Sandoval: New law will aid minority-owned businesses

Sandoval-Minority OwnersIllinois State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) sponsored a new law that will aid businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities.

“I sponsored this measure to ensure that with the expansion of gambling in Illinois, some of those contracts would be awarded to minority business owners,” stated Sandoval.  “This new law will also require these industries to report their hiring efforts back to the Gaming and Racing Board.”

The goal of this new law is to ensure that some licensee contracts are awarded to businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities. Progress towards these goals will be reported as percentages of the total dollar amount of contracts awarded per calendar year.

This new law will work in conjunction with the the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females and Persons with Disabilities Act.

Sandoval, Emanuel Open Kindergarten Classrooms at Tonti Elementary

Sandoval-CLASSROOMS-2Mayor Rahm Emanuel and State Senator Martin Sandoval inaugurated the new kindergarten classrooms at Tonti Elementary School, one of the new schools benefiting from CPS instituting for the first time ever a full day of kindergarten for its over 30,000 children.

“While CPS has been making this investment steadily for years, today we are moving over the goal line, making the firm commitment that every child – over 30,000 CPS students – will have full day kindergarten,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “From investments in early childhood education to pushing for a full school day to ensuring strong principals and teachers in our schools, we are doing everything we can to make sure Chicago’s children can thrive and succeed.”

“Mayor Rahm Emanuel and I have made investments in early childhood a priority for the children of the southwest side,” said Senator Sandoval.

In February, the Mayor announced that Chicago Public Schools will guarantee full-day kindergarten for all students beginning in the 2013-14 school year. In previous years, students had the options of attending half-day kindergarten (between 3 to 4 hours) and a full day kindergarten (7 hours). By guaranteeing all kindergarteners a full day of kindergarten 50% more children will have a full day since Mayor Emanuel came into office. This announcement builds upon the unprecedented $36M investment in early childhood education to increase access to and raise the quality of pre-kindergarten programs for children.

Sandoval Honored by Federation of Women Contractors, Governor Quinn

Recipient of Diversity Super Star Award

SandovalFWC

State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) was the special guest speaker at the Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) member luncheon at the East Bank Club. Senator Sandoval’s effort to stimulate the economy was recognized with the Diversity Super Star Award.

“Senator Sandoval is a driving force for providing opportunities for all small businesses in Illinois,” said Beth Doria, Executive Director of FWC.

“A leading force in putting people back to work is Senator Sandoval, who I call ‘El Caballo’ (The Horse),” said Governor Quinn. “He delivers for working people in Illinois.”

The Federation of Women Contractors is the oldest and most recognized leader among women-owned construction businesses in the Chicago land area. In existence since 1989, it is committed to the advancement of entrepreneurial women in the construction industry. FWC members include general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and service-related firms.

Sandoval fights for those facing foreclosure

Sandoval-CollinsIllinois State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) has been a fighter for the people facing foreclose for nearly 10 years. Originally, foreclosure help started as a pilot program targeting communities that had been subject to predatory lenders.  Since then, Sandoval has continued to fight to keep people in their homes

“We passed a number of measures this year to help those that may be facing foreclosure,” said Sandoval. “I do not want the residents of Illinois to fall through the cracks or face foreclosure alone when federal programs end.”

Senate Bill 56 extends the expiration date of a law that was enacted in 2009 to offer relief to homeowners struggling with their mortgages.  It requires that lenders give homeowners 30 days notice to seek housing counseling before filing a default on a home loan.  Should a homeowner decide to seek counseling, the lender is required to grant an additional 30 days to work out a settlement before a foreclosure action may be filed with the courts. 

Although the economy is on the upswing, homeowners statewide are still feeling the effects of the decline. Cook County has the 12th highest foreclosure rate in the state.  Continuing to offer these protections and services to keep people in their homes is imperative to continuing our economic recovery.

Another measure, Senate Bill 1602, provides protection to tenants that live in a building that is in foreclosure. The legislation proposes that tenants would be entitled to stay in their apartment through the end of their lease, independent of a foreclosure filing.  If a new owner buys the property, the new owner must provide 90-days notice if they do not plan to renew the lease.  The new owner can make an offer to the tenant to terminate the lease early, but only if certain qualifications are met.

Senate Bill 1740 creates a property tax incentive to those who purchase and rehabilitate abandoned properties.

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