* I’ve seen this argument before and it’s a prime example of why simple solutions are usually neither: 1) Most everyone is already asked if they’d like to go to another city; 2) Transporting human beings against their will would be violating numerous state and federal laws. But, I suppose, the cruelty is the entire point here…
* Gov. JB Pritzker was asked about the asylum-seekers earlier today…
We are going to have people that have work authorizations going to work soon. But that only covers a certain percentage, a little over half of the folks who have come here will be eligible to work over time as they receive their work authorizations.
He also said this…
They’re here legally. I want to be clear with people who call them ‘illegals.’ They’re not, these are not. Nobody is illegal, by the way, but they’re not undocumented. They’re here legally. And it is an obligation, I think, in a humanitarian crisis for us to step up and make sure that people aren’t starving or that they have a place to stay, that they get the basic health care that they need.
And this…
I have had numerous conversations with the federal government, both the Department of Homeland Security and the White House, about at the border making sure that if there is an effort, and there has been by the governor or various mayors in Texas, to load people on the buses to Chicago that the federal government should at least intervene to communicate with those folks who are being told to get on a bus to Chicago and whatever else they’re being told that you know, we are doing everything we can for the folks who are here but we do not have enough shelter with winter coming. It may be advisable indeed they should convince them that they maybe shouldn’t come to the city of Chicago during the winter, and that there are other places in the country they can go and the federal government ought to be helping to, you know, manage the logistics so people go to places where they, you know, can survive through the winter in a way that clearly is more difficult if you come to a place like Chicago, and I would say the same about New York and the same about Denver as we hit snow and winter.
So far, though, the feds have refused to take over logistics. They’re simply not helping.
* Sure seems to be lots of “miscommunications” in the city these days…
Nearly 3,000 migrants were sleeping unhoused at police stations Tuesday, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, waiting for space at any of the city’s nearly 25 shelters to open up.
Of that number, advocates estimate more than 1,000 are sleeping outdoors because there isn’t room inside stations.
Linda Bello and José Urribarri, parents of a young girl and boy, said they were able to sleep inside the Near North station overnight, but the new problem is it’s so cold now that staying outside the rest of the day is becoming unbearable.
Migrants at the station, like several others, aren’t allowed inside during the day. Police officials directed any comments about that policy to the mayor’s office.
A spokesperson for the city said the issue of migrants not being allowed inside at the Grand Crossing and Calumet District police stations, where the problem had been reported on social media, was due to “miscommunication.”
At the Near North station, migrants were still convinced they weren’t allowed inside during the day.
* CBS 2…
On Tuesday, the City of Chicago said it was providing coats and warm clothing at one location, and 21 warming buses as police district stations to provide temporary warmth.
But volunteers say that is not enough.
“The buses aren’t working, because people are reluctant to get on them in the middle of the night, for fear that their belongings will be stolen from their tents,” Fischer-Holden said.
Migrants we spoke with off camera echoed those concerns. But as temperatures dropped Tuesday night, they said the warming buses may be their only option.
Something else to keep in mind as temperatures start to rise a bit…
Amid Chicago’s recent cold snap, the city has been sending warming buses to 16 police districts where migrant families are sleeping in tents on cold and wet concrete.
“Even at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you can develop hypothermia with prolonged exposure or with wet clothing,” Beth Amodio, president and CEO of One Warm Coat, said. “And children are more likely to develop hypothermia because their bodies are not able yet to regulate their body temperatures like a healthy adult would be.”
* More from Isabel…
* Oak Leaves | Oak Park trustees move to match $150K grant so village can aid migrants housed in tents at Chicago border: “This is a humanitarian crisis,” [Village Trustee Brian Straw] said. “These are people who are seeking a better life here in America. If you can find someone who believes more in the American Dream than an immigrant who walked a thousand miles to come here, I challenge you to find them. We need to figure out every way in which we can step up because when we look at ourselves and say ‘What would I do?’ when faced with this kind of humanitarian crisis, it’s here, it’s now, it’s blocks away.”
