Question of the day
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mitchell Armentrout…
Illinois gamblers now have their first chance ever to lay down legal bets on the Super Bowl, but forget about wagering on the length of the national anthem or what commercial is coming up next.
Unlike in some other states — and on plenty of illegal offshore sportsbooks — Illinois bettors will have to stick to on-field action.
Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter said at a meeting last week his agency will only allow bets on “activity directly within the control or jurisdiction of the NFL and/or individuals subject to the NFL integrity policy.”
Fruchter acknowledged such novelty prop bets — such as whether a winning player will declare he’s going to Disney World, or if a halftime performer will suffer a wardrobe malfunction — are good for “the growth and success” of the industry.
But he said it’s “imperative that sports wagering be conducted with the highest standards of integrity, and without any appearance or possibility of potential impropriety.”
* The Question: Do you think the state should allow prop bets? Make sure to explain your answer.
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* Press release…
Southern Regional Republican County Chairmen Condemn the Actions of Congressman Adam Kinzinger against President Donald J. Trump
In a Southern Regional Zoom Meeting on January 19th, 2021 of Illinois County Chairmen, it was agreed that the acts of US Representative Adam Kinzinger of the 16th Congressional District should not go unnoticed but rather, should be condemned.
Adam Kinzinger Refuses to consider claims of Illegality and fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election evidenced by his statement released on January 6, 2021, Representative Kinzinger was dismissive of claims of voter fraud stating “the will of the people was made clear—Joseph R. Biden will be the 46th President of the United States {} … our Constitution, was upheld.”
Adding insult to the appalling injury already felt to the thousands of voters in Southern Illinois that supported President Trump and our beloved Constitution, Representative Kinzinger congratulates Joe Biden on his Inauguration, just days after calling for President Donald Trump’s Impeachment.
The baseless public claims that Representative Kinzinger has made against President Trump do not reflect the beliefs of the Southern Regional Chairmen nor largely those that we represent. It has certainly taken its toll on our Country and our Party.
We encourage One Mind One Strength and No Division. We Thank President Trump for his Service to this Country, and wish the New Administration All the Best.
To Date the following 36 Republican Chairmen/ leaders have echoed their concerns and concurrence from the following counties throughout the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts in the Southern Region of State of Illinois:
Alexander;Christian;Clay;Clinton;Crawford;Cumberland;Edwards;Effingham;Fayette;Franklin;Gallatin; Greene;Hamilton;Hardin;Jackson;Jasper;Jefferson;Johnson;Lawrence;Madison;Marion;Massac; Montgomery;Perry;Pope;Pulaski;Randolph;Richland;Saline;Shelby;Union;Wabash;Washington;Wayne; White; and Williamson.
Whew. So much to unpack there. Have at it. I’m a bit busy with other stuff.
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* I see little chance of myself being vaccinated anytime soon, considering my age and the international shortage, etc. But a very informed pal of mine has been sending me some studies and articles lately that piqued my interest. The first thing he sent me was a small study from the American Society for Microbiology…
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been theorized to provide protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to determine whether any MMR IgG titers are inversely correlated with severity in recovered COVID-19 patients previously vaccinated with MMR II. […]
Hence, while our study provided clear evidence linking mumps seropositivity to COVID-19 severity, we do not dismiss the possibility that there are links between measles or rubella seropositivity that have not yet been identified. […]
While the associations that we have observed between MMR II and COVID-19 do not prove causation, the significant associations lend further support to the theory that the MMR II vaccine may provide long-term, cross-protective immunity against COVID-19.
* Some news coverage…
One notable example of the difference in death rates and MMR vaccination efforts in Venezuela. The country recently gained control of a large measles outbreak through a country-wide vaccination campaign geared toward nine million children between 6 months to 15 years.3
Gold says that delivering 13 million doses of the MMR vaccine was unmatched with vaccination efforts in neighboring countries such as Colombia and Brazil. By 2019, Venezuela had reduced the number of deaths by 91%—reporting only 548 cases and three deaths.
Gold noticed that increased MMR vaccination appeared to be associated with decreased COVID-19 deaths. “Venezuela has had only 39 deaths per million from COVID-19,” he says. “On the other hand, its immediate neighbors Colombia and Brazil have each had 957 deaths per million and 986 deaths per million respectively.”
The US deaths per million is 1,366. Venezuela has more than twice the population of Illinois and just 1,209 deaths. Illinois has reported 19,444 deaths. But, Venezuela is a bizarre country, so I’m not sure I trust its numbers. Still, if that’s even close to accurate, it’s worth a look.
* Many have noted that children don’t seem to suffer from the COVID virus nearly as much as adults. The theory is the MMR vaccine might possibly play a role in this, since most kids get that shot…
In March 2020, Jeffrey E. Gold, a data analyst, thought it was interesting that children were relatively spared from severe COVID-19 disease. He wondered whether a specific intervention, like vaccination, protected them, whereas the COVID-19 death rate climbs quickly for people over the age of 50. CDC statistics reveal 97% of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in those aged 45 and older. The timing of one vaccine in particular, the MMR vaccine — against measles, mumps, and rubella — seemed to best fit the bill. First introduced in 1971, most recipients fall into the under 50 age group.
Looking deeper, Gold found that a number of countries with low COVID-19 death rates had conducted large-scale measles-rubella vaccination campaigns over the last few years. For instance, physicians in American Samoa vaccinated nearly 90% of the population with MMR, including children and adults, during a widespread measles outbreak in September 2019. American Samoa has seen just 3 cases of COVID-19 — all contracted outside the country — and no deaths from the virus. As a comparison, COVID-19 penetration seemed far more extensive in countries with lower MMR vaccination rates, like Italy. Due to public mistrust in vaccines, following the publication of Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent research linking the MMR vaccine and autism in 1998, Italy’s measles vaccine coverage was one of the lowest in Europe.
It’s important to note these associations might just be coincidental.
But then there is this. Like SARS-CoV-2, measles, mumps and rubella viruses are also RNA viruses with spike proteins. The spike proteins on the measles, mumps and rubella viruses share 30% of their protein structure with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The reason I am telling you this is because the degree of similarity might cause the body to “think” COVID-19 is related to measles, mumps, or rubella virus and therefore, fight it pre-emptively.
* So, should adults get the MMR shot?…
The study’s findings fall short of recommending adult booster shots. Gold stresses that more clinical trials need to be completed and show successful results. There is currently a clinical trial to see if the MMR vaccine can prevent COVID-19 in 30,000 healthcare workers who are at high risk of repeated exposure to the virus.
Jeffrey Gold is a data person, not a doctor. Just remember that.
* But here’s the Mayo Clinic…
“So, with that as our basis and understanding, we did a similar analysis here with our Mayo Clinic data. What we did is we compared the rates of test positivity for COVID between those who’ve had vaccines and those who haven’t had vaccines and stratified that according to vaccine type,” explained [Andrew Badley, the Chair of the Mayo Clinic COVID Research Task Force].
