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Citizen Advocacy Center 2004 Annual
Report
The Citizen Advocacy Center proudly celebrated our tenth anniversary
in 2004. The Center forged ahead in our mission to build democracy with
the assistance of volunteer community lawyers, student volunteers, advisory
council members, board members and staff. In 2004, the Center helped
more citizens organize community campaigns than ever before, expanded
our youth civic education program, spearheaded a public Illinois State
Toll Highway Authority Accountability Campaign, mentored more than a
dozen students, answered hundreds of public inquiries, created new educational
brochures, and held public forums where more than 200 people were in
attendance. The Center also appeared in more than 120 media outlets
in 2004.
The Center's four major initiatives include:
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Public Education and Building Citizen Capacity
The Citizen Advocacy Center is a resource for civic information. In
2004 our community lawyers empowered citizens to create active democratic
communities through learning how to use civic tools such as the Freedom
of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. Moreover, the Center's
staff and volunteers enabled citizen participation in local affairs,
regardless of the subject matter or the point of view of those making
the inquiry.
Answering Public Inquiries
Center community lawyers, voluntary community lawyers, and interns
answered more than 250 questions from concerned citizens on matters
of public concern. The following are examples of questions regularly
asked:
- How does a community group put a home rule referendum on the ballot?
- How does an individual enforce a Freedom of Information Act request
that has been denied?
- How is a tax increment financing district extended?
- When a clerk uses a personal tape to record public meetings, can that
tape be the subject of a Freedom of Information Act request?
- What is the difference between a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization?
- When do public officials have to file financial disclosure statements?
and
- Can one person hold two public positions?
Community Presentations
The Center hosted, planned, spoke at or participated in presentations
to civic groups and schools across Chicagoland. The following list
of activities does not include the Center's regular participation
in public body meetings:
January
- Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois (Elmhurst, January 15)
- York Community High School In-Service (Elmhurst, January 23)
- DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church (Naperville, January 25)
- Northern District of IL. Lutheran Church: Identity Theft Presentation
(Hillside, January 25)
- CAC Evening Program: Television Broadcaster's Impact On Elections
(Elmhurst, January 27)
- Indian Plains High School (Naperville, January 30)
February
- Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois (Elmhurst, February 3)
- Elmhurst Community Group Meeting (Elmhurst, February 3)
- CAC Program: Democracy in Action Workshop (Elmhurst, February 11)
- Judicial Reform Coalition (Chicago, February 11)
- Addison Trail High School Peace Group (Elmhurst, February 11)
- TV Turn-off Week (Elmhurst, February 19)
- Midwest Public Interest Fair (Chicago, February 21)
- TV Turn-off Week (Elmhurst, February 23)
- York Community High School (Elmhurst, February 24)
- York Community High School (Elmhurst, February 25)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: New Campaign Finance Laws (Elmhurst, February
26)
March
- Lake County Community College (Libertyville, March 10)
- York Community High School (Elmhurst, March 11)
- Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois (Elmhurst, March 11)
- Elmhurst Community Meeting (Elmhurst, March 12)
- Illinois Bar Foundation (Elmhurst, March 15)
- CAC Evening Program: Backdoor Referendums and Tax Increment Financing
Districts (Elmhurst, March18)
- DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church (Naperville, March 21)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Amending the U.S. Constitution (Elmhurst, March
25)
April
- Community Presentation (Richmond, April 1)
- Leaf River Community Presentation (Leaf River, April 3)
- Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois (Elmhurst, April 8)
- Elmhurst Unites (Elmhurst, April 13)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Media Influence on Election (Elmhurst, April
20)
- Elmhurst Senior Fair (Elmhurst, April 24)
- CAC Evening Program: Identity Theft (Elmhurst, April 27)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Medicare Reform (Elmhurst, April 29)
May
- Tollway Accountability Campaign (Long Grove, May 7)
- Heartland International Visitors (Elmhurst, May10)
- Community Presentation: Bloomingdale Township Democrats (Elmhurst,
May 11)
