually you know do and uh create um and achieve better um and come back and do the the right things um for our city.

So just invest in our kids, invest in our future.

And um, just thank you.

Appreciate it.

Followed by Commissioner Commissioner Anaya, Commissioner Kevin Morris, Commissioner Miller, commit and scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President Pro Tem and members of the board.

It is my great honor to present uh this resolution recognizing May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month.

Uh, and I want to thank Jane Charney from the JUF who's here and spoke in public comment.

As I've often said to Jane, uh there are no Jewish commissioners on this board.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with me, the small town farm boy Goy from Central Illinois, but I try my very best to represent many thousands of years of Jewish tradition and honor the tremendous uh accomplishments that have been brought to our county through our Jewish uh brothers and sisters.

Um we honor this history and contribution of the Jewish Americans who provided an opportunity to recognize this enduring legacy of Jewish culture and faith in the United States.

We continue to follow the reflections of their accomplishments, and the 300 uh 25 20,000 Jewish people who call Cook County their home.

Uh the positives are obviously immense and the tremendous uh uh advantages that have been gained by our uh society by our Jewish friends.

We also must recognize that there continues to be multiple thousands of bias incidents that occurred affecting the Jewish residents of our country and our county, and that there were 1,544 incidents of discrimination reported in the last year, and those numbers have only gone up.

We continue to honor the Jewish people and their commitment to TICAM Olam, which is to make a better world.

As one rabbi said to me, anything that can be fixed can be anything that can be broken, can be fixed.

And I think that is the commitment not only of the Jewish people in Cook County, but all people of goodwill.

So it is therefore resolved that the Cook County Board of Commissioners here by commemorates and celebrates the month of uh May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month, and congratulations and thank you for everything you do.

Thank you, Jane.

Do you want to take it?

Um I believe Commissioner Morrison wished to be added as a co-sponsor.

I don't know if everybody is, everyone on the floor would be to the Jewish American Heritage Month.

And my last um recognition is uh in honor of Orlando Rivas in memorium.

Uh Orlando Libras lived a dedicated life of service to the community he loved, including beginning in 1995 as an employee of the uh Cook County Juvenile Probation Department.

Uh and during his tenure, he devoted his career to supporting and guiding court-involved youth towards positive outcomes.

He served for 30 years with distinction, retiring in October of 2025.

But he continued his legacy of service uh in his retirement as he continued to serve as a security officer at the Buffalo Grove High School in District 14.

It was on April 21st in a tragic accident.

A car struck a pole at that campus.

Orlando Rivas took heroic action that left him critically injured, and he later succumbed to his injuries.

He did that by making sure that he saved the lives of the students that he was uh honored to serve and to protect.

Uh we know that his family misses him greatly.

I will present this to them on an appropriate time.

I appreciate those from the juvenile uh probation department who are here as well, and we honor his legacy.

And we'll take a moment of uh silence in his memory.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chairman.

Commissioner Nay.

Thank you, Chairman.

I'd like to call attention to two resolutions.

The first one I will uh quickly summarize it's item 26-1042.

This is honoring the life and legacy of animal uh and rabi control administrator, Dr.

Mamadou Diak uh Diacate.

Um for those of you that knew um the administrator, um, he was uh deeply passionate about animal welfare, kind um, and he was uh great, he had great leadership within the Kakani Department of Animal and Rabies Control.

Um we all know that uh they host numerous of um conferences and different events for uh uh the our our district, our constituencies to ensure that um you know rabies is under control, the vaccines are um uh are given, and uh you know, his untimely death earlier this year um, I think shook many of us here on the county board.

So we wanted to honor him.

Um his family, unfortunately cannot join us today, but I didn't want to um pass uh without acknowledging, of course, uh the passing of of uh one of our leaders here um and also acknowledge um our our deep appreciation for his dedication.

Um so I'll ask for maybe a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

President Pro Temp, I'd like to also like to um recognize resolution 26-1528.

