Simmons celebrates historic reform in Illinois to end cash bail

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons commends Illinois’ action to implement the Pretrial Fairness Act, making Illinois the first state to eliminate cash bail.

“Advocating for the rights of those who are incarcerated and their families is a priority of mine. As the first state in the country to completely end the use of money bail, we have taken a historic step toward a more fair and just system,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Far too many people have been blatantly discriminated against due to the inability to cover their bond amount for release. Being poor is not a crime and should never be the sole reason a person remains incarcerated as they await their trial.”

The official end of cash bail — also known as the Pretrial Fairness Act, which is contained within the SAFE-T Act — comes two months after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that pretrial reform is constitutional in Illinois. The cash bail system has now been replaced with a new system that detains all dangerous defendants, regardless of their wealth.

“Simply put: the SAFE-T Act makes communities safer by allowing courts to hold violent offenders who would ordinarily be able to use cash to pay for release,” said Simmons. “I fully support the overall policy goals of the SAFE-T Act, as well as effective implementation. This is historic legislation that corrects injustices that for too long have plagued our criminal justice systems.”

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Simmons announces over $1.3 million in grants awarded to 7th District small businesses

CHICAGO – With support from State Senator Mike Simmons, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently announced that over $1.3 million in small business grants would be awarded to 33 restaurants throughout the 7th District.

“Our small businesses are still recovering from the aftermath of the pandemic. They are the backbone of our district and often a hub for cultural identity, and this DCEO Back to Business Grant is crucial to their preservation and survival,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Without the support of this program and others like it, we are in danger of losing our history, traditions, and livelihoods. I am committed to fighting for more funding to secure the future of our small business community.”

The Back to Business grant program provides recovery grants for small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on businesses in the hardest hit industries. Through the Back to Business and Business Interruption Grant programs, DCEO has provided more than $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses state-wide since the start of the pandemic.

Thirty-three area restaurants in Simmons’ district will receive a combined total of $1,320,000 through this round of Back to Business grants.

“It is not a surprise that more than half of restaurant Back to Business grant recipients in the 7th District are owners and operators who have been historically disenfranchised,” said Simmons. “We must continue to aggressively advocate for every small business in distress, in every sector. I know we can do it, and look forward to the good work ahead.”

For more information about B2B grants visit DCEO’s website.

Simmons honored with 100% pro-environment voting record

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Simmons was one of 27 legislators to earn a 100% rating from the Illinois Environmental Council this week on its annual Legislative Environmental Scorecard. The IEC rated state legislators based on their voting record on legislation affecting the environment during the 2023 legislative session.

“I am proud to receive a 100% scorecard rating by the Illinois Environmental Council for the second year in a row,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I vote in accordance with my commitment to urgently fighting climate change, preserving safe and healthy air and water, advocating for long-term environmentally sustainable transit, and protecting our precious natural outdoor spaces and habitats.”

The 2023 Legislative Environmental Scorecard includes 28 legislative measures. Specific priorities led by Simmons from this year’s scorecard include House Bill 2776, which updates notice and posting requirements for property owners and occupants of buildings affected by lead service line replacements, and House Bill 3158, which would provide an environmentally friendly alternative burial option.

“I am especially proud of Senator Simmons for his perfect environmental voting record this year because when the pressure was on, especially in the final hours of the legislative session, he stood up for his constituents’ health and our environment,” said IEC Executive Director Jen Walling. “Illinois will be a cleaner, safer place to call home because of the leadership Simmons demonstrated this session, and we look forward to building on that legacy together in the future.”

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Simmons’ second annual “Chalk It Up” event in Rogers Park celebrates multiculturalism and diversity across the 7th Senate District

CHICAGO – To celebrate the vibrant multiculturalism of the 7th District and connect with residents, State Senator Mike Simmons and his staff hosted “Chalk It Up” – a free, community-building event.

“It was a joy to host my second annual Chalk It Up event on Saturday, which brought together the 7th District for a day of artistic expression, multicultural pride and celebration, and of course, included food from local small businesses,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “As a proud son of an Ethiopian refugee father and Black mother, I know the importance of creating intentional spaces to share and highlight the beauty of the 7th District.”

Simmons and his staff hosted their second annual Chalk It Up event on Saturday, Sept. 2 at White “Willye B.” Park in Rogers Park to celebrate the vibrant multiculturalism of the 7th District by decorating the sidewalks with chalk drawings of the flags and symbols which constituents in his district represent. The free event featured curated music playlists, refreshments, and food catered by locally owned family business, Patio Beef.

Additionally, Simmons provided constituents with the opportunity to connect personally with him and his district office staff while assisting with state services and local resources.

“Chalk It Up is a fun, creative event that celebrates our people,” said Simmons. “It also gives our neighbors more personable access to me and our staff. Thank you to all who supported and attended this event.”

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