NEW ITEMS

Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

County Board Room, County Building

Thursday, February 20, 2003, 2:00 P.M.

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION

ITEM #1

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

Co-Sponsored by

FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN,

GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO,

JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI,

DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, February is designated nationally as American Heart Month and Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, the very first open heart surgery in the nation was performed by an African American doctor, Daniel Hale Williams, M.D. in 1908; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Williams received his medical degree from Northwestern University in 1883 and was appointed to the Illinois State Board of Health 1887; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Williams founded Provident Hospital of Cook County, the first Black community hospital in the nation, in Chicago in 1890, and was a founding member of the National Medical Association; and

WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for African Americans, claiming the lives of over 100,000 annually; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke than Whites; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, cardiovascular disease accounted for 33.8 percent of deaths among African American men and 40.8 percent among African American women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

WHEREAS, the prevalence of hypertension in African Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world; and

WHEREAS, compared with Whites, African Americans develop high blood pressure at an earlier age, their average blood pressure is much higher and as a result, African Americans have a 1.5 times greater rate of heart disease deaths and a 1.8 times greater rate of fatal stroke; and

WHEREAS, risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as physical inactivity, obesity and high cholesterol are higher in the African American community; and

WHEREAS, a recent American Heart Association survey found that African American women are less likely to get information about heart disease and that African American women are less likely to know the warning signs of heart attack than other ethnic women; and

WHEREAS, the American Heart Association urges all African Americans to get the facts through its ongoing awareness campaign, “Take Your Heart and Health Into Your Own Hands”, and encourages African Americans to join its free risk reduction programs and participate in heart healthy activities throughout the year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in celebration of American Heart Month and Black History Month, we, Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr. and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, gratefully acknowledge the ongoing contributions of African American doctors and scientists to the health of our Nation and urge all African American citizens to learn about their risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the warning signs of heart attack and stroke as well as the importance of calling 911 and learning CPR.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION continued

ITEM #1 cont'd

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.

CHANGE (AMENDMENT) TO BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

ITEM #2

The following item was previously approved by poll on February 18, 2003:

Transmitting a Communication, dated February 17, 2003 from

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

Please be advised that I am hereby requesting that the time for the February 20, 2003 regular meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners be reset from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. I ask your support and concurrence with this request and submit the matter to the Secretary of the Board to conduct a vote by telephone poll.

In accordance with Rule 4-2(c), the vote on the poll taken February 18, 2003 is as follows: 16 Yeas; and 1 Absent (Commissioner Daley).

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved the ratification of the poll and that the request of the President be approved. The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

ITEM #3

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by

JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners

Co-Sponsored by

FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN,

GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO,

JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI,

DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, has called Chicago’s “Matriarch,” Eleanor “Sis” Daley, from our midst; and

WHEREAS, born on the fourth day of March in 1907, Mrs. Daley appropriately shares the same birthday as the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Daley was the eighth of 11 children; her parents, Patrick and Nora Guilfoyle were the Chicago-born children of Irish immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Daley, who would graduate from St. Mary’s High School and St. Bridget’s Commercial, would go on to gain employment as a secretary, which was her profession at the time she met her future husband; and

PROPOSED RESOLUTION continued

ITEM #3 cont'd

WHEREAS, she married the future mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley, in 1936; they had seven children: Patricia, Mary Carol, Eleanor, Richard, Michael, John and William; and

WHEREAS, as a devout Roman Catholic, like her husband, Mrs. Daley strongly believed in what we today refer to as “core family values:” religion, education, discipline, respect for others and quality time with family; in keeping with this philosophy, she devoted her energies toward raising her children and being a source of unwavering support for her husband; and

WHEREAS, although she was an unrelenting source of support of her husband and family, Mrs. Daley was not afraid to speak her mind; a classic example was her strong stance on preserving our city’s beautiful architecture such as the old Chicago Public Library’s central branch, which was built in 1897 and ultimately became the glorious Chicago Cultural Center; and

WHEREAS, with the passing of Mrs. Daley, we have lost an elegant, understated and proud woman, a woman who was committed to her family, championed issues that were important to her, and loved this city to her final moments with us; she truly was Chicago’s Matriarch.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby express its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family as well as the many friends and loved ones of Eleanor “Sis” Daley.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the family of Eleanor “Sis” Daley so that her rich legacy may be so honored and ever cherished.

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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to defer consideration of the Proposed Resolution to the March 6, 2003 Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

ITEM #4

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Cassandra Waddlington, Illinois Nurses Association/Cook County Bargaining Unit, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Ms. Waddlington expressed concern regarding the current union contract negotiations.

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ITEM #5

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Maurice Perkins, Director, Inner City Youth Foundation, Inc., submitted a written statement to the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners regarding the Cook County Day Reporting Center. (The referenced documents are on file in the Office of the County Clerk.)

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ITEM #6

Pursuant to Rule 4-30, George Blakemore, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Blakemore spoke concerning several issues regarding Cook County.