What they found was that specifically, the MMR vaccines–which protects against measles mumps and rubella, as well as the flu vaccine and several others–had a protective effect against getting COVID-19. As for further implications for what this research could mean when it comes to COVID-19, Badley said, “certainly there will be numerous studies looking at all of the things we’ve talked about in the future, including the immune response.”
Some further research on the MMR vaccine and COVID-19 has prompted hypotheses that the reason many children aren’t more susceptible to COVID-19 is because they’ve had their vaccines more recently than adults. The Mayo Clinic says there’s no definitive answer as to whether that’s true.
And…
“Should you rush out and get extra vaccines? No, not at all. You should rush out and see your healthcare provider and update your health maintenance and if that means you are not updated on your flu or MMR, you should get it,” said Badley.
* National Center for Biotechnology Information…
After analyzing the results, we saw that there were no significant differences between the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection for any of the vaccines. However, we did find statistically significant differences with respect to the severity of COVID-19 and the MMR vaccination status (p = 0.013). The MMR vaccine has been administered on a mandatory basis to all Spanish children in the context of the national vaccination program since 1981. In our study, most of the physicians infected with SARS-CoV-2 who had received the MMR vaccine (67.92%) presented with mild symptoms of COVID-19. None of those who had to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 remembered having received the MMR vaccine or having been immunized against any of the viruses included in this vaccine. No significant differences were observed with respect to the severity of COVID-19 and the BCG and hepatitis B vaccination status (p = 0.608 and 0.911, respectively).
Some hypotheses link vaccination against MMR with an improved and faster innate immune response against COVID-19. This fact could explain the benign course of the disease in children and those under the age of 40 in our country. Other studies state that the MMR vaccine can induce neutralizing antibodies that cross-react with other viruses. Cases have been described in which patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 generate cross-neutralizing antibodies against MMR.
The most remarkable limitations of this study are the low number of critically ill patients included in it and the fact that other risk factors were not analyzed in a multivariant analysis, as this was not the purpose of our research. With the publication of these results, we aim to draw the attention of the health authorities and research centers with a view for them to promote studies that will allow to confirm the existence of an association between MMR vaccination and a lesser severity of COVID-19. Until a safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is developed, we believe that it is justifiable to promote new studies and clinical trials that might clarify the role of trained immunity with other vaccines in the mitigation of the severity of COVID-19 and of foreseeable future pandemics caused by other coronaviruses.
* However, unlike a lot of the crazy treatments touted by COVID conspiracy theorists, the CDC says MMR revaccination is not unsafe…
However, if revaccination is requested, there is no immunologic or safety reason to deny the request.
And back to that study from the top of the post, here’s coauthor David J. Hurley, PhD, professor and molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia…
“The MMR II vaccine is considered a safe vaccine with very few side effects. If it has the ultimate benefit of preventing infection from COVID-19, preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the severity of it, or a combination of any or all of those, it is a very high reward low risk ratio intervention. Maximum seropositivity is achieved through two vaccinations at least 28 days apart. Based upon our study, it would be prudent to vaccinate those over 40 regardless of whether or not they already have high serum MMR titers.”
Maybe, or maybe not, but what the heck. I called Walgreens yesterday and was told by the pharmacist that I can just walk right in and get an MMR vaccine without an appointment. It won’t hurt me, and if I do get the shot I’m not going to change my life or anything. It’ll just be an added precaution while I wait for the real thing.
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* Press release…
On February 1, 2021, the 40th Ward Democratic Organization and the 47th Ward Democratic Organization held a joint virtual forum to allow community members to meet the candidates vying for the appointment to the 7th state senate district. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Senator Heather Steans. Afterwards, the 47th Ward Democratic Organization held a Recommendation committee vote to determine who to support for the 7th Senate district appointment:
The forum was attended by over 60 community and Democratic party activists from the North Side neighborhoods that make up the 7th Senate district. The forum was publicized on many media and social media outlets and six candidates applied for the position through a process that was created by the Chairman of the 7th district appointment process, Committeeperson Harry Osterman (48).
Each candidate was given 20 minutes to introduce themselves, share their vision, and answer questions from the audience. All six shared core beliefs in progressive policies and causes. Committeeperson Maggie O’Keefe (40th) said, “we have learned that our community wins when we create an open and inclusive approach. This appointment process is another example that we have ended the era of old machine style politics in our community.”
Afterwards, the 47th Ward Democratic Organization (comprised of 20 people) held a Recommendation committee vote to determine who to support for the 7th Senate district appointment, resulting in a tie between Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Mike Simmons. Committeeperson Rosenfeld said, ”It was great to see all six candidates, who are truly committed to public service, attend our candidate forum. However, two of the candidates, Kelly Cassidy and Mike Simmons blew us away! I have no doubt that either of these candidates would be an incredible State Senator for our community. I will be honored to cast my vote for either of these candidates.”
The Democratic Committeepeople who make up the 7th Senate district will meet on Saturday, February 6th, to decide on who shall fill the vacancy. Rosenfeld and O’Keefe will be seeking more input for their communities before making their final decision.
The two wards combined have about 38 percent of the weighted vote. Add in Sean Tenner’s 46th Ward and they’re at about 48 percent. Tenner is part of this trifecta. Might be an interesting Saturday. Stay tuned.
More on Mike Simmons here.
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* I told you on Monday (and updated since then) about how many vaccine doses that various public health departments had on-hand as of Friday. The lone exception was the City of Chicago, which wasn’t reporting its vaccine stockpile data to the state.
After much back-and-forth and claims that they didn’t have the number, I was finally able to get what Andrew Buchanan at the Chicago Department of Public Health says are its current numbers as of yesterday…
No other information was provided. But, if you click here and do a little math, you’ll see that Chicago’s average daily doses administered is 5,125 over the past 7 days. So, at this rate, it’ll take the city a little over 23 days to use up that stockpile.
…Adding… A different page within the city’s public health site shows an average dosage delivered at 10,338 per day when including those vaccinated who do not live in Chicago. It’s not clear if all those doses came from the city’s supply, but give ‘em the benefit of the doubt.
To put that number further into context, the Chicago Teachers Union has about 20,000 members and the union is clamoring for vaccinations for its membership before returning to work. The city could comply with that demand and still have 20 days’ supply on-hand at the current vaccination rate (or about 10 days when adding non-residents to the equation).
Just sayin…
…Adding… Andrew Buchanan at the Chicago Department of Public Health…
(T)hese numbers reflect vaccine that is being put into arms today and over the coming week, it’s been promised to people and providers who have appointments to fill. We receive our vaccine allotments on a weekly basis (typically arriving Monday-Wednesday) but they’re allocated already for appointments over the following week. For example, we received 10,725 doses of Pfizer that were just delivered to CDPH – that’s part of the 19,572 I reported to you – but all of our vaccine supply is already scheduled for appointments over the next week.
