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* Dave Dahl last week…
It’s Black History Month, and Comptroller Susana Mendoza honored five Illinoisans who are helping others. […]
Mendoza, lamenting that she can’t honor everybody who is deserving, said, “We take a lot of pride in knowing that Illinois has some of the most amazing people in this country. Obviously, our Black community is a treasure in our state. Frankly, this month is too short, right? I’m just going to say it. It’s the shortest month. It shouldn’t be.” […]
The other four honorees: […]
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr.
Mayor of Danville
* You may recall that last year Danville’s Mayor Williams pushed an anti-abortion ordinance ahead of the opening of an abortion clinic in the town…
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. explained that anyone shipping or receiving abortion pills or abortion-related supplies would be subject to fines of $1,500 per offense. There was discussion over an abortion clinic that may open up in Danville soon. Williams acknowledged that while he doesn’t think the ordinance would stop the clinic from opening, he said it could provide a means by which they couldn’t perform abortions.
The ordinance passed after Mayor Williams broke a tie.
Three weeks later…
A 73-year-old man is facing federal charges after he rammed a car into a planned abortion clinic in an eastern Illinois city and also was trying to set the building on fire, authorities announced Tuesday.
The site was attacked a second time a couple of weeks later.
* Personal PAC CEO Sarah Garza Resnick…
We are certainly dismayed that Comptroller Susana Mendoza has included the anti-choice Mayor of Danville Rickey Williams, Jr. as an honoree for her celebration of Black History Month. We reached out to her office yesterday and requested that the honor be rescinded from Mayor Williams, who cast the deciding vote last May to pass anti-abortion legislation through Danville’s City Council.
Personal PAC, the ACLU of Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and our incredible Personal PAC chapter leaders from Danville lobbied Mayor Williams extensively last year, explaining that the ordinance he was supporting was not only harmful, but violated Illinois law. Despite the opposition of these pro-choice leaders, and his own constituents, he still cast the deciding vote, aligning himself with anti-abortion extremists.
* Comptroller’s office…
Comptroller Mendoza has a perfect record on the issue of choice. She has been honored time and time again by countless pro-choice groups for her steadfast support of women’s rights to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. She also has a strong record of working across the aisle with people she disagrees with on some issues.
The Illinois Office of Comptroller was unaware of Mayor Williams’ vote to prevent an abortion clinic from opening in Danville. Nor was that vote ever brought to the Comptroller’s attention. Comptroller Mendoza vehemently disagrees with Mayor Williams’ vote on the clinic and she supports Personal PAC and Attorney General Kwame Raoul in their fight to void that law and bring access to health care to the women of Danville.
The Comptroller’s office recognized Mayor Williams during Black History Month for his historic achievement as the first Black mayor of the city of Danville, whose many Black residents have never had one of their own as mayor before; his financial success guiding the city, bringing $250 million in new economic development and the creation of over 500 new jobs; his achievement in driving down violent crime 60%; his service as executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Danville; his work helping kids learn at Project Success of Vermillion County; and his other life achievements.
According to Personal PAC, the owner of the Danville clinic, LaDonna Prince, is a Black woman.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 8:24 am
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Sorry, but wanting to strip away integral healthcare rights of women kind of trumps anything else positive, real or imagined, about a public official. And that’s a pretty universally understood position among Dem circles, so this is a dumb unforced error on their part.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:05 am
The mayor hasn’t engaged in felonious activity, etc. It’s okay to recognize people (of any color) for their achievements, while maintaining proper distance from some of their political or lifestyle views. This is the kind of division that has fractured much of our current society lately. I’m not a fan of LeBron whatsoever but I cannot deny his achievements in the NBA nor his extreme talent. Just one example.
Comment by Tuesday Morning Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:16 am
Glad it wasn’t me that recommended this honoree. Big fumble… she can’t be happy.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:25 am
Tuesday Morning absolutely correct. Why the Republicans eat themselves and the Progressive to a great extent. Man has accomplished much you can honor him for that and still disagree
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:35 am
The continued self-promotion catching up to her finally.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:37 am
Thankfully, Comptroller Mendoza omitted Mayor Tiffany Henyard (Dolton) from the list of honorees.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:53 am
==The mayor hasn’t engaged in felonious activity, etc.==
Attempting to restrict abortion access against the laws of the state is arguably close to this.
