After One Year in Office the Honorable Todd H. Stroger 
Speaks to Taxes, the Issues, and His Goals.

A Rough First Year, in the Battleground
of County Politics

by Ed Vincent

Todd Stroger appears to have been getting a bit 
of a rough deal from  some local editorial writers.  
In an effort to reach some readers in suburban 
Cook County who still have open minds.  President 
Stroger held a  press conference at the same time 
a protest was taking place in front of the Mayor's 
office about police brutality.  The meeting we were 
in was much quieter and more refined.  Todd Stroger
spoke to issues from the Cook County Hospital to 
proposed tax increases he believes will balance 
the budget and effect those least who are on fixed 
incomes.  

A sales tax increase will not directly put more of 
the counties tax on home owners, but  rather on 
consumers.  Some of the toughest questions came 
from a Suburban Lawndale paper that wanted to know 
how many people making over $100,000 a year were
terminated.  There were also some issues concerning 
a number of nurses at the County Hospital and if 
they were reduced in numbers or if they quit after 
being reassigned.  Todd Stroger and Dr. Simon made 
it clear that the nurses who left did so of their 
own choice.  Dr. Simon noted that they are still
looking for replacement nurses at Cook County's 
John Stroger Hospital. The Coroner's office would 
also like to hire some additional staff for their 
understaffed department.  Many of the coroners 
have almost used up their quota of overtime allowed 
in the budget.  

  Dr. Robert Simon Addresses Medical Costs

Hopefully the budget will be approved at the County 
and State levels to prevent potential cuts in needed 
services.  

It would be nice before the holidays.