Senator Ira Silverstein welcomed Jim Bottorff of the Skokie Park District to Springfield today. Bottorff and representatives of more than 50 other park districts were at the Capitol for their annual Parks Day to advocate for legislation favorable to maintaining and growing public parks, forest preserves, nature areas and other recreational facilities.

Illinois’ homeless will be given equal rights to access to public buildings, voting and other basic rights under a measure State Senator Ira I. Silverstein (D–Chicago) passed through the Senate today.

“The homeless most times are in this situation due to a hardship in their life,” Silverstein said. “So, we should embrace our homeless neighbors and give them the basic rights that many take advantage of every day.”

Homeless individuals face discrimination in situations for merely lacking a mailing or home address, especially when filling out job applications or showing proof of residency when attempting to vote.

“I hope the Homeless Bill of Rights is only the first step our state takes in ending discrimination against the homeless in Illinois and extending opportunities to allow these individuals to improve their situation,” Silverstein continued.

The measure lists seven rights that will be extended to the homeless:

1. Move freely through public buildings, parks, sidewalks and transit systems;
2. Equal treatment from all State & municipal agencies;
3. Freedom from employment discrimination based on a lack of a mailing address;
4. Emergency medical care;
5. Register to vote and vote;
6. Confidentiality of private records and other personal information;
7. A reasonable expectation of privacy with regard to personal property.

The measure, Senate Bill 1210, received a vote of 41-11 and now moves to the House for further consideration.

More than $250,000 in state assistance to local schools for repairs and maintenance was announced Thursday by Senator Ira Silverstein (D–Chicago).

“We have some big projects in mind for a number of our schools, and these grants will give us enough of a boost to get them started,” said Silverstein.

Local districts include: Fairview School District 72, Golf School District 67, Niles School District 71, Skokie School District 69, and Skokie School District 73-5.

“Providing a safe and efficient environment for our children to learn is important, and this brings us a step closer to reaching that goal,” said Silverstein.

These grants help schools with repairs and improvements to existing buildings and facilities. The dollars can be used to pay for asbestos removal, repairing bleachers, re-sealing parking lots, or an array of other maintenance projects. This is a matching grant program with the maximum state award being $50,000.