Afternoon Briefing: Cultural commissioner faces bullying allegations
After canceling a quarterly meeting with some of Chicago's top cultural minds for a second time, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth is facing criticism from appointees of past administrations who say she is leaving a 'void' in the struggling arts industry.
Hedspeth postponed until late February the Cultural Advisory Council's meeting just days before it was set to occur last week. The decision 'continues a pattern' of noncommunication with arts leaders left in the dark about her vision for Chicago culture, advisory council member Amina Dickerson said.
Hedspeth also faces bullying allegations from several staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show. Around a quarter of the department's staff has resigned or been fired since Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Hedspeth in March.
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Chicago Public Schools officials had a calm, seemingly friendly conversation with two Secret Service agents outside Hamline School hours before the district sparked a nationwide panic when it falsely proclaimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had tried to enter the building, according to recently released security footage. Read more here.
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Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
HUD Chicago office taking on more public housing authority oversight as staff dwindles regionally, nationally
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Chicago office will now oversee 65 public housing authorities in Wisconsin because of staffing shortages in the agency's Milwaukee office. This represents a roughly 62% increase in the number of public housing authorities the Chicago office is responsible for holding accountable to their missions, potentially stretching staff thin amid national cuts. The office had previously been limited to the oversight of Illinois' 105 housing authorities. Those public housing authorities' budgets combined, according to HUD, are more than $1.9 billion in federal dollars. The increase comes as the Chicago office's public housing division is now the largest in the country after massive downsizing at other agency offices, including New York and Puerto Rico, Chicago's division director said at a recent public meeting. "As we move forward, unless we are able to hire, there are offices that will pick up more (of our) mission as we start to move on and continue to become more regionally focused," said William Dawson III, HUD's Chicago public housing office director, at a recent Housing Authority of Cook County board meeting. President Donald Trump's administration has upended federal agencies such as HUD since his return to the Oval Office in January, slashing funding and staff. As Trump, Department of Government Efficiency workers and HUD Secretary Scott Turner tout the importance of cracking down on "fraud, waste and abuse," public agency employees are having to do more work with fewer staff members. Former HUD staffers told the Tribune that agency workers were already overburdened prior to Trump's cuts. Housing advocates and local and state officials fear the reduction in force at HUD will do the opposite of what Trump and DOGE set out to do. HUD did not respond to a list of questions by the Tribune's deadline. Locally and nationally, HUD has seen numerous employees retire early, with others being laid off or taking the federal government's deferred resignation program. As of May, HUD had about 6,000 workers after a reduction of approximately 2,300 employees, said Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE's National Council 222, the group that represents 40 local HUD unions nationwide, at a spring meeting with local union leaders. Turner announced in a video on social media in February that a DOGE task force had launched at HUD. That same week, a document circulated among HUD workers that was reported on by national news outlets and obtained by the Tribune showing HUD's workforce could be halved. It indicated that the total agency head count as of Jan. 21 was about 8,300, with some departments slated for more drastic staff reductions than others. "People aren't going to be able to get their questions answered," said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat, in a recent interview with the Tribune. "Programs aren't going to be publicized, and people won't know they exist." Chicago's public housing division shrunk from 24 employees to 17, mainly stemming from the resignation programs, Dawson said at the board meeting. New York's public housing division, previously the country's largest, Dawson said, now employs 14 staffers from a peak of 40. Milwaukee's public housing division stands at four employees. HUD did not respond when asked how many Milwaukee workers have left since the inauguration. Kristin Faust, executive director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority - the state agency in charge of financing affordable housing, including by administering the federal tax credit program that is the primary mechanism for developing affordable housing in the U.S. - told the Tribune that the authority is expecting response rates from HUD to slow. "Thus far, we haven't seen that a lot, but I have had individual conversations with HUD staff and my sense is that a lot of them feel like they are doing two to three people's jobs," Faust said. "They are very motivated and that is not sustainable." Trump has proposed a roughly 43% budget slash to HUD programs, as well as a shake-up in the funding structures of the programs. In his first term, Trump also proposed sweeping cuts to HUD, but did not achieve them. The House appropriations subcommittee on HUD will meet Monday to hash out specific agency appropriations packages after the passage of Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The Illinois Housing Development Authority's board, which is bipartisan, approved a resolution at the end of last month objecting to the proposed HUD cuts. Quigley, a member of the House appropriations subcommittee that manages HUD funding, pressed Secretary Turner in