This is a proposed resolution honoring a rise Chicago's 35th anniversary of organizing to advance worker rights.

A Rice Chicago celebrates again the 35 years of dedication that they've had in advancing worker rights, dignity, and economic justice.

Um was founded by a diverse group of faith leaders committed to addressing systematic poverty and economic injustices in the Chicagoland area, grounded in the belief that all workers deserve dignity and respect in their workplaces.

A RISE has an increased number of workers in Chicago that face exploitation labor uh explositative labor conditions, uh wage theft, discrimination, harassment, and therefore they acknowledge it and have made it a mission to uh provide education, advocacy, organizing support, and direct assistance.

Um, I have had the great honor of working with the RISE for um, I believe about a decade already, um, and just wanted to acknowledge again the hard work.

Thirty-five years is a long time.

They have said um stayed um very steady to their commitment to ensuring that workers have information, have uh the acknowledgement of their rights, but most importantly, that they have the right to organize and to push back against wage theft again against a lot of uh injustices that happen, unfortunately, um to many communities, especially uh communities um uh from immigrants, uh immigrant um uh background.

So I just want to uh also acknowledge the work that they have had um being part of many things here in Cook County, like the paid leave um uh ordinance, um uh increasing uh, of course, uh minimum wage.

Um they've also dedicated a lot of time to uh doing their worker manuals and many, many trainings and certifications that they handle.

So again, thank you for your hard work.

Um thank you for your patience today and waiting um a few hours to be recognized, but we wanted to make sure to uplift you and acknowledge again uh everything that you have done.

So I know we have Shelley and uh Nania here, so um I'll you know uh take a quick brief um uh pause and then I'll go up there to take a picture.

Not sure if you wanted to address the body.

Um thank you so much, Commissioner Naya.

Um, very briefly on behalf of our um fearless uh executive director Laura Garza, our policy director Adam Cater, our full staff, our board, our membership, um which is comprised of mostly immigrant workers.

Thank you for this recognition.

We do work day in and out just as you do to make um this county a better place um for workers, particularly immigrant workers.

Um so thank you again for this recognition.

I'm sorry, Commissioner Vasquez, did you mind address it before?

I'm gonna come up there and speak.

Um Rise has just been a fantastic organization, understanding the nexus of policy and organizing work, and I am thrilled to celebrate you.

Thank you, Chairman.

I just want to brief oh it is working.

Just want to briefly uh recognize uh two resolutions that were putting forward.

Uh one recognizing uh May of 2026 as uh uh monarch month.

Uh our resolution recognizes and um is dedicated to the incredible volunteers and advocates working to protect monarch butterflies.

Um the monarch butterfly is uh Illinois state insect and a critical pollinator species that supports ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity across Cook County in the Midwest.

Uh our monarch populations are in decline and have declined dramatically over the past several decades due to habitat loss, climate change, insecticide exposure, making conservation efforts even more important.

Uh and Cook County plays an important role as a monarch migration corridor.

So uh make sure that everyone out there is uh planning uh their milkweed uh to protect our monarch uh species.

Uh huh.

And then also with uh it being AAPI month, uh I have a resolution celebrating uh several incredible Asian American leaders uh within my district, including uh Bagat Singh Dalwan, Vadana Jingan, Hemant Patel, Raj Patel, Amarjit Singh, Jazvir Karman, Sayed Husseini, Ankar Singh Sangha, Shailesh Jajput, Anaraj Awashti and Pratchi Jaitley, and we'll be hosting an event with them at my district office here in the coming days.

Uh thank you, Chairman.

I'd like to bring forth resolution twenty-six thirteen seventy-four.

And this is honoring Chief Nursing Nursing Officer of Cook County Department of Public Health, Denise Gilbert, on her retirement.

Yes.

So uh thank you all for waiting this long period of time.

