 |
About
CAC
Sign
up to receive our free E-mail
newsletter
Citizen
Training Corps
Internships/Volunteers
Annual
Report
Civic
Fair
Newsletter
Contact
Us
|
Public Education and
Capacity Building
CITIZEN ADVOCACY CENTER 1998 ANNUAL
REPORT
1998 was another productive year for the DuPage County-based,
Citizen Advocacy Center. Community lawyers and volunteers continued
to build democracy for the 21st century throughout the western suburbs
of Chicago. The Center's work focused on strengthening the citizenry's
capacity and motivation to participate in civic affairs, building community
resources, and improving democratic protocols within our community institutions.
Through public education, community organizing, issue advocacy, and
precedent-setting litigation in state and federal courts, the Center
forged ahead with programs to advance civic life.
Our storefront in downtown Elmhurst houses the Open Forum,
providing citizens with the opportunity to: obtain free civic materials,
ask any of the three full-time community lawyers questions on matters
of public concern, engage in civic discussion, access electronic information,
make videos, learn about local issues, attend training workshops, and
develop skills for participating in the civic affairs of the communities
we serve.
Throughout 1998, the Center engaged in four major initiatives:
- Public education and training in civic skills to increase capacity
and desire to participate in community affairs;
- Government and corporate accountability;
- Issue advocacy and litigation
- Development of citizen resources and institutions capable of advancing
justice at the community level.
Public Education and Capacity Building
The Citizen Advocacy Center is first and foremost a hub
for civic information. Everyday, the Center's staff and volunteers answer
questions from citizens who call or drop by to ask about matters of
public concern. For example, can the library prohibit them from collecting
petition signatures on the sidewalk, or does a contract have to go out
for bid, or what to do about more sprawl and development, or how to
hold HMOs accountable.
The Center's legal staff and volunteers routinely research
and answer hundreds of such questions to enable more effective engagement
in local affairs, no matter what the issue or position on that issue
may be. The Center also conducts training workshops about the civic
tools that every citizen should know how to use. For example, the Center
prepares brochures on: how the Illinois Freedom of Information and Open
Meetings Acts work; what "home-rule" means; how Tax Increment Financing
districts work; how small claims court operates; what information a
citizen requires regarding telecommunications laws and cable service;
how to get access to electronic information; how does the budgeting
process work; how to get a representative's attention; free speech and
public comment; how the jury system works; and how government operates
at the municipal, township, county and state levels.
The Center is a shoehorn, not a crutch, to help people
make their local institutions work for the common good - to protect
all of their rights as consumers, workers, shareholders, taxpayers,
and citizens. Our easy-to-understand brochures are free and anyone may
attend a training workshop or just call or visit for more information.
In 1998, in addition to regular participation in a
variety of public body meetings, Center representatives spoke at, made
presentations to, planned, or hosted the programs of other groups in
the following different forums:
January
- Lyons Club of Elmhurst (Elmhurst) (January 5)
- Hinsdale Rotary (Oak Brook) (January 7)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (January 14)
- Deerfield Seniors (Deerfield) (January 20)
- Senate Task Force Hearings on Campaign Finance Reform (Naperville)
(January 21)
- Cable Show, "Talk of the Town," (Park Ridge) (January 23)
- Choices For the 21st Century (Co-Host, Elmhurst Public Library) (January
17, 24)
- Lutheran Redeemer Men's Club Elmhurst (Elmhurst) (January 19)
- IEA-NEA Fifth Annual Conference, "Teaching Democracy," (Woodfield
Hyatt) (January 31)
February
- Choices for the 21st Century (Elmhurst) (February 14, 21)
- YWCA Works (Glen Ellyn) (February 18) (10)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (February 20)
- Elmhurst College Political Science Class (Elmhurst) (February 20)
- Northwestern Public Interest Law Fair (Chicago) (February 21)
- Send Township Officials Packing (Elmhurst) (February 23)
- Columbia Law School (Starting Community Advocacy Projects) (February
27)
- New York University School of Law (Starting Community Advocacy Projects)
(February 28)
March
- Press Conference, Whistleblower Statute/Campaign (Chicago) (March
2)
- Wheaton Rotary (Making Democracy Work) (March 4)
- NYU School of Law Alumni Speech "Building Democracy as a Community
Lawyer (Chicago) (March 12)
- Impact Alliance Meeting (Elmhurst) (March 22)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (March 22) · WDCB Radio Interview,
Tollways (March 25)
- Health Seminar (Elmhurst) (March 28) April
- Cable Television, "Talk of the Town" Clean Elections (Park Ridge)
