Press Releases

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s annual budget and state of the state address:

“As the Trump administration continues to strip our state of the programs and benefits our communities need and deserve, Illinois refuses to lay down.

“I commend Governor Pritzker for putting forth a budget that recognizes these unrealistic fiscal pressures by investing more resources to ensure those receiving SNAP benefits are able to navigate the changing requirements with ease.

“However, food insecurity continues to persist – which is why I am pleased the governor is proposing additional funds to enhance accessibility to healthy foods in food deserts. This goes hand-in-hand with legislation I am sponsoring to make food a right rather than a privilege.

“Over the coming months, I will continue fighting to uplift our families, protect our resources, and invest in neighborhoods that deserve opportunity and stability.“

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Willie Preston is leading a new measure to require grocery stores that offer digital coupons to have matching paper coupons available for shoppers.

“Not everyone knows how to – or wants to – use a digital coupon,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “We are working to make it so people affected, often older adults, can still use paper coupons and are not excluded from savings.”

CHICAGO – Thanks to State Senator Preston’s advocacy, Oak Lawn Park District will receive $600,000 from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant to help continue ongoing improvements.

“Community parks are a key pillar to the health of a city and a child’s enrichment,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This investment will build on our efforts to provide safe, holistic and modern public spaces for the people of the Sweet Sixteenth District. The 16th District is rich with parks and green space and I will continue investing in these beautiful places so families can enjoy them for generations to come.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston held a press conference Tuesday to outline his Property Justice and Community Recovery Act – long-term structural reform to stop wealth extraction from disinvested communities, which will in turn stabilize neighborhoods.

“For too long, our tax sale system has enabled predatory investors to exploit struggling homeowners and extract wealth from our most vulnerable communities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This legislation would flip that broken system on its head. We're working to end risk-free speculation, forgiving crushing tax debt when it's unjust, and putting properties back into the hands of residents, nonprofits and local developers who will actually invest in our neighborhoods."