The Most Unpopular Governor In The Nation... Pat Quinn <-- Learn More!
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NOTE: On 2/12/13, it was announced that Governor Quinn did not take the advice of the C.O.G.F.A., in keeping Joliet's Illinois Youth Center Open, and plans to move forward with the I.Y.C. closure this month (February 2013), as it was reported: "By Tuesday, the final youth inmates at the Joliet I.Y.C. will be transferred
out, and the facility will be shut down by governor's orders, like so
many other prison facilities around the state. Lots of the Joliet
youngsters were transferred to Harrisburg and St Charles last week.
Most of the last 80 or so are being transferred to I.Y.C. Kewanee."!
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Click-Here to read about how Ryan Alm (a 2012 Candidate for Illinois House of Representatives) fought to try and save 300 Joliet jobs and keep the State of Illinois' only maximum security prison for juveniles open to serve the community! Candidate Alm was the ONLY (2012) District 86 House Representative Candidate that fought to try and SAVE 300 local jobs. He tried to protect the local economy! (Continue reading below for the complete story!)
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3/16/12
Joliet, Illinois
As a result of Governor Quinn's 2012-2013 budget proposals, it was announced that Governor Quinn proposes to close the Illinois Youth Center in Joliet (on McDonough Street).
NOTE: There are multiple juvenile facilities across Illinois, these are:
Illinois Youth Center Chicago
Illinois Youth Center Harrisburg
Illinois Youth Center Joliet
Illinois Youth Center Kewanee
Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro
Illinois Youth Center Pere Marquette
Illinois Youth Center St. Charles
Illinois Youth Center Warrenville
The Herald News reached out to (former) Rep. Jack McGuire's Office, on 2/27/12, for a response to this matter and up until, March 12, 2012, didn't receive a response to this proposed closing.
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The Herald News Reported on 2/27/12:
"Hey, call us back, Jack
While Wilhelmi and other legislators responded to calls from The Herald-News about Quinn’s proposal to shut down the Illinois Youth Center in Joliet, State Rep. Jack McGuire, D-Joliet, could not be reached. An office employee called to say she would e-mail a statement from McGuire, but it never arrived. McGuire has become harder to get a hold of. He could not be reached a year ago after repeated attempts by The Herald-News to get him to talk about the state income tax increase."
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Governor Quinn's closing of this facility would affect approximately 275 local jobs (and roughly 230 A.F.S.C.M.E. Union Jobs) and affects the "justice system" and community safety for these troubled youths in Will County.
Hearing this distressing news, Candidate Ryan M. Alm, jumped to action on March 1, 2012.
Candidate Alm is a former 4-Year Will County State's Attorney Felony Crimes Paralegal and a former 4-Year A.F.S.C.M.E. union member. Candidate Alm wanted to work fast to help save the jobs of these current IYC A.F.S.C.M.E. union employees.
"Alm" sent out 14 letters (seeking assistance to create a coalition of help) to Federal and State Representatives and politicians in Illinois… The list of addressees include:
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert
U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger
House Rep. Pam Roth
House Rep. Dennis Reboletti
House Rep. Mike Fortner
House Candidate Scott McCoy
House Rep. Jim Durkin
House Rep. Kay Hatcher
House Rep. Tom Morrison
House Rep. Richard Morthland
House Rep. Chris Nybo
House Rep. JoAnn Osmond
House Rep. Sandra Pihos
In addition, Candidate Alm created PRESS RELEASES on this subject, posting the following news releases and events:
[1] TribLocal: Candidate Alm Fights To Save The Joliet Juvenile Center http://triblocal.com/joliet/community/stories/2012/03/candidate-alm-fights-to-save-joliet-juvenile-justice-center/
[2] TribLocal Event: Rally To Save IYC Joliet Juvenile Center http://triblocal.com/joliet/calendar/2012/03/15/rally-to-save-iyc-joliet-juvenile-center-on-31512/
[3] Channahon-MinookaPatch: Rally To Save IYC Joliet Juvenile Center: http://channahon-minooka.patch.com/events/rally-to-save-iyc-joliet-juvenile-center-on-31512
Candidate Alm said: "I do not support the closing of the Joliet's Illinois Youth Center. This facility houses so-called 'inmates' at an approximate 73% of capacity. 80% of inmates come from across Chicago-land and the other 20% come from the Will County communities. Therefore, it's not a waste of taxpayer funds. This facility keeps the Will County communities safe, while ensuring these young person's rights are being Constitutionally protected, and that justice is being served."
On March 10th, Candidate Alm, met face-to-face with (former) United States Congresswoman, Judy Biggert. Candidate Alm explained the IYC situation with Congresswoman Biggert. He reminded her of his correspondence to her, and she promised to get engaged in this battle to keep the IYC open. Candidate Alm took action!