(April 3)
- Libertarian Party, Making Government Work (Glen Ellyn) (April 6)
- Naperville AARP (Naperville) (April 8)
- Oak Brook AAUW, Making Democracy Work (Oak Brook) (April 9)
- Citizens for Clean Elections, (Elmhurst) (April 18) · Citizen Advocacy
Center Advisory Council (Elmhurst) (April 19)
- Elmhurst College, Political Science Class (Elmhurst) (April 23)
- Health Care Forum (Elmhurst) (April 24)
- Citizens Lobby Radio Show, "National Right to Work" (Chicago) (April
25)
- Illinois Math and Science Academy, Free Speech and Campaign Finance
Reform presentations (Aurora) (April 29)
- Panel on Campaign Finance Reform (College of DuPage) (April 29)
May
- Campaign Finance Reform, Citizens Lobby Radio Show, (Chicago) (May
2)
- Press Conference, Mutual Insurance Reform (Springfield) (May 12)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (May 16)
June
- Press Conference, Franzen v. Birkett, DuPage 7 (Elmhurst) (June 4)
- Lake County Press Conference, Tollways (Mundelein) (June 8)
- Miami Herald Interview on Public Corruption, (Elmhurst) (June 10)
- Bloomingdale/Roselle Rotary, Making Democracy Work, (Bloomingdale)
(June 16)
- Elmhurst College, Political Science Class (Elmhurst) (June18)
- WDCB Radio Interview, DuPage 7 (June 20)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (June 24)
- Democracy Dinner, (Elmhurst) (June 20)
- WBIG One-hour radio interview on Center (Aurora) (June 29)
July
- Fourth of July Parade (Elmhurst) (July 4)
- Lombard Senior Men's Club, Getting Involved, (Lombard) (July 7)
- People's Assembly for the United Nations (Elmhurst) (July 9)
- Citizen Advocacy Center Fourth Anniversary (Elmhurst) (July 19)
- Tri-Cities Rotary Club, Tollways, (Geneva) (July 21)
- DuPage County Fair (July 22-26)
- Democracy Day (July 25)
- Cable Show, "Talk of Town," The Jury System and You (July 20)
- WYLL Radio Show, Tollways, (Elk Grove Village) (July 28)
- Interview, Bloomberg, Utilities, (Elmhurst) (July 28)
- Fiesta Del Sol, Citizen Initiative Award Presentation (Pilsen) (July
30)
- Health Care Rally, West Suburban Coalition (Chicago) (July 30)
August
- Tax Increment Financing Reform Hearing and WBEZ Radio (Chicago) (August
4)
- Tri-City Exchange Club, Campaign Finance Reform (Geneva) (August
4)
- Procurement Study, (Elmhurst) (August 6)
- Citizens Assembly for the United Nations (Elmhurst) (August 6)
- Milton Township Democrats, The DuPage Seven Scandal (Glen Ellyn) (August
12)
- LaGrange Kiwanis, Making Democracy Work (LaGrange) (August 20)
- Hear My Voice (Elmhurst) (August 29)
- Citizen Corps Summit Planning Meeting (Elmhurst) (August 29)
September:
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (September 9)
- Downers Grove Township Democrats, The DuPage Seven Scandal (Downers
Grove) (Sept 9)
- Retired Teachers' Candidates Forum (Glen Ellyn) (September 12)
- Chicago O'Hare Rotary, Making Democracy Work (Schiller Park) (September
17)
- C.A.N. Consumer Group, (Elmhurst) (September 17)
- Elmhurst College, Political Science Class (Elmhurst) (September 21)
- Procurement Study (Elmhurst) (September 23)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (September 30)
October:
- United Nation's Citizen Assembly (Elmhurst) (October 6)
- DuPage Women's Bar Association (Lisle) (October 7)
- Citizens Organized to Restore Elmhurst (Elmhurst) (October 14)
- United Nation's Citizen Assembly (Elmhurst) (October 19)
- York Community High School class workshop (Elmhurst)
- Progressive Independents for Action (Elmhurst) (October 22)
- Scrap the Track (Plano)
- Citizens for Clean Elections (Elmhurst) (October 25)
- United Nation's Citizen Assembly (Elmhurst) (October 26)
- Rotary Club Western-Springs (LaGrange) (October 27)
November:
- United Nations Citizen Assembly (Elmhurst) (November 3)
- Villa Park Better Government Association (Villa Park)
- Citizens Organized to Restore Elmhurst (Elmhurst) (November 12)
- Citizen Committee for Civic Summit (Elmhurst) (November 12)
- Loyola Law School Public Interest Class (Chicago) (November 16, 1998)
- Villa Park Better Government Association (Elmhurst) (November 19)
- Illinois Issues Cable Show (Regional) (November 20)
- Hear My Voice (Elmhurst) (November 23)
December
- Civic Summit Planning (December 2)
- Tollgate II Press Conference (Downers Grove) (December 16)
- Elmhurst College Metropolitan Government Class (Elmhurst) (December
4)
- Citizen's Lobby Radio Program (Regional) (December 8)
- Rotary Club of Berwyn (Berwyn) (December 10)
- Holiday Cheer Donor/Volunteer Party (Elmhurst) (December 13)
- Civic Summit Planning (December 17)
Lawyers from the Center teach volunteers and students
- from high school to law school - about the importance of developing
skills and using their talents to advance justice in their communities.
In addition to participating in the Midwestern Public Interest Law Fair
at Northwestern Law School (February), the Cover Public Interest Retreat
(March, New Hampshire), and the National Association of Public Interest
Law Conference (November, Washington, D.C.), in 1998, Center lawyers
spoke with hundreds of students and other volunteers, introducing each
to the Center's model of community lawyering and advocacy.
