Latest news with #SaraFeigenholtz
Chicago Tribune
06-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: State measure that expands mental health screenings for children will save lives
Illinois is facing an unprecedented youth mental health crisis. More than 365,000 Illinois children and adolescents have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression or behavior/conduct problems, as estimated by the 2023 National Survey of Children's Health, yet the number of school mental health professionals remains depleted, limiting critical opportunities to address these children's needs. Fortunately, state legislators in Springfield took meaningful action to ensure our children receive the lifesaving care they deserve. Most crucial was SB1560, expanding mental health screenings to all school-age children beginning in third grade. Many more children who struggle with mental health will be identified early and get the support they need. Unfortunately, critics have spread dangerous disinformation and lies about SB1560 and its lifesaving mission, recklessly claiming the bill has no safeguards, inadequate parental oversight or hidden agendas. These false attacks are harmful to the children who need our help most. The truth is undeniable: This bill will save lives across Illinois. By expanding on existing mental health screening policy, this bill will ensure that thousands more students across the state can finally access the resources they desperately need, and it preserves parents' right to opt out of these screenings. This bill ensures schools equip parents with vital information they need to best help their children. Just like with physical health, these results are treated with the utmost transparency. Schools are required to tell parents if they see signs that their children may be struggling with their mental health. No secrets, no shortcuts, just an honest conversation — an effective way for schools and parents to be partners in supporting Illinois children. The legislators in Springfield proved that the imperative of supporting our children transcends partisan politics. SB1560 passed with a 2-to-1 margin in the House and unanimous approval in the Senate — a powerful testament to its merit. Our children are facing a mental health crisis, and these struggles know no political party. This legislation ensures more Illinois children will have the early identification and intervention that is so effective in addressing mental health needs and preventing many of the long-term struggles that can be so devastating. We are grateful to Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and Rep. Lindsey LaPointe for championing this legislation, and their colleagues in the legislature for passing it. We know this will have a significant impact on the mental health of Illinois's Tribune Editorial Board is right to worry about artificial intelligence giving dangerous mental health advice ('AI therapy? We won't be lying on that couch,' June 18). But HB1806, as written, would ban the wrong AI. If Gov. JB Pritzker signs this bill, purpose-built mental health AI designed with clinical oversight would be illegal in Illinois. Meanwhile, ChatGPT — which might tell someone to use heroin — remains perfectly legal because it disclaims therapeutic intent. At Slingshot, we have worked with over 40 clinicians for months to build these principles into our AI, which Illinoisans are already using. We're not alone: Innovative companies across the country are tackling different aspects of the mental health crisis with thoughtfully designed AI tools. With mental health professional shortages and monthslong waits, we can't afford to ban the very innovations that might help. When general-purpose AI assistants encounter someone in distress, they do what they're trained to do: Follow instructions and please the user. That's how you might get an AI chatbot encouraging heroin use. Our AI can recognize concerning patterns and knows when to push back, when to validate and when to challenge. And it understands that sometimes being helpful means making users a little bit uncomfortable. Some states are getting this right. They're partnering with industry to develop thoughtful policies that acknowledge both risks and benefits — protecting people from dangerous AI while supporting innovations that expand access to care. Illinois can follow this lead. Thoughtful regulation distinguishes between general-purpose AI that happens to give mental health advice and purpose-built mental health AI that uses clinical validation. No one is suggesting AI replace human connection or professional care. But what happens to those who can't access human support? The choice isn't between human therapists and robots. It's between purpose-built, clinically informed AI and the dangerous alternatives people will inevitably turn to when there are no other often say that in today's political climate, it feels like we can't agree on anything. I understand the frustration — but I don't believe that's entirely true. At its core, public policy is a reflection of our shared values. And one of the values I know most of us still hold dear is this: We take care of our elders. Our seniors have spent their lives working, raising families, contributing to their communities and strengthening the very systems we benefit from today. They've earned the right to age with dignity, stability and purpose. That's not a partisan idea — it's a moral obligation. One way we can honor that obligation is by protecting and expanding programs that improve the quality of life for older adults. That includes Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — but also programs such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which too often fly under the radar. SCSEP provides paid, on-the-job training for low-income adults age 55 and older — people who want or need to keep working. It's a lifeline for many, helping cover the basics: