Latest news with #JoshMcBroom
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville councilman McBroom, DuPage GOP, Awake Illinois battle District 203 over transgender female athletes
Naperville City Councilman Josh McBroom and DuPage County Republicans are among those attacking Naperville School District 203 over a junior high track meet at which it's claimed one of the winning athletes was a transgender girl. In a case that has evoked hundreds of online comments and national media attention, Naperville-based Awake Illinois Monday filed a federal Title IX complaint against the district with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. 'Some of the girls were left in tears (at the May 14 track meet),' McBroom wrote in a May 16 post on his Naperville City Council Facebook page. 'And parents are speaking out — not from a political place, but as concerned moms and dads who care deeply about fairness for our daughters.' He also made it a city issue by questioning why the Naperville office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a department he has advocated for dissolving, did not speak out about the situation because 'residents deserve to see action when it matters most.' But it's also a subject that elicited support from area residents and the LGBTQ+ population and advocates, many of whom attended Monday's night's Naperville District 203 School Board meeting to laud the district for not yielding to the criticism. The situation is the latest in a series of complaints in Chicago and the suburbs centered on transgender students. Last month, Awake Illinois lodged similar allegations against Valley View District 365-U, which inspired passionate pleas in support of LGBTQ+ youth at a school board meeting for the Bolingbrook-Romeoville district. Chicago Public Schools and Deerfield Public Schools District 109 have also been subject to federal complaints over the past few months. Allegations against District 203 are tied to a junior high track meet held at Naperville North High School last week. Videos started circulating on social media of a Naperville student athlete winning events at the event alongside claims that she should not have competed in the girls' division. Posts have garnered thousands of views and hundreds of comments. In response, DuPage County Republicans on May 15 posted a statement on its Facebook page maintaining that female athletes 'should be allowed to compete fairly and safely in their desired sports.' As part of the statement, the local GOP linked to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February under which transgender athletes are banned from participating in girls' and women's sports. On the same day, Awake Illinois weighed in, noting on social media that it was prepared to file a federal civil rights complaint against District 203, which the group made good on four days later. At the core of Awake's complaint is that District 203 is in violation of 'current Title IX protections.' Title IX is a 1972 law forbidding discrimination based on sex in education. Last year, the Biden administration finalized new rules expanding the law to also prevent discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Those added provisions, however, were struck down nationwide in January after a federal judge in Kentucky found they overstepped the president's authority. McBroom spoke out on the situation on May 16 via Facebook. 'So here's my question: Where is the (city of Naperville's) DEI department now? Is its role just to host workshops and 'conversations'? Will it speak out on this issue?' McBroom wrote in his post. 'Will it engage the community? Or will it stay silent?' McBroom has not been shy about his skepticism of the city's DEI department. He has questioned the city's spending on DEI amid discussions over how Naperville will account for the $6.5 million in annual revenue it stands to lose when the state's grocery tax sunsets next year. In a guest column in the Naperville Sun last fall, McBroom wrote, 'Sharpening the pencil on the city budget is certainly in order and DEI should be on the short list of where to tighten.' Reached by phone, McBroom deferred to his Facebook post and declined further comment. Requests for comment from the city were not returned. In his post, McBroom also called on school boards and district leadership to 'lead.' 'Protect the girls in our schools. Step up. Take a stand. … We are watching. And we're waiting,' he wrote. The situation was also discussed in a segment of Fox News' America Reports Monday. People flooded the District 203 School Board meeting Monday night to speak for and against transgender student athletes and to denounce those who were sharing the student's identity and photo on social media. 'The use of a student's image, likeness or name to further a political agenda is abhorrent and unacceptable,' said Amanda Zigterman, parent of two District 203 students. 'Essentially, it is bullying on a local and national stage by adults who should know better.' But other parents and community activists were vocally opposed to biological males competing in sporting events against girls, saying it creates an unfair playing field and should not be allowed. 'What is the acceptable amount of genetic boys allowed to participate in girls sports divisions?' parent Jason Copeland said. 'If the answer is anything other than zero, that person isn't qualified to be on a board overseeing the protection and education of children at any level in this district.' More than 30 residents and community activists voiced their opinions for about 90 minutes. On one side of the room, audience members held up neon yellow signs with messages that included 'Protect Girls Sports,' 'Support Common Sense' and 'Defend Title IX.' The other side was filled with people waving flags supporting transgender and LGBTQ+ rights, wearing Naper Pride shirts and 'ally' buttons, and holding signs advocating for inclusion. Roughly two-thirds of the speakers voiced their support for the right of transgender students to compete in sports and criticizing those who would turn a child into a political pawn by spreading their image on social media. 'It's not just wrong. It is harmful,' Jon O'Toole said. 'As a person of faith, we are called to love our neighbors, to speak for the vulnerable and to make space at the table for everybody. That includes trans kids. Kids should be able to show up as their bold true selves, on the field, in the classroom, in their communities.' Playing sports is about teamwork, confidence and belonging, he added, and everyone deserves that chance. 