Lake County Government News
Dear Neighbor,
It was great to see so many people at the Lake Bluff Farmer's Market today! Thank you for stopping by to speak with me about Lake County Government and the Forest Preserves. Several mentioned how much they love the biking and walking trails and the new paratransit service - Ride Lake County - for seniors and people with disabilities. I'm glad that Lake County will be the first in the state with Pace's all-electric fleet of buses, instead of the current diesel-powered vehicles, by 2026. This will go a long way to making the air cleaner, particularly in Waukegan, where the bus terminal is located.
211 continues to be a great success in Lake County, connecting people with assistance on housing, utilities, food, mental health, and other critical needs. The most recent quarterly report shows that the vast majority of calls are for Housing & Shelter, followed by Utilities and Mental Health & Addiction Services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please consider calling 211.
If you've spoken with me at all you know that the mental health crisis is something I've been working on since joining the board. The Living Room Wellness Center, a vital partnership between the Independence Center and Lake County Government, provides a safe comfortable, inviting environment where skilled Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) provide crisis intervention referrals and other needed services for guests experiencing a crisis. The Living Room is an alternative to the emergency room and is a life-saving addition to the mental health services provided by caring individuals and non-profits in Lake County.
Lastly, the Lake County Board is holding monthly Committee of the Whole meetings focused on the impact of gun violence. Earlier this month we heard from Mayors Rockingham (North Chicago) and Rotering (Highland Park) about how gun violence affects their communities and the ripple effects they can expect to see for the future. We also heard from experts regarding the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative here in Lake County and the state of Illinois. Our next meeting will be on September 9, 2022 at 9am and will focus on the public health implications of Gun Violence locally and beyond.
As always, it is an honor to serve as Chair and your representative on the Lake County Board and the Forest Preserve Board. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Sandy