Category Archives: Economic Accessibility

Underbanked. Unbanked. These terms, collectively, refer to individuals in our society who have limited or no relationship with a traditional bank. Yet, because banking transactions—money transfers, paycheck cashing, non-cash payments, and small loans—are an essential part of modern life, those witho...

New Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle initially called for budget cuts of up to 21 percent, to combat a budget deficit of nearly 500 million dollars. In the last weeks of 2010, the Board president was still waiting for ideas from the Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney, and the Clerk o...

The July 22nd issue of The Economist featured a cover story entitled "Rough Justice in America" that examines America's love affair with locking up its citizens. The article makes a compelling case lowering both the rate and duration of criminal sentences resulting in imprisonment and increasing res...

On May 26, 2010, Illinois consumers scored a major victory when the Illinois House passed the Senate amendments to H.B. 537, a strong payday loan reform bill, by a vote of 108-1. Governor Quinn now has 90 days to sign the bill into law.Payday loans are small, short term loans made at predatory inter...