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 3,328 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 69 additional deaths.
- Coles County: 1 female 90s
- Cook County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 50s, 4 females 60s, 2 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 4 males 70s, 3 males 80s, 3 female 90s
- Cumberland County: 1 female 70s
- DeKalb County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 90s
- DuPage County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
- Edgar County: 1 male 90s
- Effingham County: 1 female 70s
- Fulton County: 1 male 80s
- Grundy County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
- Iroquois County: 1 female 80s
- Jasper County: 1 female 90s
- Jefferson County: 1 male 50s
- Kendall County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s
- Lake County: 2 females 80s, 1 male 90s
- Livingston County: 1 male 60s
- Macon County: 1 male 80s
- Macoupin County: 1 female 80s
- McHenry County: 1 male 70s
- McLean County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Montgomery County: 1 female 90s
- Pulaski County: 1 female 50s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
- St. Clair County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
- Tazewell County: 1 female 90s
- Vermilion County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
- Wayne County: 1 male 80s
- Whiteside County: 1 male 90s
- Will County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 70s, 3 females 80s, 1 male 80s
- Winnebago County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,137,559 cases, including 19,444 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 101,307 specimens for a total 16,359,655. As of last night, 2,341 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 513 patients were in the ICU and 265 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 28–February 3, 2021 is 3.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 28–February 3, 2021 is 4.4%.
A total of 1,629,550 doses of vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 496,100 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 2,125,650. A total of 1,156,453 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 178,848 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 46,709 doses. Yesterday, a total of 62,318 doses were administered.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
1,156,453 vaccines administered equals 9.1 percent of the state’s population.
* Also…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced Region 4 (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington) is moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan effective today. Additional information about which tier and phase regions are in can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage.
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* Mark Brown…
There’s going to be a lot of complaining about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision Wednesday to make state legislators eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine now instead of requiring them to wait until the next phase later this year, but I have no objection.
Legislators have an important job that’s best accomplished by meeting in person, and this should allow them to safely do that, eventually.
I just have one little caveat:
If they want to actually get vaccinated, legislators should be required to go through the same maddening process as the rest of us who are eligible but are still looking for an appointment. […]
If legislators want to get the vaccine, they should jump through the same hoops as the average person in the Phase 1B grouping who became eligible in Illinois last week — which includes frontline essential workers and anyone age 65 and older.
There are those out there who are claiming that legislators are being allowed to jump to the front of the line. Not true. They’re being moved to 1B and have to fend for themselves like everyone else. Also, unlike the governor, Mayor Lightfoot appears to have actually moved herself and city council members to the very front of the line for shots and got exactly zero heat for that. Maybe equal treatment from the news/opinion media is in order here as well.
But I do figure that some or even most legislators will try to use their connections, like everyone else who has connections. That doesn’t make it right. And I also figure that some of the folks who screamed the loudest yesterday will find a way to discreetly get their shots.
* Also too, it would help if legislators who complained the loudest would step up now. For instance…
So far, neither legislator has posted follow-up tweets about the governor’s policy shift in their favor, although Rep. Didech did speak to the Tribune…
“This has been framed as politicians jumping to the front of the line, but it’s really not about that,” Didech said in a phone interview. “It’s us being responsive to our constituents who want us to get back to work and doing it in a safe way that we’re not causing superspreader events.”
*** UPDATE *** I’m told that in response to requests from legislators, the Pritzker administration will set up a central location in Springfield for state legislators to receive the vaccine in the next few weeks.
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* Fran Spielman last week…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot changed communications directors before she had even served 100 days in office.
Now, it’s happened again, fueling questions about whether the crisis-filled times coupled with Lightfoot’s abrasive management style might be making it difficult for her to hold onto good people.
Lightfoot’s communications director Michael Crowley abruptly resigned Friday after 18 months on the job. He replaced communications director Marielle Sainvilus, who didn’t last four months. […]
In addition to Sainvilus, press secretary Anel Ruiz, chief risk officer Tamika Puckett, deputy mayor for public safety Susan Lee, chief of security Jim Smith, deputy communications director Lauren Huffman, deputy press secretary Pat Mullane and chief engagement officer Juan Carlos Linares are among those who didn’t make it to mid-term.
More recently, Lightfoot fired Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner, her longtime friend and former colleague in the U.S. Attorney’s office, in the fallout from a police raid on the wrong home that forced Anjanette Young to stand naked, humiliated and pleading for more than 40 minutes while male police officers searched her home.
* Fran Spielman yesterday…
[Lightfoot’s city council floor leader] Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) went public Tuesday to announce the resignation he had told the mayor about six weeks ago. He was promptly replaced by Rules Committee Chairman Michelle Harris (8th), one of the most popular Council members. Ald. George Cardenas (12th) will serve as deputy floor leader. […]
The resignation came as no surprise to Villegas’ City Council colleagues.
They say Lightfoot’s thin-skinned propensity to take things personally, lash out at critics and get even would have made it virtually impossible for the best of floor leaders to function.
But, they argued further, Villegas wasn’t the best. He did not have the strong working relationships with colleagues or the open lines of communication with the mayor’s office a floor leader needs to be most effective.
* Heather Cherone…
It is unusual for floor leaders to resign. Former Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th Ward) served as Emanuel’s floor leader for all eight years of his tenure after serving in the same role for former Mayor Richard M. Daley.
* Tribune…
Villegas often exhorted Lightfoot to work on her relationships with aldermen. When she announced a $1.2 billion budget shortfall for 2021 and said she needed to work more closely with people with whom she disagrees, Villegas’ response was “Hallelujah!”
“Sometimes members of her staff say, ‘The mayor’s not a politician.’ And I counter that when you run for mayor of Chicago and you win, you’d better become a politician,” Villegas told the Tribune last May.
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* US Sen. Dick Durbin on WTTW…
While praising the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed in helping researchers develop a vaccine quickly, Durbin said “they did not follow through” with a vaccine distribution plan.
“When (Biden) became president there was more vaccine in the freezers than there was in the arms of Americans — we’re changing that,” he said.
He also said that although Gov. J.B. Pritzker was doing “a good job” of rolling out the vaccine in Illinois, more needs to be done and many Illinoisans have told him they’re frustrated by the slow pace of the distribution.
“It’s a hard job, but we’ve got to keep the pressure on him (Pritzker), he’s got to do more,” Durbin said. “We’ve got to have a better system of producing, distributing and actually injecting these vaccinations into the arms of people in Illinois.”
