CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners County Board Room, County Building Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 11:00 A.M. Issued: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS CONSENT CALENDAR #1 Submitting a Proposed Resolution Sponsored by TONI PRECKWINKLE, President and JERRY BUTLER,EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, JOHN A. FRITCHEY, BRIDGET GAINER, JESUS G. GARCIA, ELIZABETH “LIZ” DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, STANLEY MOORE, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, EDWIN REYES, TIMOTHY O. SCHNEIDER, DEBORAH SIMS, ROBERT B. STEELE LARRY SUFFREDIN and JEFFREY R. TOBOLSKI, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HONORING PETER N. SILVESTRI, UPON HIS RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF THE VILLAGE OF ELMWOOD PARK WHEREAS, Peter N. Silvestri is retiring as President of the Village of Elmwood Park after serving for 24 years; and WHEREAS, Mr. Silvestri is the longest-tenured Village President in the history of Elmwood Park; and WHEREAS Mr. Silvestri has always been an active and dedicated leader in his community, serving as the youngest member and President of the Elmwood Park School Board and as a Village Trustee prior to becoming Village President; and WHEREAS in the last twenty-four years, with Mr. Silvestri’s vision and leadership, Elmwood Park has experienced numerous enhancements to the community and a much-improved quality of life for its residents; and WHEREAS, some of the more notable enhancements include expanded green space with the addition of parks and playgrounds, a state-of-the-art public safety building, a community swimming pool and upgraded recreation department, a senior citizen community center, a public works beautification program, and a new library; and WHEREAS, Mr. Silvestri’s passion for and commitment to the Village are unsurpassed and his legacy will long be remembered and enjoyed by all Elmwood Park residents. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Board of Commissioners of Cook County do hereby congratulate Peter N. Silvestri on his retirement and express their gratitude for his exemplary dedication to public service. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution shall be presented to Village of Elmwood Park President, Peter N. Silvestri, as evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by this Honorable Body and the people of Cook County. __________________________ CONSENT CALENDAR #2 Submitting a Proposed Resolution Sponsored by TONI PRECKWINKLE, PRESIDENT, Cook County Board of Commissioners CAMBODIAN REMEMBRANCE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, according to historians, from 1975 to 1979 upward of 3.2 million Cambodians and people living in Cambodia were murdered by execution, torture, starvation and illness; this genocidal abomination was perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot; and WHEREAS, many of these murders were performed at sites now known as the Killing Fields, where the near-dead were forced to dig their own shallow, mass graves; and WHEREAS, the Cambodian American community in Illinois and the Cambodian Association of Illinois have linked arms in solidarity to ensure that those individuals who were murdered will never be forgotten, nor shall the survivors be forgotten, individuals who will forever bear the scars of having witnessed and experienced unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Khmer Rouge; and WHEREAS, the Cambodian American community in Illinois and the Cambodian Association of Illinois also have come together in solidarity to educate the residents of Cook County about the rich and resilient culture and history of the Cambodian American community. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, does hereby recognize April 17, 2013 as a day to join with the Cambodian community in remembering and paying tribute to those individuals who lost their lives so tragically to the Khmer Rouge and to honor the survivors and wish them Godspeed as they heal. ___________________________ CONSENT CALENDAR #3 Submitting a Proposed Resolution Sponsored by ROBERT B. STEELE, County Commissioner IN MEMORY OF DR. ROBERT YOUNKINS SR. WHEREAS, Almighty God in his infinite wisdom has called from our midst Dr. Robert Younkins Sr; and WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Younkins Sr. was born to Theodore and Bertha Younkins in Havelock, North Carolina. The eldest of six siblings he was a loved and respected “big brother”; and WHEREAS, Bob as he was commonly known by his friends was a graduate of Tilden High School and valedictorian of his graduating class; and WHEREAS, From the University of Wisconsin where he completed both his undergraduate and medical school studies Bob pursued his medical training by completing his Internship in San Francisco, California and later as a Residency Fellow at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and WHEREAS, Dr. Younkins had a passion for medicine as well as for service to his