- Broadcaster Accountability Project (Chicago, May 12)
- Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois (Elmhurst, May 13)
- CAC Evening Program: Tax Increment Financing Districts (Elmhurst,
May 18)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Inspiration to Activism: Granny D (Elmhurst,
May 27)
June
- Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce (Elmhurst, June 2)
- Tollway Accountability Campaign (Elmhurst, June 15)
- Citizen Advocacy Center Tenth Anniversary Celebration (Bensenville,
June 18)
- Community Presentation, DuPage County Democrats (Wheaton, June 23)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Corporate Profiteering (Elmhurst, June 25)
- CAC Evening Program: Home Rule and You (Elmhurst, June 29)
July
- Westwood College Student Visit (Elmhurst, July 6)
- Westwood College (Chicago, July 8)
- Save Leaf River Community Meeting (Leaf River, July 8)
- CAC Brown Bag Lunch: Campaign Finance Reform (Elmhurst, July 9)
- CAC Democracy Day Summer Intern Presentation (Elmhurst, July 22)
- Center for Independent Living, Identity Theft Presentation (Glen Ellyn,
July 25)
August
- Chicago Tribune News and Education Fair (Chicago, August 8)
- CAC Evening Program: No Child Left Behind (Elmhurst, August 19)
- Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce, Citizen Advocacy Center Ribbon Cutting
(Elmhurst, August 20)
- DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, Task Force for Social Justice
Presentation (Naperville, August 22)
September
- CAC Press Conference: Center Wins Open Meetings Act Appeal (Elmhurst,
September 9)
- League of Women Voters, DuPage County Election Commission Presentation
(Elmhurst, September 13)
- Tollway Accountability Campaign Press Conference (Chicago, September
14)
- CAC Appearance, FOX Morning News Show, Tollway (Chicago, September
15)
- CAC Appearance, Craig Delamore's "At Issue," Tollway (Chicago, September
16)
- Lambs Farm Downs Syndrome Walk (Libertyville, September 19)
- DuPage County Board Technology Committee Meeting (Elmhurst, September
21)
- CAC Appearance, Phil Ponce, Chicago Tonight, CH 11, Tollway (Chicago,
September 22)
- NO TOLLS, Inc. (Elmhurst, September 28)
- Tollway Accountability Campaign Press Conference (Downers Grove, September
30)
- York Community High School (Elmhurst, September 30)
October
- Chicago Area Law School Consortium (Chicago, October 6)
- Brown Bag Lunch: New Campaign Finance Laws (Elmhurst, October 7)
- Downers Grove Watch Home Rule Presentation (Downers Grove, October
9)
- Courtney Language Arts School (Chicago, October 13)
- CAC Evening Program: PATRIOT ACTS: The Movie (Elmhurst, October 15)
- Elmhurst Unites Organizing Meeting (Elmhurst, October 24)
- Downers Grove South High School, Constitution Day (Downers Grove,
October 26)
November
- Oakview Elementary (Bolingbrook, November 4)
- Indian Plaines High School (Naperville, November 4)
- CAC Board/ Staff Retreat (Elmhurst, November 13)
December
- Democracy In Action Workshop, (Elmhurst, December 2)
- Citizen Initiative Awards, Holiday Cheer Party (Elmhurst, December
6)
- CAC Tollway Tea Party (Downers Grove, December 16)
- Freedom Rings Radio Program (Elgin, December 20)
Youth Civic Education
The Civic Empowerment Zone is a Center program that supports youth
organizing efforts and provides innovative teacher resources to effectively
promote active community participation among youth.
As part of the Civic Empowerment Zone, the Center created 40 cross
curriculum lesson plans for high school and middle school teachers.
All lesson plans meet Illinois State Learning Standards and Goals,
and transform students' communities into a "civics lab." The Center
also provides free community lawyers who visit schools to help teachers
facilitate lessons, conduct in-service trainings, or provide teachers
with consultation in how to develop civically engaging curriculum.
The following lesson plans are available at the Center or on our
website at http://www.citizenadvocacycenter.org/teacher%20lesplns.htm
- Active Use of the First Amendment
- Affirmative Action
- Balancing the Budget: The Budget Game
- Basic Legal Research
- Bill of Rights
- Campaign Finance Reform
- Civic Rights Post 9/11
- Class Actions
- Domestic Terrorism
- Fifth Amendment: Protection Through Procedure
- First Amendment Unit
- Fitness Plan for Democracy
- Fourth Amendment: Search and Seizure
- Freedom of Information Act
- How A Bill Becomes a Law
- Introduction to Active Citizenship
- Jury Duty
- Jury Selection and Voir Dire
- Making a Difference: What is a citizen and what can citizens do
- Music Censorship and the First Amendment
- Open Meetings Act
- Personal Financial Information: Protection Privacy
- Politics and the Media Post 9/11
- Due Process: The USA PATRIOT Act
- The Death Penalty
- The Illinois Ethics Act
- The Preamble to the Constitution
- Voter Disenfranchisement
- Voting Systems: What is Fair?