*** UPDATE *** From Sen. Durbin…
Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois was one of the first states to vaccinate one million residents, has prioritized an equitable distribution, and is among the very top states nationwide in getting vaccines in arms. As Gov. Pritzker continues to lead this challenging effort across our state, the federal government must keep its foot on the accelerator. That means we need to ramp up production, increase allocations for distribution, and provide more funding for the workforce, technology, and capacity to boost our rate of injections.
From securing tests and PPE to bolstering our hospital capacity and public health strategy, Governor Pritzker has guided Illinois through this pandemic with a steady hand and tough decision making. He has worked tirelessly to keep us safe from this deadly virus and ramp up our vaccination capability. When former-President Trump left office, more vaccines were in freezers than arms, and our states were grappling with no national plan and poor communication from federal agencies. We are all anxious to get this vaccine, and I will continue to work at the federal level to help provide Illinois with the resources we need to break the back of this pandemic. That starts by passing President Biden’s American Rescue Plan as soon as possible.
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* Drudge…
* That headline links to this WBBM Newsradio headline…
Nearly 1.9 million seek vaccine appointments at Cook County site in first hour of website launch
* And that story links to this Daily Herald story…
As proof, “our website this morning saw nearly 1.9 million hits in the first hour,” Cook County Department of Public Health spokeswoman Deborah Song said. She was describing the onslaught of people trying to hook up with vaccinations at a second Cook County mass inoculation site opening Wednesday at Triton College in River Grove.
“We booked more than 3,400 appointments in the first 35 minutes,” Song said. “At its peak, the website experienced 65,810 hits in a single minute, which can slow down some of the functionality.”
* I reached out to Donald Bolger at the Cook County Department of Public Health, who said these were not unique site visits and the site stopped booking appointments after the first 3,400.
A “hit” is defined as “a request to a web server for a file.” Depending on the page, there can be numerous hits per page-view, and, take it from me, people can generate a ton of page-views by constantly refreshing their browsers.
We went through all this “hit” vs. “visits” vs. “unique visits” with reporters and others decades ago when the Web was still relatively young and people were unclear on the concept. There’s no excuse for that now.
This is not to say there isn’t intense interest out there, but the headlines are no less goofy and misleading.
…Adding… Phil Kadner described how this happened…
“We are pleased to announce that Cook County Health has released additional availability of vaccine appointments to Phase 1A and 1B residents of Cook County…To find an appointment, please click” — and an internet link was provided [Sunday evening].
I jumped for joy. Shouted to my wife that we were in. And clicked on the link.
Sorry, Charlie, there are no openings. Just toying with you, buddy.
The next day, in the morning, I received another text message:
“The additional availability of vaccine appointments at Cook County Health sites has been fully booked. More will be released as vaccine is received. Please be patient.”
Phil went on to write that he’d seen Gov. Pritzker vaccinated, which is false. Maybe he was thinking of Mayor Lightfoot.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Tony Leone
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tony was probably best known these days for owning the Pasfield House, but he has a long local history…
Tony Leone, who served as clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives and ran the Pasfield House bed-and-breakfast near the Illinois Capitol Building, died Wednesday in Springfield.
He was 69. His cause of death was not clear.
Leone served as assistant clerk and clerk of the House from 1979 to 1992.
Leone was a longtime executive director of the Sangamon County Republican Foundation. He was also assistant treasurer of the state GOP.
My condolences to his many friends and to his family. I was able to confirm yesterday that arrangements are being handled by Boardman-Smith Funeral Home.
*** UPDATE *** Rosemarie Long also passed away, and the ILGOP has sent out a press release…
“When I think about someone who exemplifies the perfect union of a kind heart, genuine character, and commitment to a cause - I think of Rosemarie Long. Few people have made a greater impact on their community than she has. Sangamon County, Central Illinois, and the statewide Republican Party have lost a giant today. But more importantly, her family, countless friends, and loved ones have lost a beautiful soul. We hold them up in our thoughts and prayers at this time.” - Tim Schneider
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* The Grundy GOP reined itself in…
* LaSalle Republicans let their freak flag fly…
The LaSalle County Republican Party reports its central committee has voted, with 88% of members agreeing, to censure Cong. Adam Kinzinger. The party disapproves of him for not meeting with the central committee in the last six years and for voting to impeach Pres. Trump. Chairman Larry Smith says the party has received hundreds of messages via text, email, and telephone from LaSalle County and beyond about Kinzinger.
Censure is a strong statement of disapproval. It doesn’t remove Kinzinger from office or boot him out of the party. The message behind it says the party’s most ardent supporters won’t support him. That increases his vulnerability if someone runs against him in a primary or if he wants to use party resources in a campaign.
Full press release…
That county party hasn’t been the most moderate entity over the years. It stood strongly with then-Rep. Jerry Lee Long when he was accused of harassment, and even after the House GOP pulled the plug on the incumbent and walked away.
* Politico…
In a statement to Playbook, Kinzinger spokeswoman Maura Gillespie responded: “While Capitol Police Officer [Brian] Sicknick was being honored in state for his ultimate sacrifice — defending our democracy — the LaSalle County GOP was condemning Congressman Kinzinger for trying to hold the president accountable for the actions that led to his death.”
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Open thread
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Keep it local and polite. But maybe we should just talk about baseball and music…
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* Press release…
A grand jury today indicted former Illinois State Senator Sam McCann on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion related to his alleged misuse of campaign money for personal expenses. The indictment alleges that from May 2015 to June 2020, McCann engaged in a scheme to convert more than $200,000 in contributions and donations made to his campaign committees to pay himself and make personal purchases, and that he concealed his fraud from donors, the public, the Illinois State Board of Elections and law enforcement authorities.
The indictment was announced by Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser; FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox, Springfield Division; and, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge David Talcott, St. Louis Field Office.
William Samuel McCann, Jr., 51, of Plainview, Ill., served as a state senator for the 49th District of Illinois from 2011 to 2013, and for the redrawn 50th District from 2013 to January 2019. McCann formed the Conservative Party of Illinois and in 2018, launched an unsuccessful bid for Illinois Governor. McCann previously lived in Carlinville, Ill., and owned and operated two construction related businesses.
McCann organized multiple political committees that were registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections: Sam McCann for Senate; Sam McCann for Senate Committee; McCann for Illinois; and, Conservative Party of Illinois. According to the indictment, from April 2011 to November 2018, McCann and his political committees received more than $5 million in campaign donations.
The indictment alleges multiple instances when McCann used campaign funds to purchase personal vehicles, pay personal debts, make mortgage payments, and pay himself, including the following:
Ø McCann allegedly used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to partially fund the purchases of a 2017 Ford Expedition in April 2017 and a 2018 Ford F-250 truck in July 2018, which he titled in his own name and used for his personal travel. McCann then used campaign funds for loan payments on the F-250 and for fuel and insurance expenses for both vehicles, while at the same time using campaign funds to reimburse mileage expense claims which he did not incur.
