Dolton Park District receives payment for fieldhouse renovation

• Dolton Park District

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) announced this week the Dolton Park District has received a payment to continue a renovation project that began last October on their main field house.

The Dolton Park District will receive the $2 million grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources under the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Grant Program.

“This project will create a space for the park district and the community to use for a number of purposes and I am excited to see it continue,” Harris said. “This facility will serve as a community meeting place for outdoor activities and special occasions.”

Comptroller Suzanna Mendoza recently paid out $523,862 of the total grant money to the Dolton Park District, allowing the project to continue as planned.

The park district’s plans for expansion and renovation include:

• A multipurpose room that seats more than 200
• An outdoor patio for leisure activities
• Meeting space and prep kitchen
• Stage, dance floor and wedding accommodations

Legislators seek to override Rauner’s denial of safe, affordable drinking water to poor suburbs

• Public Health
• Drinking Water

CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner voted against safe, affordable drinking water in poor suburban communities this week with a veto of a water infrastructure bill sponsored by State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey).

Rauner vetoed Senate Bill 2376, which was designed to help economically disadvantaged Cook County communities fix troubled drinking water infrastructures. Harris and the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago), said they hope to take an override vote in November.

“The smaller Cook County suburbs don’t have the funds to fix their infrastructure and it’s nearly impossible for them to qualify for Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan programs,” Harris said. “I will seek a veto override to make sure Ford Heights, Harvey and other towns are first in line when capital funds become available.”

Read more …

Harris: Education combats negative African-American stereotypes

• Higher Education

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) is lead sponsor of legislation that was signed into law today requiring every community college and public university to offer a course studying the events of Black History.

“Education is the only way we can combat negative African-American stereotypes seen on the news, social media and in movies,” Harris said. “It should be a priority for our universities to offer a course that teaches students about our culture and the contributions we’ve made to society.”

The course must include:
• The history of African slave trade, slavery in America and the vestiges of slavery in the United States
• Contributions made by individual African Americans in government, the arts, humanities and sciences to the economic, cultural and political development of the United States and Africa
• The socio-economic struggle which African Americans experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of the United States

House Bill 4346 allows public institutions of higher education to meet this requirement through online program or course, and extends that opportunity to elementary and high schools which already have the requirement.

The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

Harris: Senate budget provides funding for education, youth services and job training

• budget

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) supported the Senate’s approval of the FY 19 state budget on Wednesday.

“Our job as legislators is to ensure the state is providing the services our communities need,” Harris said. “This budget works with the revenue we have to provide support in significant areas.”

The Senate budget includes a funding increase of $350 million in K-12 funding, which keeps up with the state’s commitment to the new evidence-based funding formula that was approved last year. This investment ensures no school district will receive less money than last year, and many will receive additional funding through the formula’s tier-based system.

Read more …