a June meeting to provide details on how cutting HUD's budget so drastically will lead to more efficiency. In an exchange between Quigley and Turner, Turner brought up his Christian faith, did not provide the requested details and said, "We look forward to working with you. It is not just words." "There is a thoughtful middle ground to being frugal and efficient in government," and it's not this proposal, Quigley told the Tribune. Housing authorities across the country are facing serious budget shortfalls. The Housing Authority of Cook County is facing a potential multimillion-dollar funding shortfall that could have repercussions throughout the real estate market as the struggling agency looks to cut costs, possibly leading to greater expenses for its housing voucher holders and a decline in the number of the people it serves. The agency attributes the shortfall to an increase in its voucher usage rate and rising rents, which eat into its limited dollars allocated by HUD. Chicago-area housing organizations are also facing funding cuts from HUD, with some receiving termination notices for grants in March, while others are in limbo as they wait for overdue contracts or to see what happens with expected awards. Some renovation projects aimed at preserving and greening existing affordable housing properties are on hold in Chicago as well, as the Trump administration takes aim at the program. At a recent Housing Authority of Cook County board meeting, Dawson told the board he was heartened to be with them to lead a refresher training on their responsibilities as commissioners. But he wasn't physically there. His face showed up in a small box in the corner of a screen in a housing authority conference room while he sat in his office, four blocks away. The Trump administration enforces new procedures that limit federal government employees' travel. HUD had not approved Dawson's in-person attendance, which required a roughly eight-minute walk. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Black America Web
5 hours ago
- Black America Web
The Retirement Gap: Why Saving For The Future Is Harder For Black Americans
Source: AndreyPopov / Getty Despite rising incomes, many Black Americans continue to face major hurdles when it comes to saving for retirement, according to the 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The survey, which included an oversample of Black workers and retirees, revealed that the racial wealth gap persists across income levels. Among households earning $75,000 or more, just 33% of Black respondents reported having at least $250,000 in savings and investments, compared to 63% of non-Black respondents. Debt is a key factor: 63% of higher-income Black households said debt was a problem, versus 45% of non-Black households at similar income levels. Nearly half of those Black respondents said debt directly impacted their ability to save or retire comfortably. Debt remains a major barrier to wealth building for Black people. For example, Black student loan borrowers are disproportionately burdened by debt, with undergraduate Black borrowers paying an average of $386 per month, according to a 2024 report by the Education Data Initiative. Housing costs further compound this disparity. A 2022 report from Housing Matters found that, on average, Black homeowners pay an additional $13,464 over the life of a mortgage. This extra cost translates to approximately $67,320 in lost retirement savings for Black households, further widening the racial wealth gap. While many Black Americans feel confident managing daily expenses, fewer feel equipped to invest or plan for the long term. Among higher earners, only 77% of Black respondents reported saving for retirement, compared to 87% of non-Black counterparts. Retirement itself looks different, too. Around 44% of Black retirees said they left the workforce earlier than planned due to health issues or disability, compared to 32% of non-Black retirees. Many also returned to work for financial reasons and were more likely to say their retirement lifestyle fell short of expectations. Access to professional financial advice remains limited among the Black community. The study found that only 31% of Black respondents currently work with a financial advisor, although nearly half said they plan to in the future. Those who do seek help often prioritize managing debt, creating wills or estate plans, and securing life insurance over traditional retirement planning. While the data is alarming, researchers behind the eye-opening study said there are ways that the financial system can help Black individuals boost their retirement savings. These include providing greater assistance in managing competing financial priorities, such as reducing debt, supporting family members, and building long-term financial security. But Black folks don't have to wait on banks or institutions to take the first step. There are countless resources available to begin the journey toward generational wealth. It starts with prioritizing financial education, learning the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, and investing, while also exploring deeper topics like credit management, compound interest, and asset allocation. Black people can tap into a wide range of tools, including online courses, books, podcasts, and community workshops tailored to financial literacy. Connecting with financial professionals and attending local seminars can also offer practical guidance. By creating a culture of financial learning at home, Black individuals and families can not only strengthen their financial knowledge but also equip the next generation with the tools to start investing early and develop healthy money habits that last a lifetime. SEE MORE: Catalyzing Wealth-Building In The Black Community The Racial Wealth Gap And Solutions To Address It SEE ALSO The Retirement Gap: Why Saving For The Future Is Harder For Black Americans was originally published on
Chicago Tribune
15 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
State Farm defends hefty 27.2% hike in Illinois homeowners insurance rates
