Assorted news and views

They’re also fleeing DuPage County

A new report, “The US Counties Experiencing the Sharpest Population Declines since the Trump Administration,” repeats the news that suburban DuPage County is losing population. What’s new is that it ranks seventh in the nation among big counties losing population. That’s surprising because DuPage County is mostly Pleasantville U.S.A., home to the stereotypical American suburb–leafy and safe. Must be some other reason, eh? Cook County, by the way, ranks fifth.

Must legislative redistricting take religion into account?

Caselaw requires that community, ethnic, racial political and other demographic factors be taken into account when redrawing legislative districts every decade. But I wasn’t aware that faith communities must also be considered.

The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition thinks so. The group, in an email, properly criticized the highly politicized and corrupt process in Illinois, but added that:

Illinois has the largest per capita and diverse American Muslim population in the nation. Illinois Muslims are over 3% of the state’s total population and are of every race, ethnicity, and background. Illinois Muslims are business owners, healthcare professionals, educators, union members, factory workers, philanthropists, and tax payers. We strongly support and engage with our public officials, but we also unapologetically call out inequity. It is unacceptable that the 2021 legislative maps provide our diverse communities with zero representation.

Should the Democratic machine that’s doing the redistricting also stop breaking up Catholic parishes that define so many Chicago neighborhoods?

Chicago Cops are getting out.

The Epoch Times reports:

The Chicago Police Department has lost more than 700 officers since 2019, according to data The Epoch Times obtained from the department. In 2019, the department was able to hire 459 officers. In 2020, that number dropped to 157. This year, 105 have been hired as of April 30, based on the data. Meanwhile, 646 officers retired or resigned last year, compared to 592 in 2019. This year, 330 have left as of April 30.

Biden feathers his nest.

You expected otherwise? President Joe Biden needs a lot more staff around him than any previous president. Adam Andrzejewski,  CEO/Founder of OpenTheBooks.com, writes:

Projected four-year costs of Biden’s White House payroll could top $200 million. For comparison, inflation adjusted, the Trump administration spent $164.3 million (2017-2020) and the Obama administration spent $188.5 million (2009-2012). 

Go here for the full list of special assistants, deputy assistants and and, I suppose, assistant assistants.

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