They mentored five students from the Illinois Math and
Science Academy, four from Lake Park High School, and two from Elmhurst
College, and they supervised ten summer law students who researched
a wide variety of legal issues ranging from closed voir dire of juries
in capital cases, to public comment at school board meetings, to tax
increment financing laws, to money and politics. In 1998, as part of
our public education and capacity-building efforts, the Center hosted
"Democracy Day," featuring our college and law students volunteers.
Summer interns from Cornell Law School, Northwestern
Law School, DePaul College of Law, the University of Illinois Law School,
the University of Michigan Law School, as well as Elmhurst College made
presentations on the following topics:
- "Blight & Taxes - More about TIFs"
- "Money and Politics - Best that Money Can Buy?"
- "The Scandal Behind the Scandal - the DuPage 7"
- "Free Speech Rights at Public Meetings"
- "Municipalities and Marketing, a survey of public relations at the
local level"
- "Freedom of Information Around the World"
- "Money & Judges - Best that Money Can Buy? · "Behind Closed doors
- Jury Selection in DuPage County"
- A summer intern from the University of Texas School of Law also worked
on a publication for students about understanding their rights
- A summer intern from Notre Dame Law School worked on whistleblower
legal research; and
- A summer intern from Loyola College of Law worked on open meetings
and information access in a community where violations were frequently
alleged.
In 1998, the Center continued to build its Citizen Corps
to encourage citizens to dedicate at least eight hours a month to civic
activities, such as reading the newspaper, writing letters to the editor,
attending public meetings, and sharing information with fellow citizens.
"Everyday Democracy,"
Part of this effort includes "Everyday Democracy," a quarterly
newsletter the Center publishes to circulate information about citizen-centered
initiatives and issues of public concern. The newsletters feature the
efforts of citizens to build democracy and most of the articles are
submitted by citizens, including Center interns, who want to share the
lessons they have learned while participating in their communities.
In 1998, citizens in the western suburbs wrote four issues of "Everyday
Democracy." The titles of their writings reveal a passionate engagement.
Winter 1998:
- "Beware Hidden Costs of Cellular Prepay"
- "Is It Really Free & Painless"
Spring 1998:
- "When Censorship Prevails, Democracy Fails"
- "To Encourage Whistleblowers"
Summer 1998:
- "Should the People Pay? The DuPage Seven's Legal Fees"
- "Rare Opportunity: See the Living Constitution"
- "Selling Your City"
- "There's Hope"
- "TIF Abuses Proliferate"
Fall 1998:
- "What Better Cause? Our democracy is at stake."
- "C.O.R.E. Citizens Organized to Restore Elmhurst"
- "To Clean Up Politics"
- "Social Security: Misinformation & Misconceptions"
In 1998, the Citizen Advocacy Center's work, or the work
of those we assisted, received substantial press coverage. To our knowledge,
the Center's work appeared in over 100 news outlets, including the newspaper,
television, radio, and cable access as set forth in the appendix to
this report. Additionally, as of December 1998, more than 8,000 visitors
reached the Center's web page at www.essential.org/cac/. And, finally,
with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation,
the Chicago Video Project made a video, ten minutes in length, about
the Citizen Advocacy Center, featuring citizens throughout the western
suburbs. The video, entitled "Building Democracy," has been instrumental
in introducing people to the mission of the Center. The video may be
viewed at the Center and copies are available.
Government Accountability And the Development
of Systemic Democratic Protocols
During the Winter of 1998, the Center:
- Represented a citizen from suburban Cook County in his petition before
the Cook County Electoral Board. Center lawyers argued that the petition
should be placed on the ballot and questioned whether the Cook County
Clerk's office had remained impartial in the submission of this citizen
petition or whether it had been involved in recruiting opponents to
object to certain petitions for referenda/access to the ballot. The
petition was denied, but the Center received a letter from the Cook
County Clerk assuring us that employees of the Office of the County
Clerk are not authorized by the Cook County Clerk to seek any objectors
to any petition filed at the office.
- Advocated for better compliance with the public hearings requirement
for campaign finance · abuses at the Illinois State Board of Elections.
- Represented a DePaul University Law School professor throughout the
year as she attempted to force the Central Intelligence Agency to do
an adequate search for records under the federal Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA). In the course of the litigation the CIA was required to
sit for the most extensive deposition to date about its information
practices and search policies under the FOIA.
- Stood up for the rights of citizens to participate fully in local
public meetings whether or not the head of the public body "likes" what
is being said or conveyed.
- Launched a whistleblower awareness campaign in the suburbs to help
citizens understand the application of the whistleblower law at the
local level and how it can be used to recover taxpayer monies when the
public body has been defrauded.
- Argued before the Seventh Circuit that the DuPage County Airport
policymakers did not hold an authentic public hearing before the Airport
board passed expansion plans that were to be funded by federal dollars.
The Court held later in the year that the citizens' suit could not be
brought until federal dollars had actually been disbursed for the project
and never reached the merits of whether the hearing was inadequate.
- Sent all libraries in DuPage County an information packet about how
citizens could use the Freedom of Information Act to discover more about
their local governments.
