It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Finally, some good news for Pembroke Township…
This afternoon, State Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) presented her first bill before committee for the first time as a lawmaker. House Bill 3404 specifically addresses the energy accessibility concerns of Pembroke Township. Upon the bill’s passage, Rep. Haas released the following statement:
“I am pleased to report that this important legislation was approved by the House Public Utilities Committee. The bill has bipartisan support from local, state and federal government officials because it makes a decades-old dream of extending a natural gas pipeline into Pembroke Township a reality. Residents lack utilities and services that so many of us take for granted. Currently, they rely on propane, wood-burning stoves and electrical space heaters. Natural gas is both an economic driver for underdeveloped communities—keeping residential fuel costs affordable and attracting new businesses–and environmentally, a major contributor to global emissions reductions. Providing safe, reliable and clean energy to Pembroke Township presents a unique opportunity to chart a better trajectory for our neighbors who have to this point been left behind.”
Next, the bill will be considered by the full chamber on the House floor.
On background:
* Pembroke Township is located in the eastern section of the 79th legislative district, on the Illinois-Indiana border. It is a rural area known to have many disparities—limited access to jobs, services, little to no economic development, and food deserts chief among them.
* According to 2019 Census estimates, there are about 1,700 residents with a median income of $18,900.
* A steering committee headed by Hopkins Park Mayor Mark Hodge has met for nearly two years to address the following issues: energy accessibility, economic development, infrastructure, funding and grants, and broadband connectivity. Committee stakeholders include State Rep. Haas, State Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Park Forest), Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Nicor Gas, county elected officials and chambers of commerce, local business owners and residents.
Politicians have promised improvements to Hopkins Park for years and nothing much has ever really happened. George Ryan wanted to build a prison there in order to finally get sewer, water and gas service to the community, but Rod Blagojevich killed it and instead gave them some gravel for their sand roads (not a joke).
Nicor is pushing this bill, so kudos to them.
* Injustice Watch…
A bill in the Illinois Senate would require judges in the state to attend more training about issues like trauma, racial bias, and cultural competency.
The Judicial Quality Act, which was introduced by Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, passed the Senate executive committee Wednesday by a vote of 11-6, despite opposition from the Illinois Supreme Court.
The bill’s backers say the current training for Illinois judges – 30 hours every two years – is insufficient, and that judges need more focused education on topics like domestic violence, child abuse, racial bias in sentencing, the impact of trauma on brain development, and the LGBTQIA community. […]
The Illinois Supreme Court, which oversees training for judges and other court personnel through the Illinois Judicial College, opposes the Judicial Quality Act.
“The educational opportunities for Illinois judges are among the very best in the nation,” Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “(The Judicial College) continues to develop excellent and diverse programs and I am very proud of how the Judicial Branch pivoted during COVID to move educational programming from in-person conferences to our eLearning portal.”
* Center Square…
A new bill has been filed that would give water customers a say before their public utility goes private.
Marking World Water Day 2021 on Monday, state Sen. John Connor said his bill would require private water companies to give taxpayers an individual vote before their city or village sells the public water system.
The Citizen’s Utility Board said Illinois’ two largest private water companies have hit consumers with more than $220 million in higher water bills to cover a shopping spree as it bought up 34 water and wastewater systems around the state.
* Press release…
A bill that would install a public health approach to drug use in Illinois today cleared a key House Committee in Springfield. Rejecting the failed policies of the “War on Drugs,” House Bill 3447 reduces penalties for small-scale drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. Testimony before the Committee demonstrated the compelling need for shifting the State’s approach to drug use. The vote in favor of the bill was 12 to 7.
“Over just three years 20,000 people were convicted of felonies in Illinois for possessing small amounts of drugs and 7,500 were imprisoned,” the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Carol Ammons (Urbana) told the committee.
Representative Ammons was joined at the hearing by a diverse panel of witnesses who argued that the measure would address fundamental problems in our criminal legal system and make communities safer by connecting people who need treatment for substance use disorders with community-based services instead of jail. Experts agree that a public health approach is proven to work better to address the harms associated with drug use.
Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg championed the bill, telling committee members, “People dealing with addiction need their safety net of support reinforced, not taken from them through incarceration. Unfortunately, this is exactly what stiff criminal penalties associated with lower-level drug possession offenses do. Our communities deserve investment in recovery services and not steep involvement in the criminal justice system when an addiction crisis affects our community members.”
Committee members also were told that Illinois voters agree with a change of approach in our state. In a poll conducted for the ACLU of Illinois last year, voters made clear that they support changes to punishments handed down for those arrested for possessing illegal drugs. A commanding 79% of voters support making possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor and decreasing sentences for all drug offenses. 84% of voters agree that the state should provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment on demand in Illinois.
The bill now moves to consideration by the full House of Representatives. Advocates for the bill said today that they hope to secure passage in both chambers of the legislature by the May 31st session end.
“New policies around drug sentencing allow us to break the cycle in which punishment and incarceration, rather than treatment and support, are the default responses to substance use disorders,” said Ben Ruddell of the ACLU of Illinois. “This bill builds pathways to community-based treatment for those who need it, and includes expungement and resentencing provisions that will help people with past convictions move on with their lives.”
The polling information released today is drawn from a poll of 600 voters in Illinois conducted by Global Strategy Group from October 27 - November 4. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.0% and was conducted online using a voter file match. Care was taken to ensure the poll represented the registered voter universe.
…Adding… Sen. Ram Villivalam…
“Last week in Atlanta, a gunman murdered eight people, six of whom were Asian American women. Earlier that same week in Chicago, two people were killed in a mass shooting at a party that wounded 13 other people. And, last night in Colorado, a gunman murdered 10 people, including a police officer, in a grocery store.
“Hate-fueled mass murders in the United States aren’t slowing down. In 12 months we figured out how to prevent COVID and are taking steps to do so. But how is it possible that, despite hundreds of mass murders throughout the decades, we still haven’t done enough to prevent mass gun violence?
“We know how to do it. We need to pass House Bill 3245, which requires background checks and obtains fingerprints so that guns are purchased only by responsible FOID holders. In states that have already passed similar laws, gun violence decreased by 40%.
“This legislation is supported by hundreds of stakeholders, ranging from law enforcement like the Illinois State Police to violence prevention organizations like Chicago CRED, as well as faith-based and health care organizations.
“The Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker need to act to ensure the safety of the people we were elected to serve. There is nothing political about safety. It’s time for lawmakers to join me in working to block illegal gun ownership.”
* Other stuff…
* Illinois bill looks to make curbside and dropbox voting permanent
* Illinois Association of School Boards director on restraint and isolation ban: It’s a challenge
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* Capitol News Illinois…
Less than a week after a deadly attack on Asian Americans in Atlanta, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and members of the General Assembly’s Asian American Caucus spoke out against the murders and against discrimination generally toward the Asian American community.
“I do not pretend to know the pain of this moment, for those who look at the Atlanta victims and see their own mothers, daughters and sisters, or themselves,” Pritzker said at a news conference Monday in the Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago.
“But I want the (Asian American Pacific Islander) community in Illinois to know that I see you, and I see the fear and anxiety that these events have forced into your lives and the lives of your loved ones, and I want you to know that Illinois is your home.
“You are our friends and our neighbors and our family members, and I will do everything in my power as governor to protect you and to welcome you.”
Pritzker was accompanied by members of the Asian American Caucus, including Democratic Reps. Theresa Mah of Chicago, Janet Yang Rohr of Naperville, Denyse Wang Stoneback of Skokie and Sen. Ram Villivalam, a Democrat from Chicago.
* Related…
* Rep. Theresa Mah On Addressing Anti-Asian Hate At The State And Federal Levels: “Asian Americans had been largely invisible,” said State Rep. Theresa Mah. “It wasn’t until last week’s horrific events that the issue was brought into the spotlight.”
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* Block Club Chicago on December 15, 2020…
Chicago’s vaccination campaign has officially begun, marking the beginning of the end of the pandemic, officials said.