* Tribune | Freezing temperatures, uncertainty and concern among migrants living outside Chicago police stations: ‘How are we going to survive winter here?’: Temperatures plummeted overnight to a low of 30 degrees at O’Hare International Airport, said the National Weather Service, and safety networks stepped in to react to emergencies brought on by the cold. Temperatures were expected to stay around 37 degrees with light snow flurries for 24 hours, weather officials said.
* Sun-Times | Unwelcome first snow for migrants at police stations: ‘It’s so cold it hurts’: Thousands of migrants, like Ortiz, are staying at Chicago Police district stations waiting for room in city shelters to open up. Many have found some respite in donations from passersby and city warming buses, but as the city gets its first snow of the season, all that isn’t enough to stave off the cold. “The cold was tremendous,” said Ortiz of the low temps the night before. “It doesn’t let you sleep.”
* ABC Chicago | Chicago migrants battle elements as winter nears; many at police stations spend days outside: “The police station wasn’t letting them inside during the day, we think that is changing but it’s not happening at every police station,” said volunteer Fran Zell.
* WGN | Migrants in Chicago face harsh winter conditions as city works to provide aid: The freezing temperatures and snowfall echo the growing concerns among migrant families sleeping on the frigid sidewalks of Chicago’s Police Districts. Migrant families, deeply concerned about the harsh conditions, say they do not know how much longer it will be before they get moved to shelters, causing worries about their children’s safety to grow.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago migrants’ lives are at risk in tents in cold weather, volunteer says: At the Austin (15th) District police station, 5701 W. Madison St., a group of migrants relied on goodwill to weather the cold. Volunteer Laurel Fischer-Holden, with the Chicago Police Station Response Team spends her days collecting donations – and then drops them off at the police station for the migrants. “What’s happening here is criminal,” said Fischer-Holden. “These are human beings, and they’re freezing. And we can fix it, but we’re not.”
* CBS Boston | Massachusetts emergency migrant shelters nearly full, families soon to be put on waitlist: Currently, the state spends about $45 million a month to house both homeless residents and migrants who are new to the state in existing shelters as well as various hotels and motels across the state. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation with a right to shelter law.
* NY Daily News | After tour, advocates beg NYC to ditch plan to house migrant kids at Floyd Bennett Field: On the heels of touring the city’s soon-to-open migrant shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, homeless advocates are pleading with Mayor Adams’ administration to reconsider housing children at the site, calling it a “patently dangerous” plan due to insufficient bathroom access, lack of privacy and other concerns.
* ABC | Denver Public Schools implementing new strategies to address increasing number of migrant families arriving: In October alone, Denver Public Schools welcomed 400 migrant students into the district, according to Adella Arredondo, the executive director of Family and Community Engagement for DPS. Between July and October 25, DPS welcomed 1,915 migrant students. The influx of students has meant a couple of things for the district. For starters, DPS leaders had to put a call out for more bilingual teachers.
- makes ya wonder - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 12:56 pm:
==I think, in a humanitarian crisis for us to step up and make sure that people aren’t starving or that they have a place to stay==
Is there a significant amount of migrants in his Gold Coast neighborhood? Genuinely asking as I don’t know the answer.
I believe everyone should be taken care of as well the issue is when certain neighborhoods are asked to bare the burden and other, wealthier/whiter ones, are not.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 12:59 pm:
===Genuinely asking as I don’t know the answer===
You should try using the Google before commenting here.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:09 pm:
How about a quick winterizing of Wrigley and Cominskey (or whatever that is called) ? Makes more sense that tents.
- Tragic Results - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
Difficult to not like JB when his leadership shines in moments like this. It has been difficult to pin where the mayor is at. Ever since he received push back for the TX trip he, Jason Lee and Ronnie Reese have gone into hiding.
CPZ has been the only coherent and clear voice through all this but the admin has failed to communicate a plan. It’s tragic because it feels like the city is speed running towards deaths of migrants and why? Because the mayor and his team couldn’t come up with a plan to shelter people in the 6 months they have had? Tragic and frustrating.
