Illinois communities may not be able to compete for millions of dollars in federal money to prevent disaster-related problems because of an error.
The exact nature of the goof is under debate, and becoming subject to finger-pointing between politicians. At issue is eligibility for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation program, which has $400 million of grant funding available this year.
Illinois has received more than $18 million in grants from the program since 2003.
Those funds have been used to help communities lay plans for what needs to be done locally to prevent potential disasters from being worse — from shoring up backup power for the water supply to enhancing flood walls, updating tornado sirens and crafting regional emergency communication plans.
When the state electronically submitted its application for pre-disaster mitigation grants available through the federal government’s 2018 fiscal year funding cycle, IEMA said it experienced a technical glitch in late January in an online portal days before a deadline, which led to Illinois missing out on a piece of the $400 million of federal money that was available.
However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denies a technical error played a role in Illinois’ application.
IEMA says it was one of more than 20 states and tribes around the country that had trouble when applying for the grant dollars.
“Illinois was one of nearly two dozen states and tribes that experienced technical glitches or system errors with the FEMA online portal, which is why we are working diligently with our congressional delegation to ensure that the federal government considers these grant applications,” said Rebecca Clark, spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “A technical error with FEMA’s system shouldn’t prevent Illinois communities from having a fair shot at receiving these grant funds.”
Five downstate Republican congressmen are asking Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration to explain how and why the application did not get submitted, and how the state will avoid future issues.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, meanwhile, says the focus should be on appealing to FEMA to look past the red tape and not let the snafu prevent worthy projects from being considered.
We’d argue that the state does need to figure out what went wrong and how future messes could be avoided. But let’s hope the five GOP congressmen can put politics aside and join with Bustos in a bipartisan way to lobby FEMA for Illinois’ interests.
* The Pritzker administration claims FEMA told the Illinois Emergency Management Agency that 22 states experienced “technical glitches,” or “system error.” IEMA claims to have “independently learned” that the following states, tribes, etc. experienced problems…
I sent inquiries to all of those emergency management agencies except for DC’s. So far, I’ve received two replies.
* From the Utah Division of Emergency Management’s Joe Dougherty…
Utah did not experience anything in the system that kept us from making the PDM grant application deadline. We are expecting to hear back from FEMA around the beginning of May.
* From Gary Laing at the Delaware Emergency Management Agency…
After checking with our Natural Hazards section, I found that while we experienced a bit of a glitch, it did not prevent Delaware from being able to submit its paperwork completely and on time. While the system may have been backlogged for a period, our application went through.
*** UPDATE *** From IEMA…
As you reported, Illinois independently verified other states experienced similar technical glitches. This does not mean they were denied, but that they experienced similar problem with the submission process. To our knowledge, Illinois and DC are the only applicants that have been denied by FEMA; however, the attached spreadsheet outlines what we have learned from other states regarding the various technical glitches experienced with the FEMA eGrants program.
“I’m focused on sports betting. I said that in my budget speech, as you know,” the governor said. “It’s very important for us to be a leader in sports betting to make sure we get ahead of the other states that are trying to do it. That’s why I suggested in my speech that we, at a minimum, get sports betting passed. I know there are a lot of other ideas out there, a lot of people who want to get their idea included in a bill. But I’m laser-focused on making sure we get sports betting.” […]
One of [Rep. Mike Zalewski’s, D-Chicago] amendments would allow professional sports leagues to get a cut of sales from sports betting in Illinois. Zalewski acknowledged that this idea isn’t universally popular because not everyone thinks that leagues should share in the revenue. But, Zalewski pointed out that Illinois is the home to many pro teams. […]
All of Chicago’s major league sports teams, minus the Bears, have signed onto a proposal being pushed by the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Professional Golfers’ Association of America that would distribute 25 cents of every $100 bet to pro sports leagues. But Pritzker has not yet committing to this revenue-sharing model.
“Well that hasn’t been done in any other state,” Pritzker said. “But I’m certainly willing to listen to anybody and I know that the legislature has heard from a number of those folks, so they’ll be considering it as well.”
* The Question: Should professional sports leagues get a cut of the Illinois sports betting handle? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
* Jim Oberweis, Allen Skillicorn and now… Ted Gradel? You may be hearing more about him because Republican political consultant Chip Englander is working with his campaign to unseat freshman Democrat Lauren Underwood.
Here’s Gradel’s fundraising pitch…
I want you to be one of the first to know I am running for U.S. Congress in Illinois’s 14th District.
