Toni Preckwinkle
The Civic Federation released a report today on Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle's first 100 days in office, praising her for rolling back the sales tax, reigning in the budget deficit and centralizing back-office work.
It's the first time in recent memory that someone's said something positive about the Cook County government, and it suggests things have truly changed since the departure of the Toddler.
However, the report also notes that the county board has been meddling with the supposedly independent health and hospitals authority, reducing salaries for some hospital positions, requiring the hospital staff to take furloughs, and backpedaling on a commitment to provide $316 million in hospital funding. Read more...
From a press release issued by county board president Toni Preckwinkle:
"Foley was an integral part of a turn-around that resulted in less reliance on County tax dollars and an increase in access to patient services. Foley is leaving the County to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.
He said on Thursday that he regrets having to leave the County and is proud of his achievements during his tenure. Read more...
William Foley
William Foley, CEO of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, is reportedly resigning after two years on the job.
Foley joined the system when it was newly independent of the Cook County Commission, and saw it through a top to bottom revamping. Elements of that plan, including turning Provident and Oak Forest hospitals into outpatient centers because of low patient numbers, proved controversial. A state board shot down the Oak Forest idea Monday.
I'll be curious to see who's next to jump into this political hotseat, and whether the system's declining census and apparently difficult relationship with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board might narrow the field of contenders.
Consultants for the Cook County Health and Hospitals will recommend that the system look to the county's northwest corridor as a new market, while using Oak Forest Hospital as a regional outpatient center.
John Abendshien, a consultant working on a long-term strategic plan for the system, told hospital board members that changes in health care will require more locations to treat more patients, and they must be ready.
"There is going to be a rising tide of demand," he said during the board's regular meeting today. Read more...
The Cook County Health and Hospitals System's board tomorrow will debate a resolution in support of making the system permanently independent of county government.
The 2008 ordinance establishing the independent board calls for the health system to revert back to Cook County Board oversight in 2011.
Making the health board permanent was a campaign point for candidates vying for the County Board presidency. Both Democrat Toni Preckwinkle and Republican Roger Keats support making it permanent; Green Party candidate Tom Tresser says he would like the board embrace more diversity and community input. Read more...
