* The General Assembly has canceled a week of session, the statehouse is now off-limits to large crowds, the IHSA is limiting the number of event attendees, universities all over the state have extended spring breaks and are moving classes online and numerous towns have canceled their St. Patrick’s Day parades.
Meanwhile in Springfield…
The [St. Patrick’s Day] parade starts at Jefferson and Sixth streets with the traditional cannon shot and will have over 100 entries, said Shawn Mayernick of the parade board president. Its theme is “Irish Eyes Are Smiling Down.”
Parade committee members in Springfield huddled Wednesday to make everyone was on the same page, Mayernick said. A joint statement from parade organizers and the city of Springfield pointed out that “multiple activities with large crowds occur in our city each day.
“Right now, each event and venue is operating sensibly and cautiously while individuals assess their own decisions on their participation.”
It’s not just a parade. There’s a huge party before it starts.
* WICS…
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said the public health department will make the decision whether to start canceling events in Springfield and the city will comply if told to do so.
For now, Langfelder said it is all about hygiene and prevention.
“As far as day-to-day activities, it is stated that you should be cautious and use good hygiene,” Langfelder said. “I think people are more cautious. I know for myself, I wash my hands more frequently.”
* Illinois Times…
Shawn Mayernick, president of the parade committee, sounded confident during an interview. “We’re definitely confirmed,” he said, “We would cancel if there was lightning or tornado.”
Asked whether people older than 60 or those with health conditions — including diabetes, immune deficiencies, respiratory conditions or heart disease — that experts say increase vulnerability should attend the parade, Mayernick said he’s not an expert, but volunteer organizers care about the community. “We don’t dismiss all this stuff with health and safety,” he said. “We are a very caring and concerned group of people that enjoy getting together.”
Gail O’Neill, director of the Sangamon County Health Department, said that neither the city nor parade organizers directly consulted her before announcing the parade will go on. And she left room for cancellation – public health authorities, she said, can step in if they believe an event poses an unacceptable risk. She noted that there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in central Illinois.
“We’re still pretty sure the parade can go on,” O’Neill said. “We don’t have any cases here yet. … It’s a decision that’s day-to-day, pretty much. It’s kind of a decision we make with our medical experts.”
How does O’Neill know there are no cases yet without any real testing?
Remember the mayor in Jaws who refused to close the beach because of a big July 4th holiday? Yeah. Don’t be that guy.
I’m told Gov. Pritzker reached out to Mayor Langfelder today. Hopefully, the governor talked some sense into him.
(Headline explained here.)
*** UPDATE *** Looks like the governor succeeded…
…Adding… Maybe the governor’s next call should be to the mayor of Plainfield…
The Chicago and South Side Irish Parades may be cancelled over coronavirus concerns, but a local organizer said the Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade is still set to go on as planned.
“As of right now, it’s [not cancelled],” lead parade organizer Jessica said. “The mayor spoke with police this morning, and decided they would go forward with it.”
*Facepalm*
You don’t call the police about a public health question. Sheesh, some people are so dumb.
- SensibleSpringfield - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:36 am:
I hope for Springfield’s sake, Gov. Pritzker talked some sense into Mayor Langfelder. It would be foolish of the Mayor to ignore all the other cancellations going on. Sometimes an unpopular decision is the RIGHT decision.
Who knows who would attend the parade and where they came from. Who knows if someone was exposed to COVID-19 and didn’t know? And then expose people in downtown Springfield?
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:37 am:
This isn’t an edge case, where the call could go either way. Sangamon and Springfield officials are really looking like rubes here.
But, let’s defer to the dude who says, “We don’t dismiss all this stuff with health and safety.”
Yup, “stuff.”
- JRE - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:38 am:
It’s an airborne virus. Washing your hands will only go so far.
The disease expert on Joe Rogan’s podcast said it’s “like trying to stop the wind.”
- Bertrum Cates - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:38 am:
= Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said the public health department will make the decision whether to start canceling events in Springfield and the city will comply if told to do so.
For now, Langfelder said it is all about hygiene and prevention. =
So unclear on the concept it is dangerous. I like Mayor Langfelder as a person, but this is just the latest in a series of blunders during his tenure. Most of them all involve the same thing: Punting on, or a refusal to, take action.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:38 am:
Springfield could take a cue from the greedy billionaire sports franchise holders and greedy athletic directors and NCAA interests, who have chosen to forgo literally hundreds of millions of dollars. If the people who only see dollar signs in their eyes are willing to forgo the money, that might be a sign that things are serious.
- Frank talks - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:39 am:
Come on just go in the water and swim it’s fine
- Mind your business - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:43 am:
No JRE, this is not an airborne virus, it is spread via droplets only.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:44 am:
He’s suggesting washing your hands is good enough? Sheesh.
