23 Comments - Marquee - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:37 pm: Bars are safer than house parties, they will follow rules because they have a license to lose - Montrose - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:41 pm: “Bars are safer than house parties, they will follow rules because they have a license to lose” Being safer doesn’t mean being safe. I am glad the mayor has shifted course acknowledge what science is telling us. - 1st Ward - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:42 pm: It was disappointing to see further loosening of restrictions in bars at the time cases started to creep up across the country given schools remain closed. I don’t get why bars are more important than schools for the mayor. She dropped the ball on this and doubles down with “I don’t think there is a cause and effect” is mind boggling. Does Dr. Arwady think there is a cause and effect should be the follow-up. - Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:43 pm: I’m thoroughly bummed by all of the restaurants we have lost and will lose to the pandemic. But with that said, indoor dining should be prohibited sooner than later. Half-measures are just that. - Pretty in the city - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:47 pm: Mayor and Governor are from the same party and city, and even they can’t agree on appropriate action. Can you imagine either of these two abiding by a national directive? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 1:55 pm: ===Can you imagine either of these two abiding by a national directive? === Yes. Don’t be a dummy. - Pundent - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 2:01 pm: I think I’d defer to the state on this one. The City of Chicago seems to have spent more time flagging states that are on the quarantine list which doesn’t seem to serve much, if any, real purpose. And yes, I would expect that we’d abide by a national directive. If for no other reason that it would provide a lot of political cover. It would also go a long way in educating the general public on a common set of guidelines and rules instead of the patchwork system we’re forced to deal with today. - OneMan - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 2:04 pm: In this situation, to a degree, the Governor needs to step up and be the jerk. “Hey, I’d love to let you stay open up the Governor says you are going to have more State Troopers dealing with you than Jake and Elwood.” Someone needs to be the uncool parent at this point, it seems like that should be JB - @misterjayem - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 2:28 pm: By dragging her feet, Lightfoot did the right thing in the worst way. – MrJM - Pundent - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 2:48 pm: =What happens if a governor or mayor declares they are a sanctuary community for a federal rule regarding COVID?= This question becomes irrelevant if we have a functioning federal government. If the federal government is putting out guidelines supported by scientists and health professionals with the full support of the President and it’s administration what governor or may would do this? Besides the human consequences it’s just dumb politically. And if you can’t see the distinction between Covid and immigration I can’t help you. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 2:53 pm: ===What happens if a governor or mayor declares they are a sanctuary community === lol How about we just focus on reality. Also, stop looking for loopholes. - Pritzker's honor - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 3:05 pm: “How about we just focus on reality” Okay. What would you have that national mandate be? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 3:25 pm: National leadership has broken down so badly that local enforcement to stopping the spread has become a political divide, when health, safety, and well-being shouldn’t be measured by political means. Missing the point of national leadership is probably why those who seek loopholes have this belief they’re right… and state and muni leaders face the scrutiny thru a political lens. - ChicagoBars - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 3:41 pm: I will simply say here that I am unaware of any State agency seriously penalizing a non-compliant business this summer, and City of Chicago records indicate they rarely imposed more than a one day emergency shutdown for alleged egregious violations. The ISP and CPD both have federally funded Sales of Alcohol to Minor operations, they long ago should have been multi-tasked to look for responsible alcohol AND Covid service. There remains no distinction between taverns without food and restaurants in the State mitigations. The State of Illinos at least gets it that a place just having a kitchen doesn’t make it any safer than a responsible tavern. A lesson the City of Chicago, where restaurant licensees remain open for indoor service but food service has never been required since reopening, seems deadset on not learning. A disappointing day for thousands of bar and restaurant workers in Chicago who just lost substantial hours of work in licensed, regulated, masked, and socially distanced tavern and restaurants due to the 10pm City curfew. - OneMan - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:08 pm: Prizker’s honor Well, I can say was President OneMan would have done. Worked with the CDC to set a national standard, with the explanation that the standard would likely change as understanding improved. Would have been consistent in following that standard within my administration. I would have pointed out the Stockdale Paradox (a good son of Illinois) that while it is good to be positive about the future you need to deal with and accept the reality of the now. If governments followed and enforced the standard the federal reserve would have made available very low interest (like basically 0%) loan like aid available with long repayment terms (yes I know some municipalities can’t really borrow so I would have been creative on what we called it. Put the professionals front and center and had them explain why we were doing what we were doing and not undermine the message and talk about how those who oppose me were ‘rooting’ for the virus. Extended, extended unemployment benefits, and additional payments. Talked about how this is a challenge to entire nation, not just cities, or blue states, or red states. I’d like to think I would have been a bit of a statesman on this. But that’s me. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:10 pm: === National leadership has broken down so badly…=== (Sigh) 1) wouldn’t lie about the seriousness of the virus. 2) used FEMA to orchestrate supplies to hospitals and states, negating 50+ entities bidding on the same PPE and needed supplies to fight the virus 3) have the governors convene (via zoom) and coordinate one voice response to the realities of the virus, and a matrix that holds states accountable “to each other” 4) have regional states set guidelines to travel, share information to the region to isolate spread Ya start there, you focus with leadership at ONE location, with ONE set of matrix, with ONE set of procedures to stop spread. The rest is the following up at local levels using the tools they have with the overall national goal and measures seeable - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:18 pm: - OneMan - is *all over* my “phase 2” 1) unemployment benefits extended, PPP to small businesses through regional federal relief efforts, at the direction of FEMA. 2) state and municipal relief directly in relation to lost revenues (taxes) and make them interest free, allowing states and municipal social services a chance to aid. 3) regional business hubs to help push through PPP and work with lending institutions with the businesses and the landlords. 4) mortgage and rent moratorium, again, working with lenders and banks to either backload mortgages and rent, or allow banks to absorb 90 days of the lost payments and move forward to get everything whole in 12 months. The national leadership, and the federal government can do more than states, and making these things a national plan is leadership to the financial needs of all parts of business. I’m not President, picking at it or liking it, it’s an “asked and answered” to your… dorm room ask. - Chatham Resident - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:19 pm: There’s nothing wrong with restaurants, bars and businesses closing at 10PM to begin with. Nothing good happens after 10 at those places, or so it seems, especially on weekends. - ArchPundit - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:43 pm: I’d just add to OneMan and Willy, a bailout of the hospitality industry. PPP was fine, but not enough for the specific issues they face. Essentially match 60-70 percent of pre-pandemic revenue minus what they can still bring in. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 4:45 pm: - ArchPundit - All good. With the post discussing bars specifically, I had that bars/restaurants/hospitality angle baked in… to the dorm room “ask and answered”. Good to highlight it, thanks. - cityrat - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 5:24 pm: @Chatham resident. There are a lot of people who work shifts other than 9to 5. Including a lot of essential workers and first responders. Late night bar patrons aren’t necessarily partiers from earlier in the evenng. - Watcher of the Skies - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 5:58 pm: ===Bars are safer than house parties, they will follow rules because they have a license to lose=== Oh boy, that’s a good one. Not disagreeing about house parties, but just walk by some bars any given weekend evening and see how well they’re following the rules. Checkout restaurants in places like Grafton and observe the the servers with masks as chin straps. - Chatham Resident - Thursday, Oct 22, 20 @ 8:59 pm: Lightfoot’s approach is totally opposite of Mayor Langfelder’s in Springfield–which is on the verge of mitigations themselves (in Region 3): https://www.sj-r.com/news/20201021/langfelder-indoor-dining-should-remain-even-if-greater-covid-19-restrictions-imposed Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.