* From the two GOP legislative leaders…
Governor Pritzker,
Like you, we believe our top priority during these unprecedented events is the health and wellbeing of our citizens. We also believe it our goal as leaders to address the economic crisis facing our state as well. As other states have laid out less restrictive paths toward reopening, like New York that is partly opening this week, we believe Illinois needs to follow suit.
Last week, you unveiled your Restore Illinois plan that we believe is far too restrictive to those businesses struggling to stay afloat economically during this crisis. Furthermore, the parameters your plan puts in place in determining when a region can move between phases will only cause further economic hardship to small businesses and our state.
To that end, we stand in support of the Illinois Municipal League’s call for revisions to your plan. Specifically, we endorse their call to see our state use the 14-day period before moving between phases, not the 28 days your plan imposes. We believe this adjustment, coupled with using the 11 hospital regions that are already in place, would be a positive first step forward in assuaging the economic devastation this crisis is causing.
Furthermore, we are also asking that you call a special session of the Illinois General Assembly so that we can further discuss and develop the necessary adjustments to your plan that protects the public’s health while at the same time moves our economy forward more quickly.
We stand ready to return to the people’s Capitol to work together during this critical period in our state’s history.
Sincerely,
Bill Brady
Senate Republican Leader 44th District
Jim Durkin
House Republican Leader 82nd District
OK, but Gov. Cuomo said last week that no region was on track to reopen…
And, as I told subscribers last week, people generally don’t do nuance. They see New York’s 14 days and the White House’s 14 days and Pritzker’s 28 days and freak out. A 14-day timeline doesn’t mean it’ll happen in 14 days. I don’t think any state could advance to the next level under the White House plan for quite a while, and it’s not certain that any region in New York will get to the next level by May 18th. But that’s on Gov. Pritzker to explain. He hasn’t done a good job of that to date.
…Adding… Three New York regions are allowed to partially reopen, according to news reports today. But they’re reopening includes manufacturing and construction. Most manufacturing and construction here has carried on throughout.
Also, calling the General Assembly into special session won’t do much good unless the majority party leaders are ready to do something (see Rod Blagojevich). At least one of those leaders doesn’t yet appear ready. At least, he’s not ready to come back this week because he canceled session last week.
* Smart take from Laurence Msall…
University of Pennsylvania Professor Robert Inman recently projected that U.S. states and their local governments will lose $275 billion in sales and income taxes in the coming fiscal year—a 20 percent decline. California officials anticipate an upcoming $54.3 billion deficit that would deplete the state’s rainy day fund multiple times over. Illinois faces a shortfall of as much as $7.4 billion next fiscal year as a result of ongoing economic disruption. Chicago, Peoria, Rockford and cities in every state are experiencing similarly dramatic revenue losses.
While some entered the pandemic in stable financial condition, and some much less so, all of our state and local governments are now or will soon be in major distress. No state or local government can be faulted for the economic calamity caused by the coronavirus. Nor does any state or local government have the capacity to weather this crisis on its own.
The U.S. government is the only entity that can—and therefore must—take action to help all of its governments. Calls to exclude the Illinois, Chicago or other major governments from future rounds of relief because of past bad fiscal decisionmaking are misguided and threaten full national economic recovery.
Our city and state continue to face financial and governance challenges of their own creation. Entire columns can be (and have been) written on what our state and city need to do to help themselves: Pension reform. Increased efficiencies. Property tax relief. Government consolidation.
However, as the nation’s fifth largest economy, Illinois serves as an essential hub for national and international commerce. And as Illinois’ economic engine, Chicago supports substantial portions of not only the State of Illinois’ economy but also the Midwest and national economies.
* Press release…
The Horsemen and Women of Fairmount Park to Rally for safe, spectator-free racing!
In a sign of solidarity, Fairmount Park Horsemen are holding a rally parade in an attempt to convey to the Governor’s Office the desperation to return safely to spectator-free racing. As owners, trainers, and employees in the agriculture industry – the men and women of Fairmount Park have been working daily caring for the equine workforce. During the winter months these athletes get a much-deserved rest but maintain a race-ready fitness during racing season leaving them ready yet dormant until the current restrictions are released.
Some 200 employees currently living and working at Fairmount Park will only require an additional 25 people on the grounds to race a safe, spectator-free racing. All of this can be safely executed while maintaining CDC guidelines for public safety allowing us to take care of ourselves, our families, and contribute to the local and state economies. So many businesses do not have the luxury of safely returning to work while being able to maintain social distancing and restricting groupings, we can. We humbly request the ability to do our jobs while safely staying within all guidelines requested of us.
We are not asking Illinois to venture into the unknown during these uncertain times. Spectator- free racing is currently being conducted all across the United States in Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska, California and beginning May 16th in our neighboring state of Kentucky.
The Rally Parade for Racing at Fairmount Park will be through Collinsville, IL at 1pm on Tuesday. Instead of Fairmount Park’s “Horse Hooky Tuesday” Racing event, we’ll be rallying for racing! We hope to see you there!
* Sun-Times live blog…
‘Those who can pay rent must’: Chicagoland Apartment Association fears ‘tremendous amount of foreclosures’
Aldermen protect workers from retaliation for COVID-related absences, ease up on businesses
Risk of reopening US economy too fast: A W-shaped recovery
MLB’s coronavirus antibody test for employees yields 0.7% positive rate
A Cook County Jail correctional officer died Sunday of apparent complications of COVID-19.
Time for Illinois Legislature to get back to work — safely and remotely
* Tribune live blog…
MLB owners approve a plan to start the season — without fans — in July
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers allows nearly all nonessential businesses to reopen with limits
Chicago to open six more testing sites in neighborhoods, will try to reach 10,000 tests per day goal
Northwestern University furloughs staff, cuts leaders’ pay to address financial fallout of pandemic
Abbott Labs prepares to ship antibody tests after obtaining emergency use approval from FDA
Lightfoot criticizes Northwest Side church for holding in-person Sunday services
A majority of Americans disapprove of protests against state coronavirus restrictions, though support for closures dips, poll shows
Food, iPads, care packages part of groundswell of donations to Roseland hospital following Tribune story
Legal aid organizations strained by increase in pandemic-related cases, including domestic violence, unemployment claims