During the Spring of 1998, the Center:
- Began to assist Citizens for a Better Harwood Heights and members
of the press in monitoring alleged violations of the Freedom of Information
Act and Open Meetings Laws.
- Advocated against one school district's adoption of a proposed policy
to ban "negative" speech at local school board meetings. The proposed
policy change was dropped.
- Raised awareness about the campaign contributions taken by members
of the judiciary and the potential ethical problems involved when judges
take money from attorneys who appear before them.
- Helped citizens advocate for the televising of public meetings at
the Elmhurst City Council. The Council is now discussing plans to televise
meetings.
- Obtained the removal of a public body's improper policy of charging
a minimum of $5 to respond to FOIA requests.
- Helped the people of Pilsen to complain about the lack of a real
public hearing on a proposed tax increment financing district in Pilsen.
In a case filed by a Pilsen lawyer, a Cook County court has ordered
the City of Chicago to hold another hearing on the City's plans.
- Explained the Judicial Commission and Judicial Inquiry Board to citizens
interested in the lack of public accessibility to the disciplinary records
of our state judges.
- Assisted citizens seeking to challenge the placement of telecommunications
towers.
During the Summer of 1998 the Center:
- Sued the City of Chicago on behalf of former State Treasurer Pat
Quinn, to obtain the "rolling blackout plan" that Commonwealth Edison
had submitted to the City. As the summer sizzled and the front pages
ran stories about the lack of electrical supply, City officials first
claimed that they could not release the plan to citizens or other local
bodies because there was "a confidentiality agreement" with the utility
company. The Center argued that the City could not contract around the
Freedom of Information Act and that the people were entitled to know
what was going on. After the lawsuit was filed, we learned that there
was no such written "confidentiality agreement." The City of Chicago
released the report with minor redactions and settled the case with
the Center.
- Sued DuPage County and the State's Attorneys Office on behalf of
a citizen petitioner to obtain legal representation for the taxpayers'
interests in civil proceedings in the DuPage Seven case. The DuPage
Seven case involves a precedent-setting indictment and trial of three
former prosecutors and four sheriff's deputies who have been accused
of conspiracy to commit official misconduct and conspiracy to obstruct
justice while keeping Rolando Cruz on death row for more than a decade.
The Center argued on behalf of Patricia Hicks and other interested taxpayers
that the County should have legal representation before disbursing taxpayer
monies to the defense counsel of the DuPage Seven. The Center's lawyers
submitted petitions in the trial and appellate courts and argued that
the State's Attorney was conflicted and should no longer be representing
the people of the County on these matters. In the fall, the State's
Attorney was forced to withdraw from the case. The petition in the appellate
court was denied, but the one in the trial court is still pending.
- The Center investigated press complaints that the jury selection process
in death penalty cases was routinely closed to public viewing at the
DuPage County Courthouse. A summer intern put together a report on the
standards that should be followed for closing court and circulated our
memo to interested members of the press.
During the Fall and early Winter of 1999 the Center :
- Assisted citizens interested in getting information about a proposed
racetrack. A Center lawyer discovered what appeared to be double-billing
practices of a consultant and distributed those findings to the public
bodies involved.
- Conducted a student survey of public bodies in DuPage County on their
practices of retaining public records in electronic form.
- Sought leave to file an amicus brief in the Illinois Supreme Court
on the standards of immunity for public officials under the Tort Immunity
Act.
- Conducted a student survey in response to a citizen complaint about
the availability of the names and addresses of officials on state boards
and commissions.
- Published Tollgate II, an update of the problems and scandals that
plague the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. The Tollgate Update,
a sixteen-page report to supplement the Center's 1997 release of Tollgate
I, was released at a "Tollway Tea Party Protest" on December 16th, the
225th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.
Other Litigation and Issue Advocacy
The Center researched and raised awareness on numerous
issues throughout the year and helped citizen groups advocate for policy
changes in a number of areas.
Tax Policy and Tax Increment Financing Reform In 1998-
Center representatives participated actively in the Cook
County Assessor's Tax Policy Forum to help streamline the Cook County
tax bill/process and make it more understandable to taxpayers. Throughout
the Chicagoland area, the Center explained to citizens how tax increment
financing works. We assisted protests against TIFS or monitored their
creation throughout the region, including in Villa Park, Pilsen, and
Elmhurst. The Center also testified against pending legislation and
sought stronger reform legislation, and hosted a forum at the Center
planned by C.O.R.E., with Senators Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) and Christine
Radogno (R-LaGrange) on the pending legislation. The Center continues
to monitor the Village of Addison's compliance with the consent decree
established by prior litigation over the creation of two TIFs. The Center
represents the individual plaintiffs and the plaintiff class in the
precedent-setting litigation that was settled in late 1997.
Mutual Insurance Reform-
Cooperating with the Chicagoland Coalition for Consumer
Rights and the Cambridge-based Center for Insurance Research, the Center
protested the passage of pernicious mutual insurance holding company
legislation in Illinois. The legislation that passed allows mutual companies
to create stockholding parent companies, thus pitting the interests
of mutual policyholders against shareholders. Now Illinois joins a handful
of other states that make it easier for mutual insurance companies to
raise capital and to sell off assets without protecting the policyholders
though a demutualization process designed to compensate policyholders
for their loss of equity in the company. Policyholders are at risk of
becoming the big losers under the new legislation.
