CHICAGO – State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas and State Senator Omar Aquino joined leaders this morning to demand a swift and meaningful response from the federal government to Hurricane Fiona and to call attention to the structural inequities that leave Puerto Rico vulnerable to catastrophic destruction in the aftermath of disasters fueled by climate change.

“The health and safety of Puerto Ricans cannot continue to be ignored by those with power to assign significant resources,” said Senator Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “Five years after our pleas were ignored following Hurricane Maria, we cannot standby idly for the federal government to mobilize and act with urgency while our community is in crisis. Instead, we take action today to provide immediate relief to households in Puerto Rico, and to publicly demand that the government take concrete steps to for long-term recovery on the island to rebuild a more resilient Puerto Rico using sustainable energy sources.

On September 18, the entire island of Puerto Rico lost power when Hurricane Fiona hit, bringing violent winds, heavy rain, catastrophic flooding and landslides to the island. In many areas, rainfall and flooding greatly exceeded that of Hurricane Maria, causing many to lose everything. LUMA Energy, the main source of power on Puerto Rico, stated it will take days to get the power back up to all residents but unfortunately they have not provided consistent service since the beginning of their contract. This is deeply troubling for members of the Puerto Rican diaspora, as many folks on the island will not have access to food, water, basic sanitation needs, and their ability to connect to family or work for as long as they are without power.

The foundational needs of Puerto Ricans, such as power, clean water, or supplies, have historically been overlooked, leading to unnecessarily long periods of recovery. Whether preparing for, responding to, or disbursing funds to rebuild after a hurricane, the federal government has historically prolonged its initiatives to provide relief that is desperately needed and, in many cases, resulted in the loss of human life and widespread health and safety concerns for residents.

Hurricane Fiona has come at the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which added to the existing physical and economic devastation on the island. Despite immediate aid from the Puerto Rican Agenda, thousands of people in Puerto Rico have not yet recovered from Maria, living in damaged homes or under blue tarps. Remembering the difficulties they faced five years ago, many folks in Puerto Rico are fearful not only of their safety during the storm, but for the recovery period that will likely be drawn out unless there is a more efficient and prioritized federal response. 

“Myself and so many in my community are devastated as we see the damage and injuries facing Puerto Ricans,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “Today, we are calling on government leaders to take a firm stand in support of Puerto Ricans, and to work with local community leaders on the next steps towards recovery and infrastructure repair.”

Today we stand with The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago in demanding an effective and prioritized response from the federal government that will not only provide immediate relief for residents, but also address the lingering structural, governmental obstacles that undermine Puerto Rico’s ability to recover and rebound from the adverse impact of climate change. For more information on their goals, click here.

It has been a very eventful month! From school starting back up, district events, and attending a conference on Early Childhood Education, it has been great to be out in the community and learning new ideas from my colleagues and constituents that I can’t wait to take action on in the upcoming veto session.

Read on for some upcoming district events, job and scholarship opportunities, and to hear about what I’ve been up to in the district and beyond! 

As always, feel free reach out to my office for assistance by calling 773-278-2020, sending a text message to 773-207-7838, or sending us a note at www.senatorpacionezayas.com/contact-us.

Sincerely,

State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas | 20th District

Response to immigrants arriving in Chicago from Texas and Gov. Abbott’s inhumane actions

On August 31^st, a group of immigrants from Venezuela arrived in Chicago after they were “shipped out” on buses by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

I am proud that my state, Illinois, and my city, Chicago, continue to be the most welcoming places in the nation to our immigrant siblings. We welcome the newcomers as we work to deploy resources to support them in both the immediate and long term.

My community already took action. Chicago is the soul of our nation, a place built by the strength and contributions of people from all corners of the globe. A temporary shelter was staffed through the night by trusted partners including Rincon Family Services, Family Focus, and Onward Neighborhood House who support immigrants year-round through state funded Welcoming Centers. Many other local partners are mobilizing to ensure we can offer resources they need to settle and thrive in our community.

Also, I condemn Abbott’s lack of humanity with his approach to immigration. Our actions and/or the lack thereof reflect upon one’s character. The Governor of Texas has clearly failed this test.

Instead of using refugees as political pawns, our city and state choose to respond to our challenges with compassion and humanity, not cruelty. I commit to working with my colleagues to create opportunities for the new residents of Illinois ensuring prosperity is accessible to all people.

Job Opportunities + Resources

Check out my webpage featuring a list of job opportunities in Chicago and the 20^th District. There, you can find links to jobs with the State of Illinois, Chicago Public Schools, local organizations and more.