- makes ya wonder - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:28 pm:
==You should try using the Google before commenting here.==
Came up with nothing concrete so I guess JB’s neighborhood is not included in the making sure people don’t starve/freeze pact that he’s making
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:33 pm:
As of Oct. 15, 2023, the Archdiocese of Chicago lists 17 properties for sale. The properties include churches, rectories, convents, and schools. There are 7 properties listed under contract.
The structures could provide housing for migrants rather than tents.
If only someone on the mayor’s team could use Google as Rich suggested, the individual would discover contact information for each property listed.
- Lurker - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:35 pm:
I’m not sure who thinks tents and police stations are a viable option but these people need indoors and soon. If you look at it from just a cost standpoint and not from a humane point (and I state that as I feel that is what is happening), the lawsuits from death and frostbite will exceed the costs of buildings.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:36 pm:
===Came up with nothing concrete so I guess===
That’s why Facebook exists.
To the post,
This. All day…
=== So far, though, the feds have refused to take over logistics. They’re simply not helping.===
… there needs to be clear understanding to that simplicity;
“The Feds are not helping”
Ok. “Now what?”
I’d suggest, again, the following by this administration at 118 N. LaSalle;
The mayor needs (needed, geez) to formulate a workable plan that addresses the needs of human beings that also includes safety, shelter, health, and nutrition… have it where the impact and imagery shows Chicago “capable and in charge”, not dealing or coping but actively working through thoughtful steps.
Get alderpersons on board. Gotta get buy in, gotta get a united front as best you can with all the allies you can muster. Show strength in the unity. Show the power of unity to the plan.
Keep running tabs. Put deep pressure on DC, enjoin with the state, call on DC to more funding by not complaining… but actually and literally “bring receipts”
Things need to be actually done, activity isn’t achievement, it’s hard work to get things done, and hire, get on board, “whatever”, the necessary folks that can run a 5th Floor to accomplish actual results for human beings in crisis.
- SWSider - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:47 pm:
I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard people talk about his conversations with other stakeholders about why this can’t/shouldn’t happen. They haven’t listened. They won’t listen.
If JBP wants the feds to stop this, he has a whole bunch of electoral leverage he could apply on Biden. It would be putting the state ahead of party politics, so it won’t happen.
- AAA Minors Not Pros - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:51 pm:
Months and months to plan and a mayor with no communications or IGA director. Weeks without holding a Q&A. A floor leader who loves to attack the governor and state party leader. Anyone looking to challenge the mayor is not going to have a tough time if this is the norm.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:53 pm:
I got to believe that Mayor Johnson has gone through the rudimentary steps of looking at the most obvious options and arriving at the best one that can be implemented before winter (including googling for available properties to lease). I wouldn’t be shocked if that proved incorrect, but that’s my assumption, and that’s why the news yesterday of how slow the tent camps are going was so disheartening - it’s likely the best option and the one to try to build off of.
Re: Stadiums - the one that comes to mind is the domed one in St. Louis that as far as I know isn’t in use. Honestly asking: can that be turned into a viable option? It’s indoors, has lots of bathrooms and concourses, luxury suites.
- supplied_demand - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:53 pm:
==If JBP wants the feds to stop this, he has a whole bunch of electoral leverage he could apply on Biden.==
Please expand.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:55 pm:
Long before the migrant crisis, people in need sit in front of drug and grocery stores in the governor’s neighborhood. Many shoppers by extra groceries and simply hand them to a person in need.
After I left the drug store, a man claimed that he was hungry and needed cash. As I don’t carry cash, I offered to cross the street and buy him a sandwich and coffee. He declined as he wanted cash.
- AAA Minors Not Pros - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
== If JBP wants the feds to stop this==
The onus of what Chicago needs should not be on JBP. The mayor has not communicated a plan or needs. They are MIA in Springfield. I commend JBP for not calling out what a mess BJ and team have turned out to be.
