GAS TAX WOULD FUEL ANTI-VIOLENCE PLAN
Sneed is told Cook County Board Commissioner Richard Boykin plans to curb the city’s gun violence with a new tax on motor fuel to pump $50 million into a new jobs program for at-risk youth.
Translation: Watch for Boykin, who represents a huge chunk of the city’s West Side, to seek a $0.04 increase in the county’s special use gas tax when he pitches a special jobs bill at the next Cook County Board meeting in mid-April.
“As a commissioner representing 60 percent of the West Side of Chicago, I cannot avoid the fact that citizens of my district experience a disproportionate number of the shootings and killings in the county,” said Boykin, who is set to unveil his jobs bill at the Chicago Urban League Monday — the 48th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination.
“As a concerned citizen, I cannot sit idly by while we experience the highest number of first-quarter shootings in over 17 years!”
The shocker: “We have a confirmed 80 percent unemployment rate for young people between the ages of 16-24,” he told Sneed.
“Look, all of these crises are related,” Boykin added.
“I am proposing a minimum special-use tax on motor fuel purchases that will directly drive a youth jobs programs and other critical violence-prevention initiatives to help stabilize and ultimately transform our most vulnerable communities.”
Boykin’s bill would target areas with the highest levels of unemployment and create a youth jobs council to determine what those areas are in order to generate jobs growth, he said.
“The jobs council would be comprised of heads of Cook County Board committees, who would be tasked with administering the jobs program in target communities,” said Keiana Barrett, a spokesman for Boykin.
“The jobs bill, which is comprehensive as well as a community stabilization plan, is aimed at reducing violence in the county,” she said.
“But, please note — if gas prices reach $5 a gallon and is sustained within a period of 30 days, then the tax hike would stop,” said Barrett, who added the motor fuel tax is now at 6%.
The Mel man . . .
Former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, who has been in trouble with the law for decades and fighting a court order to return to Chicago from South Africa, was once a young political star shining in a circle of political royalty like the Kennedy clan — when this item in Sneed’s column changed his life.
It was June 8, 1994.
“Is it true there is another politician who may be in trouble with the law? Does it involve a minor? Sneed hears the Cook County state’s attorney’s office received a phone call last week and a police report was subsequently filed. If it’s true, it’s a shocker. If it’s false, it’s reprehensible. Stay tuned.” It was true. 1994? Yikes!
The police blotter . . .
“I’m just a beat cop who happens to be in the superintendent’s chair!”
That’s what new top cop Eddie Johnson said to activist peace priest the Rev. Michael Pfleger, who is flying the flag of joy the city’s new top cop Eddie Johnson and new Chief of Patrol Fred Waller were former police commanders of the 6th police district, which houses St. Sabina Church, where he is pastor. “I love these guys,” Pfleger said. “But let me be more specific,” he added. “They know what a good cop is, so therefore they know what a bad cop is.”
Amen.
The celeb set . . .
“Holy moly! Actor Jim “Person of Interest” Caviezel, who played Jesus Christ in the blockbuster Mel Gibson movie “Passion of the Christ” (2004), was reminded recently how quickly time flies. Really flies. The boy who played Caviezel’s son in his first major film “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) is actor Henry Cavill, who stars as Superman in the new 2016 blockbuster: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
“We had a good laugh about how fast time goes by,” said Chicago’s band manager Pete Schivarelli.
I spy . . .
Pop superstar Ciara and her new fiancé, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, spotted dining at Chicago Cut Steakhouse Wednesday night with Ciara’s son, Future, the son of rapper Future, who was recently linked to Blac Chyna . . . and who comes up with these names?. . . Saturday’s birthdays: EmmyLou Harris, 69; Linda Hunt, 71, and Traci Braxton, 44. . . . Sunday’s birthdays: Eddie Murphy, 55; Wayne Newton, 74, and Alec Baldwin, 58.
Pop star Ciara and her new fiancé, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, spotted dining at Chicago Cut Steakhouse Wednesday night.
@SNEEDLINGS