rent, medicine, food and more. And it benefits our communities, too, by connecting employers with experienced, reliable workers. But right now, this critical program is in jeopardy. Although Congress has already approved funding for SCSEP for the upcoming program year starting in July, the U.S. Department of Labor has yet to release the funds. This delay is already causing stress for the very people SCSEP is meant to help. Here in Chicago, organizations such as community assistance programs are bracing for real consequences — program suspensions, income loss and seniors being left without the resources they rely on. If this funding isn't released soon, hundreds of older adults could lose the wages they depend on to survive. That's unacceptable. I'm working with my colleagues to explore what we can do at the state level. But this is a federal issue — and we need your voice. I'm urging everyone who believes in protecting our seniors to contact your federal representatives and demand immediate action. Programs such as SCSEP don't just help older adults — they also strengthen our entire workforce and honor the generations that came before us. Let's not turn our backs on those who helped build the world we now stand on. Let's stand with the recent enactment of SB126, Illinois will become the first state in the nation to mandate that state-regulated insurance plans cover federally approved Alzheimer's treatments — a historic step toward better care, earlier diagnosis and a future with more hope for families affected by this devastating disease. Gov. JB Pritzker's signing of this landmark law also ensures that patients will no longer be delayed by 'step therapy,' an insurance practice that forces individuals to try less expensive — and often ineffective — treatments before gaining access to the medications or treatments their doctors originally prescribed. For people living with Alzheimer's, time is not a luxury. Every moment matters. This legislation removes harmful obstacles and affirms that those impacted by dementia deserve timely, evidence-based care. Additionally, the law requires insurance coverage for diagnostic testing at a physician's request, ensuring that patients receive accurate diagnoses before treatment begins. Currently, more than 250,000 Illinoisans are living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia — a number that is expected to grow. The need for accessible and affordable care has never been greater. This victory would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of advocates, families and legislators, as well as a willingness to collaborate with the insurance industry. We're grateful for the leadership of legislative sponsors Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, and Rep. Mary Gill, D-Chicago, and for the bipartisan commitment to addressing one of the most urgent health challenges of our time. Illinois is a national leader in access to Alzheimer's care. We urge other states to follow our example — because patients and caregivers everywhere deserve the same chances at more time, more memories, and more dignity.
Chicago Tribune
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Letters: Something needs to be done to discourage speeders on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
I was driving my family to the C2E2 comic expo at McCormick Place last Sunday morning. Our route took us down one of America's most scenic roadways: DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Traffic was busy but not slow. All the drivers moved five miles above the stated 40 mph speed limit. We were driving south by the Lincoln Park Zoo when the driver of a Mercedes SUV came flying up in the left lane, found a car's width between my minivan and the car ahead, swung across two lanes, passed a row of cars ahead and swerved back to the middle lane, driving like he had just robbed a bank. Then the Mercedes driver got stuck behind an unintentional four-vehicle wall. I could see the middle-aged man gesturing wildly in his car, clearly enraged at those who were not involved in the same race he was, before he found the narrowest of space between the obstructors and sped ahead, rolling down his window and giving us all the middle finger for unintentionally stealing seconds from his life. My Midwest upbringing made me forgive such action; I created a narrative that the driver needed a bathroom. That said, the frequency of such interactions is why I support state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz's bill to study using artificial intelligence cameras to slow down such reckless behavior. ('AI-powered cameras may come to Lake Shore Drive,' April 16). This makes sense for three reasons. First, speeding on the drive is rampant, and I've rarely seen a driver pulled over, something I forgive, as doing so would put the officer and public at risk. Second, the complete disregard for the speed limit adds to a sense of lawlessness in our city. Third, speeding is pointless. The entire length of DuSable Lake Shore Drive is around 15 miles. Going 20 mph over the speed limit saves you a few minutes off the whole route. The whole advantage of the drive is to enjoy the view. If you're looking for speed, we have plenty of depressing highways you can enjoy. As the Tribune article notes, DuSable Lake Shore Drive is dangerous. We should do something to slow people down for our sanity and safety. — Nicholas Conant, Chicago Ageism at shelters Ageism is quite a subtle hard-to-fight prejudice. One organization is notorious for an unintentional form of this prejudice: animal shelters. Animal shelters broadcast they are bursting at the seams with animals in desperate need of a home. They cry: 'We are waiving adoption fees!' But senior citizens may have their adoption applications declined or ignored. Shelter may be under the apparent impression that anyone 65 years old or older is going to drop dead as soon as they walk out