Joliet Township's $8.6M Asylum Grant: Angel Contreras Not Talking Yet

JOLIET, IL — At no point since Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a press release on Friday informing everyone that Joliet will get $8.6 million to house people seeking asylum from other countries has Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras issued any remarks or granted any interviews regarding his role in securing several million dollars for his community.

There have been no press releases issued on behalf of Contreras or authored by Contreras himself since the governor's much-talked about announcement.

Contreras did not show up at Monday night's pre-City Council meeting at Joliet's City Hall to answer questions from Mayor Terry D'Arcy or the rest of the Joliet City Council for that matter.

Joliet Patch tried to find Contreras for an interview on Tuesday at the Joliet Township Offices near the Jefferson Street Bridge. Patch has also left a voicemail message on Contreras' phone, informing him that Patch wants to learn more about his successful grant application to Pritzker and find out what Contreras plans to do with the money.

Aside from Chicago, Joliet received the second-largest allotment of funds from the governor.

At Monday's pre-Council meeting, Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy said he wants "to ensure the residents understand the City of Joliet Mayor’s Office and the Joliet Fire Department did not approve, agree to or sign off on this grant application.

"I have been in discussions with State Representatives Larry Walsh Jr., and Natalie Manley, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, and County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant about this grant.

"None of them were aware of this application until the release that went out late last Friday afternoon. I have asked Joliet Supervisor Angel Contreras to withdraw the grant application."

Back on December 1, 2020, Joliet Patch reported that a large crowd of about 140 Joliet Township Democrats turned out at St. Joe's Park for a party caucus. The results meant that Dan Vera and several other long-time Democrats including township clerk Julie Kinsella and highway commissioner Mike Turnbull will not be on the election ballot for the April 6, 2021 election.

As a result of the caucus vote, Contreras will be the Democrat candidate for Joliet Township Supervisor.

"I am thankful that people came out and supported me and my slate," Contreras told Joliet Patch's editor that night. "I'm just very happy and gratified to all the voters and supporters.

"I just wanted my opportunity to show I can be the head and manage a local government body from all the experience that I've been very privileged to be a part of," he said.