Scholarship Opportunities 

• Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (deadline to apply is Sept. 16!)
• Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

District Events

• Lucha Libre en el Parque: https://fb.me/e/3wEQBNeDh (9/3)
• 9/11 National day of Service Trash Bash: https://lasdamasbc.org/9-11-national-day-of-service-trash-bash/?fbclid=IwAR2OHdnuK2ehOnrVbcIgfM-1Cez-D0Pv0qdMBPrI-MYyNWL9A5qu3xbOkVY (9/11)
• Twilight Canoe and Kayak Fundraiser for Clark Park: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/twilight-canoe-and-kayak-tickets-380734957507 (9/11)
• Dance in Logan Square Barrio and Mercadito: https://fb.me/e/2nTwxbCIq (9/11)
• Free Tenants Workshop on Legal Assistance: https://www.facebook.com/northrivercommission/posts/446320097538024 (9/14)

Spotlight on federal student loan forgiveness

At the end of August, President Biden announced his plan to address student debt, which includes cutting monthly payments in half for undergraduate loans, modifying the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to provide credit to borrowers who have worked at a nonprofit, military, or in federal, state, tribal, or local government, and protecting future students by reducing the cost of college.

As someone who is still paying back student loans, I know firsthand the challenges of balancing supporting a family and saving for the future when you have student debt.  I am thrilled that some relief is on the way, especially for folks with limited access to economic resources .Read my full statement on the federal student loan forgiveness plan here: https://senatorpacionezayas.com/news/news-2/239-senator-pacione-zayas-celebrates-federal-student-loan-forgiveness-plan?fbclid=IwAR20o4LFDbl3p5haftJ-tOpaJFqVMr420twj8Vmx1N6GDjV8JqAzqH6yNKk

What I’ve been up to

I have had an amazing time at the end of August hosting a healthcare enrollment event aimed at providing coverage to undocumented residents, standing with tenants in support of the Keep Illinois Home Act, and attending the Early Childhood Education Conference to learn from lawmakers and academics across the country! Check out photos and details from these events here:

• Week of August 22 – Illinois State Fair, Keep Illinois Home, and more
• Healthcare Enrollment Event
• Early Childhood Leadership Summit

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is proud to be appointed to the inaugural Crime Reduction Task Force, a group of legislators working to reduce crime across the state.

“In order to prevent crime in the state, it is important to address the root causes of crime—including the multi-layered forces of systemic oppression, access to mental health resources, and rates of drug use and addiction in our communities,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “I look forward to serving on this task force to bring light to these issues, addressing them, and consequently reducing crime in our communities.” 

The Crime Reduction Task Force will review research and best practices to prevent crime in Illinois. Members will take expert and witness testimony and submit a report detailing its findings, recommendations and needed resources to the General Assembly and Governor by March 1, 2023. Senator Pacione-Zayas is excited to be a part of this task force to address rising rates of crime in her community.

“As a public servant, one of my highest priorities is ensuring public safety for all through establishing statewide systems of care,” Pacione-Zayas said. “By addressing interlocking systems of oppression that create conditions and circumstances that ultimately limit choices and can lead a person to commit a crime, we are laying the foundation for solving root causes. Additionally, we are also helping to identify solutions for mitigating the systemic racism in the criminal legal system individuals may face if found guilty of a crime, such as mistreatment in the prison system, and the ongoing struggle of finding work upon release and ostracization from their community because of their conviction.”

Senator Pacione-Zayas was appointed to the Crime Reduction Task Force on Sept. 7, 2022.

CHICAGO – On Wednesday night, a group of immigrants from Venezuela arrived in Chicago after they were “shipped out” on buses by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Regarding this matter, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) welcomes the newcomers, highlights local resources, and disavows Abbott’s decision to use human lives as political currency for personal gain.

“I am proud that my state, Illinois, and my city, Chicago, continue to be the most welcoming places in the nation to our immigrant siblings. We welcome the newcomers as we work to deploy resources to support them in both the immediate and long term.

“My community already took action. Chicago is the soul of our nation, a place built by the strength and contributions of people from all corners of the globe. A temporary shelter was staffed through the night by trusted partners including Rincon Family Services, Family Focus, and Onward Neighborhood House who support immigrants year-round through state funded Welcoming Centers. Many other local partners are mobilizing to ensure we can offer resources they need to settle and thrive in our community.

“Also, I condemn Abbott’s lack of humanity with his approach to immigration. Our actions and/or the lack thereof reflect upon one’s character. The Governor of Texas has clearly failed this test.

“Instead of using refugees as political pawns, our city and state choose to respond to our challenges with compassion and humanity, not cruelty. I commit to working with my colleagues to create opportunities for the new residents of Illinois ensuring prosperity is accessible to all people.”