- Who Represents You?
- Young Citizens and Media Access
- Young Citizens and Television Broadcasters
- Young Voters
- Youth Movements
Center representatives also participated in the Chicago Tribune News
and Education Fair where community lawyers facilitated a workshop
with more than 200 teachers regarding youth civic engagement. In addition
to teacher in-services, the Center visited with more than 500 youth
from the following schools:
- York Community High School
- Indian Plains High School
- Addison Trail High School
- Lake County Community College
- Courtney Language Arts School
- Downers Grove South High School
- Indian Plains High School
Student Internships & Volunteers
The Center introduced the concept of community lawyering and advocacy
to future lawyers at the following career fairs:
- Midwest Public Interest Career Fair
- University of Illinois Law School Public Interest Career Panel
- Chicago Law School Consortium
Student Representation
The Center has a large internship program where students, supervised
by community lawyers, work on a variety of local government and public
policy projects. In 2004, student projects included: surveying how
municipalities use their websites to convey information about the
Freedom of Information Act, analyzing tax increment financing districts,
researching voting safeguards in DuPage County, analyzing the USA
PATRIOT Act, and researching numerous issues related to home rule.
The Center hosted students from the following schools in 2004:
- York High School
- Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law
- Northern Illinois Univ. School of Law
- Univ. of Southern California School of Law
- Univ. of Illinois School of Law
- Loyola Univ. School of Law
- Univ. of Chicago
- Howard Univ.
Summer interns created or updated the following free informational
brochures. More than fifteen others are available at the Center and
on-line
- Home Rule & You (New!)
- Guide to the Help America Vote Act (New!)
- A Guide to the Illinois Open Meetings Act (New!)
- A Guide to Electronic Voting (New!)
- DuPage Election Commission (Revised)
The Open Forum: The Center is the home of
the Open Forum. Open Forums are Evening Programs, Brown Bag Lunches,
and Democracy Workshops sponsored by the Center to stimulate community
discussion and awareness on issues of public significance. In 2004,
the Center hosted the following programs:
- Television Broadcaster's Impact On Elections
- New Campaign Finance Laws
- Backdoor Referendums and Tax Increment Financing Districts
- Amending the U.S. Constitution
- Media Influence on Elections
- Identity Theft Medicare Reform
- Tax Increment Financing Districts
- Inspiration to Activism: Granny D
- Corporate Profiteering
- Home Rule and You
- Campaign Finance Reform
- No Child Left Behind
- PATRIOT ACTS: the movie
- Citizen Initiative Awards & Holiday Cheer Party
Democracy Workshops: The Center held two Democracy Workshops
to teach citizens and community groups how to become engaged and informed
citizens. Participants learned:
- Who representatives are at every level of government and how to
write a letter to the editor and your representatives;
- How to use the Freedom of Information Act;
- How to use the Open Meetings Act;
- How a city ordinance is passed, how a bill becomes a law and basic
legal research;
- How to use the media to promote a cause; and
- How to build coalitions.
Everyday Democracy
The Center published four issues of our newsletter, Everyday Democracy,
during 2004. Citizens, student interns, and community lawyers contributed
editorial content. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall editions can be read
at: http://www.citizenadvocacycenter.org/newslet2004.htm
Government and Corporate Accountability and the Development
of Systemic Democratic Protocols
The Citizen Advocacy Center responds to citizen inquiries and monitors
local governments to confront undemocratic practices such as failing
to conduct a proper search for public information, discriminating against
targeted communities, ignoring clear conflicts of interest, disbursing
taxpayer funds for improper public purposes, and stifling constitutionally
protected speech. The following summary is an example of issues the
Center was an advocate for:
The Freedom of Information Act Government Survey
In 2004, the Center studied how public bodies use their websites to
provide the public with access to public documents through the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA). Center interns surveyed 170 municipalities
in DuPage and Cook County, as well as the two County websites. Although
most public bodies had a website, a vast majority failed to mention
the FOIA or only referred to it by name. At the time, the two largest
counties in the state (Cook and DuPage) did not provide even minimal
information about the Act, downloadable request forms, or online request
forms. Of the 56 municipalities that had request forms, only seven offered
substantive information about the Act, or information regarding how
to make a FOIA request, or enforce citizen rights if a request is denied.