Campaign Finance Reform-
The Center continued to help citizens understand the connection
between money and politics in Illinois and the need to reform a system
that is loaded with the influence of cash. The Center assisted in the
formation of Citizens for Clean Elections, and we published a number
of letters and brochures on the influence of money in judicial and legislative
campaigns. Additionally, we monitored and sent letters to urge the State
Board of Elections to do a better job in holding open hearings on campaign
finance abuses. The Center also cooperated with the efforts of numerous
campaign finance reform groups including, the League of Women Voters,
Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Dollars for Democracy, Protestants
for the Common Good, and Citizens for Clean Elections. Tort Reform-
The Center celebrated the demise of "tort-reform" with the Illinois
Supreme Court's ruling holding the legislation passed in 1995 unconstitutional.
Center representatives had testified in 1995 against the passage of
the unconstitutional legislation, and this year wrote articles about
how tort "reform" actually worked to "deform" the rights of citizens
to have access to the courts and how this deform takes away the rights
of the people to decide through the time-honored jury system how to
resolve cases involving medical and corporate wrongdoers.
Health Care Reform-
Throughout the year, the Center conducted a variety of
forums on health care. We also supported the work of the Campaign for
Better Health Care and the creation of the Illinois Public Health Advocate,
a new organization designed to increase the people's voice in public
health issues. On July 19th, Dr. Quentin Young, a longstanding advocate
of quality health care for all, and then the President of the American
Public Health Association, was the guest speaker at the Center's fourth
anniversary celebration.
Transportation Policy and Sprawl-
For many years, the Center has been part of regional
efforts to reform transportation policy and to advocate better land
use. In 1998, the Center published several pieces on the tollways, land
use, and public transit reform and has helped citizens organize to protect
farmland, open space, and air quality.
For the first time in Center history, the Center's lawyers
entered an appearance on the defense side of a lawsuit. In October,
the Center was asked to represent the Wayne Community Association, which,
along with the DuPage Forest Preserve and the Village of Wayne, had
been sued by a developer who sought 110 million dollars in damages for
"civil conspiracy" and "tortious interference with business expectancy."
The Association's big offense? They wrote a letter to the Forest Preserve
to seek the preservation of open space and attended a Village meeting
to make the same request. This kind of lawsuit is known as a SLAPP suit,
a strategic lawsuit against public participation. The Community Association's
insurance company wouldn't defend them, so we did. In early 1999, the
Center's lawyers successfully obtained the dismissal with prejudice
of the lawsuit against the Association by arguing that the First Amendment
provides immunity for citizens petitioning the government.
Building Institutions and Community
Resources
The Center seeks to build democracy by fostering civic
discourse and festivals. In 1998, we held poetry parties, a democracy
dinner, participated in the DuPage County Fair, marched in the Fourth
of July parade, and held a fourth year anniversary party.
At our July celebration of the Center, we awarded nine
Citizen Initiative Awards to individuals and organizations who, by their
local efforts, have built and inspired others to build democracy.
Throughout the year, the Center provided information,
meeting space, and legal assistance to dozens of start-up groups and
associations seeking either to incorporate as nonprofits to obtain tax-exempt
status.
In 1998, the Center held a seminar at NYU School of Law
and Columbia School of Law to teach interested law students how to advance
justice in their communities by creating catalytic nonprofits.
The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest conceived
the idea of a community lawyer/advocate at the local level and provided
the founding grants to the Citizen Advocacy Center. The Trust continues
its support to solidify the Center as a resource for the citizenry and
as a model for others interested in advancing justice at the community
level.
The Center's Board of Directors met four times last year,
in April, June, September, and December, to oversee operations of the
Center.
Leadership
and Staff
The 1998 Board of Directors are:
- President: Annina Fabbioli
- Vice-President: Brian Conlon
- Secretary: Jane Andrich
- Treasurer: Theresa Amato
Directors:
- Gordon Goodman
- Patricia Hicks
- Claire Nader
- Andrew Prinz
The Center's Advisory Council meets at least semi-annually.
The Advisory Council Members of 1996-1998:
- Mark Alleyne
- Carol Barton
- William Conrad
- Porus Dadabhoy
- Rita Gonzalez
- Barbara Greenberg
- Joanna Hoelsche
- Ernest Huntzinger
- Joan Levin
- Rita Martin
- Frank Pasqua
- Josh Silverstein
- Thomas Stoesser
The Advisory Council Members of 1998-2000:
- Keith Allen
- John Connell
- Porus Dadabhoy
- John Dil
- James Ekblad
- Gregory Fike
- Rita Gonzalez
- Barbara Greenberg
- Dennis Hamm
- Joanna Hoelscher
- Milt Honel
- Corinne Johnson
- Frank Portillo
- Eleanor Schaack
- Josh Silverstein
- Jeremy Taylor.
Support,
Contributions and Donations
The Center is financially supported by individual donations
and foundation grants. The Center does not accept any government money.