I’m a political outsider who wants to go to D.C. in order to get things done, not become a career politician.
After playing football for Coach Lou Holtz and graduating from Notre Dame, I moved to the Chicago area with my high school sweetheart, Sarah. We’ve now been married for nearly 30 years and have raised three daughters in Naperville.
I have spent my career in the private sector. The more I take a deeper look at the state of our country the more I see that the free market system that rewards ingenuity and work ethic is under assault. I’m running for Congress to defend our freedom and speak out against the false promise of socialism and a “Big Government” agenda.
I’ll use over 30 years of experience in the private sector to make our community a better place and fight for the future of our great country.
Together with my family I made the decision to run for Congress to restore and protect our freedoms so that everyone has the opportunity that I had to achieve their own American Dream.
I don’t have any ties to Washington or special interests. That is a positive in my book. But that means I am going to have to work harder and smarter than anyone else.
Will you join my campaign on day one?
Let’s send a signal to Washington to get ready for a political outsider ready to get things done and defend our free market. Join me today with a contribution to my campaign.
I am already working 24/7 on building a campaign from the ground up. I can’t do it without your help. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Gratefully,
Ted Gradel
* Tweet…
I’ve never run for office before, but when I see Democrats like @LaurenUnderwood trying to push the country toward policies that harm our individual freedom and threaten our strong economy, I know I can’t stay on the sidelines. Donate today-> #IL14#twillhttps://t.co/5SGjiMWDIw
* Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Martin Sandoval has been holding hearings across the state about a new capital bill. Sandoval has demanded input at every hearing about how local officials would like the state to pay for these projects. Somebody finally came prepared for yesterday’s Elgin hearing…
Sean Michels, board president of the Metro West Council of Governments, said there should be a variety of funding sources, such as increases to gas, alcohol and cigarette taxes; a portion of the recreational marijuana tax, if approved; and a tax on large warehouse distribution centers whose vehicles can damage roads the most, he said.
Those warehouse distribution centers generate tons of traffic, and many have cut tax-avoidance and incentive deals with local governments.
McHenry County is the sole subject of legislation giving its voters an option to dissolve township government. It is an effort by a state lawmaker to cut residents’ property taxes by eliminating what he calls “unnecessary” levels of government.
If the experiment goes well there, in the sixth most populous county in the state, Rep. David McSweeney said the next step would be to give the rest of Illinois the ability to get rid of township governments. […]
But the measure is contentious even in McHenry County, where some officials expressed frustration McSweeney did not ask if such a provision was needed. Others said they worry what the impacts would be if McSweeney’s bill becomes law — there has not been a recent study providing a clear analysis. […]
“There are hypocrites on the Republican side who support lower property taxes but not consolidation of unnecessary units of government. It’s a real eye-opener,” McSweeney said. “I’m glad to have bipartisan support, though.”
His Republican colleague, Rep. Steven Reick, disagreed with that assessment. From Woodstock, Reick is the only representative whose district falls completely within the boundaries of McHenry County. He voted against the legislation.
“If I’m a hypocrite, I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Reick said. “I believe in cutting property taxes, but the fact is, this bill does not do that.”
Facing criticism for selling tobacco to minors, Walgreens announced Tuesday that it will now sell tobacco products only to customers age 21 and older.
The new policy will go into effect Sept. 1 across the Deerfield-based chain’s more than 9,500 stores.
The announcement comes about two months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Walgreens had the worst track record among all pharmacies when it comes to selling tobacco products to minors. About 22 percent of the more than 6,300 Walgreens stores the FDA inspected since 2010 had illegally sold the products to young people, the agency said at the time.
Is that smart device listening to your children? A measure advancing through the Illinois legislature would require companies to let consumers know.
Public Interest Research Group Director Abe Scarr said the Keep Internet Devices Safe Act that passed the Senate is simple: Parents and consumers need to know when their smart devices are listening.
“We know some level of this activity is happening and we think that families and parents deserve to know if they’re being listened to and that’s all that the bill does,” Scarr said.
Senate sponsor state Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, said there are a few things to hammer out with the tech companies opposed to the measure.
“We’re trying to kind of meet and trying to accomplish in making sure that consumers are aware in how their information is going to be used, but also make sure that the business community and the internet providers understand and it’s very clear,” Castro said.
Both Scarr and Castro shared a story about a professional basketball team using a smartphone application that turned individual cell phone microphones on to let the app know where at the stadium the user was.
