* Kelly Bauer and Bob Chiarito at Block Club Chicago…
Employees at an expensive Gold Coast steakhouse were able to get vaccinated early, sources say — making it the third business where people with ties to Loretto Hospital’s chief operating officer were seemingly able to cut the line.
Loretto Hospital and its executives, including Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer George Miller, are already embroiled in controversy after early doses were sent to groups with which they have ties. Ahmed was heavily criticized after Loretto held a vaccination event at Trump Tower — where Ahmed and another hospital leader live — and after Ahmed told people he vaccinated millionaire Eric Trump.
A luxury watch and jewelry shop on the Gold Coast frequented by Ahmed was vaccinated by Loretto in early March, as well; and more than 200 people at the hospital CEO’s suburban church got vaccinated by Loretto. Ineligible Cook County judges were also offered shots at Loretto, WBEZ reported. Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the city’s health department, has said Loretto used its doses on “well-connected” people, “letting them jump the line.”
Now, multiple sources have told Block Club employees at another location where Ahmed is a regular was able to get early access to vaccines: Maple & Ash, a trendy, high-end steakhouse at 8 W. Maple St. Reservations at the steakhouse require a $100 deposit, and steaks cost up to $180.
Ahmed is a frequent customer of the Gold Coast restaurant, and vaccinations were offered to higher-up workers who would’ve been ineligible to be vaccinated, multiple sources told Block Club. The Austin hospital Ahmed leads is meant to serve and vaccinate people on the West Side, where coronavirus has devastated communities of color.
Go read the rest. Guy had the sweet hookup.
* Since the judges were mentioned, this is from the Office of the Chief Judge…
This is in response to press inquiries regarding some judges who are not in the county’s “1B” category receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at Loretto Hospital.
Judges who have received the shots were informed that the vaccines were already mixed and would be destroyed if not used by the end of the day, so they could get shots after 3:30 p.m., supply permitting. The Loretto Hospital website makes clear that COVID-19 vaccinations are given up until 3 p.m., so shots given after this would be surplus. Judges who received shots did not take shots away from other eligible persons, but used shots that would otherwise have been destroyed.
Currently, judges in Cook County who are under 65 are not classified as 1B, the group currently eligible for the vaccine. However, the Illinois Supreme Court’s position is that vaccines should be available for all court officials and staff that have regular contact with the public and others in congregate setting, and judges under 65 in many other counties have already been vaccinated, according to Supreme Court spokesman Chris Bonjean.
Despite multiple precautions taken by the Office of the Chief Judge to protect court personnel and members of the public during the coronavirus pandemic –which has included conducting most proceedings by videoconference and teleconference — judges and other court employees have not been immune from this virus. A total of 286 employees of the Office of the Chief Judge and 21 judges have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
COVID-19 vaccination is to protect against a deadly virus, and judges under 65 who have been able to get these shots violated no ethical rules, but acted in a responsible manner to protect themselves, their loved ones and the public, while not taking shots away from others in the 1B category.
…Adding… I’d say Amy Jacobson has become a parody of herself, but that happened a while ago…
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:29 pm:
For those of you pleading, “Won’t somebody please stand up for the poor maligned hospital executives?,” don’t worry, Amy Jacobson is on the case.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:34 pm:
The statement from the Chief Judge’s office still does not answer the question: “Why is it that judges were given this opportunity and not the people the hospital is supposed to serve?”
If it is true, as the Loretto staff member quoted by Block Club says, that “people are calling every day, waiting in line to get vaccinated”, it should have been easy to reach out to those folks.
- Drake Mallard - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:36 pm:
I read over the weekend how at his church they were praying over what they had done.
How about he gets fired and you can still pray when you’re fired
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:36 pm:
I have one simple question that the Chief Judge did not address, and I think gets to the heart of the matter:
Why were the judges informed that surplus was available?
Seems relevant.
- NotRich - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:36 pm:
obvious that the hospital exec was a herd immunity type guy and was just trying to get there by vaxing his inner circle..
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:36 pm:
I have tons of respect for how Kelly Bauer goes about her business.
If you’re not checking out her work, you’re already behind everyone else.
To the post?
Welp, here’s the rub, for me.
At no point did I think the first, second, now third type of incident like this were isolated.
Why?
In instances like these, it’s not about the juice for one, it’s always about the juice that many can use. It’s not a discretionary or discreetly done “one time”, these are “who else can I take care of with this thing I have?”
And look at the choices; watch store, restaurant, judges… I mean, sure it’s eclectic, but the reason it’s eclectic is to power thru the juice and the felling they *can* do it.
It’s not merely brazen, it’s wholly ignoring any repercussions to take care of things.
Now it’s a “wait” to see what other place and connected sort was “Rolodexed” to jump the line.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
If you actually believe the doses were excess and going to be tossed if not used, doesn’t the question then become why reach out to judges and why those judges? Seems like he could have found hospital workers to give to. See when judges were notified?
Also given this guys track record you might want to check out any car dealership he has had business with
- Third Reading - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:40 pm:
Amy’s upset because eligibility expanded to “the media” and she still doesn’t qualify.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:41 pm:
You know you’re on the wrong side of an ethical issue when Amy Jacobson agrees and defends your ethics.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:41 pm:
Imagine this is only a temporary lapse from an executive with an otherwise exemplary commitment to the highest ethical standards.
Might be a good time for Dr. Ezike, who has a pretty clearly contrary idea about who the priorities are for vaccinations, and IDPH took a little closer look at Loretto.
- blue line - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:43 pm:
honestly, when did amy jacobson become such a horrible person? I realize that she crossed a line with the drew peterson case, but was she an awful person before that?
