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Officials Pledge Support for Child Sexual Assault Funds
In a March 8 campaign debate, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Glenn W. Poshard pledged his support for an election referendum that would aid the victims of child sexual assault.
In a March 8 campaign debate, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Glenn W. Poshard pledged his support for an election referendum that would aid the victims of child sexual assault.
Under the Illinois Children's Advocacy Center Act of 1989, a petition signed by 1 percent of registered voters can place a countywide referendum on the ballot asking for a maximum 0.004 percent property tax increase to fund services for abuse victims at child advocacy centers.
"There's nothing more important than protecting our children," Poshard said at the debate, which was co-sponsored by the Illinois League of Women Voters and WLS-TV, Channel 7. And on May 13 former State Treasurer Pat Quinn and Dr. Quentin Young, president of the American Public Health Association, kicked off a petition drive calling for placing the referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The moves came in response to The Chicago Reporter's January 1998 investigation, "Sex Abuse Cases Decline, but Blacks Still Main Victims," which revealed that, while reported cases of criminal sexual assault have declined throughout Chicago, nearly nine of 10 victims were minorities. And support services for these children–"1,650 in 1996 alone–"are spread too thin.
While the little-known children's advocacy act allows voters to approve funds for those services, neither Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine nor Cook County Board President John H. Stroger Jr. had plans to push for it, the Reporter found.
Under the Illinois Children's Advocacy Center Act of 1989, a petition signed by 1 percent of registered voters can place a countywide referendum on the ballot asking for a maximum 0.004 percent property tax increase to fund services for abuse victims at child advocacy centers.
"There's nothing more important than protecting our children," Poshard said at the debate, which was co-sponsored by the Illinois League of Women Voters and WLS-TV, Channel 7. And on May 13 former State Treasurer Pat Quinn and Dr. Quentin Young, president of the American Public Health Association, kicked off a petition drive calling for placing the referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The moves came in response to The Chicago Reporter's January 1998 investigation, "Sex Abuse Cases Decline, but Blacks Still Main Victims," which revealed that, while reported cases of criminal sexual assault have declined throughout Chicago, nearly nine of 10 victims were minorities. And support services for these children–"1,650 in 1996 alone–"are spread too thin.
While the little-known children's advocacy act allows voters to approve funds for those services, neither Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine nor Cook County Board President John H. Stroger Jr. had plans to push for it, the Reporter found.