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SEIFFE:  Keeping An Eye On Elmwood Park

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

By Ralf Seiffe

A friend who grew up in Elmwood Park once told me a story involving a neighbor who lived on her block.  It seemed that all day and all night, there was a Cadillac idling at the curb in front of one particular house.  Inside were two men who kept an eye on things in the neighborhood.  Given the opulence of the automobile, it’s doubtful these watchdogs were policemen.  

Those halcyon days of blatant organized crime are long past but Elmwood Park now suffers from another outfit, the State Board of Education.  At issue was the State Board’s insistence that the Elmwood Park schools admit children that are federally prohibited from seeking any education in the United States .  The locals resisted and by the end of last week, the State Board acted to cut-off state funding to the district and to de-recognize the district for the purpose of athletic competition.
   
The State Board took this step despite a request by the federal judge hearing the case to refrain, according to the District’s attorney Jack Murphy.  He appeared on the radio this morning and stated that Elmwood Park would have won the case had it been heard as scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday Feb 27th.  Instead, the State Board ignored the request and instituted the cut-off last week.  The District, faced with losing $3 million in state aid and their children being barred from all state-sanctioned competition caved into the State Board’s demands.  Not only did they agree to admit the child in question, they also agreed to stop inquiring about the immigration status of any student applying for admission.  

One would think a federal judge’s request would carry some weight with a state government addicted to federal money.  To defy such a request must mean some far larger principle or objective is at stake and it’s worth whatever problems might obtain.  

Clues to what that motive could be come when one reads the resume of Jesse Ruiz, the Blagojevich-appointed chairman of the State Board of Education.  In addition to positions with the Chicago Board of Education, his resume includes many accomplishments; former president of the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois; counsel to the Illinois Latino Legislative caucus; past president of the Hispanic Lawyers’ Fund and past chairman of the Hispanic Lawyers Fund.  Clearly, this son of an illegal immigrant has an Hispano-centric agenda. 

There’s nothing wrong with helping one’s countrymen as the Dutch, Irish and Polish did when they were the newest immigrants.  Ruiz has every right to comfort and aid other Hispanics as they melt into the American scene.  Moreover, he makes a good point when he says, as he did on Friday’s Don Wade and Roma show, that children don’t make immigration decisions and should not be denied educations because of the sins of their parents.  

That’s why his move against the local school board is so revolting.  The denied money can be restored but by targeting the students’ athletic and other state-sanctioned activities, Chairman Ruiz does exactly what he abhors: he punishes the children for the actions of their school board.  The local board deserves credit for putting the children first and their reluctant action starkly contrasts with the mercenary, anti-child behavior of the State Board.  

Indeed, the Chairman’s reckless disregard for the children’s interests invites speculation that he acted beyond the authority his office commands.  He knows that children denied admittance by circumstances like those in Elmwood Park are most likely to be Hispanic. By acting the way he did, Ruiz puts their interests---and apparently his own--- before those of the taxpayers of Illinois .  

One might also reason that the chairman obtained the local school board’s agreement to officially drop their position by force or fear under color of the State Board’s official right.  Because the State Board’s position requires Elmwood Park to violate the federal law prohibiting enrollment of children here on tourist visas, forcing the local board to agree is the functional, if not the legal definition of extortion.  The federal judge hearing the case might notice the financial gun the State Board is holding to the Elmwood Park School Board’s head when they come to dismiss and ask if there is a real agreement between the parties.  

The motive for Ruiz’ action is transparent.  By showing his legal machismo, he makes huge points with the fast-growing Hispanic bloc and he further breaks down the wall between legal and illegal residents and, eventually, voters.  Ruiz admits he wanted to send a message  to all Illinois districts, according to the Tribune. His star rises higher in Illinois ’ political pecking order. 

© 2006 Ralf Seiffe

Ralf Seiffe advises business start-ups and product launches from Chicago, Illinois and is a political analyst and columnist for the Illinois Leader and Illinois Review.