“They may not even be listening to your conversation per se, they’re listening for signals in the department store or in the arena to know where you are so they can send you push notifications,” Scarr said. “There’s been some documented apps that are listening to what you are watching on your television so they can have a sense of where you are, your consumer demographic so they can better sell advertisements to you.”
I finally figured out how to turn off the notification from Walgreens that set off an alarm on my phone when I drove by one of their stores.
* I’m hearing there will be some legislation to tighten up vaccination mandates as well. Stay tuned for that. From a press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is taking steps to increase vaccination rates across the state, in response to Illinois’ seven measles cases and CDC reports of more than 600 cases across the country in 2019, 71 reported last week alone. These steps include increasing accessibility to vaccines, expanding outreach in communities with low vaccination rates, and educating the public on the importance of vaccines.
“We are taking the threat posed by a rise in measles cases very seriously and are committed to taking action to keep Illinoisans safe,” said Governor Pritzker. “Working across agencies and at all levels of government, we will be taking steps to increase vaccination rates and ensure all of our families are educated about the resources available to them. There is no more important responsibility of our state government than keeping Illinoisans healthy and safe, and addressing this threat is a top priority for my administration as we move forward.”
“IDPH is committed to taking action to keep our communities safe from measles and other preventable diseases,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Vaccination is our best tool to protect our families and while overall vaccination rates for the state are strong, some specific communities have lower rates and remain vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Through a multifaceted approach that will include breaking down barriers to vaccination, targeted outreach, and education, IDPH is committed to increasing vaccination rates in every corner of Illinois and minimizing the threat of measles in our state.”
Public health officials are working with schools, community organizations, religious groups, parent organizations, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to provide vaccinations. Steps will include, but are not limited to:
• Mobile Units: IDPH will assist in providing mobile health units to neighborhoods with low vaccination rates to hold clinics and provide vaccinations.
• Targeted Events: IDPH will identify events with high parent and children attendance and support vaccination clinics at these events. These can include county fairs and neighborhood celebrations.
• Faith Outreach: IDPH will work with religious organizations to sponsor vaccination clinics after services, during vacation bible school, and near other religious gatherings.
• Community Coordination: IDPH will work with community health workers and parent educators to help set up appointment times for vaccinations, provide or arrange transportation, and assist parents in filling out the paperwork.
• Public Education: IDPH will work to combat misinformation about vaccines and increase education efforts through health events, marketing, and social media.
IDPH is also working with the Illinois State Board of Education to conduct a more in-depth data analysis that will inform additional actions. This qualitative and quantitative study will focus on schools at risk for outbreaks due to student vaccination rates of less than 95%. The study aims to understand why the school is experiencing a lower vaccination rate and identify who, specifically, is not being vaccinated. IDPH is currently working with local health departments across the state to meet and talk with school officials and health care providers in the community to learn about barriers that limit vaccination and identify additional opportunities to increase rates. Barriers already identified include:
• Transportation: Some parents do not have a way to get their children to clinics for vaccinations.
• Time: Health clinic hours may not fit with working parents’ schedule.
• Paperwork: Vaccination requires the consent forms to be filled by the parent. Some parents may be overwhelmed by the paperwork and not fully understand how to fill it out.
• Wait Times: While local health departments and providers may offer special vaccination clinics before the beginning of the school year, the wait times can sometimes be more than an hour.
IDPH continues to recruit and retain Vaccine for Children (VFC) health care providers. The federally funded VFC program provides vaccines at no cost to children who might otherwise not be vaccinated. IDPH is currently working across agencies and with the governor’s office to identify ways to help reduce the burden of the program on providers, and to help them be compliant.
Communities with low vaccination rates are at risk for disease outbreaks. If one person in a community is infected, the disease can spread to others who are not vaccinated. In communities where the overwhelming majority of people are vaccinated, there are fewer opportunities for the disease to spread, often called “herd immunity.”
Education and awareness are critical to increasing vaccination rates. There is extensive misinformation circulating about the safety of vaccines. It is important for the public to understand that we have the safest vaccine supply in U.S. history and that vaccines offer the best protection against illness from vaccine-preventable diseases. IDPH is working to increase knowledge about vaccines through social media, its website, informational brochures, health events around the state, and more.
Vaccination protects you from illness, and also protects the community around you, especially those who are unable to be vaccinated, such as babies and people with weakened immune systems. Vaccination is a shared responsibility that we must uphold or risk turning back the clock to a time when measles was widespread, and thousands died each year.
