Cook County commissioners Thursday authorized the sale of up to $600 million in bonds for ongoing projects as advocacy groups used the occasion to protest the board’s lack of action on finding a new home for the cramped and unsafe domestic violence courthouse.
With the primary election a month off, stiff political winds swept the boardroom as two commissioners who typically vote with President John Stroger broke away, announcing they couldn’t go along with another bond sale while the courthouse issue remained unresolved.
Stroger twice reminded one of those commissioners, Earlean Collins, that he has “about 300 relatives” who live in her West Side and west suburban district. Collins vowed to campaign vigorously and said she could no longer sit silently while the county doled out “pinstriped patronage” and no-bid contracts.
“We have a right to speak our opinion on issues without being … castigated,” Collins said.
A year ago, the county was planning to build a combined traffic and domestic violence court on the city’s West Side. But that plan got shelved and traffic courts were moved into the Daley Center downtown, while the domestic violence court, at 13th Street and Michigan Avenue, went untouched.
“We dropped the ball,” Commissioner Deborah Sims said Thursday. “We didn’t have a backup plan.”
Michael LaMont, director of capital planning and policy for the county, said within three months he would give the board a full report on a new domestic violence court, including cost estimate, size requirements and potential locations.
Stroger pledged his commitment to find a new home for the court. Skeptical advocates told the board that they’ve heard similar promises for years.
“I would ask you to act on that commitment,” said Jennifer Welch, executive director of the Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.
With the March 19 primary approaching, commissioners running for re-election and other office seekers staked out positions and politicked.
Former Circuit Court Clerk Aurelia Pucinski, now a candidate for the appellate court, spoke during the hearing. County Board candidate Forrest Claypool used the opportunity to corner reporters.
Ted Lechowicz, a dependable Stroger vote who is being challenged by Claypool, turned against the bond issue, saying he was frustrated by the inactivity on the domestic court. The other three commissioners who voted against the bond sale in the 12-5 vote were Carl Hansen, William Moran and Mike Quigley, who has championed the cause of finding a new home for the domestic violence court.
Stroger accused Quigley of using the court issue for political gain, prompting a stinging reply from Quigley.
“You know, Mr. President, you’re right. We have to deal with these issues of self-aggrandizement,” Quigley said. “I’m thinking of going to counseling for it. I understand there’s an excellent counselor over by the John Stroger Hospital,” he said referring to the new name for Cook County Hospital.
Proceeds from the bond sale will pay for ongoing projects such as a new parking garage at the Skokie courthouse and to build a self-insurance fund to cover costs from lawsuits.
One of the financial underwriters is SBK-Brooks Investment Corp., which until September employed Stroger’s son, Todd, a Chicago alderman. County officials said Todd Stroger’s relationship with the company played no role in its capturing the county business.