- Independent - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
Substitute Hyatt Regency for Trump Tower and I’m sure Ms. Jacobson would muster some outrage.
- SouthSide Markie - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:54 pm:
If the hospital has extra doses available, why doesn’t it stay open past 3pm to service those in the community who can’t get there before then The positions of both the Supreme Court and Chief Judge sound as arrogant as the some of the decisions they render. Block Club Chicago never ceases to impress. Kudos to them.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
And the 6000 doses that were supposed to go teachers?? Not from the same company I realize. Seems to be a pattern, tho.
- Nadigam - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
Amazing that there are doses that magically have been prepare for use that otherwise would be wasted right after 3:00pm on a regular basis it would seem.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
I detect Ricky Hendon swagger in this incident…
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 2:59 pm:
==honestly, when did amy jacobson become such a horrible person?==
Well, when did she realize WIND was the only place that was willing to cut her a check?
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:00 pm:
The hospital could have saved a lot of time if they’d just fired him instead of pretending that such an extreme lapse of judgement was an isolated event.
I hope that for their sake they had at least inquired with Dr. Anosh Ahmed, PoS, the extent to which he distributed these vaccines for his own personal benefit and prestige.
We should all hope very soon to hear an announcement from Director Kelly of the State Police regarding that the matter is under investigation.
- Jimbo2 - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:06 pm:
And, apparently ABC Chicago is using Kelly’s story w/o credit:
https://twitter.com/BauerJournalism/status/1374173370833641472
- Jibba - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:10 pm:
When you stonewall a scandal, the number of the fired grows exponentially.
- ddp76 - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:17 pm:
I think these two guys are the last to realize that they’re going to be resigning.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:19 pm:
Clout and dispensing favors has been the coin of the realm in Chicago for over a century. Dr. Ahmed learned the lesson well and when he achieved the power to have clout he used it (un-wisely) (during a pandemic.) Show-offs got to show off I guess.
- Fed Up - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:29 pm:
I agree with SouthSide Markie. Somebody went to great effort to organize the shots for those that might be able to give them something in return for the favor. That took organization it didnt just happen. Why not take the time to fine worthy neighborhood groups (like local churches close to Loretto etc.) to give the shots to after 3. It was clear the CEO and COO wanted to use them to court favors. Beyond irresponsible. Outright disgusting. How are those legislator board members allowing them to keep their jobs?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
These jamokes still have jobs, huh?
I’m starting to wonder what scale of blackmail these two have and who they have it on to still be there. Can’t believe they weren’t fired after the Trump Tower reveal
- Seymourkid - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:43 pm:
Amy is so upset about this injustice that she forgot the difference between “then” and “than”!
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 3:51 pm:
Life is good as an executive at Loretto. Living larger than life!
- Hot Taeks - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:06 pm:
This story keeps getting funnier. I also don’t believe politicians and public health officials didn’t know this was going on. I mean the Loretto exec donated to several of their campaigns.
- Stu - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:16 pm:
===And, apparently ABC Chicago is using Kelly’s story w/o credit:===
The 2nd sentence of the ABC story gives credit to (and a link directly to) Block Club Chicago
- Frumpy White Guy - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:16 pm:
Federal money bought the vaccines so the abuse warrants a Federal Investigation and possible prosecution.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:33 pm:
I suspect that we will see a lot more stories about the wasteful, misuse or criminal abuses of taxpayers money that occurred during the pandemic.
Glad we have a press group that looks into these things.
- Ferris Bueller - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 4:34 pm:
Gotta say as an attorney I’m a little offended by the Supreme Court’s statement. In their opinion the Judges should have been included in 1B, so it’s ok that they jumped the line…absolutely ridiculous. They don’t get to impose their will or opinion on the established guidelines. I also think there are groups that should have been in 1B that weren’t…but I don’t get to unilaterally make the rules. I’m glad they’ve clearly established that they believe if you don’t agree with the rules (or a law) that you don’t have to abide by it.
- Porterhouse - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
Seems like the anonymous steakhouse has a good PR team.
- Northsider(the original) - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:08 pm:
Just wondering if the good doctor had a lot of traffic tickets. Why traffic court in particular?
- Disappointed Female Suburban - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:20 pm:
Hoping to see Mayor Lightfoot’s follow up appearance on Morning Joe tomorrow, or Friday.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:38 pm:
Dr. Anosh Ahmed is feeblely attempting to be a modern day version of Dr. Karl Meyer, the legendary medical director of Cook County Hospital. Dr. Meyer ruled Cook County Hospital from the 1920’s until 1967 when he retired.
Unfortunately, Ahmed doesn’t have the political or mob connections to pull it off.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:38 pm:
This is happening in every single local health department to varying degrees.
The ongoing death of local journalism will be the downfall of this country.
- McGuppin - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:49 pm:
I’m starting to feel like a chump for continuing to wait my turn. What are our elected representatives in Springfield and Chicago going to do about this? I’m guessing nothing.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 5:50 pm:
The management of Loretto needs to be dumped ASAP. They are toxic, guilty as heck, and a perfect example of corruption in private sector management.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 6:10 pm:
have to give judges shots or waste them? proof they are disconnected from the community they purport to serve. one story after another. the terrible two must go.
- Chito - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 8:14 pm:
Any comment from Rep. Camile Lilly yet?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 8:21 pm:
one down, one to go, now the CEO has to go.
- I said it - Wednesday, Mar 24, 21 @ 8:50 pm:
Real issue here, years ago the state allowed Judges to use work address for their dl to protect them after lefkos husband was killed. So they all put down 26th as address that allowed them to qualify for shot.