Challenged by everyone from consumer groups to Gov. JB Pritzker over its imminent 27.2% homeowners insurance rate increase in Illinois, State Farm faces the question: Will it seek to defend its widely criticized decision? The answer: hail yes. Citing more frequent extreme weather events such as wind, hail and tornados, insufficient premiums to cover claims and the rising cost of repairs due to inflation, State Farm said its Illinois homeowners business has seen 'unsustainable' losses in 13 of the last 15 years. It needs to raise rates to remain 'financially strong,' the company said in a statement. 'These losses are driven in part by severe weather damaging communities across the state,' State Farm said. 'No company can absorb such losses forever and still be there for customers when disaster strikes.' In 2024, for example, State Farm paid out $1.26 in claims for every $1 premium collected from Illinois homeowners, the insurance giant said. That included $638 million in hail damage claims, second only to Texas. The rate increase, first reported by the Tribune last week, has created a political firestorm for Bloomington-based State Farm, the largest home insurer in Illinois. State Farm is raising homeowners insurance rates in Illinois by a whopping 27.2% beginning Aug. 15, according to a filing with the state last month. The rate hike, one of the largest in the state's history, will affect nearly 1.5 million policyholders. New policyholders will pay the higher rates as of Tuesday. In addition, State Farm is implementing a minimum 1% deductible on all wind and hail losses, raising the out-of-pocket costs for homeowners filing a related damage claim. On Thursday, Pritzker issued a statement expressing concern over State Farm's 'unfair and arbitrary insurance rate hike,' challenging the methodology used to calculate the increased premiums to be paid by Illinois homeowners. Pritzker said the increases are based on catastrophe loss numbers that are inconsistent with the Illinois Department of Insurance's analysis, concluding that State Farm was shifting out-of-state costs onto Illinois homeowners. In its statement, State Farm said it does not shift costs between states and dismissed Pritzker's claims as 'political rhetoric.' The insurance company said it has provided information to the state to support its position. 'Illinois rates are based on Illinois risk — it's as simple as that — not for losses in other states,' State Farm spokesperson Gina Morss-Fischer told the Tribune on Monday. State Farm has been hit hard by recent weather-related losses in other states. For example, the insurance company has received nearly 13,000 claims and paid out more than $4.2 billion to California homeowners who suffered losses during the devastating wildfires that raged across the Los Angeles area in January, according to an update posted last week on its website. While State Farm contends that out-of-state losses do not directly affect Illinois premiums, at least one industry analyst said there is a potential connection. If losses are big enough in one state, insurance companies may have to pay more for reinsurance — the insurance company for the insurance companies — resulting in increased rates for policyholders across the country, according to Shannon Martin, an industry analyst for Bankrate. In addition, as people rebuild from wildfires in California to floods in Florida, the increased costs of everything from labor to materials can deplete resources and make it more expensive to do repairs in other parts of the country, including Illinois, Martin said. 'You don't operate in a vacuum, and you can't, because we're all part of a risk pool,' Martin said. 'When there's loss in one area, everyone's going to feel it in some way, shape or form.' The increased frequency of extreme weather events has pushed up homeowners insurance rates across the country by 40.4% over the past six years, according to LendingTree's 'State of Home Insurance' report for 2025. Illinois had the seventh highest increase, rising 59.5% between 2019 and 2024, the report found. In February, Northbrook-based Allstate raised homeowners insurance rates by 14.3% for nearly 248,000 Illinois customers. Last year, Allstate raised homeowners insurance rates in Illinois by 12.7%, while State Farm implemented a 12.3% increase. State Farm's latest and likely largest-ever Illinois increase has renewed calls for broader legislation to regulate the rates insurers can charge homeowners. Unlike most states, in Illinois, which is home to both State Farm and Allstate, insurers do not need regulatory approval to raise premiums. Legislation is pending in Springfield that would require regulatory approval of larger rate hikes. 'It's time for the General Assembly to act,' Abe Scarr, director of Illinois PIRG, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, said in a statement. 'At a minimum, Illinois should empower the state Department of Insurance to reject or modify excessive rate hikes, a basic consumer protection that residents in almost every other state enjoy.' At the same time, increased regulation can precipitate companies to abandon markets where it is no longer profitable to insure homes exposed to more frequent weather events. A December report by the Senate Budget Committee said insurance markets have been destabilized from New England to Hawaii as providers decline to renew homeowners policies. 'Having more oversight, on one hand, could really help homeowners, but on the other hand, if carriers don't want to be there, that puts homeowners in a pickle,' Martin said. 'So it's about finding that balance where people can find affordable and available insurance at a rate that insurance companies are satisfied that they're profitable.' Illinois ranked 22nd in average annual home insurance costs at $2,743 per year, according to the LendingTree report. A 27.2% rate increase would add about $746 per year to that total for Illinois homeowners who have State Farm insurance. While homeowners rates are going up, State Farm is offering a bit of good news for Illinois customers this week. On Friday, State Farm's auto insurance rates in Illinois will decrease an average of 5.7%, with some customers seeing reductions in premiums of up to 15%, based on lower projected claims costs, the company said.