Ongoing foundation support for the Center in 1998
was provided by:
- The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest;
- The Joyce Foundation
- The Woods Fund of Chicago
- The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Additional Revenues were received from:
- Individual Donations
- Legal Fees from the settlement of Quinn v. the City of Chicago
- Citizens Organized for Sound Transportation and their coalition members
- The Public Interest Law Initiative for a summer intern scholarship
Tax compliance services are donated by:
- Ms. Kimberly Lemke and the firm of Andrich, Argo & Associates, Ltd.
CPA's;
- Mr. Charles Grigsby, C.P.A. for our audit.
Banking services are donated by:
Pro Bono advice and legal assistance has come from:
- Public Citizen Litigation Group, Washington, D.C
- The Center for Study of Responsive Law, Washington, D.C
- Mr. Wayne R. Hannah, Jr., Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, Chicago,
IL
- Thomas Geoghegan, Esq., Despres, Schwartz, & Geoghegan
- William E. Jegen, Esq
- Scott L. Mitzner, Ltd.
- Jack L. Uretsky, Esq.
- Charlene LaVoie, Esq., The Office of the Community Lawyer, Winsted,
Connecticut
- Caplin & Drysdale, Washington, D.C
- The Center for Insurance Research and Jason Adkins, Esq., Cambridge,
MA
- Kenneth Shepro, Esq., Altheimer & Gray
- A number of talented and dedicated lawyers throughout the Chicagoland
area.
The Center is also grateful to co-counsel or legal
assistance in several cases, including
- Gessler, Hughes, & Socol
- Jenner & Block
- Michael Latz, Esq.
- Todd Michael Stafford, Esq
- Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
- The Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities
- Soule & Bradtke
- Sheri Tarr, Esq.
- Pat Quinn, Esq.
- Richard Pinner, Esq.
We also thank:
- Bryce Elliot for computer assistance
- John Amato for graphic design
- Lisa Milam-Perez, Esq. for tollway research and writing
- Bob Heuer for transportation research
- John Wasik for editorial assistance
- Angela Zoloto and Regional Superintendent Berardo DeSimone for assistance
with our civic educational program
- YMCA Teen Leaders for their regular assistance
- Citizens' Lobby, the Talk of Illinois
- The Civic Fair Steering Committee
- The Chicago Video Project, including Bruce Orenstein, Christina Timmons,
Eliza Pappas, Ines Sommer, and David Simpson
- Patricia Hicks, Gordon Goodman, Andrew Bendelow, Jim Ekblad, Mike
Goglioti, Tammy Graff, Dennis Hamm, Andrew Prinz, and Frank Portillo
for assistance with our video.
- The Public Interest Law Initiative at DePaul for providing ongoing
support to our summer law student interns
- The National Association of Public Interest Law
- Dr. Quentin D. Young for his speech at our fourth anniversary on July
19
- The NYU School of Law Public Interest Law Center
Hundreds of citizens and organizations support the Center
by providing thousands of volunteer hours. We cannot recognize all of
those many efforts here. However, we thank Tom Wolff and Gilbert Fischer
for building bookcases; Jack Kuhlman, Esq. for law book donations; Jo
and Ray Donaldson, Corinne Johnson, and Rose and John Argo for their
regular volunteer assistance; Barb Greenberg for her work with IMSA
students; Dr. Joseph Amato for computer and office donations; the DuPage
County Law Librarians; and Arne Anderson and Monica Swire for their
seminar on health care.
The Center would like to thank especially Mr. Bruce Roberts
for his daily volunteer efforts since early 1997. A number of businesses
have made contributions to the Center in time, equipment, resources,
computers, printing, and electronic connections. In particular, we thank:
Eclectic Network, Inc., Modern Suburban Graphics; RentCom, Inc. and
Mr. Ron Steinberg, Computer Rental Corporation of America; Glenbard
Graphics, Inc.; Jewel Food Stores; Capital Resources, Inc.; and Baker
Robbins & Company Technology Consultants, Inc.
The Center complies with all record-keeping and filing
requirements mandated by state and federal law. Our corporate records
are available for inspection at our office and on file with the appropriate
State agencies. The Center does not release the names of our individual
donors, nor do we sell our mailing list to other groups.
The Citizen Advocacy Center was staffed in 1998 by:
- Theresa Amato, Esq., executive director;
- Monica Davis, executive assistant;
- Myrrha Guzman, Esq., project coordinator of the DuPage Citizen Corps
- Laura Sullivan, Esq., who was responsible for all legal intake
- Kate Millett, Esq., joined the Center beginning January 1, 1999 to
replace the departure in November 1998 of Myrrha Guzman.
1999 promises to be even more exciting than 1998. If you
want to get involved with the Center's work, please ask about our Time
Donor and Dollar Donor programs. Also, consider writing an article for
the newsletter, "Everyday Democracy," holding a forum on a matter of
public concern, adding someone you know who should be on the mailing
list, or volunteering to help with bulk mail preparation, data entry,
web-site development or other office work.
The Center welcomes donations of time, energy, equipment,
or money. Donations to the Center are tax-deductible as provided by
law. For further information about the Center, please contact us at:
(630) 833-4080 (voice) (630) 833-4083 (fax) cac@essential.org (e-mail)
www.essential.org/cac/ (website*) P.O. Box 420 Elmhurst, IL 60126
*Directions to the Center and monthly Center events are
posted on our web site and publications, including this annual report,
can be downloaded for free.
