Welcome to Senator Willie Preston's Legislative Website

ICYMI - Chicago Tribune Op-Ed: "If Chicago won't act to allow video gaming, the state must step in."

• Chicago Tribune
• Op-Ed
• Video Gaming
• Hospitality Industry

CHICAGO – Sixteenth District State Senator Willie Preston is introducing a package of legislation to compel the City of Chicago to allow the video gaming terminals that were legalized more than nine months ago, but are being stalled by a lack of licensing.

Preston lays out the rationale for the new laws in a recent Chicago Tribune op-ed, writing:

“Our hospitality industry is hanging on by a thread, especially in the neighborhoods. If this administration is too afraid of Bally’s to act to save the taxpayers and the small businesses of this city, we must act, and we will.”

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Preston announces additional funding for food security improvement

• Food insecurity
• Groceries
• Illinois Grocery Initiative
• Grant Program

CHICAGO — State Senator Willie Preston announced that new funding is available through the Illinois Grocery Initiative’s New Stores in Food Deserts, Equipment Upgrades, and Grocery Rescue grant programs – representing a $26 million investment in limiting food deserts and keeping grocery stores open in communities across the state.

“The Illinois Grocery Initiative is a crucial program for helping our communities invest in improving residents’ lives,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Increasing access to fresh, healthy food saves residents time and money.”

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Preston: Social media safeguards are a first step toward protecting children

• Social Media
• Children
• Safeguards
• Online Safety
• Illinois Attorney General

CHICAGO — State Senator Willie Preston said recent efforts to strengthen safeguards for young people on social media represent a necessary first step in online safety, while stressing that much more must be done to protect children from the risks they face online.

“Any meaningful effort to better protect children online is a step in the right direction, but it is only a starting point,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Social media companies have spent years building platforms designed to keep young people engaged. They have a responsibility to ensure those same platforms are not putting children’s safety and well-being at risk.”

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Preston announces summer storm assistance for residents

• Storm Damage
• Disaster Assistance
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Waived Tax Penalties and Interest

CHICAGO – State Senator Willie Preston is sharing disaster assistance for residents affected by the summer storms on July 27 and Aug. 9-11. Cook County families and businesses may be eligible to receive recovery assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as a waiver for tax penalties and interest.

“The severe storms that recently came through our area left significant damage, and our communities are still picking up the pieces,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Residents and businesses deserve support in this tough time, and we need to stand together and look out for each other.”

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