Austin Weekly News 051519

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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■

Vol. 33 No. 20

Police, activists comfort shooting victims’ families,

May 15, 2019

austinweeklynews.com

Also serving Garfield Park

@AustinWeeklyChi

PAGE 10

@AustinWeeklyNews

State t t comptroller pt ll visits i it Loretto Hospital, page 9

Senate debating corporate board diversity bill Bill now includes Latinos, but Senate committee chair says more changes needed By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would require Illinois-headquartered corporations to include women and minorities on their boards of directors is now being considered in the Senate, where a committee chairwoman recently suggested changes could be applied. House Bill 3394 stirred heated debate when it passed out of the House last month. In its original form, it would have required every publicly traded corporation that has its main executive headquarters in Illinois to have at least one African-American and one woman on its board of directors, and it would impose financial penalties on corporations that fail to comply. So far in the Senate, it has been expanded to include Latino representation as well, and it now provides that one person can serve to fill two or more categories. Speaking to the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee, Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), a sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said it is not intended to be punitive. “The intent of it is to look at the disparities on these boards,” he said. “Women, who make up 50 percent of the population nationally, and See DIVERSITY TOUR on page 2

Black college tour

Submitted photo

Introspect Students at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., one of several Historically Black Colleges and Universities that the students toured in April. See more photos on page 4.

Could larger affordable housing be headed to West Side? West Side aldermen back ordinance they hope will lead to family housing

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

A new measure recently approved by the Chicago City Council could bring more affordable housing units to the West Side. The City Council voted on an ordinance on April 10 that amends the afford-

able housing regulations for an affordable housing pilot program designed for the Near North and Near West Sides. The ordinance — sponsored by Aldermen Michael Scott (24th), Walter Burnett (27th) and Jason Ervin (28th) — gives developers more flexibility to build a smaller number of larger units, said Er-

vin. The aldermen hope that the modified legislation will lead to a larger supply of affordable housing units that are spacious enough for families. For example, if a developer built a 50-studio building near United Center, See AFFORDABLE HOUSING on page 5

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