The Center's study also included reasonable recommendations for reform.
The Center's study was covered in the Chicago Tribune, several local
papers, and by two Chicagoland radio stations. Our efforts made a difference:
the City of Chicago revised their website, DuPage County immediately
posted substantive information about the Act and downloadable request
forms, and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission contacted the
Center to indicate support for our recommendations.
Ethics Reform at the Local Level
The Center was part of a coalition that worked for three years to pass
landmark ethics reform legislation in Illinois that applied to state
and local government. In 2004, the Center focused our efforts on making
local governments more accountable to the citizens. Although not required
at the local government level, ethics commissions are a key component
to making the legislation effective. The Center advocated at the DuPage
County Board, the City of Elmhurst, and the City of Oak Brook for a
revision of ethics ordinances to include a strong ethics commission.
Tax Increment Financing Study
Often times, municipal leaders praise the benefits of TIFs while not
explaining to taxpayers where TIF monies come from. The Center analyzed
the manner in which property taxes are calculated depending on whether
a tax increment financing district is present, and documented the increased
tax rate in property taxes due to TIFs. The Center's study showed that
taxpayer's pay more because of TIFs. In 2005, the Center is going to
create a "TIF Tax Tool Kit" so any person who pays property tax in a
municipality with a tax increment financing district can determine their
community's hidden TIF tax.
Issue Advocacy and Litigation
The Center researched and raised citizen awareness on many issues of
public significance in 2004 and offered systemic solutions for reform.
Center lawyers emphasize non-litigatory approaches to using the law
to strengthen the democratic process. Only as a last resort, and on
behalf of select citizen causes, does the Center use litigation to challenge
abuses of power and to remove systemic barriers that impair citizen
access to local government.
Open Meetings Act Litigation
The Center filed a complaint against the DuPage County Board alleging
a violation of the Open Meetings Act when the County Board voted on
a Resolution to endorse O'Hare expansion without placing the item on
the agenda. Although dismissed by the Circuit Court, the Appellate Court
unanimously reinstated the case in 2004. In its opinion, the Appellate
Court stated that a valid question regarding a violation of the Open
Meetings Act was present, and that, " …a public body may deliberate
or discuss items not specifically posted on the meeting agenda. However,
they may not act upon or vote upon such items." The Center has received
regional attention for this case because this is a new area of law.
Failing to place on a public body agenda an item that a public body
intends to vote on, denies the public proper notice of public business
to be conducted, and an opportunity to participate in public meetings.
Reform of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) approved a $5.3 billion
plan to expand the tollway system, extend I-355, and raise tolls 100%
on cash users. Despite taking two years to develop the plan, the ISTHA
provided less than one month for public comment. The Center aggressively
spoke out against the plan, highlighting issues such as: the lack of
accountability to taxpayers, building I-355 prior to fixing the current
system, the lack of fair share in the toll increase, and poor public
notice prior to the toll hike. The Center's work to hold the ISTHA accountable
gained the attention of State Representative Pritchard who introduced
a Tollway Accountability bill calling on members of the General Assembly
to vote on the toll increase, and earned the Center appearances on the
Fox Morning News Show, WBBM's "At Issue", WTTW's "Chicago Tonight",
ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, WBEZ, and CLTV.
DuPage County and Home Rule
Home rule allows a municipality or county to tax, spend, and regulate
beyond state statutory limits. Cook County is the only home rule county
in Illinois, and DuPage County has been trying to obtain home rule status
since the Illinois General Assembly created home rule in 1970. Revisiting
the issue once again, the DuPage County Board formed a committee that
invited experts to give presentations regarding home rule and held countywide
public hearings. The committee failed to issue a definitive report to
the County Board, however, several County Board members believe that
a countywide referendum declaring the County home rule is unnecessary.
