SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) spoke on the Senate floor today in response to the tragic shooting at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago on Nov. 29. Hunter read the names of the victims and the Senate observed a moment of silence in honor of those killed in the shooting:

"I rise to speak today with a heavy heart for my community of Bronzeville, where on Monday afternoon, November 19^th, a man showed up at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center and opened fire on his former fiancée before turning the gun on others, killing the woman, a police offer and a bystander.

"In a matter of minutes, the city of Chicago lost an emergency room doctor, Dr. Tamara O’Neal, a pharmaceutical assistant, Dayna Less and a police officer, Samuel Jimenez, who were all going about their day, all doing what they loved.

CHICAGO—State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) issued the following statement on the shooting at Mercy Hospital in Chicago yesterday:

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the horrific shooting at Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville yesterday. I am praying for all those who were affected. To the families of the victims—I cannot even begin to fathom the pain you are experiencing, but please know that our community is here for you.

“My heart aches for the loss of Dr. Tamara O’Neal and Dayna Less who have selflessly dedicated their lives to healing others. I am always thankful for the heroic actions of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department but heartbroken for the loss of one of their own. Officer Samuel Jimenez rushed into danger to save lives. He will always be remembered as a true hero. There is absolutely no room for gun violence in our communities, especially not when it occurs in the healing space of a hospital.

“May the souls of these innocent lives lost rest in peace.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – In her last stop on a statewide tour Thursday in East St. Louis, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) convened the Senate Special Committee on Housing to look for ways to address the lack of affordable housing and rising rent prices.

“During our tour we’ve learned that access to and availability of affordable housing is a challenge in cities like East St. Louis, Urbana and Rockford and in neighborhoods throughout Chicago,” Hunter said. “But with rising housing and rental prices, it is crucial that work be done to meet the need for more affordable housing now.”

Currently, Illinois is one of 35 states across the country with a rent control ban. Hunter discussed legislation she is sponsoring which would lift the 1997 ban on state and city governments enacting any measure that would regulate or control rent prices on private property.

Hunter’s measure would also establish six elected rent control boards, spread around the state, each composed of landlords, tenants and tenant advocates. The seven members of each board would implement and monitor local rent regulation. The bill also pegs annual rent increases to inflation and allows the regional rent control boards to establish the median rent for their areas.