But Denise has been the chief nursing officer of Cook County Department of Public Health and oversees seven grant-funded support service programs that involve nurse home visits, case management, high-risk infant follow-up.

She leads up so many great different in issues and has for some quite some time.

And they are responsible for also the nursing readiness to respond and communical diseases and outbreaks and was very instrumental during the outbreak of COVID.

Her expertise has been invaluable.

She began her career with Cook County Health in 2003 as a divisional nursing director of Bantas Health Center and later had oversight over the West Coaster Clinics that compromised comprised seven ambulatory health facilities.

She served as the manager of the ambulatory maternal child health clinics in Stroger Hospital and the Pediatric Specialty, prenatal gynecology and family planning clinics, along with the anetetal testing unit.

And prior to joining Cook County Health, she had various leadership roles as director of uh operations for multiple ambulatory facilities with the and the advocate health system and clinical nursing supervising OBGYN at Humana Health.

And she was very instrumental too in every single one of our maternal health um uh uh programs that we had here, as well as getting together the whole doula program and bringing all of your expertise.

So it's such an honor for your family to be here, your friends, your team, and we just want to congratulate you on your retirement.

You're going to be missed in your expertise, can probably not be duplicated here, but I know you've trained some wonderful people here at Cook County Health, and it's my honor to congratulate you.

I've known your husband, and as soon as I met your husband, he's like, You have to meet my wife, you have to meet my wife.

He bragged about you all the time, and he was right to do so because you have such an expertise.

So congratulations, Denise, and I'd love for you to say a few words.

Thank you.

I'm humbled by this honor and want to make sure that it's known that I've done the majority of it with an excellent team, and especially this latest program that we stood up healthy beginnings.

Uh, and I'd like to thank the vision of the Cook County Board as well as the vision of Commissioner Miller, um, Congresswoman elect in her uh amendment, uh putting forth an amendment for a doula program, as well as our healthy beginnings program, which is one of the first nurse-led home visiting programs in suburban Cook County.

And it's through um the help of my just like I said, my wonderful team here who has helped me with the vision and also the vision of the county board president who understands what's going on in the community and allowed us to build a program that is sustainable.

And while I don't know Tanya, she would be happy that it's pretty budget neutral.

So I'm happy and thank you for this honor.

Thank you.

And we did get to surprise her.

She didn't know she was coming.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

I'd also like to um lift up the resolution commemorating National Military Appreciation Month in Cook County, as well as a resolution honoring observing May 25th as Memorial Day in uh in the our country.

So I want to just make a point of distinction as chair of the Veterans Committee that Memorial Day.

Always posts on Memorial Day that Memorial Day is for those who served who died in service.

So Veterans Day honors veterans who served, and uh so we want to make sure that there's a distinction in that.

So thank you.

And yeah, so let's just do a moment of silence if we could for um Memorial Day for those who gave their life for a service to our country.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Uh thank you, Chairman.

Uh just before we conclude today, I did want to make sure I was added as a co-sponsor for 26 15 15 and 26 1524.

Let me correct let me uh confirm that 2615 15 and 26 15 44 as co-sponsor.

1524, thank you.

Mr.

President Pro Ton.

Um if the Secretary can also um note that I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor to item 26-1243.

Adding Commissioner Nye as co-sponsor to 261243.

Thank you.

Uh I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor to 261042.

261376.

Yes, that's correct.

Thank you, Mr.

Please have me to resolution.

All consent.

Thank you, sir.

I'm sorry.

No other business.

The motion uh is if is we approved it already.

Yes, adjourned by commissioner, second by commissioner.

Kevin.

Chairman, why don't you go ahead and move it again?

Okay, it's been moved and seconded.

All those in favor, move by Commissioner Kevin Morrison.

So second by Commissioner Trevor.

All those in favor signify by saying I.

Aye.

Oppose the Commissioner.

Commissioner and I move to adjourn second by Commissioner Trevor.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Oppose motion carries.

Thank you all.