PUBLICITY
- 7/16 Center To Commemorate Fourth Year Suburban Life Announcement
- 7/17 Citizen Advocacy Center Celebrates Anniversary Chicago Tribune
Announcement
- 8/20 In The News Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Announcement
- 9/30 Talking up a storm Elmhurst Press Announcement
- 10/14 Citizens Organized to Restore Elmhurst Elmhurst Press Announcement
- 10/15 Costs Delay Council's Cable Debut Suburban Life Cable-Casting
Mtgs.
- 10/28 Gow Addresses Local Group About Running For Office Elmhurst
Press Campaigning
- 1/13 Follow The Rules (L.T.E.) Daily Herald CFR
- 1/14 What Do You Call It? (L.T.E.) Kane Co. Chronicle CFR
- 1/29 Center Does IL A 'Big Favor' (L.T.E.) Suburban Life CFR
- 1/8 State Board Owes It To The Public To Hold Hearing On Coughlin
Matter Geneva Republican CFR
- 2/12 Elections Cleanup (L.T.E.) Chicago Tribune CFR
- 7/24 Group Advocates Campaign Finance Reform Elmhurst Press CFR
- 12/1 Group hopes petitions spark campaign financing reform Daily
Herald CFR
- 7/10 Lights Out Elmhurst Press ComEd
- 7/10 ComEd Blackout Plan: Monopoly At Its Worst Chicago Sun Times
ComEd
- 7/27 ComEd Sued Over Rolling Blackout Chicago Tribune ComEd
- 7/9 ComEd Actions An 'Outrage' Suburban Life ComEd
- 11/6 State's Attorney's Office Withdraws From DuPage 7 Civil Lawsuit
Elmhurst Press DuPage 7
- 6/10 Petition Seeks New Attorney For Board In DuPage 7 Case Naperville
Sun DuPage 7
- 6/15 County Needs Legal Advice On Fee Issue Elmhurst Press DuPage
7
- 6/19 Judge Hears Civic Activist's Petition On County Board Adviser
Jegen Elmhurst Press DuPage 7
- 6/5 Cops Defense To Cost Public Chicago Tribune DuPage 7
- 6/5 Activist To County Board: Bring Back Attorney Jegen Elmhurst
Press DuPage 7
- 8/98 Should the People Pay? DuPage 7 Legal Fees DuPage Democrat DuPage
7
- 9/9 Birkett Banned from Fighting Appeals of Fee Payment for 7 Elmhurst
Press DuPage 7
- 8/26 Taxpayer Seeks Special Prosecutor in Cruz Case Rock River Times
DuPage 7
- 9/10 Behind Scenes Struggle Grows in DuPage 7 Case Chicago Daily Law
Bulletin DuPage 7
- 6/5 Defense Of DuPage County 7 Tops $803,000 Daily Herald DuPage 7
- 7/3 New Challenge To Paying Fees For DuPage 7 Chicago Tribune DuPage
7
- 7/3 Activist Files Suit Against State's Attorney Birkett Elmhurst
Press DuPage 7
- 8/21 Activist Asks Court For DuPage 7 Fees Advisor Elmhurst Press
DuPage 7
- 8/24 'Stand-In' Lawyer Again Asked In DuPage County Fees Case Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin DuPage 7
- 5/28 Airport Runway Lawsuit Falls Short Kane County Chronicle DuPage
Airport Citizen Group Touts Whistleblower Act Suburban Life Ethics
- 2/22 A Welcome Reform (L.T.E.) Daily Herald Ethics
- 2/23 Favors Reform Law (L.T.E.) Daily Southtown Ethics
- 2/25 New Bidding Process Assures Accountability Villa Park Review
Ethics
- 3/12 Lawmakers Take A Step Toward 'Good Government' Suburban Life
Ethics
- 3/3Whistleblower Bill Pols' Litmus Test Chicago Defender Ethics
- 4/15 Who Will Judge The Judges? (L.T.E.) Elmhurst Press Ethics
- 4/17 Act A No-Go Darien Progress Ethics 4/18 Judicial Ethics (L.T.E.)
Daily Southtown Ethics
- 4/3 Laws Protect Residents Who Speak Out Elmhurst Press Ethics
- 6/12 Law Strikes Negative Note From 'Whistleblower' Title Northwest
Herald Ethic
- 6/21 Local Governments Urged To Protect Whistleblowers The Sun Ethics
- 7/23 Others Should Follow York's Lead Suburban Life Ethics
- 8/26 It's A Question Of Ethics For City Council Elmhurst Press Ethics
- 10/27 Plano Mayor Relents, Allows Track Discussion Beacon News First
Amendment
- 10/28 Meeting To Discuss Criticized HH Policy Times FOIA
- 10/31 Watchdog Group: Consultant Billed 2 Times For Same Expenses
Beacon News FOIA
- 2/19 Freedom Of Information Act Represents Power For Citizens (L.T.E.)