'This is not about politics,' O'Toole said. 'This is about people. This is about a child who just wants to play with their friends and be accepted for who they are. We should be working to lift that child up and protect all students, not single them out for harm. Trans kids aren't up for debate. They are not a threat. They are not a problem that needs to be solved.' Parent Tim Thompson, father of two children, said he appreciated that the school board was upholding state law and allowing transgender students to compete. District 203 should be lauded for its support of inclusivity and not cowed into bending its beliefs by civil rights complaints. 'This is just another in a long list of ways that they are attacking and devaluing public education,' he said. '… Don't be fooled. It was never about a race. It was never about an athlete. This is an attempt to further marginalize a group and tell them they don't belong, that they aren't good enough.' Other speakers, however, said it's not fair to expect girls to compete against biological boys in sporting events. A student who was born male should not be able to take away girls' achievements, hard work and effort, they said. Parent Doug MacGregor noted that some parents spend thousands of dollars on sports coaches, training and camps for their daughters only to face unfair competiton due to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 'When their daughter steps up for her chance to win a state championship or medal, she'll lose to a biological male,' he said. 'That once in a lifetime moment gone because of DEI's political agenda.' Parent Jenny George said there are clear disparities between male and female athletes. Her son, a high school track athlete, would rank first in girls' categories but is in the 300s when competing against boys, she said. 'Your job is to represent every student in this district, but you have turned your back on half of them,' George said. 'Women's sports exist to offer a competitive space for female athletes. When males enter those spaces in competition, it is women and girls who are pushed out — out of races, out of records and out of recognition. This is not progress. This is a huge step backwards.' Naperville resident Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, said her organization is fighting for fairness and to uphold protections provided through Title IX. 'Now in 2025, you've got boys stealing girls' victories, leaving young girls sobbing on the track,' she said 'This isn't inclusion, it's oppression.' Adcock said she would like to see the $8.9 million the district receives in federal funding frozen until it abides by Title IX. The school board did not address the public comments, and no item was on the agenda related to its policies regarding transgender athletes. District officials declined comment after the meeting. A District 203 spokesperson also declined to comment, saying in an email, 'Please know that the district is committed to protecting the privacy of all students. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and district policy, we cannot and will not share personal or identifiable information about any student without appropriate consent.' The district adheres to the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Illinois State Board of Education guidance, they said, 'which prohibit discrimination in schools and ensure full and equal access to programs and services regardless of gender identity or other protected characteristics.'
Phone Arena
20-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile gets a green light to build 190-Foot cell tower despite resident pushback
Despite residents' opposition to T-Mobile's plan that we told you about some weeks ago, the telco moves ahead to build a new 190-foot cell tower in Naperville. T-Mobile is preparing to remove its long-standing equipment from a 160-foot water tower in Naperville due to a 2018 ordinance aimed at phasing out private infrastructure on public property. For 25 years, the carrier had been leasing space on a city-owned water tower, but it must remove its equipment by this anticipation of this deadline, the company proposed relocating its antennas and other infrastructure to a freestanding tower near the same site. The plan was reviewed by the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission in March. During that meeting, some residents voiced concerns about potential impacts on property values and the perceived risks of radio frequency (RF) emissions. Despite the objections, the commission gave the proposal a favorable recommendation, forwarding it to the city council for final a recent city council meeting, members voted 8-1 to approve both the conditional-use permit for the new tower and the lease agreement between the city and T-Mobile . Councilman Josh McBroom was the only member to oppose the plan. As a resident of the neighborhood affected by the new tower, he had been approached by many constituents who expressed reservations about the while acknowledging the vital role of cell towers in modern communications, appeared to be conflicted about the issue. He recognized the increasing demand for reliable mobile data and streaming services but was also mindful of concerns about health and real estate. He believed that the visual presence of a large tower could deter potential homebuyers, especially those hesitant to live near such infrastructure. Image by PhoneArena T-Mobile representatives reassured city officials that the proposed tower would meet all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety standards. The company emphasized that the tower was essential to maintaining reliable mobile coverage, especially since most emergency calls now originate from cell phones. Reliable service was also described as crucial for residents who depend on mobile connectivity not just for communication, but for streaming and access to other digital services. Now that the project has been approved, T-Mobile is expected to proceed with the tower's construction. The move will help ensure uninterrupted service for its customers in Naperville and could potentially support additional carriers in the future, as discussions with AT&T and Verizon about co-locating on the structure have already begun.