- Hannibal Lecter - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:00 pm:
=== the lawsuits from death and frostbite will exceed the costs of buildings. ===
What would be the basis of the lawsuit?
- makes ya wonder - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:02 pm:
==That’s why Facebook exists.==
If you have proof of migrant shelters in the Gold Coast then I’m happy to be proven wrong.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:02 pm:
===If JBP wants the feds to stop this, he has a whole bunch of electoral leverage he could apply on Biden.===
Yes. Please expand to the leverage.
The actual leverage is in the governing and policy towards governing. Financial leverage? Go look at fundraising numbers as of today, and keep in mind how monies change during each and every campaign “season” (primary/general/convention)
The leverage is the spotlight of the Feds inadequately doing the necessary steps, and battleground states noticing… oh, and at the same exact time Pritzker’s PAC will be pushing abortion framings in key races/states too.
Maybe just do the hard work on the ground first?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:04 pm:
===If you have proof===
Use the Google key, find where the migrants are. You’re a big kid, you’re even typing. I’m not here to research for your trolling. That’s why Facebook exists.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:07 pm:
===The onus of what Chicago needs should not be on JBP. The mayor has not communicated a plan or needs. They are MIA in Springfield. I commend JBP for not calling out what a mess BJ and team have turned out to be.===
This is a national crisis put upon states and directly to cities.
Keep up, please.
The city and state do not have the monies and tools to accomplish greater goals.
The Feds need to step up by local and state pressure being realized by actual work.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
==he has a whole bunch of electoral leverage he could apply on Biden==
What exactly would that leverage be?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:11 pm:
==so I guess JB’s neighborhood is not included in the making sure people don’t starve/freeze pact that he’s making==
That is a prime example of trolling.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:14 pm:
===What exactly would that leverage be? ===
Cancel the convention, for one.
- Hannibal Lecter - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
=== United Center ===
You mean during the middle of basketball and hockey seasons?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:30 pm:
===Cancel the convention, for one.===
That’s one once it’s said out loud, other cities jump on wagging it too.
It’d be interesting to watch that.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 2:39 pm:
To the individual curious about migrants in the Gold Coast, take the Red Line to Division and Clark. Then stop in to the grocery store to purchase prepared sandwiches and groceries. Hand them to people in need who are nearby sitting on cold concrete.
Take a walk from State to Wells and you’ll see many in dire need of assistance.
- Jerry - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 3:04 pm:
“The feds not helping”
I think is what was bothering the “pro-life” guvnor of Texas the most. His method is reprehensible, and not very Christian, but he has made his point.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 3:31 pm:
Leverage as in …
“I’ve got this convention and it’s f-ing golden …”
What could go wrong?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 3:47 pm:
===What could go wrong? ===
Nothing, and I mean nothing, would get the Biden administration’s full attention like canceling the convention.
Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 3:54 pm:
===Nothing, and I mean nothing, would get the Biden administration’s full attention like canceling the convention.
Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.===
Man, this would be one interesting turn. It’d get everyone’s attention. It’d be the most political point… to make a policy point.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 3:59 pm:
The right wing and despots like Abbott win everyday the democratic leaders run around complaining and disorganized. I will keep shouting at the clouds here but this is a prime opportunity that is being squandered by Chicago and Illinois. We have an opportunity to thumb our nose at these right wingers by doing anything and everything to house these people and get them working. So many places in Illinois need workers. Yes it is entry level and labor intensive, but in a few short years any investment into these migrants will pay off in a booming state. These are hardworking industrious people that will create success. It blows my mind that these so called leaders cannot get their act together and make this work. Mind blowing.
- Flapdoodle - Wednesday, Nov 1, 23 @ 4:33 pm:
===Nothing, and I mean nothing, would get the Biden administration’s full attention like canceling the convention.
Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.===
Oh my oh my — I really like thinking about this idea. Somebody has simply got to get both the Mayor’s and the President’s attention focused on the immigrant housing crisis. And that somebody will need a whole lotta moxie to do it. Can’t think of many people with more moxie than JB.