The Center has aggressively advocated through public comment, letters
to the editor, and public forums that the question of home rule is one
for the citizenry of DuPage County.
Building Institutions and Community Resources
The Center fostered civic discourse and helped individuals and local
community groups advocate and organize community campaigns. The Center
participated in local events and provided technical assistance and guest
speakers. In 2004, the Center continued to aid citizens in promoting
systemic change and recognized the contributions of others.
Tenth Anniversary Celebration: In celebration
of our 10th Anniversary, the Center presented Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
with our Building Democracy Award. This award recognized Lt. Governor
Pat Quinn for his ongoing commitment to making government more accountable
to the people, promoting individual and community efforts to resolve
societal problems, furthering the public's understanding of democratic
protocols, stimulating citizen awareness and involvement on community
issues, helping citizens act on issues of public significance and sustaining
access to justice.
Citizen Initiative Awards: Citizen Initiative
Awards recognize individuals in the community who have built democracy
in their community, and by their actions inspired others to become active
community participants. The 2004 recipients were: Mr. Bob Brown (Warrenville),
Mr. Bill Huley (Palatine), Ms. Katie Padberg (Elmhurst), the York High
School Social Studies Department (Elmhurst), DuPage Against War Now
(Glen Ellyn), and Ms. Valerie Powley (Libertyville)
Democracy Day: Annually, summer interns host
a program presenting their summer projects to the community, our Board
of Directors and our Advisory Council. Everyday Democracy
Cable Program Produced by the Center: ·
Television Broadcaster's Impact on Elections · CAC Summer Interns Building
Democracy
Free Meeting Space: The Center provided free
meeting space to community groups to hold meetings and town hall forums.
No Tolls and Pan Can Team Hope - Northern Illinois met regularly at
the Center.
Building International Coalitions: The
Center continued to build democracy internationally by hosting international
visitors who are working to build international coalitions and democracy
in their own country. Visitors from Morocco met with Center staff and
volunteers to consult on a broad range of subjects such as media relations,
grassroots organizing, and effective coalition building.
Leadership and Staff
2004 Board of Directors: President: Theresa Amato Vice-President:
Barbara Greenberg Secretary: Gordon Goodman Treasurer: James Ekblad
Directors: Keith Allen Brian Conlon Steve De La Rosa Patricia Hicks
Milt Honel Claire Nader Andrew Prinz Josh Silverstein The Board of Directors
meets quarterly.
2004 Advisory Council Members: Porus Dadabhoy, Matthew DuPree, Rita
Gonzalez, Myrrha Guzman, Corinne Johnson, Kate Millett, Scott Mitzner,
Ellen Raymond, Ken Learner, David Pezza, and Marcia DeLaRosa. The Center's
Advisory Council meets semi-annually.
2004 Staff: Ms. Eddi Feret, Office Manager Ms. Sarah Klaper, Esq.,
Community Lawyer Ms. Terry Pastika, Esq., Executive Director/Community
Lawyer
Support, Contributions and Donations
The Center is financially supported by individual donations and foundation
grants. The Center does not accept government or corporate money.
Foundation support in 2004 was provided by:
- Alphawood Foundation
- The Byrd Foundation
- The Illinois Bar Foundation
- The National Freedom of Information Coalition
- The McCormick Tribune Foundation
- The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest
Additional revenues were received from: Individual Donations
-
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
-
Banking services are donated by: · Cole Taylor Bank
-
We also thank: · Ms. Jill Dressner, Esq. for her hundreds of hours
of Pro Bono work · Mr. Chris Paluch, Esq. for his daily Pro Bono legal
and computer assistance
Thank you to the 2004 Summer Interns: Ms. Vanessa Dick, Mr. Ati Khatri,
Mr. Hubert Lee, Ms. Dominique Scott, Ms. Susan Stone, Ms. Heather
Wier, and Ms. Bryna Williams
Many volunteers donate their generous time to the Center. We cannot
recognize all of those efforts here, however, we thank Corinne Johnson
and Jerry Miller for their regular volunteer assistance.
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 are on file with the appropriate
State agencies.
The Center does not release the names of all of our individual donors
nor do we sell our mailing list to other groups. The individuals listed
in our Annual Report have agreed to be recognized.
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