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: McBroom's ‘misogynistic' comments shouldn't be tolerated; questions raised over some council candidates' actions
McBroom's 'misogynistic' comments shouldn't be tolerated The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines misogyny as 'hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against women,' and Psych Central in an article published Aug. 9, 2022, notes that 'chauvinism stems from a sense that males are superior to females and belief women are naturally weaker, less intelligent, or otherwise less able in some capacity compared to men.' Someone with chauvinistic beliefs may still enjoy being around women and may act protectively toward them out of the belief that they need someone to provide for them. Comments akin to those in a recent op-ed column by Naperville City Council Josh McBroom might be construed as perpetuating these deep held beliefs. Some men, such as our current president, feel too comfortable using abusive language and behavior whenever they feel their power being usurped by a woman. Commentary surrounding body shaming of women on the Naperville Park Board with which McBroom publicly agreed led to a discussion of ethics and respect as well as a code of conduct to which our public officials should be adhering. This behavior was appropriately called out by some women on the district board. Now, McBroom is publicly using his council position to complain about several well-qualified female candidates running for the city council and park board, including those who called him out for his park board comments. I completely believe in private citizen exercising their First Amendment right but why should we accept the blatant public use of someone's position as a member of our citizen-funded government to continue perpetuating a 'good ole boy'-type mentality against female candidates from another party? The answer is we should not! When misogynists claim comments were not intended to be against women or that they didn't mean to hurt anyone, it is not up for them to decide. Women are the only ones who can determine the effects of such language. We must never dismiss this as locker room talk, as boys will be boys, as woke or any other excuse. The irony is this all started with a lawsuit regarding mask mandates filed by the Naperville Park Board against Gov. Pritzker during COVID. The complaints were about government overreach to control our bodies, notably by nonscientists. Perhaps some should look at the ongoing assault on women's bodies and rights without equivalent laws against men before they start these types of conversations. Laura Welch, Naperville President, Illinois NOW; Member, NOW National Board of Directors Questions raised over some council candidates' actions We are just days away from electing our municipal leaders to office. As you make your choices, we thought you might wish to consider the following about four individuals running for our Naperville City Council. During a recent League of Women Voters of Naperville online forum, Jennifer Bruzan Taylor characterized herself as the one her fellow council members go to for 'fact-checking.' We found that statement to be rather shocking based upon the things she said in 2019 to discredit the opt-in movement for cannabis dispensaries in Naperville. She stated before the Naperville City Council that she believe opt-in supporters had keyed her car, stolen her signs and spray-painted the houses of supporters, all of which proved to be untrue after a simple call the next day to the Naperville Police Department. So, a 'fact-checker'? Hardly. And then there is Derek McDaniel, whose incorrect assembling of his nomination packet for 2023 city council race resulted in a circuit court judge bouncing him from the ballot, and whose campaign yard sign size and placement have been questioned in this race. Should he be approving policies and ordinances for the rest of us? Don't think so. And, briefly, Meghna Bansal's family ties to the MAGA Trump movement are very well known in our community, a community that overwhelmingly rejected Trump's candidacy in 2020 and again in 2024. On Nov. 6, 2024, Krishna Bansal, her husband, posted the following on Facebook: 'Our President Donald J. Trump! We are so blessed!' And rounding out the foursome is Nag Jaiswal who, at the recent LWV forum, pronounced affordable housing 'a burden on the taxpayers' and whose councili nomination packet this year barely survived the numerous objections raised. With the exception of Nag Jaiswal, all of these candidates are endorsed by Safe Suburbs, the Richard Uihlein-financed, far-right PAC. Elections matter, now more than ever! Dianne McGuire and Paulette Goodman, Naperville No reason students need to have phones with them in class I don't see the problem with the proposed legislation that would ban students from having cell phones in the classroom. It used to be customary to prohibit phones and radios in classrooms unless for instructional purposes. You had to keep them in your locker. You could only use them between classes, at lunch or in study hall. No biggie. If your parents had to contact you in an emergency, they would call the school. Why did that change? There was no reason to. Bill Voda, Warrenville