The city gave its first dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to doctors, nurses and a patient care technician Tuesday morning at Loretto Hospital. It kicked off what officials say will be a year-long effort to get as many people as possible vaccinated in Chicago to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is, I fully believe, the beginning of what will be the end of COVID-19 here in Chicago,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
* Block Club Chicago today…
Loretto Hospital vaccinated ineligible people at a luxury Gold Coast watch and jewelry shop where the hospital’s chief operating officer is a high-spending and frequent customer.
Loretto Hospital and its executives, including Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer George Miller, are already embroiled in controversy for steering doses toward organizations 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.
Block Club has learned Loretto Hospital also held a March 3 vaccination event at a Gold Coast shop called Geneva Seal, which sells jewelry and designer watches worth $20,000 — and more. Ahmed is a frequent customer there and has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at the shop, a source said.
Credit: Loretto HospitalDr. Anosh Ahmed is the chief operating officer of Loretto Hospital.
The shop at 112 E. Oak St. is far from Loretto Hospital — and the vaccinations were offered to ineligible people who own and work at the high-end boutiques along the Gold Coast, as well as their family and friends, sources said. The Austin hospital is meant to serve and vaccinate people on the West Side, where coronavirus has devastated communities of color.
* The hospital’s board of trustees includes two state legislators, Sen. Kimberly Lightford and Rep. La Shawn Ford. Both attended a media event with the governor today, but the video conked out and I’ve been waiting to see if they took questions about the hospital. But let’s go to Block Club Chicago again…
Loretto Hospital’s board said it has reprimanded two of its chief executives the same day Chicago’s health chief said the hospital let “well-connected” people jump the vaccination line.
Board members would not say what punishments will be doled out to Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller and COO Dr. Anosh Ahmed — but the hospital already has had its supply of coronavirus vaccine doses cut off by the city. Dr. Allison Arwady, chief of the city’s health department, said officials are investigating events where the hospital vaccinated ineligible people and gave shots outside of the West Side community.
Arwady expressed serious concerns about Loretto’s vaccination program during a Friday call with reporters, saying the hospital has lost community trust and officials don’t feel comfortable sending precious vaccine doses there for the time being. The accusations against the hospital are particularly “unacceptable” because Loretto is in Austin, a Protect Chicago Plus neighborhood that has been hit hard by COVID-19 and where the city has been trying to boost vaccinations, Arwady said.
The hospital’s board has taken “appropriate actions of reprimand against Miller and Ahmed for their role in the mistakes of judgment,” Rep. LaShawn Ford, who sits on Loretto’s board and represents the area in the state Legislature, said in a statement.
It would be nice to know what measures they took. Their last 990 form shows the hospital’s former CEO made $840,000 a year while its best-paid physician made just $165K.
…Adding… Press release…
AFSCME Local 1216—the union representing nurses at Loretto Hospital on the West Side of Chicago—issued this statement following the latest in a series of revelations about the alleged misappropriation of COVID-19 vaccine doses by the hospital’s top management.
“As the safety net hospital for the city’s West Side, we have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said D Sutton, a registered nurse and the president of AFSCME Local 1216. “Loretto nurses have been on the front lines of our COVID unit. I and many others have been sickened in the line of duty, some of us so seriously that we had to be hospitalized ourselves.
“Now that the safe, effective COVID vaccines are available, we have been the ones delivering the shots to protect our community. Our work is critically important and we do not want it disrupted.
“We call on the city to restore Loretto Hospital’s supply of vaccine doses. Our community which has been systematically ignored and under-resourced for decades should not be punished now for the reported actions of a few.
“To our community, know that Loretto nurses are here for you, working to keep you healthy and safe. Understand that taking the vaccine is the way to protect yourself, your family and get back to normal in Chicago as quickly as we can.”
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Unclear on the concept
Monday, Mar 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Wirepoints…
The Illinois legislature’s biggest failure during the pandemic has been its complete abdication of responsibility over the management of the pandemic itself – Gov. Pritzker has been running the state’s response via executive fiat for over a year.
