Latest news with #AnthonyVega
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County residents surveyed about their voting experiences; ‘I've gotten some really strong suggestions'
Overseeing six primary or general elections since he took office in 2022, Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega wants to know what can be done to improve the voting process for county residents. Launching an online Voter Engagement Survey on July 15 and spending time at his booth at the Lake County Fair last week talking to people, Vega is learning voters' thoughts and will know more when the survey results are compiled. 'We've made some major improvements since I took office three years ago, and we want to know how it's improved the voters' experience,' Vega said. 'We want to see how we can (further) improve the voters' experience.' Participants in the Lake County Voter Engagement Survey can continue to complete the form through Wednesday online giving the Lake County Clerk's office ideas of ways to better operate elections. Since the survey went live on the clerk's website, Vega said his office has received more than 2,000 responses. People stopping at his booth were able to both take the survey and bend his ear about their ideas. He values their input. Some suggestions that Vega is able to implement himself, like adding more touch screens or making polling places more physically accessible. But others, including ranked-choice voting or a primary date in warmer weather, require an act of either the U.S Congress or the Illinois General Assembly. 'I can advocate for those changes,' Vega said. 'I've gotten some really strong suggestions.' A frequent question for Vega while tending his booth at the fair was about ranked-choice voting, which is becoming more popular in different parts of the country, including most recently in the June 24 New York City mayoral primary. In a ranked-choice election, Vega said rather than voting for one candidate, the voter marks their first, second, third and more choices, depending on how many candidates are on the ballot. If voters only want to rank one, they can. Should no candidates receive more than 50% of the vote, Vega said the last-place candidate is eliminated and voting is retabulated until someone achieves more than 50%. It took three rounds in the New York City contest. 'Candidates there cross-endorsed,' Vega said. 'They'd suggest voting for an opponent as a second choice. Some say it keeps it more civil. It helps the voter to have their voice heard.' When the survey is complete, Vega said he looks forward to seeing how people respond to questions like whether respondents think voters should prove citizenship at the polling place, or come to the poll with a picture ID. 'Those issues are getting a lot of attention around the country,' Vega said. 'We want to know what people think here.' Supporting of the survey and learning what will make voting easier for people is Waukegan Township Trustee and Mano a Mano Family Services Executive Director Dulce Ortiz. She said part of Man a Mano's mission is assisting immigrants with citizenship and then becoming politically engaged. The bilingual survey was sent to the organization's mailing list. 'We want to empower the immigrants in Lake County,' Ortiz said. 'Part of our mission is getting people engaged in the political process. We do a class on it. We educate on the importance of elections and election day.' Mary Mathews, a director of The League of Women Voters in Lake County, said getting feedback from voters ahead of the 2026 primary election in March and the general off-year contest in November makes sense. 'It's a very good idea,' Mathews said. 'I have been hearing some of the things on the survey from other voters. I'm glad they're giving him their ideas.' Questions seek voters' overall experience on voting in person, early voting and casting ballots by mail. The survey asks participants if they experienced problems, and what the issues were about. Questions about accessibility for people with mobility and other issues were part of the survey, as well as printing ballots in more languages than English and Spanish. Most questions are multiple-choice, but some seek explanations.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will noise cameras be coming to Providence this year? What we know.
PROVIDENCE – Mayor Brett Smiley's office is advancing plans to crack down on high noise levels in Providence and is seeking a contractor to help install noise cameras around the city. Once city leaders approved the fiscal year 2026 budget in mid-July, the administration was free to revisit Smiley's long sought, but controversial plan. If installed, noise cameras would be able to detect loud music, amplified car mufflers, decked-out motorcycle exhaust systems and other violations against the city's 75-decibel noise limit. If triggered, the technology works by photographing a vehicle's license plate, which the city can use to issue a ticket. It's unclear how much the cameras would cost and when, or where, they would be installed. Anthony Vega, a spokesperson for the mayor, explained that the city is still in the early phases of putting a call out for contractors, also known as a request for proposal (RFP). 'The city is now in the process of developing a RFP to find a vendor to partner with on a pilot program,' he said in a statement. 'Information about the locations, timeline and number of cameras will not be determined until the RFP process is complete.' Smiley's stance is firm on noise cameras Since taking office in 2022, Smiley has insisted on tackling quality of life issues in Providence, including noise levels. The mayor took his noise camera proposal to the General Assembly in 2024 for permission from the state, but both bills died during the session. 'We've got it in this budget. The City Council actually cut some of the funding, but we fought to preserve the rest, and the hope is that by the end of the year we'll have sound cameras in key locations around the city,' he recently told WJAR in an interview. Smiley has previously said that the cameras would be installed evenly around the city to avoid targeting specific neighborhoods. According to research conducted by Brown University's noise lab, Providence's South Side and western neighborhoods tend to be much noisier than their East Side counterparts. The mayor also noted that he's spoken with officials in Newport, New York City and Miami Beach, who have all implemented noise cameras. However, because the technology is fairly new, the mayor's staff hasn't supplemented their plans with extensive research. 'It's not like there's been a lengthy period of annual reports that other communities have started to issue or anything, because this is still relatively new," he said in 2024. Noise cameras are a controversial proposal Some noise cameras critics suggest that the technology disproportionately polices communities of color and that urban noise issues tend to be a result of poor city planning, as opposed to individual offenders. Others also worry about its surveillance capabilities. The ACLU of Rhode Island voiced concerns last year over how Providence would store data and who would be able to access it. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Noise cameras in Providence will ticket loud cars. When they're coming.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Yahoo
1 injured in Providence disturbance
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway into a disturbance that happened in Providence Tuesday evening. Anthony Vega, a spokesperson for the Providence Police Department, told 12 News officers were called to the corner of Peace and Updike streets just after 6 p.m. Vega said it appears someone was hit by a vehicle and a gunshot was reportedly fired near Peace & Plenty Park. 12 News spotted one shell casing in the roadway. The victim, who has not been identified, was brought to the hospital with injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening. It's unclear if anyone is in custody at this time. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police investigating stabbing in Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police are investigating after a person was stabbed in Providence Sunday evening. Anthony Vega, a spokesperson for the Providence Police Department, said the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. on Commodore Street. The victim suffered not life-threatening injuries. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Protesters demand answers after alleged ICE arrest
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Dozens have gathered outside Rhode Island Hospital Thursday afternoon to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Providence. The demonstrators claim someone was shocked with a Taser while being detained. That person is now apparently in ICE custody and being treated at Rhode Island Hospital, according to the demonstrators. 12 News has reached out to ICE to verify those claims but has not heard back. Anthony Vega, a Providence spokesperson, told 12 News officers responded to call involving someone being shocked, but he didn't know if it was connected to a federal the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