Ø In April 2018, McCann allegedly used $18,000 in campaign funds to purchase a 2018 recreational travel trailer, and in May 2018, used $25,000 in campaign funds to buy a 2006 recreational motor home, both of which McCann titled in his personal name.
McCann established an online account with a recreational vehicle rental business in Ohio and listed the vehicles for rent identifying Sam McCann as the owner. McCann then established a second account with the same rental business and identified himself as William McCann, a potential renter, with a different residential address and email than those he listed as the owner. From approximately May 2018 to June 2018, McCann, while representing himself as the renter, William, rented both the travel trailer and motor home from Sam, the owner, through the RV rental business. McCann caused a total of approximately $62,666 in campaign funds be used to pay the rental cost of the vehicles. The rental business retained approximately $9,838 for commission and paid McCann, as the owner, approximately $52,827 by direct deposit to McCann’s personal checking account. McCann reimbursed the campaign accounts $18,000, resulting in more than $77,000 in campaign funds used to buy and rent from himself.
Ø On or about Oct. 4, 2016, McCann allegedly used a $20,000 cashier’s check funded by a campaign account and issued to himself to pay off a personal loan, including legal fees, that had originally been issued to him as an equipment loan in 2011 and was in collection by the bank due to non-payment.
Ø From May 2015 to August 2020, McCann allegedly used campaign funds to pay approximately $64,750 on two separate personal mortgage loans that were secured by his former residence in Carlinville and an adjoining property used as an office for his construction business.
Ø In November 2018, after an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Illinois, when he was no longer a candidate for office and did not financially support any other candidate, and continuing to June 2020, McCann allegedly caused the Conservative Party of Illinois to issue approximately $187,000 in payments to himself personally and an additional $52,282 in payments for payroll taxes. Using a payroll service, McCann was allegedly able to conceal himself as the payee for the expenditures from the campaign account.
Ø The indictment also alleges that approximately $50,000 in campaign funds were used for personal expenses including Green Dot credit card payments related to a family vacation in Colorado and other personal expenses, charges from Apple iTunes, Amazon, a skeet and trap club, Cabela’s, Scheels, Best Buy, a gun store, and cash withdrawals.
In addition to wire fraud and money laundering, the indictment charges McCann with one count of tax evasion related to his joint return for calendar year 2018. McCann allegedly failed to report income from his 2018 rental payments to himself for the RV trailer and motor home. In addition, in March 2018, McCann used a $10,000 check issued by a campaign account to make a down payment to a Shipman, Ill., business for a motor home. When the purchase was not completed, the business issued a $10,000 refund check payable to William McCann, which he deposited to his personal checking account and failed to report as income received.
McCann is scheduled to appear via telephone conference on Feb. 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins for arraignment.
For the period of the alleged fraud scheme, from May 2015 to June 2020, the estimated loss is more than $200,000. If convicted, the statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud (seven counts) and one count of money laundering is up to 20 years in prison. For tax evasion, the statutory penalty is up to five years in prison.
The charges are the result of investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The indictment is here.
…Adding… Meanwhile…
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SDems launch podcast
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Senate Democratic Fund (ISDF) today launched a weekly political podcast that gives the 41-member caucus an opportunity to let their constituents hear organic, authentic conversation about who they are and the work they do.
Each episode of “In Session” will run 20-40 minutes and feature three to four caucus members with a different member serving as the moderator each week.
“Having a few Senators talk among themselves reveals a dynamic that’s rarely accessible to the people we represent. These conversations will give listeners perspective into the push-pull that comes with the work we do,” Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said. “‘In Session’ gives listeners a unique chance to hear about Senators’ decision making processes, the challenges they face, and their individual stories.”
The first episode is called “How We Won” and includes discussion about how ISDF retained its seats and won a new seat in the November 2020 cycle when those gains weren’t mirrored by Democrats locally and nationally.
Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) hosts the conversation with guests President Harmon and Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).
The first episode of “In Session” is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the ISDF website. Click subscribe or follow to stay tuned for a new episode each week, including the next two:
New Member Prep moderated by retired Sen. Pat McGuire with guests Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) and Sen. John Connor (D-Joliet) - How new members are preparing for their role in the Senate, the best advice they’ve received, and how their skills and values from previous jobs will translate to their work in the Senate.
The Diversity of the Black Experience moderated by Black Caucus Chair Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) with guests Sen. Chris Belt (D-Centreville) and Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) - A discussion about the Black experience in different regions of the state — downstate, suburban and city — and how that informs members’ work in the Senate.
Posts about the Senate Democratic caucus generally produce only a handful of comments. You’d think with 41 out of 59 seats they’d generate interest, but nope. I’ve already picked the over/under on this one.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Some House and Senate Republicans highlighted three proposals today. Here are two of them…
SJRCA 1 / HJRCA 5 amends the Illinois Constitution to allow Illinois voters to make more substantive changes to their constitution. The Illinois Constitution currently limits citizen-initiative amendments to specified structural and procedural subjects. This amendment would put voters in the driver’s seat, allowing them to circulate petitions for and vote on constitutional amendments on key issues that are important to their lives, such as redistricting. […]
SJRCA 2 / HJRCA 6 amends the Illinois Constitution to permit citizens the ability to initiate up-or-down referendums on newly passed laws. By giving citizens the right to veto unpopular or rushed legislation, the amendment would allow voters a form of popular redress to political overreach and unwanted mandates.
Unlike nearly half of the states, Illinois does not permit its citizens to ratify or veto bills passed by its legislature. If the General Assembly passes a bill and it is signed by the Governor, it is nearly impossible to get that legislation overturned.
Under the proposal, citizens will have 90 days to circulate a petition and collect signatures equal to five percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election to force a voter referendum on the legislation.
“These constitutional amendments are designed to be a first step toward taking power from the entrenched political class and returning it to the people,” said State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). “The people of Illinois deserve to have a government that is efficient, responsive, accountable, and I believe these three amendments are a part of getting to that point.”
The other one has to do with recall and we’ve already discussed it. Click here for more details.
* The Question: Your thoughts on expanding voters’ ability to change the state Constitution and allowing voters to overturn new state laws? Explain.
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COVID-19 roundup
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Illinois is diverting 97,000 unused doses of coronavirus vaccines away from a federal partnership with pharmacies that is overseeing vaccinations in nursing homes and making those shots available to people 65 and older and front-line essential workers, state health officials announced Wednesday.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and officials in other states have criticized the federal partnership with Walgreens and CVS for moving too slowly in vaccinating residents and staff and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The federal vaccination program in Illinois is part of a nationwide effort.
However, the Democratic governor recently said the pharmacy companies had provided assurances to the state that the first round of vaccinations at assisted living facilities would be completed by Feb. 15.