The result has been a disaster for democratic norms. Lawmakers should have stepped in and authorized the governor’s emergency rules or passed their own laws at the start of the pandemic. But they did neither.
No matter their excuses, Illinois lawmakers no longer have reasons for inaction. The curve has been flattened. There’s no risk of running out of hospital beds or ICU resources. Daily cases have collapsed. And most importantly, vaccines are being rolled out at an increasing rate. Herd immunity is expected by the end of April.
Gov. Pritzker should be stripped of his powers by the legislature immediately. That’s especially true now that Pritzker has added another incremental phase to his plan instead of fast-tracking a full reopening.
Yes, because a body that officially sat in near silence throughout the pandemic ought to now step up and run the state because that would somehow be better.
I often get the distinct impression reading takes like this that either the authors know nothing about how the General Assembly operates, or are being totally disingenuous.
…Adding… And yes I’m aware, as commenters have pointed out, that their “facts” are ridiculous as well. In my defense, I just figured that was a given.
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* Friday…
If you click the link, you’ll see that Pritzker wrote the check on Friday, March 11th, a week before he reported depositing it.
* Tribune…
Pritzker has repeatedly dismissed questions about his political future as the 2022 campaign season has begun, saying he is focused on public health efforts to deal with COVID-19 and help restore the state’s economy in a post-pandemic environment.
“I’m just focused on the job that I’ve got today and making sure we get through this pandemic and get everybody vaccinated,” Pritzker said Monday in an interview with the Tribune.
That interview took place three days after Pritzker wrote the check. So, apparently, he wasn’t telling the entire truth when he said he was “just focused” on his job as governor. And he said that in pretty much every interview. From his interview with Hannah Meisel…
“My focus really has just been keeping people healthy, safe and keeping the economy going,” Pritzker told NPR Illinois. “The politics will take care of itself in the end.”
Not sure why he would undercut his own words like that, so we’ll see how that works out for him.
* Sun-Times…
The $35 million contribution isn’t exorbitant for Pritzker, whom Forbes has dubbed the richest politician in the nation with a net worth of $3.5 billion.
It’s only a fifth of the $171 million Pritzker spent to defeat multi-millionaire Republican ex-Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018, a clash of investment titans that went down as one of the most expensive gubernatorial races in American history.
And it’s well short of the $58 million Pritzker dumped into an ill-fated ballot initiative last fall to amend the state constitution to allow for a graduated state income tax system. The governor was outdueled in November by fellow billionaire Ken Griffin, whose $53 million helped persuade voters to reject the plan.
It’s also short of the $50 million Rauner plunked down just before the beginning of the 2018 cycle.
* Crain’s…
Asked about when the governor might formally announce or whether such a large donation should be viewed as a sign Pritzker is worried about his chances, campaign spokesman Quentin Fulks said in an email, “Given the increasing number of Republicans who have declared their candidacies for governor in 2022, Gov. Pritzker wanted to ensure that he was ready to respond to their false and misleading attacks if necessary.”
A handful of Republicans have already tossed their name in for the 2022 race: state Sen. Darren Bailey, businessman Gary Rabine, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf and Christopher Roper, a downstate resident.
“Over the past two years, the governor has led Illinois through a global pandemic by listening to the experts, not the anti-science conspiracy theorists currently running in the Republican primary, while improving the lives of millions of Illinoisans through his actions,” Fulks said, also citing other Pritzker accomplishments on infrastructure spending, health care, and women’s rights.
*** UPDATE *** Tribune…
He did so again Monday during an event touting a new mass vaccination site in Forest Park. “I’m focused on getting us past this pandemic keeping people safe and healthy in the state of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters.
“Any of that support for my committee is really designed as a preventive measure in the event that Republicans continue in any more public way to try to attack the Democratic agenda of standing up for working people or to frankly lie about the Democratic agenda,” Pritzker said.
