Welcome to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

Villivalam stands alongside rideshare drivers advocating for the right to unionize

State Senator Ram Villivalam joined members of the Illinois Rideshare Alliance on Tuesday to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 2906 – a measure that would allow rideshare drivers in Illinois to unionize.

“With the increase in popularity of apps like Uber and Lyft, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Every worker deserves the right to organize. Current laws exclude rideshare drivers from the right to organize ─ leaving more than 100,000 Illinoisans without a voice on the job while corporations like Uber and Lyft make billions.”

The number of adults who work as taxi drivers or chauffeurs for their primary job has tripled over the last decade thanks to app-based rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Since the increase in popularity of these apps for both consumers and laborers, rideshare drivers have increasingly spoken out about their lack of rights, protections and little to no transparency about pay.

Read more: Villivalam stands alongside rideshare drivers advocating for the right to unionize

Senate Democrats celebrate replacement of I-80 Des Plaines River bridges

JOLIET — Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus applauded the construction of new Interstate 80 bridges over the Des Plaines River.

The project began in early May, and marks the final phase of the $1.3 billion, multiyear I-80 rehabilitation and modernization, which is part of the Senate Democrat-backed Rebuild Illinois capital program. This year, 13 miles of additional lanes, reconstructed interchanges, safety upgrades and capacity improvements on the I-80 corridor will be completed, which will leave only about 20% of the project unfinished.

Read more: Senate Democrats celebrate replacement of I-80 Des Plaines River bridges

Guzmán supports renters by cracking down on landlords and AI corporations

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of sky-high rental costs in Chicago and across Illinois, Senator Graciela Guzmán is working to crack down on price fixing schemes landlords conduct using AI algorithms.

“Renters deserve a fair, transparent and accountable housing market,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “AI algorithms allow landlords to rig the market in their favor and gouge every dollar from families looking for a place to live. We need to crack down on AI-driven rent fixing schemes that hurt competition and renters.”

Read more: Guzmán supports renters by cracking down on landlords and AI corporations

Sims works to put guardrails on prison mail-scanning system

SPRINGFIELD — To protect incarcerated individuals’ access to communications with their loved ones, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. led a measure through the Senate to ensure they can’t be charged a fee to receive mail.

“When you have limited communication and contact with loved ones, every moment of human connection matters,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “No one should be able to make a profit from the disenfranchisement of others.”

Read more: Sims works to put guardrails on prison mail-scanning system