OCTOBER 18, 2017
Vol. I No. 11
@village_free
@maywoodnews
With soda tax canned, area businesses hope patrons return Cook County commissioners voted 15-1 in favor of repeal, effective Dec. 1 By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted 15-1 on Wednesday to repeal the deeply unpopular sweetened beverage tax, which tacked on an additional penny per ounce onto certain sugary drinks. The roll back goes into effect on Dec. 1. The tax was designed to help fill a $1.8 billion hole in the county’s budget. The office of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle — who was the tie-breaking vote in favor of the tax back when it passed the board in November 2016 — estimated that the tax could generate $200 million a year in revenue. See SODA TAX on page 7
thevillagefreepress.org
Doc talks Trump PAGE 2
A HOME AT KATHY’S: Customers of Kathy’s Café in Maywood think of the restaurant as a second home. During a recent visit on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2017, a photographer and a reporter explored why. Read more on page 8. Sebastian Hidalgo/VFP
D209 suspends PMSA teacher
Dan Pellegrini had posted anti-DACA comments on Facebook last month By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
A Proviso Math and Science Academy math teacher who commented on Facebook that undocumented immigrants who have
come to the U.S. as children should “go back” has been suspended without pay. The Proviso Township High Schools District 209 school board voted unanimously to authorize the suspension of at a regular meeting on Oct. 10. Board President
Theresa Kelly abstained while board member Della Patterson, who had recently been hospitalized due to emergency health issues, was absent. See D209 SUSPENSION on page 4