Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons
  • Home
  • |
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
  • |
  • Biography
  • |
  • District Info
    • Local Elected Officials
  • |
  • Community Events
  • |
  • Contact Us
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Request a Meeting or Event

Simmons: New criminal justice reforms are long overdue overhaul to Illinois' carceral systems

Details
Category: News
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 01:58 PM

Mike Simmons HeadshotYesterday, Gov. Pritzker signed a comprehensive criminal justice and police reform package of bills that dramatically overhauls the carceral systems in Illinois. Many of these changes are long overdue, and I am gratified to see the work of so many advocates finally come to fruition.

Some key components of this wide-ranging legislation:

The new law does away with racist mandatory minimum sentencing laws that for over a generation have laid waste to Black communities.

Illinois will end the use of cash bail, a systemic practice that unfairly punishes people who don’t have money.

The law requires police to be equipped with body cameras by 2025. There must be no more excuses about broken body cams, or cams that were not turned on when a situation ends in another killing or unnecessary maiming of another one of our brothers and sisters.

And importantly, the law promotes the use of co-responder models (instead of police) for people experiencing crises, and enhances data collection on mental health crisis response.

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, of which I am proud to be a member, led this monumental effort. Dozens of community leaders and stakeholders spoke up and turned out as part of the Black Lives Agenda created in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others. This legislative victory would not have been possible without their voices raised together, and years of community organizing.

I’m proud to join the Illinois General Assembly at this time, and ready to double down on this work. We must push policy further in the direction of justice for Black lives across the board and root out systemic racism.

This is the work. #BlackLivesMatter

 

simmons sig

Mike Simmons
State Senator, 7th Illinois Senate District

Simmons speaks on Pritzker's budget proposal

Details
Category: Press Releases
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 01:57 PM

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s budget address today:

“It’s clear that the governor has made an earnest effort to hold the line for working people by closing corporate tax loopholes and increasing funding to programs that help ensure people can remain in their homes. This proposal gets us off on the right foot, but it’s just the beginning of the budget-making process in Illinois. That process must not lose sight of the needs of our families, our sick, our vulnerable, and our friends and neighbors who are stepping up to do everything they can to help during this pandemic.”

Simmons sworn in as State Senator for 7th District

Details
Category: News
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 12:04 PM

Obama Foundation director will be first openly LGBTQIA+ Black Senator in Springfield

Mike Simmons HeadshotCHICAGO — Mike Simmons became the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, and the first person of color to serve as state Senator from Illinois’ 7th District after being sworn in earlier this week.

“This breaks down a ceiling that is important for the most diverse state Senate district in Illinois,” Simmons said. “And as our new state Senator, I will work tirelessly to amplify the voices and urgent needs of the most vulnerable residents of my district: Our immigrants, those struggling with access to housing, seniors, people in between jobs, single mothers, returning citizens, LGBTQIA+ people, young people, and so many others who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.”

Simmons, the son of a Black American mother and Ethiopian-American immigrant father and the first Ethiopian-American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, succeeds former state Senator Heather Steans. Simmons said his appointment is an historic event for Illinois and the 7th Senate District, which will, for the first time, be represented by a person of color. Simmons serves as director of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation.

Simmons was sworn in Saturday at Andersonville’s Swedish American Museum. The 7th Illinois Senate District includes parts of Chicago’s Lincoln Square, Uptown, Andersonville, Edgewater, Arcadia Terrace, West Ridge and Rogers Park neighborhoods.

 

  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68

Page 68 of 68

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is my honor and pleasure to represent Illinois’ 7th Senate District. 

Here you can find information about the 7th District, access local and state resources, and keep up to date with what’s happening at the Capitol. I hope you’ll find this website useful.

Please feel free to contact me at either of my offices with questions, concerns or ways I can better serve you.

For scheduling requests, please use the form linked HERE.

To reach our office via text message, send a text to 773-945-9979.

To contact us about issues that matter most to you: CONTACT US

Sincerely,

Sen. Mike Simmons

Senator Mike Simmons
7th Senate District

Request a Meeting or Event

Office Info

District Office
1040 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 769-1717 (Phone)
(773) 945-9979 (Text)

Springfield Office:
Senator 7th District
Stratton Building
Section F, Office G
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8492

facebook logo 64pxtwitter logo 64pxinstagram logo 64px

eNewsletter Signup

eNewsletter Signup
  1. First Name(*)
    Invalid Input
  2. Last Name(*)
    Invalid Input
  3. Your Email(*)
    Please let us know your email address.
  4. Cell Phone(*)
    Please let us know your contact phone number.
  5. Invalid Input
  6. Please enter these characters:(*)
    Please enter these characters: RefreshInvalid Input
  7. By selecting the “Opt-in Checkbox” and then clicking "Submit" you agree to (Terms Of Use) | (Privacy Policy) and to receive texts from Senator Simmons at your mobile number. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Newsletter Archive

  1. You are here:  
  2. Home