Woodstock Institute’s research on racial and economic disparities in Chicago’s vehicle ticketing practices is featured in this article from the Chicago Reader: “In “The Debt Spiral,” a 2018 report from Chicago’s Woodstock Institute (a nonprofit research and policy organization...
Woodstock Institute was proud to join fellow advocates Financial Inclusion for All Illinois, Heartland Alliance, Chicago Jobs Council, COFI, and Legal Action Chicago in fighting to get this impactful program extended for another year. “Extending this program another year...
Roughly 41,000 Illinois households with incomes low enough to qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit will not have unpaid traffic fines, unpaid parking tickets and outstanding court judgments withheld from their 2020 state income tax refunds.
City Collaborative Proposes Incremental Reforms to Chicago’s Vehicle Ticketing System Debt Forgiveness Program Could Provide Tangible Support to Impacted Chicagoans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2019 PRESS CONTACTS: Jenna Severson (o) 312-368-0310 (jseverson@woodstockinst.org) CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago City Clerk today...
Illinois, quit suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid parking tickets (Chicago Sun-Times) OPINION By Ben Ruddell and Brian Costin During a routine 2008 traffic stop in Chicago, LaSheria’s life was permanently changed. After being stopped, she learned that her driver’s...
By Elliott Ramos, WBEZ & Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica Illinois The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved the first reforms aimed at helping the city’s low-income motorists cope with ticket debt, with more significant changes potentially on the way. The approved...
Anna Valencia proposed creating city sticker options so low-income drivers can afford to be in compliance and avoid costly tickets. by Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ City Clerk Anna Valencia on Tuesday called for changes to Chicago’s vehicle sticker program...
By Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Seven weeks after the city pledged to address the issue, drivers are still on the hook — and now Chicago’s ticketing practices are becoming an issue in the mayor’s race. The City of...
By Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, and Elliott Ramos, WBEZ Chicago has issued 20,000 duplicate city sticker tickets since 2007. City officials are now looking at whether this violates a city ordinance and say motorists might be in for a refund. In less...
By Roxanne Liu, American Banker Consumer advocates are urging local governments and courts to improve their debt-collection systems to take into the account the ability of low-income households to pay fines or court costs related to traffic violations or other...