On March 15, 2012, Candidate Alm was present at the IYC RALLY. Candidate Alm was the first politician on the scene. He assisted in setting up signs and met with many A.F.S.C.M.E. IYC Workers. Candidate Alm was present from 12:45pm to 4:30pm. Candidate Alm stood off of McDonough street with a "Save The IYC" yellow-sign. Candidate was a dedicated demonstrator on the 15th. Former Illinois House Rep. Jack McGuire was on the scene at 3:00pm. Dedication? He put on a T-Shirt and walked around. Candidate Alm took real action!Candidate Alm further states: "Will County is the 4th largest County in Illinois. This facility employs approximately 275 hard-working people and it deserves to remain open. I agree that the Illinois General Assembly should be serious about cutting its budget and slashing government waste but this 'cut' is a wrong move for the State of Illinois, the County of Will and the City of Joliet. Ensuring a sound judicial system is good for the community and good for the economy."
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Candidate Alm says: "From March 1, 2012, I've been working hard to 'push this issue' before our local elected leaders. A Representative's JOB is not to sit back and wait for others to talk about this issue... A Representative's JOB is to PUSH local concerns before our elected body in Springfield and try to SOLVE local issues. In essence, a Representative should be FIGHTING to keep JOBS in Joliet and throughout District 86."
Alm continues to state: "The people of the City and Township of Joliet (and citizens throughout District 86), need to know that even though the former elected Representative did not work hard to protect JOBS in this District, there still is someone out there fighting for us, that person is Candidate Ryan M. Alm, and I am willing and able to fight vigorously to protect JOBS for our citizens."
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Among those against the closure is the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, which represents nearly 300 workers at the two facilities, said spokesman Anders Lindall. He maintains that the facilities' programs are working, and he questioned the wisdom of relocating youth further from their families.
"If we really believe in a rehabilitative model and investing in what we know works... we should not be closing these facilities," Lindall said. "We should not be laying off the dedicated staff who are giving their working lives to turning troubled kids around."
State Rep. Dave Luechtefeld, whose district includes the Murphysboro facility, said he worries staff members will have to relocate to other parts of the state.
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On 3/25/12, Candidate Alm entered a parade float in the Wish Upon A Star Foundation's 2012 Easter Parade in Downtown Joliet. Candidate Alm handed-out fliers urging citizens to "SAVE THE IYC" and he put a sign on the front of his parade float (see below):
Candidate Alm took action!
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Locally, if one wants to learn more about the importance of this facility, you can contact local AFSCME President at the IYC, Ms. Sharon Konopka, you can EMAIL her at local1753@sbcglobal.net.
If citizens want to help online, there is a "petition drive" on the internet, created by a Ms. Konopka (President of AFSCME Council 31 - Local 1753 IYC Joliet). You can sign your name to the cause and help try and save this facility, visit: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-il-stop-the-closure-of-iyc-joliet-maximum-security-prison-for-young-adults
IN ADDITION
Citizens can write a letter DIRECTLY TO GOV. QUINN online, by visiting the following link: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/ContacttheGovernor.aspx
Or
You can write a letter to the Governor at:
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
CANDIDATE ALM, also took the time to register #SaveJolietJobs with Twitter Provider TWUBS... Citizens with a Twitter account can post messages and share information on Twitter at HASHTAG #SaveJolietJobs.
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The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) is holding a hearing on whether to close to Joliet Illinois Youth Center
DATE: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Renaissance Center, 214 North Ottawa St., Joliet, IL
TOPIC: The proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center in Joliet
4/4/12, Candidate Alm was placed on the "official agenda" before the COGFA and testified before the Commission. His statement was as follows:"Hello, my name is Ryan Alm and I am a Candidate for Illinois House of Representatives for Joliet. OUR ECONOMY cannot work well without a functioning criminal justice system. Otherwise, organized crime would easily take over large sectors of the business community. Extortion, bribery, kidnapping, and murder would become the reigning corporate model. Without the rule of law, our economy will falter. The IYC offers a functioning juvenile criminal justice system that protects our economy and our capitalistic system we rely upon. By closing the IYC you will be putting STRESS on our local economy. The IYC holds host to some 200+ employees and their families sitting right behind me. Each of these employees are responsible for contributing to their “family unit.” As such, according to Statistics provided by US Dept. of Labor, each “family unit” spends in the local economy $49,000 per year. By laying-off these employees, YOU WILL BE PLACING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY OF $13,493,425.00. And with the average length of time that it takes an employee to find a job is 1-year, so please don't distress the local economy by $13-Million Dollars. It has been said the the IYC has the capability to service about 20% of the Will County population's youth, what does that consists of... 20% of Will County's population is enough to fill the entire City of Joliet from end to end. And with Will County being the 4th Largest County in Illinois, that's like telling the 4th tallest basketball player on a team to sit the bench... It doesn't make sense. I thank you very much for your time and please do not close the IYC."
[1] On June 19, 2012, it was sadly announced that Gov. Quinn plans on moving forward with the closure of the Illinois Youth Center. Read more at >> http://www.buglenewspapers.com/joliet/article_ae20bb36-bb23-11e1-ad97-0019bb30f31a.html
[2] In February 2013, IYC Inmates are starting their transfers out of the Youth Center to other detention facilities in Illinois. Read More at >> http://www.wjol.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=3&item_id=11641