As of Tuesday, the federal government had allocated 496,100 of Illinois’ vaccine doses — about one-quarter of the state’s total — to the pharmacy program, but only 175,900 doses had been administered.
Walgreens pharmacist Marina Gockman preps a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Plymouth Place in La Grange Park on Jan. 16, 2021.
* Insurance Business Magazine…
The owner of a Chicago hotel has filed a lawsuit against Zurich American Insurance Company, accusing the insurer of wrongful and bad faith denial of insurance coverage.
The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County by operator ECD-Great-Street DE, claimed that Zurich denied its claims related to the physical damage and extended closure of theWit hotel resulting from the events of civil unrest that occurred in Chicago on May 30, 2020.
As a result of the damage, theWit hotel – along with its in-house bar ROOF and restaurant State & Lake – were forced to shut down for the entire summer and early fall. Both periods, the operator claimed, were peak seasons for business. The hotel later reopened in October.
The lawsuit also cited Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s statement on June 08, 2020 that “insurance companies must do everything in their power and are obligated to give their customers the funds they need to rebuild and get back on their feet as soon as possible.” On that same day, the Illinois Department of Insurance issued Company Bulletin 2020-15, which directed (among other requirements) all insurers licensed to transact insurance business in the State of Illinois to “base payouts” of business interruption claims related to damage caused by the civil unrest “on business activity levels that eliminate the impact of COVID-19.”
* Press release…
In light of reports showing familiar disparities in ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts between Chicago’s well-to-do communities and majority-minority communities, State Senator Jacqueline Collins called on Gov. Pritzker Monday to focus resources on the same neighborhoods that are suffering from the highest rates of infection and death but are to date seeing the slowest rollout of the vaccines.
“When the pandemic began, we saw disparities in infections and deaths,” Collins said. “As it continued, we saw disparities in testing and care. Now, we are seeing disparities in reaching the light at the end of the tunnel. These disparities are literally killing us. I am calling on Gov. Pritzker to interrogate the reasons that the most affluent North Side ZIP codes are seeing such success in vaccination while impoverished communities like mine are struggling, even as we’re seeing the worst rates of spread. And I am calling on him to do something about it.”
Jordan Abudayyeh…
Because of federal government rules, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Public Health are a separate entity from the State of Illinois and are solely responsible for vaccine programs and their locations in the city. The state health department works in close coordination with the city, but the Pritzker Administration cannot direct how doses are distributed and used within the City of Chicago. In addition, the limited number of doses the state of Illinois receives are required to be used in areas outside the City of Chicago.
* Press release…
The Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) today launched its “Let’s Get Vaccinated - Together We Can Do It” campaign to urge Illinois’ Supportive Living staff members to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Supportive Living residents are seniors and people with underlying health conditions, which make them some of the most at-risk populations in the state. Ensuring that those who work with these populations are vaccinated is a step in the right direction in keeping them safe and healthy.
“Illinois has more than 150 Supportive Living Communities serving seniors and persons with disabilities, so it’s important that staff members get vaccinated as quickly as possible to ensure that all of our residents have peace of mind knowing they are being taken care of in the safest environment possible,” said AALC Executive Director Karin Zosel. “Our goal with the Let’s Get Vaccinated campaign is to get one hundred percent of Supportive Living employees across the state vaccinated so we can move forward.”
* Tribune live blog headlines…
What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine second dose: timely appointments, adequate supplies, knowledge of side effects
CDC: Schools can safely reopen even if teachers are not vaccinated for the coronavirus
Coronavirus restrictions loosened in four more suburban counties including DuPage, Lake
Biden to discuss COVID-19 relief package with Democrats today
As the ‘first line of defense,’ school custodians say their work is receiving increased appreciation during the pandemic
Don’t let the Super Bowl become a super spreader, Dr. Anthony Fauci warns
Pike, other western Illinois counties partnering on COVID-19 vaccines
* Sun-Times live blog headlines…
3,700 CPS workers have been vaccinated or offered a shot, but teachers criticize disorderly rollout
UK says new study vindicates delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot
China to send 10 million coronavirus vaccine doses abroad
Study: Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine appears safe, effective
Bipartisanship is nice, but Joe Biden’s first job is to come to the aid of suffering Americans
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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 3,314 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 69 additional deaths.
- Adams County: 1 female 70s
- Boone County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 80s
- Bureau County: 1male 70s
- Champaign County: 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 female 30s, 1 male 50s, 3 females 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 6 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 3 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 2 males 90s, 1 female 100+
- DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- Effingham County: 1 male 80s
- Henry County: 1 male 70s
- Jefferson County: 1 male 70s
- Kane County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 50s
- Kankakee County: 2 females 70s
- Knox County: 1 female 80s
- Lake County: 1 female 30s, 1 male 40s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s
- Macon County: 1 female 90s
- McHenry County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
- Monroe County: 1 female 70s
- Montgomery County: 1 female 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
- Peoria County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 90s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
- Vermillion County: 1 male 90s
- Will County: 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s
- Winnebago County:1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,134,231 cases, including 19,375 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 96,894 specimens for a total 16,258,348. As of last night, 2,469 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 520 patients were in the ICU and 270 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 27–February 2, 2021 is 3.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 27–February 2, 2021 is 4.5%.
A total of 1,583,425 doses of vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 496,100 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 2,079,525. A total of 1,094,135 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 175,900 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 45,787 doses. Yesterday, a total of 65,166 doses were administered.
If all the mitigation metrics continue to improve, Region 4 will move into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
…Adding… Forgot about this…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced Region 8 (DuPage, Kane), and Region 9 (Lake, McHenry) are moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan effective today. Additional information about which tier and phase regions are in can be found at the top of the IDPH website homepage.
A Phase 4 Guidelines Overview can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.
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* Jordan Abudayyeh…
At the request of members of the General Assembly, any of the 177 state legislators who wish to be inoculated will be allowed to receive their vaccine in Phase 1b. The State of Illinois has urgent and vital business that must be addressed, and we hope that the General Assembly will engage in a robust and productive schedule in coming weeks and months.
…Adding… Center Square…
Illinois Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, said putting state legislators ahead of transplant patients in the line for COVID-19 vaccines is “ridiculous.”
Illinois has been administering vaccines since Dec. 15. As of Wednesday morning, more than 1 million doses have been administered. Around 1.8 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
McConchie said Wednesday during an unrelated press conference that he’s been critical of the governor’s vaccine efforts, such as advancing prisoners in front of people younger than 65 with life-threatening health conditions.
“My understanding is the governor is making an announcement today in regards to legislators getting vaccines [ahead of others] which I think is ridiculous when yesterday in, my office I had a transplant recipient who necessarily has to take immunosuppressant drugs and is very vulnerable to COVID-19 but because they’re under 65, there are zero mechanisms, there is no ability, for them to get the vaccine even if their doctor says their life depends on it,” McConchie said.
