CHICAGO—State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to 79 people being shot in Chicago over the July 4^th weekend, including two children:

“We should not have to live in a society where our young people, or anyone for that matter, have to fear for their safety.

“As a community, we must stand together to ensure that we are protecting our young people and providing the resources to make sure that individuals are held accountable.

“The safest areas aren’t the communities with the most police. The safest communities are the ones with the most resources. Where you find under-resourced communities is typically where you see the gun violence happening.

“I plan to work with residents and leaders on all levels to increase investments and work to stop the rampant gun violence in our communities.”

SPRINGFIELD – To celebrate 155 years of emancipation and encourage accurate representation of all Illinois communities, State Senator Elgie R. Sims (D-Chicago) urges African Americans to respond to the 2020 Census on Black Census Day.

“It’s no accident that Black Census Day falls on Juneteenth this year. Both are opportunities for us to stand united and amplify black voices,” Sims said. “It is so important to make sure that black communities are counted to help close funding gaps and provide desperately needed resources to African Americans throughout Illinois.”

Statewide census director Marishonta Wilkerson and the Illinois Department of Human Services have declared Friday, June 19, Black Census Day to encourage African Americans to respond to the census.

With census outreach hampered by the COVID-19 outbreak, the state is facing a lagging 66% response rate. Disadvantaged communities are historically hard-to-count populations, meaning that response rates in those areas are likely even lower.

“Filling out our census surveys is one way to create change in our communities by ensuring we have fair representation and funding for schools, roads, hospitals and more,” Sims said. “I urge everyone to be counted, and make sure your loved ones are as well.”

The fastest way to respond to the census is by filling it out online at my2020census.gov. However, individuals can also respond over the phone or by filling out the form they receive in the mail.

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the governor signed the budget on Wednesday:

“My colleagues and I went back to Springfield with the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic heavy on our shoulders. We strived to pass a budget that would maintain our core services while also directing resources to help communities and businesses who have been devastated as a result of the virus.

“This budget does exactly that by preserving P-12 education with a $12.6 billion investment.

“We are using funds from the CARES Act stimulus package to provide more resources to communities who are struggling during the pandemic. That includes $100 million in housing assistance and $636 million in business interruption grants.

“And to protect our communities during this health crisis, $1 billion dollars will go to our local and state health departments.

“The budget was extremely difficult to craft in these unprecedented times, but I believe it will provide desperately needed relief to communities as we continue on a path toward recovery.”

Senate Bill 264 takes effect July 1.