* Gov. JB Pritzker talked with several different reporters yesterday because today marks his 100th day in office. Some of the questions were just rehashed from previous interviews…
Biggest surprise: How often he’d have to console families. Pritzker has attended the funerals of state police troopers, National Guardsmen and women and families of victims of gun violence. “It’s one of the greatest honors, but it’s heartbreaking, too,” he said.
Juggling act: Pritzker’s wife and two teen children have remained in Chicago, which means Pritzker splits his time, usually spending three or four days each week in Springfield.
Opening up the mansion: Pritzker and his wife, M.K., entertain regularly. They’ve hosted dinner parties and cocktail hours for Democrats and Republicans alike. On Wednesdays, Pritzker is known to invite groups of lawmakers for an evening away from the statehouse.
* The governor has said in prior interviews that he doesn’t prefer to increase the Motor Fuel Tax to pay for a new capital bill, but he’s never completely shut the door and he didn’t yesterday, either…
Pritzker said he rules out a tax on vehicle miles driven. When asked about the possibility of an increased tax on gasoline, he noted that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce backs a plan including such an increase.
“So I think that’s worth noting,” Pritzker said.
While not being specific, Pritzker said, “What we are focusing on (are) near-term opportunities to find revenues so that we can have the bonds paid for that will be necessary for a major capital plan. … Those are ideas that are being brought forth by Republicans and Democrats. … Suffice it to say that there are many options on the table.”
Pritzker, who is a political newcomer, said he misses the time he’s losing with his family and close friends. But he understands the heavy duty of his responsibilities. The governor’s wake up time? Between 4 and 5 a.m. Pritzker works until his wife or kids wake up, then spends time with them until he has to head out to events or meetings.
“I guess the biggest thing that I miss is, there are time when you just want to go spend some time with your close friends, but you know, the duties of office take you away from that,” Pritzker said. “And certainly the time away from my family — my children and my wife — that’s lost time. But on the other hand, I’ve had the great, good fortune to be able to actually wake up every day and make a difference in people’s lives.”
“Certainly I continue to believe that maps should be drawn fairly,” Pritzker said, adding, “I would veto a map that I thought was an unfair one.” But he said there are “a lot of priorities that I’ve moved forward with. … Suffice to say drawing the map fairly in congressional and legislative races is important.”
He touts his major achievements thus far as signing the minimum wage increase, gun dealer licensing and Tobacco 21 bills, a well as introducing his “fair tax” amendment and his budget proposal. He dubbed the minimum wage law as having “the most widespread and most positive impact.”
As he seeks to turn that ship, Pritzker says he has regular meetings with the four legislative leaders, speaking with each – including House Speaker Michael Madigan – “on average … at least once a week.”
“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve reached across the aisle,” he said.
Introducing something isn’t really an accomplishment, although introducing a precariously balanced budget that doesn’t include unrealistic cuts or just ignores gaping short-term holes is an improvement over the past four years. Same goes for hosting leaders meetings. Bruce Rauner set such a low bar that any improvement looks like significant progress.
“First of all, we are one Illinois and I have fought hard during the campaign and continuing as governor to bring together all parts of the state,” said Pritzker, who has a home in Chicago in addition to the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. “There will be disagreements among some people in some counties with other people in other counties, but suffice to say that we always have brought Illinois together historically … the land of Lincoln, the land of Barack Obama. I think there’s a common understanding of who we are and our values, even if there are disagreements on some issues.”
The number of state troopers in Illinois has fallen by nearly 20 percent over the past two decades, leaving fewer officers to patrol the roadways, investigate shootings on highways and oversee the concealed carry program.
The decline has been long and steady, with spending cuts, a wave of retirements, new policing responsibilities and the recent state budget impasse all contributing. But the death of three troopers this year when other motorists crashed into them has raised the question: Are there enough officers out there to discourage reckless driving and keep the roads safe?
“This is a gradual deterioration that has occurred in both Democratic and Republican administrations,” said Brendan Kelly, acting director of Illinois State Police. “While that has happened, the responsibilities and duties set forth by the legislature have only grown.”
Now efforts to rebuild the department are underway in the hope of significantly boosting staffing. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed allocating more than $7 million to train two new cadet classes at the state police academy. Agency leaders also are trying to think up creative ideas to entice more applicants, such as producing flashy recruitment videos and reconsidering educational requirements for the job.
Kelly said he is open to a proposal that would do away with a four-year degree requirement for recruits, instead requiring them to obtain an associate degree.