…Adding… I’m told the governor will continue to wait his turn to be vaccinated.
…Adding… The Sun-Times reported yesterday that the Senate Republicans were upset that Senate President Harmon canceled in-person session days and would hold remote committee hearings…
But Senate Republicans blasted Harmon for the Oak Park Democrat’s reliance on meeting remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Illinois Senate Republicans continue to be concerned about the lack of public and media access through an online-only legislative option,” said Whitney Barnes, press secretary for Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie. “Other state legislatures are meeting in person and have for months. We need to move towards a more transparent legislative process with safety measures and testing, instead of delaying another entire month.”
One could say that “safety measures” could include vaccinations.
…Adding… Speaker Welch…
“I commend the Governor’s decision to allow state legislators to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the 1B phase. While part of my job as Speaker is to relay the range of opinions among all House members, it was important that this decision rest with the Governor and his team of health experts. The issues and challenges facing the General Assembly are enormous, so this is a welcomed step in the interest of government functionality and safety. Whether or not to get a vaccine is a personal choice for every member, but I encourage those who are at-risk or have vulnerable family members to strongly consider it.”
…Adding… Sun-Times…
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, echoed McConchie’s concerns. Durkin said he and others have received calls and emails from people who are “extremely frustrated” by the vaccination process because they qualify for the vaccine but aren’t able to get an appointment to get it.
“We need to wait our turn,” Durkin said. “And if we have members of the General Assembly who have preexisting conditions, they will have an opportunity to go before most of the public, but we should not leapfrog over anyone in this crisis.”
…Adding… ILGOP…
It was announced today that Governor JB Pritzker has made the unilateral decision to allow Illinois politicians to jump to the front of the line in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor changed his mind saying, “The State of Illinois has urgent and vital business that must be addressed.”
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider expressed his disagreement with the decision, saying, “For months, thousands of Illinois workers have been going to work and diligently abiding by safety precautions as they performed their jobs. Springfield politicians are capable of doing the same and waiting in line like everyone else to receive their vaccine. Despite some of them believing so, Illinois legislators are not more important or worthy than the rest of us.”
The Governor’s decision comes on the heels of his prior mandate to have prisoners in state custody receive a vaccine in Phase 1b ahead of vulnerable individuals with known comorbidities.
“Let’s be clear here, Governor Pritzker is prioritizing young healthy felons and Springfield politicians over high-risk adults. These decisions display a shameful lack of judgment by the Governor. He should reverse course.” added Schneider.
…Adding… Senate President Harmon…
The Illinois Senate has been prepared to follow whatever rules Gov. Pritzker and public health experts put in place.The General Assembly has important work to do this spring, some of which will certainly have to be done in person. Vaccines would help those most at risk participate without jeopardizing their health. Ultimately this is a personal, individual decision. I would encourage those with underlying medical conditions to seek out an appointment. At the same time, we have a vaccine shortage and millions of hardworking Illinoisans are waiting to get their shots. I hope that a national COVID strategy under the new Biden administration will bring about a fast, efficient and equitable vaccine distribution process across the country.
…Adding… Uptown People’s Law Center…
Prisoners were assigned to Group 1B in Illinois’ vaccination plan. In a statement released today, the Illinois Republican party attacked the state’s decision to prioritize vaccinating “young healthy felons…over high-risk adults.”
Alan Mills, executive director of Uptown People’s Law Center, had this to say:
“All prisoners are neither young, nor healthy. In Illinois, more than 20 percent of them are over age 50, and over 50 percent have a health condition of some kind. Just like people in nursing homes, they live in congregate settings, with no ability to social distance. Failure to prioritize vaccinating prisoners would be a clear violation of the ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ clause of the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution. Furthermore, this decision is backed by science. Governor Pritzker is following CDC guidelines, as well as the advice of hundreds of doctors and scientists across the country.”
A policy paper outlining why prioritizing vaccines for prisoners is important for public health is available here.
…Adding… I asked John Patterson if Senate President Harmon would get vaccinated in 1b…
The Senate President is not seeking an appointment for the vaccine.
He is a generally healthy 54 year old.
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Rep. Adam Niemerg’s campaign Facebook page with emphasis added by me…
Judges don’t usually speak at these sorts of dinners unless they’re running for retention or higher office. There’s apparently an appellate vacancy in Judge “Fishing is a Constitutional Right” McHaney’s neck of the woods. Just sayin.
…Adding… I’m told Judge McHaney is planning a run for the appellate court.
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Unsolicited advice
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Crain’s…
The fate of a massive industrial park planned in Joliet that could employ as many as 10,000 people rests largely in the hands of the governor, who has the final say over a proposed bridge spanning Route 53 that’s essential to the development. It may be just a bridge, but it represents the hopes of pro-growth government officials and the fears of local residents fed up with heavy truck traffic originating from a pair of gigantic rail yards nearby. And the outcome of the standoff could be a turning point for a region that’s become one of the nation’s largest logistics hubs and, as a consequence, a key pillar of Illinois’ economy.
The bridge would connect the two intermodal terminals on the west side of Route 53 with the Compass Global Logistics Hub, a $1.9 billion warehouse project that Kansas City, Mo.-based NorthPoint Development plans to the east. It’s the linchpin: Without the bridge, the project doesn’t work.
Pritzker is caught in the middle. The proposal cleared a key hurdle in December, when the Joliet City Council approved it. But NorthPoint can’t move forward unless Pritzker allows the Illinois Department of Transportation to take over a key road from the village of Elwood.
The thoroughfare, Walter Strawn Road, would include the proposed bridge over Route 53. NorthPoint would cover the $20 million it would cost to construct the bridge. But it can’t build it right now because Elwood is adamantly opposed to Compass and is fighting the project in court.
It ain’t as simple as the story makes it out to be. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
As Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell explained, the issue is not simply about this administration approving construction for a bridge. The Northpoint development is a complicated transaction that would require sign off from multiple municipalities, the people who live in these communities and their representatives in General Assembly. Gov. Pritzker prioritizes economic development in every region of this state and the administration would encourage the corporation to engage local municipalities and persuade them this is in the best interest of the people they serve, before asking the state to seize land from communities who have not been persuaded.
Local state legislators are opposed for numerous reasons, partly because the duly elected officials in Elwood are opposed. Also, the region is packed with these facilities and they don’t pay their workers very well.
* We’ve discussed this before…
But this corporate valhalla turned out to be hell for the community, which suffered a concentrated dose of the indignities and disappointments of late capitalism in the 21st century. Instead of abundant full-time work, a regime of partial, precarious employment set in. Temp agencies flourished, but no restaurants, hotels, or grocery stores ever came, save for the recent addition of a dollar store. Tens of thousands of semis rumbled through Will County every day, wreaking havoc on the infrastructure. And as the town of Elwood scrambled to pave its potholes, its inability to collect taxes from the facilities plunged it into more than $30 million in debt.
