Support for the License to Work Act
Statement from the Transit Table
7/23/2019
“Mayor Lightfoot’s commitment to support the License to Work Act is a long-awaited, strong first step in transforming Chicago’s inequitable vehicle ticketing system, as is the ordinance she proposed with City Clerk Anna Valencia. For years, the Transit Table advocates have sought an end to the practice of driver’s license suspension as a way to penalize those who cannot pay expensive non-driving tickets, which keeps people out of work and in poverty,” said Eric Halvorson of Chicago Jobs Council who leads the Transit Table. “Today’s announcement marks a significant victory, but it will take time to untangle a legacy of bad policy decisions that have trapped thousands of low-income people and people of color in crippling debt. We promise to hold each other accountable to our communities’ needs as we continue to push for equity across all Chicago’s fines, fees, and debt collection practices.”
The Transit Table is a coalition of Illinois’ social service providers, advocates, and other stakeholders working to eliminate transportation barriers that keep people out of work and in poverty. The Transit Table members include, but are not limited to:
- ACLU of Illinois
- Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice
- Chicago Jobs Council
- Chicago Urban League
- Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
- Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights
- Jane Addams Resource Corporation
- Opportunity Advancement Innovation, Inc. (OAI)
- Revolution Workshop
- Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
- Woodstock Institute
The License to Work Act was also supported by Americans for Prosperity—Illinois.
Chicago Appleseed is proud to be part of the Transit Table. We look forward to passage of the License to Work Act as an important move toward policies and practices which no longer disproportionately burden low-income residents when they must interact with courts and government. With the Mayor’s announcement, we’re one step closer to a more equitable vehicle ticketing system, and that’s worth praising!
You can follow the Transit Table on Twitter at @License2Work.