Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau sounds off Monday night about what he liked and didn't like about changes to the SAFE-T Act. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)
Pekau has mixed reactions to SAFE-T Act changes
By Jeff Vorva
In response to criticism during the election campaign, the Illinois General Assembly has made some changes to the SAFE-T Act.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, one of the act’s harshest critics, is not completely satisfied.
Pekau has voiced criticism of the law, especially its no bail provision that kicks in on January 1, in his role as mayor and during his campaign for Congress.
The bill was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021.
Pekau’s fears, echoed by many Republicans and a few Democrats, was that certain provisions of the law would harm citizens because of its leniency toward criminals.
The Illinois House and Senate adopted some changes last week, but it was not enough, Pekau said.
“Positive changes were made,” Pekau said at Monday’s village board meeting. “I’m not going to deny that the changes that were made were positive.
“But this legislation is still really bad. It’s moved somewhat in the right direction, so hopefully we won’t see Armageddon on January 1. Hopefully, the other things we can figure out before they become really problematic.”
Pekau said the lame duck session last week considered more than 300 pages worth of changes while the original act has more than 750 pages.
Pekau addressed some of the public concerns that he raised that were being changed and revised last week.
He said he didn’t like a provision that said offenders released on electronic monitoring had to be in violation for 48 hours before law enforcement could act.
“I said they could almost drive to Alaska in that time,” Pekau said. “The new bill removes that portion of the law.”
He also publicly lambasted a ruling that police officers would no longer be able to remove trespassers from businesses or residents.
“The new bill maintains the language instructing officers to issue a citation in lieu of custodial arrest for cases below Class A misdemeanors, which trespassing was reduced to a Class B misdemeanor,” Pekau said. “However, it also specifies that police maintain the discretion to make an arrest if a person is a threat to the community or they continue to break the law. It, however, does not address the lack of immunity for the officers for the discretion that they used.”
Peaku said he applauded those who fought against releasing suspects from county jails on January 1.
“The changes made in the new law will apply to those charged with crimes after that date, according to the new law,” the mayor said. “Those who were held in lieu of bail before 2023 will be able to petition to have their cases moved to the new system.”
Pekau also took some shots at Pritzker, who won re-election in November.
“The governor lied when he signed the SAFE-T Act,” Pekau said. “He lied when answering questions about the bill. And he spent tens of millions of dollars running defamatory and vulgar false television ads during his campaign.”
Pekau was also critical of opponents who called the mayor and like-minded officials “racists” for opposition of the SAFE-T Act. Those he pointed out as the worst offenders were state Representative Justin Slaughter (D-27th) as well as media fact checkers who disputed the anti-SAFE-T Act claims.
“I haven’t heard an apology from any of them,” Pekau said. “After my comments were made [several media outlets] supposedly fact checked my comment and said they were false.
“Then, why the changes? Why was any of this changed if it was false? Because we told the truth and the fact-checkers did not.”
2 Comments
Local News
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale
Spread the loveFrom staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at…
Donate teddy bears to our local police
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Have you ever seen the 1955 movie The Night of the Hunter? The children in this movie show such bravery and acceptance in what life has thrown at them. They have to deal with unimaginable events and sadness. …
Boy Scouts collecting tattered flags for disposal
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Goodbye April, hello May. Our American Flag, the symbol of our country, should always be treated with respect. But after bearing Chicago’s brutal winters and hot blazing summers along with being in the…
Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to eliminate the state’s grocery tax will be costly for the village. Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th), accompanied by Mayor Terry Vorderer, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Springfield where they learned more about the governor’s proposal to eliminate…
Palos Heights recognizes volunteers
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights handed out awards last week recognizing the services provided by volunteers through the years. The proclamations, which were read aloud during the city council meeting April 16, were a testament to the city’s volunteers and were handed out as part of Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers were cited for…
Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match…
SD218 puts on annual Arts Extravaganza
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The arts have become a major portion of the curriculum Community High School District 218. Showcasing those many talents, the Friends of CHSD 218’s Education Foundation proudly hosted its 15th annual Arts Extravaganza on April 5 at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. “The Arts Extravaganza is a great event…
Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park. The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of…
Neighbors
Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight…
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great…
EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second…
Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards…
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Well what about individuals, crossing the border and committing crimes and going back home and stealing jobs ???? what’s different ???? and for individuals that’s home and can’t afford bond is stress cause they are homeless and jobless are committing crimes, do to them can’t take care of their kids! Also false arrest from police officers, that lie on individuals to make their quoter…
It seems to me, & the Bible says this, that Mankind LOVES DARKNESS & THAT THE HEART IS DESPERATELY WICKED . . . PERIOD . . .
WHY WOULD ANY SANE PERSON BE IN FAVOR OF ANY LAW THAT PUTS ARRESTED OFFENDERS BACK ON THE STREETS INDEFINETLY WITHOUT BAIL. I THINK THE ANSWER IS THAT THESE PEOPLES’ FAMILIES & FRIENDS ARE CAREER CRIMINALS. THEY WANT TO CREATE A “NEW SUBCLASS” IN OUR SOCIETY . . . A “PRIVIEGED CRIMINAL” CLASS . . .
S M H !!! ISN’T THAT JUST SWEET & TENDER . . . TO WARM THE INNERMOST COCKLES OF EVERYONES’ HEARTS . . . ????????????????????????
ENOUGH ENOUGH . . . IT HAS TO BE OBVIOUS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT LOST THIER MINDS YET, THAT WE HAVE SEVERELY CORRUPTED & PERVERTED “LEADERSHIP” IN PLACE WHO ARE HELL-BENT ON MAKING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE FOR THE NON-CRIMINALS IN OUR SOCIETY . . .