<tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><p> </p> </td></tr></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center"></td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><center><code>HOUSE RESOLUTION</code></center> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Representatives wish to congratulate Rosa Escareno on the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>occasion of her retirement as general superintendent and CEO </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>of the Chicago Park District in February 2025; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno, a lifelong public servant who </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>worked under five Chicago mayors, is considered a reformer and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>strategist, leading large-scale agency reforms that support </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>families, strengthen communities, promote economic growth, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>build income equity, and encourage business opportunities; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno started her lifelong career in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>public service under Mayor Eugene Sawyer before becoming a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>budget analyst for the City of Chicago under Mayor Richard M. </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Daley in 1998, where she conducted program oversight, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>budgetary analysis, and contract review for nearly $300 </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>million in local, state, and federal grant funds for three </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>years; she then worked as deputy press secretary for three </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>years before running community affairs and media for the City </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>of Chicago Fire Department; she was selected by Mayor Daley as </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>deputy director for the City of Chicago Department of Business </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Affairs and Consumer Protection in August 2005; after three </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>years, she was promoted to deputy commissioner; she then </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">23</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>returned to the Mayor's Office to assist the communications </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 2 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>team as deputy press secretary; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno was promoted to deputy chief </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>operating officer when Mayor Rahm Emanuel entered office in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>2011; she oversaw day-to-day operations for several government </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>agencies, including the Department of Business Affairs and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Consumer Protection, the Department of Planning and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Development, the Chicago Department of Buildings, the Chicago </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Department of Public Health, the Chicago Department of Family </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and Support Services, the Chicago Public Library, the Mayor's </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Office for People with Disabilities, and the Chicago Animal </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Care and Control; she was entrusted with overseeing these </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>agencies' fiscal budgets, operations, and performance </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>management, and she was responsible for a nearly $1 billion </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>budget and 2,500 employees; she spearheaded operational </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>efficiencies across city agencies, maximizing resource </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>allocation and advancing the administration's priorities, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>leading to more efficient and solid government practices; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno was appointed as commissioner for </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Consumer Protection by Mayor Emanuel in 2017; for seven years, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>she successfully regulated 60,000 businesses in Chicago, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>including restaurants, bars and taverns, and hotels, and her </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">23</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>work included studying general business practices and new </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">24</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>emerging economies and markets; she provided oversight of </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 3 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>120,000 public vehicle and chauffeur licenses, including </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>ride-shares, taxis, charters, and liveries, and conducted </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>20,000 business investigations; she steered city policy, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>regulatory structure and operations of essential business </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>industries, including hospitality and retail, ride-sharing, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and short-term rentals or "house-share" platforms; under her </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>leadership, the department modernized Chicago's marketplace by </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>embracing growth of emerging economies, such as launching </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Chicago's first electric scooter program, implementing </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>shared-housing reforms to improve community safety, enhancing </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>industry accountability, establishing a transparency </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>requirement for third-party food servicers' food apps to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>protect consumers, and leveling the playing field for all </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>businesses by bringing app-based practices into compliance; </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>she stepped down as commissioner in July 2021; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno initially joined the Chicago Park </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>District, having been selected by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as its </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>interim head in October 2021, becoming the park district's </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>permanent head in May 2022; as the general superintendent and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>CEO of the Chicago Park District, she managed one of the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>largest park systems in the country, a nearly $600 million </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>system that includes close to 9,000 acres of parkland, more </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">23</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 11 museums, eight golf </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">24</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>courses, seven harbors, two world-class conservatories, and a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">25</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>sports stadium; she oversaw a team of 6,000 year-round, in </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 4 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>addition to seasonal workers, providing direct services to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>nearly 400,000 residents; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, During her three-year tenure, Rosa Escareno led </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>the Chicago Park District through transformational changes, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>building a stronger park district while solidifying trust, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>community well-being, and economic vibrancy; she launched a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>new strategic plan, strengthened sustainable efforts, set </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>strong hiring practices prioritizing youth, and established </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>new health and wellness policies to improve lives; she led a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>$500 million economic development portfolio, building new park </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>amenities and maximizing connectivity and technology in all </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>communities to support families, Chicagoans, and visitors who </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>rely on recreational programs and special events; as </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>superintendent, she created the Office of Prevention and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Accountability to ensure allegations of wrongdoing were and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>continue to be properly investigated and to ensure employees </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>were protected, bargaining new agreements with labor partners </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Trades </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Coalition; her department also made notable investments in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Chicago's youth by establishing operational stability to hire </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>for and revitalize after-school recreational programs, summer </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>day camps, senior programs, and recreational and sport leagues </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">23</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>across more than 600 parks and 250 field houses, bringing </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">24</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>operations to pre-pandemic levels; additionally, under her </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">25</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>direction, hourly wages were increased from $17.00 to $19.75 </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 5 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>for thousands of seasonal and summer workers, of whom nearly </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>80% are young people between the ages of 16 and 24; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno, as superintendent, created the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Office of Prevention and Accountability to ensure allegations </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>of wrongdoing were and continue to be properly investigated </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and to ensure employees were protected, bargaining new </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>agreements with labor partners in the Service Employees </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>International Union (SEIU) and Trades Coalition; her </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>department also made notable investments in Chicago's youth by </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>establishing operational stability to hire for and revitalize </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>after-school recreational programs, summer day camps, senior </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>programs, and recreational and sport leagues across more than </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>600 parks and 250 field houses, bringing operations to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>pre-pandemic levels; additionally, under her direction, hourly </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>wages were increased from $17.00 to $19.75 for thousands of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>seasonal and summer workers, of whom nearly 80% are young </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>people between the ages of 16 and 24; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Rosa Escareno, born in Zacatecas, Mexico, holds a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Master of Science in Communications from Northwestern </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>University and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Chicago; she currently resides on Chicago's Northwest Side, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and she is the mother of one son, Mikey; therefore, be it</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">23</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0259</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 6 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13121 LAW 25225 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>we congratulate Rosa Escareno on her retirement as general </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, and we </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>thank her for her dedication to the residents of the City of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Chicago over the course of her 31-year career in public </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>service; and be it further</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>presented to Rosa Escareno as an expression of our esteem and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>respect.</code>