Lawmakers think public safety center is ‘an election gimmick’ to make politicians look good

[July 13, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Lawmakers are skeptical of the motives behind a six-year commitment to improve all forms of infrastructure in the state of Illinois.

In 2023, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced $41 billion in funding for a variety of construction projects through the state's Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program through 2029. Part of the funding went to the St. Clair County Public Safety Center.

The facility comes at a $15 million cost to taxpayers. Opponents say that a building will do nothing to deter crime. Lawmakers say Illinois needs to start holding criminals accountable.

Pritzker explained the facility will be an administrative hub agency center for coordination. Advocates believe the facility and the operations inside of it will help bolster communications and security collaborations among metro transit, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, metro transit public safety, the Bureau of Transit Police and other public safety partners.

“It will make good on our commitment to public safety and reliability across the transit system because Illinois riders deserve nothing less. Thanks to this facility, thousands will commute to work and school, they'll travel to see their families, they’ll visit other places throughout the state and other states with greater ease and peace of mind,” Pritzker said during a news conference prior to cutting the ribbon on the new facility.

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said this looks like an election year gimmick to try to get people to think Pritzker and his allies actually care about public safety and security.

“If you remember, Pritzker was one of the driving forces behind the SAFE-T Act, which the title itself is a complete joke because they made everyone less safe. If they are truly interested in making a safer environment for the citizens in East St. Louis, there has to be a severe enough consequence to your bad behavior that it actually produces a different life choice. If the consequence is severe enough, then the crime ends and if it’s not then it continues,” said Miller. “The SAFE-T Act penalizes the victim and rewards the criminal. The building is not going to do anything but make everyone feel warm and fuzzy.”

Illinois state and local officials in St. Clair County during a ribbon cutting at the St. Clair County Public Safety Center - Governor JB Pritzker | Facebook

Alongside Pritzker at the press conference were state Reps. Katie Stuart and Jay Hoffman. Also at the conference was state Sen. Christopher Belt. Hoffman touted his and the other legislators’ role in providing economic development and jobs through passing a $45 billion infrastructure bill.

Hoffman sponsored legislation Democrats rushed to pass (Public Act 103-0586) in early May, a month ahead of a deadline for slated candidates to turn in petitions to make it on the ballot. The law prohibits candidates from being put on the ballot who didn’t run in a primary. Republicans dubbed the legislation the “Katie Stuart Protection Act.” Stuart is being challenged by a slated candidate, Republican Jay Keeven, who may or may not be on the ballot pending an Illinois Supreme court decision surrounding the constitutionality of the slating law.

Pritzker, at a news conference, praised legislators and St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern. Pritzker said Kern is an ally and friend.

“When there’s something that’s needed in St. Clair county … he picks up the phone and calls me and when I am here he whispers in my ear and tells me what the next thing is that I need to do and I tell you I listen to Mark,” said Pritzker.

Miller said the $15 million sounds like a lot but compared to the $53 billion budget, it doesn’t really amount to anything, but Miller suspects it’ll make a good headline for politicians in the area to use this election cycle.

“It’s just an election year gimmick to funnel money into the ‘good’ politicians who are behaving well … into their coffers,” said Miller.