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CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro released the following statement in response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling on the pretrial release portions of the SAFE-T Act:
“I applaud today's landmark decision by the Illinois State Supreme Court upholding provisions of the SAFE-T Act that finally clear the way for Illinois to be the first state to end cash bail.
“For far too long, the cash bail system has given the wealthiest an unfair advantage within our criminal legal system. The SAFE-T Act takes the first steps to make our criminal legal system one that actually stands for justice, ensuring all folks are truly treated as innocent until proven guilty and granted the same freedoms regardless of their access to economic resources.
“I am proud that our state’s highest court prioritized public safety over wealth in their decision. I stand with the grassroots organizers who have fought for vulnerable communities for decades in their work to eliminate cash bail. This movement has led to a monumental win in reforming our criminal legal system to stand for justice, which is just the beginning of more reforms to come.”
Read more about the SAFE-T Act here.
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CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in announcing $15 million in funding for the Job Training and Economic Development program, including more than $280,000 for workforce training in the 20th Senate District.
“The JTED program offers people education and training that develops lifelong skills, leading to employment opportunities now and in the future,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “I am hopeful this investment in my district will help boost our economy and assist people who have had a hard time finding employment.”
The Job Training and Economic Development program provides workforce training and wraparound services to help bolster equitable workforce recovery for Illinoisans struggling to gain meaningful employment. Funds from this program aim to address the economic impacts experienced by employers and individuals who are underemployed, unemployed or underrepresented who have one or more barriers to employment that are identified as risk factors.
Read more: Funding for workforce training coming to 20th District thanks to Toro
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CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro announced that the Chicago Public School District will receive over $25 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.
“As a CPS teacher, I saw firsthand the challenges of balancing limited resources with students’ needs,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “With the evidence-based funding formula, we are investing in schools and our children’s future — ensuring every student has access to quality education and support.”
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.
Read more: Toro announces $25 million in evidence-based funding for Chicago Public Schools
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CHICAGO — On Saturday, Aug. 24, State Senator Natalie Toro and State Representative Jaime Andrade are co-hosting a Community Resource Fair, designed to be a “one-stop shop” for residents looking for assistance with a variety of government agency needs and other services.
“For working Chicagoans, it can be difficult to find time to visit a government agency they need assistance from, or even research which programs are most useful for their specific needs,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “My hope for this resource fair is to take the guesswork out of reaching out to agencies for help, and create a space where people can simply show up to get the support they deserve.”
The Community Resource Fair will offer support with legal aid, affordable housing, licensure renewal, identification cards, and more essential services. Currently, other co-sponsoring partners include Concordia Place, Access Living, 211, Legal Aid Chicago, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, Oak Street Health, and Our Lady of Mercy Parish, where the event will also be held.