“We’re doing what’s right for people all across the state of Illinois, making sure that working families get what they need to stay in their homes, to get jobs, to raise their wages, etc. And so, those resources will be used simply to fend off those illegitimate attacks,” he said.
Whatever. He deliberately played reporters for chumps. Not cool.
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Get the lead out
Friday, Mar 19, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Michael Hawthorne at the Tribune…
More than 8 of every 10 Illinoisans live in a community where brain-damaging lead was found in the tap water of at least one home during the past six years, a new Chicago Tribune analysis found.
The alarming results are from a limited number of samples collected under federal regulations by the state’s 1,768 water utilities. Depending on the number of people served by each utility, only a handful or a few dozen homes are occasionally monitored, but when combined the tests provide snapshots of a widespread threat to public health that for decades has been largely ignored. […]
The U.S. EPA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stress that lead is unsafe to consume at any level. More than 400,000 deaths a year in the U.S. are linked to the toxic metal. Even tiny concentrations can permanently damage the developing brains of children and contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure and other health problems later in life.
Yet federal regulations allow the vast majority of water utilities to hide the hazards from customers. Once a year, water bills include a brochure that almost always declares tap water is safe to drink. […]
Earlier this month the Biden EPA suspended regulations adopted during the last days of the Trump administration that effectively delayed lead service line replacements for up to three decades and, in some cases, allowed cities to keep toxic pipes in the ground indefinitely.
Not to mention the apparent connection between lead poisoning and increased violence. This needs to be fixed. Pronto.
Go read the whole thing.
…Adding… Press release from last month…
Illinois Rep. Lamont J. Robinson (D-Chicago) has introduced the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (HB 3739), a bill creating a feasible and equitable plan, funding, and timeline for Illinois water utilities to identify and replace all lead service lines—the most effective way to eliminate toxic lead in drinking water. Illinois Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) will file a Senate companion version.
No amount of lead is safe to consume, yet for decades lead was used for water service lines, the pipes that bring drinking water into our homes. Congress banned the installation of lead service lines in 1986, but most lines installed before then were never removed. At least 686,000—and potentially many more—remain in Illinois, the state with the most lead service lines in the nation. In addition, Black and Latinx Illinois residents are disproportionately affected by exposure to lead.
“Lead service lines are as common in Illinois as they are dangerous, but that danger isn’t borne equally across our state,” said Rep. Robinson, chief House sponsor. “A disproportionate number of these lead service lines are found in predominantly Black and Brown communities, displaying yet again the legacy of environmental racism at work in our most vulnerable communities.”
Even low levels of lead exposure can lead to learning disabilities, stunted growth, lower IQ, impaired hearing, and behavioral issues in children. Adults who have been exposed have higher risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and kidney and reproductive problems. These serious health problems come with staggering costs that accrue to all of us. For example, in 2017, 1,470 Illinoisans died prematurely from heart disease that was attributed to lead exposure, costing nearly $28 million in hospitalization costs alone.
“Illinois children live in a state with the largest number of lead service lines, increasing their risk of neurological and behavioral abnormalities due to lead exposure. That is unacceptable,” said Sen. Bush, chief Senate sponsor. “Given all we know about the severity of lead exposure, particularly among children and expecting parents, it should go without saying that the state of Illinois has a clear mandate to responsibly plan for the replacement of toxic lead service lines.”
The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act would require all water utilities to find and replace their lead service lines while setting forth a feasible timeline based on national best practices. The bill would also establish a funding source to aid utilities in creating an inventory and replacing lead lines for all affected communities.
“The reality is that Illinois is out of time. A decade ago the United Nations declared safe, affordable, accessible, clean drinking water and sanitation a human right—essential to the full enjoyment of life. Illinois must step up and take action to replace the thousands of contaminated pipes throughout the state, particularly in Black and Brown communities that are struggling with countless other crises like health and a lack of community-oriented economic development. Babies, pregnant mothers, seniors—all residents have a right to clean water,” said Naomi Davis, founder and CEO, Blacks in Green.