Gibson's park board tenure makes her ideal for council Committed, tireless, qualified. These are qualities I want in a Naperville City Council member, and Mary Gibson has them all. Mary is a dedicated public servant and Naperville's current park board president, a position her fellow commissioners unanimously elected her to for three consecutive years. She is a Naperville Riverwalk Commiss member, serving as park district liaison. Mary's community involvement includes being a Naperville's Community Emergency Response Team member and Naperville Citizen Police and Citizen Fire academies graduate, which give her insight into front line responders' needs. Mary is conscientious and tenacious. As park board resident, she helps deliver high-quality services and facilities to residents while keeping cost increases under the rate of inflation in the annual $50-plus million budget and still earning top resident satisfaction scores. Under her leadership, the park district has flourished, creating new programs, enhancing green spaces, investing in lower cost EV assets and pursuing shoreline restoration to name a few. Mary is a reliable steward of district resources, never neglects her duties and includes all perspectives to arrive at the best decisions. Mary is qualified. With a background in data analytics focused on mitigating risk and a solid educational foundation, Mary brings significant knowledge to council. On top of her master's degree, she also has certificates in public policy and civic leadership from the London School of Economics and Northern Illinois University. Mary and her husband chose Naperville to raise their three children because she believes it is the best city in America. She is running for Naperville City Council to tackle issues ranging from the IMEA energy contract to everyday services to keep Naperville topping 'best of' lists. She will use data to make tough decisions and will work tirelessly for the whole community, not just those who vote for her. Mary deserves your vote on or before April 1! These are the reasons Ashfaq Syed deserves your vote When Naperville residents go to the polls, we have an opportunity to elect a proven leader, Ashfaq Syed, to the Naperville City Council. In 2019, after I was appointed by Mayor Steve Chirico as chairman of the 2020 U.S. Census Naperville Complete Count Committee, I asked Ashfaq to chair the communications and social media efforts. With millions of federal dollars at stake, Ashfaq developed a 'best in country' campaign that resulted in Naperville being recognized as the No. 1 City in America for Self Responses. Without Ashfaq's leadership and persistence, these results would not have been realized. It was a remarkable achievement while the country suffered through the COVID-19 epidemic. Ashfaq was recognized by the Naperville City Council with a Proclamation of Appreciation for his efforts. Ashfaq has continued to drive positive results as the president of Naperville Public Library Board, as a board member for Loaves & Fishes, as a committee member for 360 Youth Services, where he helps our youth meet today's challenges. He has served on the Indian Prairie School District 204 Citizens Task Force, the Naperville Neighbors United Board, promoting unity and collaboration among residents, and the 2020 U.S. Census Committee, of which he was as co-chair. As a graduate of the Naperville Citizens police academy and fire academy, Ashfaq knows the challenges that Naperville's first responders encounter daily to keep our residents safe. With over 28 years in finance and banking, Ashfaq understands financial management and is committed to fiscal responsibility and economic sustainability for Naperville. Ashfaq is a proven leader and a person who is guided by the belief that when residents come together, great results will be achieved. I support Ashfaq Syed for Naperville City Council. Bruzan-Taylor's brings important attributes to council I would like the voters in Naperville to consider the following attributes that Jennifer Bruzan-Taylor has exhibited for the benefit of everyone during her term on the Naperville City Council: She makes decisions based on what is best for our community as a whole; She is a former prosecutor who understands public safety; She has worked to build and strengthen our community; She has an extensive knowledge base about our city and the issues it is facing; She is non-partisan. In the past four years, she has built a reputation for being responsive to residents and business owners. Naperville is facing numerous challenges in our near and long-term future. Let's re-elect a solid, qualified candidate who exhibits honesty and integrity. John Tralewski, Naperville Everyone gets an opinion when it's legitimate journalism In response to J. McDonald's March 19 letter regarding his disappointment with the Naperville Sun for publishing David McGrath's March 5 column 'If there's a revolution against Trump, count me in', I find it ridiculous that he questions why such an 'inflammatory article of questionable accuracy' was allowed to go to press. He should be grateful that his inflammatory letter of questionable accuracy was also allowed to go to press. That's the way it's supposed to work within legitimate journalism. Don Orchard, Naperville