Suburban Life FOIA
- 3/16 Law Lets Us In On What Government Is Up To (L.T.E.) Chicago
Sun-Times FOIA
- 3/25 Never Underestimate Power Of FOI Act (L.T.E.) Elmhurst Press
FOIA
- 4/8 Questions Linger Over HH Policy Times FOIA
- 7/8 Your Right To Know Elmhurst Press FOIA
- 1/21 Applause Prompts Mayor To Clamp Down Elmhurst Press Free Speech
- 4/29 District 205 Looks To Lighten Up On Participation Policy Elmhurst
Press Free Speech
- 7/24 Yelling Permitted Under 1st Amendment Elmhurst Press Free Speech
March/April Board Of Education-District 205 LWV Observer Reports Free
Speech
- 4/23 Health Care To Be Topic Of A Panel Discussion Suburban Life
Health
- 5/6 Insurance Bill Would Rip Off Policyholders Chicago Sun-Times
Insurance
- 5/6 Call Now Before It's Too Late (L.T.E.) Mackay Enterprises Insurance
- 5/8 Insurance Companies Pulling A Fast One (L.T.E.) Elmhurst Press
Insurance Jan/Feb Discuss The Future Of Your World: Participate In Choices
For The 21st Century Fine Print: Elmhurst Public Library's Newsletter
International
- 4/30 Aurora Academy Displays Research Chicago Tribune Interns
- 10/14-20 Myrrha Guzman, Editorial Rock River Times Judicial Reform
- 10/29 Citizens Should Be Part Of Judicial Oversight Suburban Life
Judicial Reform
- 10/30 Ensuring Justice Chicago Tribune Judicial Reform
- 10/9 Illinois Judicial System Needs Reform Elmhurst Press Judicial
Reform
- 8/20 Speaker phone policy put on hold Suburban Life Open Meetings
- 12/9 Lawyers disagree after meeting about HH disclosure policy Harwood
Heights Times Open Meetings
- 1/27 Council To Consider Televising Meetings Chicago Tribune Participation
- 3/27 The Party Line-Open Voter Records Draw Fire Elmhurst Press Participation
- 3/30 Citizens Face Obstructions To Democracy Liberal Opinion Week
Participation
- 3/9 Vicious Editorial (L.T.E.) Northwest Herald Participation
- 4/10 Local Tyrannies Killing Democracy Oklahoma Observer Participation
- 4/22 Council Adopts 1998-99 Budget Elmhurst Press Participation
- 4/24 Tune Into Families, Not The Television (L.T.E.) Elmhurst Press
Participation
- 4/5 Speaker To Address Your Right To Vote Chicago Tribune Participation
- 5/14 Television Taking Away Community Connections (L.T.E.) Suburban
Life Participation
- 6/1 Upsizing Downsized Americans The Washington Spectator Participation
- 9/30 Talking Up A Storm Elmhurst Press Speakers' Bureau
- 8/28 Criticize NIMBYS? Not In My Backyard (L.T.E.) Press Publications
Suburban Develop
- 4/30 Try To Limit TV Time Daily Herald Television
- 5/14 TV Taking Away Community Connections Suburban Life Television
- 9/4 Lower the Speed Limit at Meetings (LT.E.) Press Publications
Television
- 11/11 Citizens Organized To Restore Elmhurst Press Publications TIF
- 11/12 TIF And Reform Legislation Chicago Tribune TIF
- 7/17 Double-Edged Sword Chicago Sun-Times TIF
- 7/29 CAC To Watch Ovaltine/Lincoln Property Proceedings Villa Park
Review TIF
- 2/18 City Oks Shopping Center Financing Package Elmhurst Press TIF
Elmhurst
- 1/23 Elmhurst's Plans Pose Too Many Questions, Not Enough Answers
(L.T.E.) Elmhurst Press TIF Elmhurst
- 1/9 Some Making A Big Deal Over Federal's Proposal Elmhurst Press
TIF Elmhurst
- 2/16 Elmhurst Council Faces Vote On Garage Chicago Tribune TIF Elmhurst
- 2/5 $21 Million Loan Vote Could Be Monday Suburban Life TIF Elmhurst
- 10/14 Citizens Organized To Restore Elmhurst Chicago Sun-Times Tollway
- 10/16 Complaints Halt Work On Deerfield Exit Ramp Chicago Sun-Times
Tollway
- 12/16 Reformers seek an end to toll roads in Illinois Elmhurst Press
Tollway
- 12/17 Group puts tea in tollway protest Daily Herald Tollway
- 12/17 Critics call for changes at tollway authority Chicago Tribune
Tollway
- 12/17 Groups take on toll authority Daily Southtown Tollway
- 12/17 Protesters call tollways an unfair form of taxation Daily Herald
Tollway
- 12/18 Opponents give their 2 cents worth on toll roads' problems Elmhurst
Press Tollway
- 12/18 Cut tolls, implement reform, group says Chicago Sun-Times Tollway
- 3/19 The Real Players In Tort Reform (Voice Of The People) Chicago
Tribune Tort Reform
- 3/8 Tort Reform's Well-Deserved Demise (Voice Of The People) Chicago
Tribune Tort Reform
- 12/7 Vicious transit cycle The Beacon News Transportation
|
--HOME
--