* Earlier this week…

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, called for Pritzker to sign an executive order that Ford says will free up spending to help rebuild African-American communities around the state in the wake of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the looting.

* Rep. Ford sent me a draft of what he believes the EO should look like…

African American Rapid Relief Task Force

Whereas, African American residents across Illinois have been ravaged by suffering from the COVID-19 virus and from recent police misconduct issues across the country; and

Whereas, African American residents in Illinois need tens of millions of dollars in immediate assistance with food, pharmaceuticals, rebuild and establish businesses in black communities, police reform, homeless prevention, mental health, substance use disorder, COVID-19 Relief and health disparities; then

THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to the Illinois Constitution and Sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(8), 7(9), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, and consistent with the powers in public health laws, I hereby order the following, effective immediately:

1. Create an Illinois Office of Diversity and Inclusion that will manage the findings of the task force

2. Set up a 50-member African American Rapid Relief Task Force for Illinois

Task force members will include representatives of:

• Members of the House and Senate – 10
• Governor and Lt Governor – 2
• State treasurer – 1
• Business community including black business representative – 3
• Retailer with fresh food – 1
• Pharmacy representatives - 1
• City mayors – one from downstate — 5
• Mayor of Chicago — 1
• Faith leaders – 3
• Community organizations — 3
• Youth — 3
• DCEO — 1
• IDPH - 1
• IDHS - 1
• ISBE – 1
• Illinois State Police – 1
• Courts representative – 1
• Cook County State’s Attorney/State’s Attorney Association – 1
• Public defender – 1
• Substance abuse provider – 1
• Homeless organization – 1
• Police reform organization – 1
• Black police officers organization – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE) – 1
• Safety net hospitals — 1
• Additional appointees – 4

Within one week, the task force shall submit to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion a plan to provide relief to the African American communities through executive orders and funding with a focus on all the challenges facing the Black communities in Illinois including Coronavirus Relief Funding from the Illinois CARES Act and existing sources of state General Revenue Funding, other special funds.