If they have the money to invest in all that infrastructure, perhaps they should also pay and treat their workers better and allow for union representation. That would make it extremely difficult for Democratic legislators to oppose the plan. As it stands now, Elwood gets nothing except more problems.
…Adding… NorthPoint response…
Here are some details in response to your post on Compass Global Logistics Hub:
• The City of Joliet has already approved the annexation agreement, which has paved the way for the $2 billion investment. No action is legally required from any other municipality.
• The only thing required to begin construction is for IDOT to assume responsibility in taking over a 1.5 mile stretch of existing industrial road, part of which the state already controls.
• The bridge, which NorthPoint would cover the cos of building, is something the developer agreed to as a result of community-based solution to keep trucks off local roads.
• Without Compass, traffic problems will continue to persist. The growth of the BNSF and UP intermodals are the result of the increased popularity of the online shopping. That will bring more truck traffic – with or without Compass.
• Without Compass’ long-term planning solution, haphazard growth will continue with one-off warehouses and increased traffic problems on local roads.
• As the article states, the average salary of a worker at Compass would amount to $42,000 – higher than minimum wage even for the lowest paid jobs there.
• NorthPoint is not asking for any state incentives or TIFs and would bring 10,000+ permanent jobs to the Southland families and millions of revenue to the State during an economic downturn and a growing budget deficit.
• NothPoint and local unions have negotiated a PLA agreement, considered a model for future development that continues well after the construction of the buildings is complete.
• The Governor’s recent statement about issues with the One Central project is a mirror opposite of the NorthPoint’s approach: they want subsidies (NorthPoint doesn’t), they didn’t demonstrate need (NorthPoint did), they don’t have city approval for project (NorthPoint does).
• NorthPoint has a proven track record in Illinois: 1) a new $164 million light manufacturing facility at the site of the abandoned Republic Steel site on Chicago’s Southeast Side; and 2) a $312 million logistics center in Pontoon Beach.
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Public Radio…
Sexual health education could soon be mandatory in Illinois public schools under reintroduced legislation from Democrats in the General Assembly.
If passed, the Responsible Education for Adolescent and Children’s Health Act, or the REACH Act, would bring the state in line with 30 others that already require sex ed.
State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is a sponsor of the bill. He said a proliferation of reporting on child sex abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying of people of color and LGBTQ+ people makes the legislation necessary for Illinois children.
“I view it as it’s an overburden not to do this, because we will end up in a situation where we have kids being taught the wrong thing or seeing something on the news and taking that and making an assumption,” said Villivalam. “Now more than ever, they need medically and factually accurate information, as well as a safe environment to develop the skills they need to navigate our modern world.”
* Center Square…
If passed into law, the Responsible Education for Adolescent and Children’s Health, or REACH Act would start sex ed in kindergarten through second grade with lessons on personal safety and respecting others. Grades 3-5 would cover anatomy, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Grades 6-12 would build upon that and include benefits of abstinence, birth control and prevention of STDs.
A similar bill was filed last year, but Planned Parenthood of Illinois said the COVID-19 crisis kept the measure from advancing. Since then, the organization said it has refined the measure to make it standards, not curriculum-based. That would lay out standards for local districts to decide how to teach. […]
But Pro-Family Alliance’s Molly Malone Rumley said some of the concepts required to be taught could have religious students bullied by their peers.
“You’re kind of saying ‘well, what you believe is silly and what we are teaching you is actually correct,’ so you’re undermining those religious beliefs,” Malone Rumley said.
While supporters of the measure say it would teach “medically accurate” information, Malone Rumley disagrees. She said it would be medically accurate to teach abortion ends life after conception.
“And so medical accuracy would demand that you teach that and medical accuracy would teach that there are only two biological genders or sexes,” she said.
Willis said the measure will allow parents to opt their children out of the instruction. Malone Rumley said even if parents opt their children out, they’d likely get informed by their peers.
Um, their peers are gonna pass on a lot of misinformation without actual facts, but whatever.
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One Illinois announces closure
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ameya Pawar and Ted Cox sign off…
In the three years of One Illinois, this is the hardest story to write, because with its publication this website will cease operations.
It’s been a wonderful ride, and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and the work we’ve done. We set out to confront shady media outlets that were telling half-truths (at best) and political forces that attempted to divide voters in order to win elections. “We are all in this together as Illinoisans,” we wrote in our keynote story, “and the sooner we all realize that, the better.”
Three years later, the political divide might sometimes seem as wide as ever, but the need for a sense of unity — and for factual news reporting — is recognized by anyone who sees Illinois as one state and the United States as one nation.
And, to be honest, we really don’t have much time or patience for anyone who feels otherwise.
They’ve had some good stuff. I’ll miss them.
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Today’s must-read
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David Heinzmann at the Tribune…
An increasingly bitter lawsuit between two of Illinois’ biggest video gambling executives has put both of their licenses in jeopardy as allegations of bribes and illegal deals lodged during the case have resulted in Illinois Gaming Board investigations into both sides.
On one side of the feud is Rick Heidner, owner of Gold Rush Gaming, which leases video poker machines to more than 500 locations around the state. Gambling regulators are seeking to revoke his license to supply the machines over allegations that he offered a $5 million “illegal inducement” to his adversary in the lawsuit in an attempt to hold onto a significant chunk of his business. […]
On the other side of the battle is Dan Fischer, a dominant player in Illinois video poker cafes and the developer of a proposed Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, which is awaiting preliminary state approval Thursday. In late 2018, Fischer expanded his empire by acquiring the Stella’s and Shelby’s chain of 57 gambling cafes in a complicated maneuver that included a plan to replace Heidner’s machines at 44 of those locations with devices from a different supplier.
That deal is the source of the legal conflict between the two men, as well as a state investigation into whether the structure of the sale violated the law.
For years, the Illinois Gaming Board has touted its prowess in vetting these owners and patrolling the industry. Apparently, the Board isn’t so great at its job.
Go read the whole thing.
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A little good news for a change
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bloomberg…
As the pandemic begins to recede in U.S. states, Illinois is among America’s most improved.
The nation’s sixth-most-populous state has had a notable turnaround since its case curve peaked in November, compared with large peers including California, Georgia, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. The improved metrics follow almost two months of tightened restrictions that Governor J.B. Pritzker enacted to avoid a holiday surge.
The Covid-19 case count on Tuesday fell to 2,304, the lowest daily figure since Oct. 6, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. One day earlier, the number of deaths touched 16, the fewest since November. Hospitalizations and intensive-care bed use also declined to the lowest since the fall. The rolling seven-day positivity rate dipped to 3.9% from 11.5% on Nov. 20, the day the governor enacted the rules.
36 Comments
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Open thread
Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yep…
Keep it local and remain polite. Thanks.
21 Comments
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