SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D- Chicago) offered a statement following the Senate passage of a comprehensive clean energy measure that places Illinois at the forefront of the clean energy economy:

“The evidence and science is clear on how vital it is to aggressively address the intensifying climate crisis, especially for the communities that have always been disproportionately affected by the harmful practices of fossil fuel companies.

“This legislation includes numerous provisions to help Black and Brown contractors gain greater access in the green energy sector, such as increasing apprenticeship programs to support a diverse workforce pipeline, establishing Green Bank Programs to incentivize energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for Black, Latinx, Asian and indigenous businesses, and upgrading school infrastructure to increase energy efficiency and transition to solar energy.

“I expect the negotiations to continue in good faith so that we can secure outstanding environmental goals, including greater accountability through the establishment of additional benchmarks for measuring progress as we move towards 100% clean energy. While I acknowledge we made significant progress with the latest version of the legislation, these provisions are necessary to get Illinois on track to a truly equitable green future.”

CHICAGO – The Northwest Home Equity Program will have the ability to provide low- or no-interest home assistance loans to homeowners struggling to make their property tax payments under a new law signed today, the result of legislation by State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago).

“We need to use every tool at our disposal to help homeowners who are at risk of default, especially in light of a historically difficult year that has affected everyone’s finances,” Pacione-Zayas said. “With this legislation, homeowners on the Northwest side will get the additional assistance they need to help pay their property taxes.”

In Cook County, there are more than 52,000 properties whose delinquent taxes would be sold to investors if the tax sale were held. For almost half those properties, owners owe less than $1,000. Those who cannot afford to pay their property taxes are at risk of losing their homes.

Under the new law, the Northwest Home Equity Program would be able to create a new type of assistance loan modeled after loans it already issues for things like home improvements and foreclosure prevention. The purpose of the new assistance loan would be to help homeowners avoid becoming delinquent on their property taxes.

“Homeowners now have the opportunity to secure a 0% loan instead of a high interest predatory loan to help save their home. This gives us additional tools to combat displacement. We need to cultivate as many new tools as possible to keep residents in their homes,” said Ernie Lukasik, a housing organizer with the Northwest Side Housing Center. “The community is grateful to State Representative Eva Dina Delgado and State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas for championing this cause and bringing this legislation to fruition”

The new law is effective Jan. 1, 2022.

CHICAGO – State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas offered the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to block the Biden administration’s COVID-related eviction moratorium:

“It is unconscionable for the Supreme Court ruling to roll back protections for renters while we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite rising COVID cases, the Supreme Court has decided that it is acceptable to allow people to be evicted with no place to go, putting their health and safety at grave risk.

“As a state and a country, we need to enact ways to grant the people affected immediate protections and work on a long-term plan to ensure this never happens again.”

CHICAGO – A plan introduced by State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) to allow for the designation of cultural districts in Illinois was signed into law today in an effort to help affirm the identity of communities in Illinois and preserve their distinct legacies.

“These designations are a way for our communities to proudly reflect the identity, contributions and history of the people who have helped build them,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I thank the governor for signing this into law and giving Illinois communities the chance to pursue community-driven economic opportunity initiatives that ensure our neighborhoods preserve their unique cultures and continue to build legacies.”

An initiative of the Puerto Rican Agenda, the new law allows the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish the necessary criteria and guidelines for designating such cultural districts. Five such districts can be designated per year, up to a total of 15. The process will be overseen by an advisory board, which the legislation specifies must be made up of a diverse group of board members along racial, ethnic, and geographic lines.

“As we move into economic recovery from the pandemic, it is imperative that we recognize and invest in the rich cultural heritage of Illinois’ diverse communities,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Delia Ramirez, who sponsored the measure in the House. “This initiative will allow DCEO to help communities foster and preserve their distinct cultural legacies.”

Senate Bill 1833 was signed on Friday. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.