Also, my daughter’s school is supposed to participate in the parade. I’m probably going to keep her home if the city has the parade and the school decides to still participate.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:44 am:
Beer vendors just said its cancelled
- L.A. - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:46 am:
I just heard they cancelled the parade
- Nick Name - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:47 am:
I have a friend in New Jersey who’s a pediatric immunologist. I told him about Springfield not cancelling the parade. His terse response: “Don’t go to that parade.”
- Homer J. Quinn - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:48 am:
that joe rogan episode is JRE #1439 with epidemiologist Michael Osterholm. we should be responding in much different ways than we are currently.
- Captain Who - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:48 am:
According to an article in The Hill the virus can survive in the air for up to 3 day.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:54 am:
I dunno how smart it looks to have someone like the governor to convince you about public health, but I’m glad the decision was made.
- Wylie Coyote - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:55 am:
Springfield bars are really going to be packed now….
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 11:57 am:
plainfield stands alone as still bragging they are not cancelling their parade.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:02 pm:
Good decision, Mr. Mayor.
- jimbo26 - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:08 pm:
Too bad it took a call from the Governor. Lead on Langfelder (snark)
- Rich Hill - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:09 pm:
Grateful Illinois has a good governor.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:12 pm:
Other than the video clip from the movie, the first Google search result for “You’re mayor of Shark City” is this post …
- dbk - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
–Hopefully, the governor talked some sense into him.–
That was certainly diplomatically put. Wonder how the actual conversation went …
JB is showing remarkable restraint, but it’s probably time to exercise his authority as Chief Executive of the state to cancel everything for the next month. Honest.
- Austinman - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:14 pm:
Amen
- Amalia - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:14 pm:
Springfield, the New Rochelle of Illinois? it could happen.
- Leatherneck - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 12:35 pm:
What about things like Lenten fish fries? Anyone heard? The biggest in the Springfield area is the one at Little Flower Church in Southern View. Thousands attend each week. Methinks at least tomorrow night’s might get called off.
- JoanP - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:08 pm:
=You don’t call the police about a public health question. =
Perhaps the police chief has an uncle who went to MIT.
- Ambrose Chase - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:11 pm:
“We are a very caring and concerned group of people that enjoy getting together” is a very Springfield thing to say. Maybe Peak Springfield.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:14 pm:
Here’s the sad thing about plainfield.
In 1990, an F5 tornado went through what was at the time a smaller town. It killed 1% of the population, and the surrounding areas helped out however they could.
Now, as surrounding areas are cancelling events out of caution to the most vulnerable among us, the village is thumbing its nose at its neighbors who came to their rescue when they needed it the most.
This is a terrible reflection on the village in more ways than just current events.
- Commonsensical - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:27 pm:
Glad the Governor finally talked some sense into Springfield. Seems that local leaders understood the importance of not moving forward with the parade, but perhaps Senator Manar should heed his own advice and use the same “abundance of caution” and not put anyone in harm’s way - including our most vulnerable- by hosting a town hall in Decatur evening. The high cost of prescription drugs is no doubt an important topic, but as he noted in his comments about not participating in the parade, the focus should be “on our greater public health crisis.”
- Leatherneck - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:45 pm:
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 1:14 pm:
Here’s the sad thing about plainfield.
In 1990, an F5 tornado went through what was at the time a smaller town. It killed 1% of the population, and the surrounding areas helped out however they could.
Now, as surrounding areas are cancelling events out of caution to the most vulnerable among us, the village is thumbing its nose at its neighbors who came to their rescue when they needed it the most.
This is a terrible reflection on the village in more ways than just current events.
—————-
Along those lines, today is 14 years to the day since the twin F2 tornadoes in Springfield. Especially on the city’s south and east sides.
That was the last time the St. Patrick’s Day parade was postponed (for another week with first responders as grand marshals).
One would think Langfelder would have heeded the anniversary of this tragic day in Springfield history and wouldn’t have needed the Governor’s intervention before canceling the parade.
- NoMoreMC - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 2:17 pm:
I like to think the conversation went something like this…
Governor Pritzker: Your city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor Langfelder: What do you mean, “biblical”?
Lt. Governor Stratton: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Gov: Exactly.
Lt. Gov: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Gov: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…
Lt. Gov: The dead rising from the grave!
Gov: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!
Mayor: All right, all right! I get the point! And what if you’re wrong?
Gov: If I’m wrong, then nothing happens! But if I’m right, and we can stop this thing…Jimmy, you will have saved the lives of thousands of registered voters. [Mayor slightly smiles and nods in agreement]
- charles in charge - Thursday, Mar 12, 20 @ 3:47 pm:
==You don’t call the police about a public health question.==
Someone please tell this to the cops and prosecutors who continue waging the failed war on drugs every day.