Comment by SWSider Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 9:57 am
We can’t honor him because he is against abortion. Oh how we have failed. Oh my how we have failed.
Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoondom Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 10:06 am
==Attempting to restrict abortion access against the laws of the state is arguably close to this.==
SWSider is absolutely right. Furthermore, Mendoza’s claim that the vote wasn’t brought to her attention doesn’t make the Comptroller’s list seem like much time or thought was put into the honorees.
Comment by BobIsMyUncle Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 10:14 am
allknowingmasterofraccoondom
Does this desire to “honor” those who deprive others of basic bodily autonomy extend to everyone or just people who deny women basic freedoms?
Furthermore, no one is judging the mayor for being against abortion. If he doesn’t like them, he doesn’t ever have to have one. The mayor is being judged for using the power of his office to subvert the legal rights of half of Danville’s population.
Comment by BobIsMyUncle Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 10:21 am
As long as he doesn’t endorse the terrorist attack on the facility I see no problem here.
Comment by Macon Bakin Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 10:24 am
Comptroller Mendoza is a bright spot in Illinois politics.
More like her please. Our necessity of late to agree 100% all the time is so unbecoming.
Comment by Occasionally Moderated Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 10:39 am
Unforced error on her part. Rickey Williams is entitled to his beliefs, but opening people’s mail and attempting to interfere with the actions of a medical clinic (in a pro-choice state, no less) are both wrong.
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 11:07 am
==I’m not a fan of LeBron whatsoever but I cannot deny his achievements in the NBA nor his extreme talent==
What in the world is this comparison about…
This mayor, as part of his day job and not in an extracurricular capacity, cut off access to abortion in his town.
==Our necessity of late to agree 100% all the time is so unbecoming.==
Well, ok, but the thing about Sarah Garza’s group is that you have to be rabidly pro-choice to get an endorsement nod, as Mendoza has gotten in the past. Awarding a anti-choice Mayor who is arguably only known statewide because of his anti-choice positions is not in line with a Personal PAC endorsement, even if the Mayor happens to also be Black and it’s Black History Month.
Doubling down on what a good idea it was to give that Mayor this award is even more weird. Her team made a mistake and didn’t use the google before they handed out made up awards. So just undo it and move on. We wouldn’t have even heard about it if she just fixed it.
Comment by Who else Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 11:09 am
>>The continued self-promotion catching up to her finally.
Interesting point, what do you call it when a man talks about his accomplishments? Effective communication style?
Comment by Rabbit Hole Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 11:31 am
=Our necessity of late to agree 100% all the time is so unbecoming.+
I am pro-choice and I have supported that position with my vote when I have the opportunity.
But, Occasionally Moderated is correct. We have to stop trying to cancel people because they do not agree with us. There are people in my life that I love but have completely different views on may things. If this mayor did something good, he should get recognized. Same for something bad. And he was.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 1:21 pm
“Our necessity of late to agree 100% all the time is so unbecoming. ”
Absolutely nobody is demanding 100% agreement. There are positions that are so odious they should be beyond the pale for any politician, and there are damaging events like climate change that are such strong immediate needs we need to get serious about addressing them.
If you have any ides for how to do that, you are welcome to propose them.
Comment by Odysseus Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 1:42 pm
“our necessity of late to agree 100% all the time is so unbecoming” says the side trying to blow up abortion clinics
Comment by Drury's Missing Clock Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 2:11 pm
What’s she thinking? The honor should have gone to the Black woman opening the clinic, La Donna Prince. She’s the hero here, not an anti choice mayor. Thank you Personal PAC for always standing up for reproductive rights. No exceptions!
Comment by Cosgrove Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:27 pm
A lot of mayors were deserving of recognition… this one made the list and caused someone else not to. His stance on abortion is inconsistent with women’s right to reproductive healthcare. As such, he deserves to be moved down the list. Women deserve better as their rights are being taken away across the country.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 3:50 pm
===says the side trying to blow up abortion clinics===
Says the guy who thinks Mendoza “is a bright spot in Illinois politics”
Comment by Occasionally Moderated Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 4:12 pm
Severely disappointed in Mendoza for this. Hopefully Personal PAC will pull its support of her in future elections. Really unforced error for her. Akin to . . . I don’t know, releasing an election ad early for a seat you’re not running for, for example.
Comment by Anan Tuesday, Feb 20, 24 @ 8:27 pm