community. Board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, his private practice spanned nearly thirty years and he often gave of his time to participate in community health panels; and WHEREAS, Dr. Younkin's also spent many years as an Attending Physician at Michael Reese Hospital where he treated many Chicago leaders who sought his service at their point of need; including my mother Former President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Bobbie L. Steele. We will be forever grateful for his dedicated and attentive service to his patients; and WHEREAS, Dr. Younkins had a love of life and nature; he enjoyed skiing, sailing, fishing and walks along Lake Michigan; and WHEREAS, Dr. Younkins Sr. is survived by his loving wife Donna, their children Maya and Robert and granddaughter Zora; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, does hereby offer its deepest condolence and most heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the late Dr. Robert Younkins Sr. and joins them in sorrow at this time of loss; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and a copy of the same be tendered to Donna Younkins, wife of the late Dr. Robert Younkins Sr. so that his memory may be so honored and forever cherished. _________________________ CONSENT CALENDAR #4 Submitting a Proposed Resolution Sponsored by TONI PRECKWICKLE, President, JESUS G. GARCIA, STANLEY MOORE, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, and LARRY SUFFREDIN County Commissioners FAIR HOUSING MONTH WHEREAS, the month of April is known around the country as Fair Housing Month; and WHEREAS, April 2013 marks the 45th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act; and WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act was intended to end discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin and sex at a time when African Americans, Latinos, and other minorities, including the families of American soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam, were often denied housing choice in certain areas; and WHEREAS, during that time, persons who objected to housing discrimination were often met with resistance, hostility, and even violence; and WHEREAS, the Honorable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the fight for fair housing since the Summer of 1966, when he marched with residents to demand fair housing in Chicago; and WHEREAS, the Fair Housing Act was the subject of a contentious debate in the Senate, but was passed quickly by the House of Representatives after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law on April 11, 1968; and WHEREAS, despite this landmark legislation, housing remained segregated in many areas of the United States for decades; and WHEREAS, the inability of minorities to secure housing in opportunity areas perpetuated the growth of inner city communities plagued by high unemployment, crime, and other social ills; and WHEREAS, subsequent efforts to address these social ills have been and continue to be necessary; and WHEREAS, Cook County’s own Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, gender identity, or housing status, with limited exceptions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of fair housing, and declares April as Fair Housing Month to honor the achievements and ongoing commitment of individuals and coalitions that work to better our society by advocating for fair housing on behalf of all people. _____________________________ CONSENT CALENDAR #5 Submitting a Proposed Resolution Sponsored by TONI PRECKWINKLE, President, and EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, County Commissioners, Co-Sponsored by JERRY BUTLER, JOHN A. FRITCHEY, BRIDGET GAINER, JESUS G. GARCIA, ELIZABETH “LIZ” DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, STANLEY MOORE, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, EDWIN REYES, TIMOTHY O. SCHNEIDER, DEBORAH SIMS, ROBERT B. STEELE, LARRY SUFFREDIN and JEFFREY R. TOBOLSKI, County Commissioners WHEREAS, Colby Burnett, 29, has been involved in academic competitions since he was 14 years old; and WHEREAS, Colby Burnett distinguished himself as a student at Fenwick High School in Oak Park; and WHEREAS, Colby Burnett graduated from Northwestern University where he majored in history and political science; and WHEREAS, Colby Burnett has returned to Fenwick’s where he teaches AP world history, Latin American history, and Asian history; and WHEREAS, Colby Burnett also coaches Fenwick’s scholastic bowl team, which has cheered him on throughout the tournament; and WHEREAS, Burnett initially won $100,000 in the “Jeopardy!” Teachers’ Tournament, defeating 15 top educators from across the country; and WHEREAS, Burnett pledged to give his winnings to his mother, Wilma, in appreciation of her hard work putting him through school over the years; and WHEREAS, Colby Burnett has fulfilled his pledge; and WHEREAS, in February of 2013 Burnett further distinguished himself by winning the $250,000 grand prize in “Jeopardy’s” highly competitive Tournament of Champions.