with an adopted animal. But youth does not guarantee long-term security for a pet. The simple truth is that seniors are more stable and financially secure than much of the population. They will not be subject to a sudden loss of income from a layoff or firing. Or move to an apartment that does not accept pets, which would lead to adopted animals being returned to the shelter. Shelters' logic is to keep a dog or cat in a cage rather than take a chance with anyone age 60 or older. — Peggy Cassidy, Franklin Park Police at Tesla dealer A recent Saturday, I walked past the Tesla dealership on Rush Street. There were about 30 people standing and silently holding signs, decrying Elon Musk and the current administration. They were not blocking the sidewalk; they were not accosting pedestrians; they were not preventing anyone from walking into the dealership; they were not interfering with traffic. Across the street stood about a dozen police officers talking among themselves because there was no activity requiring their intervention. On another occasion, I saw not a single protester, yet two police officers were stationed outside the showroom entrance. Given the city's claim of limited police resources, how does this make any sense? — Jeanne Martineau, Chicago Libraries are gems Regarding the editorial 'Leave libraries alone. They more than pay their way' (April 13): How I loved the picture of Eric Phung reading to his son at the library! My father took me to the library when I was a tot. It was a highly anticipated outing as we walked the several blocks to the Uptown branch. I was told that I would have my own card when I could print my name. I still remember the elation when this memorable event took place. Parents should take advantage of this wonderful tool. Libraries can create a lifelong love of reading. I have started volunteering at my local library and am a bit disappointed at the rather low patronage. — Carole Bogaard, Oak Lawn Ballpark memories Kudos to Ron Grossman for his memory-prompting April 13 story 'Chicago's Field of Dreams.' The year was 1946 when a family fishing vacation in northern Wisconsin was cut short because I had to return home to Chicago to play in a high-stakes 16-inch softball playoff game at Thillens Stadium between Chicago newspaper carrier teams. Thillens Stadium turned out to be a field of dashed dreams, as I was devastated by our loss and consequent missed trip to Detroit to play the Detroit newspaper-carrier championship team. However, members of our carrier team formed the nucleus of the Lobos, a Chicago Hermosa Park neighborhood team that went on to become the 1955 Illinois state 16-inch softball champions.
Axios
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Illinois Senate considers study of AI speed cameras on Lake Shore Drive
Chicago is not on the brink of installing AI speed cameras on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, but UIC could study the matter if a state bill becomes law. Why it matters: Many alarmed Chicagoans reached out last week to the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, to oppose speed cameras. But she stresses that the amended legislation simply seeks a study. It wouldn't add cameras. Yet. How it works: Unlike fixed cameras, the AI-powered cameras, already in use in the U.K. and Europe, can monitor drivers over time and be used randomly to prevent slowdowns near known sites followed by high speeds. Backstory: Feigenholtz, whose district includes the lakefront from Montrose to Oak Street, got interested in the issue when Gold Cost residents shared concerns about crashes, especially near North Avenue and the Drive. "You wouldn't believe the videos and photos they showed me," she tells Axios. "It's like a horror movie." This added to data from 2019 to 2024 showing 61.5% of the road fatalities in her district happened on the Drive. Between the lines: The recent panic Feigenholtz heard from residents was likely fueled by the reality that few consistently obey the Drive's 40mph speed limit. Some even emailed her to suggest "increasing the limit to 55," she says. Still, Feigenholtz believes any eventual cameras would be less about punishment and fees than deterrence, noting that, "studies show 80% of the people do not reoffend after getting a warning." Zoom in: The potential study would be done by the UIC Urban Transportation Center analyzing: Multi-year crash data on the Drive Potential effectiveness of the cameras on improving safety Possible psychological deterrents to habitual speeding and other non-AI options. The intrigue: Ald. Daniel La Spata, whose effort to lower the city's speed limit last February was also whittled down to a study, tells Axios, "The study will come back ... showing that it will work and telling her what she already knows. I just hope Sen. Feigenholtz has the courage to act on this and that her colleagues do as well."
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Illinois exploring speed cameras, AI to reduce speeding and crashes on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Illinois legislators are looking into using speed cameras and artificial intelligence technology to reduce speeding and crashes on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. A State Senate executive committee is holding a hearing on the topic Thursday in Springfield. State Senator Sara Feigenholtz has filed a bill to have the University of Illinois - Chicago study how speed cameras and AI traffic camera technology could reduce speeding and crashes on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Sen. Feigenholtz says there have been more than 15,000 crashes on North DuSable Lake Shore Drive, or about seven crashes a day. SB1507 would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, and allow a safety zone to include a portion of DuSable Lake Shore Drive if the Chicago Department of Transportation designates it as a "high crash corridor."