Replacing all of Illinois’ lead service lines could also help put Illinoisans back to work by generating thousands of good jobs in the skilled trades. Over 20 years, lead service line replacement could create some 11,225 jobs per year and over $1 billion in related economic activity, according to an analysis by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC).
“On behalf of the union plumbers and pipefitters of the Illinois Pipe Trades Association, we pledge our support in addressing the growing public health crisis of lead in our drinking water. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to take immediate action to resolve the issues of our state’s aging water infrastructure. Millions of Illinois citizens are impacted by unsafe levels of lead in drinking water, disproportionately affecting our poorest communities and our most vulnerable citizens. Without action this year, the human and financial toll will only continue to grow,” said Rick Terven, Jr., legislative and political director, Illinois Pipe Trades Association.
The bill includes numerous provisions to ensure equity. Establishing a funding source is one important component to leveling the playing field.
“In communities within close proximity to industrial facilities, it is imperative to mitigate cumulative exposures to toxins such as lead. Mandating lead service line replacement would reduce exposure to the risk of lead in the water, bringing some sense of security to the Black and Brown communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harms. Equitably funding lead service line replacement is critical to ensuring that those most vulnerable to exposure can access any resulting program and attain clean and safe drinking water in their homes,” said Brenda Santoyo, policy associate at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.
In addition, utilities would be required to prioritize replacement at facilities used by high-risk populations, such as preschools and daycares. Also, a portion of the fund would provide water rate assistance for low-income families.
“This bill gives every community in Illinois the resources they need to replace the legacy infrastructure in their communities,” said Josh Ellis, vice president, MPC, which recently did an analysis showing that Black and Latinx residents in Illinois are twice as likely as whites to live in communities with the most lead service lines. “This is especially important for Black and Latinx Illinoisans, who are not only the most likely of Illinois residents to live with lead service lines, but who also are disproportionately exposed to other sources of lead, such as paint and soil.”
“Lead service lines demonstrate the direct connection between environmental policy and public health,” said Colleen Smith, deputy director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the already urgent need for action. All Illinoisans must have access to safe, clean water.”
The bill would prevent a practice known as partial replacement, in which only the utility’s side of the lead line is replaced, while the portion of the line that runs under a private property remains. This practice can disturb the lead material in the remaining pipe, actually increasing the risk of lead leaching into drinking water.
“The federal government has yet to take meaningful steps to address lead in our drinking water, and it’s more critical than ever for Illinois’ legislature to step up and take bold action,” said Jeremy Orr, senior attorney, Safe Water Initiative, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Illinois must mandate full lead service line replacement, ban the dangerous practice of partial replacement, and establish an equitable revenue source that ensures individual homeowners and ratepayers won’t have to shoulder the burden of paying to replace these lead pipes.”
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* I’m curious if Rodney has noticed during his trips to Chambana that the UIUC campus has lots of Asian and Asian-American students who are helping that place thrive. CNN…
Yeah, that’ll work well in a statewide general.
* IDCCA…
Following public reports highlighting Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis’ defense of offensive remarks from his colleagues regarding violence and racism against Asian-Americans, President Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) released the following statement.
“Inflammatory and xenophobic language from elected officials is part of the problem. Our organization has said it before and we will say it again: words matter, particularly from those who were elected to lead by example. Rodney Davis’ decision to double-down on offensive and dangerous rhetoric while the country mourns and confronts violence and discrimination against Asian-Americans is troubling. Rodney Davis should apologize, and work to set an example for his constituents by being part of the solution and not part of the problem.”
Davis’ remarks came in defense of Texas Congressman Chip Roy who referenced hanging criminals from a tree — lynching — during a House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the rise of anti-Asian American violence and discrimination. Per CNN, Davis said the “relation between rhetoric and hate crimes against Asian Americans is ‘all political correctness.’ Davis instead said phrases like ‘Kung flu’ or ‘China virus’ are no different than saying ‘UK variant.’”
…Adding… DPI…
The following statement is from Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, in response to the comments made by Congressman Rodney Davis in which he likened condemnation of hate speech to mere “political correctness.”
“It is offensive for Rep. