Progress Through Partnership
E-Newsletter for members and friends of Chicago Appleseed
and the Chicago Council of Lawyers

July 2007

In this e-Newsletter:

A First Step Toward Eliminating Rogue Cops
 A policy statement from the Executive Director

CCL no wordsThe bulk of complaints filed by the public against the Chicago police force are directed against five percent of Chicago police officers. Yet for decades the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) has done virtually nothing to rid the police force of these rogue cops. On July 19th, the Chicago City Council and Mayor Daley took the first step toward stopping the abuse. The City Council passed an ordinance overhauling OPS and the Mayor appointed a California lawyer, Ilana Rosenzweig, to head the new agency.

The passage of the ordinance and the appointment of Ms. Rosenzweig represent a first step that must be the beginning of a substantial change in the way police are disciplined. The implementation of the new agency must be transparent so that the public will gain confidence in the new system. There must be follow-through with the powers that the new agency has been given so that rogue cops are given appropriate discipline. There must be reporting to the public of the actions of the new agency so that the public will see for themselves whether the new agency is more effective than its predecessor. There must be an expansion of the definition of the term "coercion" as it is used to define what kind of complaints the new agency will investigate - an issue that is to be considered by the City Council in September.

Prior to the passage of the ordinance, the Chicago Council of Lawyers published in this e-newsletter and distributed to the media and members of the City Council a policy statement that listed and described five provisions that we wanted to see included in the ordinance. This policy statement followed a forum on police discipline that we co-sponsored with the American Constitution Society (Chicago) and discussions we had with Corporation Counsel Mara Georges and with other public interest organizations and agencies, such as the Cook County Public Defender's Office and Citizens Alert. Many of our suggestions found their way into the ordinance; some did not. It is time to move forward and implement the tools that we have in a way that is prompt, effective, and fair.

The Chicago Council of Lawyers will be monitoring and commenting upon this effort in the coming months. Whether this new ordinance and appointment of a new agency head represent the beginning of real change or mere window dressing will become evident in the coming months. These new efforts deserve a chance to succeed.

Malcolm C. Rich
Executive Director
Chicago Council of Lawyers

 

Long-term Solutions for NCLB Must Include Parental Involvement
 A letter to the Editor of the Chicago Tribune

caffj no wordsStrengthening the No Child Left Behind Act with tighter restrictions and increased accountability might seem like a good fix for the short-term, but any long-term solution to narrowing the achievement gap must focus on involving parents and families in their children's education. All too often parental involvement is restricted to helping with homework or attending school events. However, decades of research have proven that the inclusion of parents and families in key decisions about school programs is crucial to raising the academic performance of students, particularly in poor and minority communities. Unfortunately, the current NCLB legislation provides neither adequate guidance nor technical assistance to make effective parental involvement a reality across all school districts. If NCLB is to be renewed this summer, it is imperative that policymakers recognize parental involvement as a meaningful investment of time and resources and prioritize the establishment of partnership agreements between schools, families, and the community that allow all voices to be heard.

Mary Anderson
President, Board of Directors
Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice

Council Vice President Named "Faculty Member of the Year"
 Daniel T. Coyne receives award from Chicago-Kent law students

CCL no wordsAfter his nomination by a student, the Chicago-Kent Student Bar Association named Daniel T. Coyne "Faculty Member of the Year" during the school's Law Week in late March. This is a distinct honor, as the award is given on behalf of the student body.

Third year law student Sarah Williams praised Professor Coyne for his demeanor in the classroom and the courtroom: "Professor Coyne is respected by all his colleagues, from the state's attorneys to the judges. He takes the hardest cases and then shows all involved how to handle those cases with dignity and class. In the courtroom, he is a masterful technician. Outside the courtroom, he devotes his time to serving his clients and instructing his students. Professor Coyne is dedicated to the improvement of the law - from instructing future attorneys to evaluating local judges for retention."

At the Council and Chicago Appleseed, we certainly agree! Congratulations, Dan, on such a well- deserved honor!

Double Your Donation With A Matching Gift!
 Does your employer match charitable contributions?

caffj no wordsMany Chicago Appleseed supporters are finding that they can make their donation dollars go further with a matching gift from their employer.

 

 

Chicago-area matching gift companies include:

Abbott Laboratories
Allstate Insurance Company
Harris Bank
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP
McDonald's Corporation
Northern Trust Corporation
Sara Lee Corporation

Does your company have a matching gift program? Check with your Human Resources department to find out.

Have questions about how you can give to Chicago Appleseed? Contact Amanda Grant at 312-988- 6599.

Every contribution matters, and we appreciate your support!

To make a donation online, visit our "Donate/Volunteer" page.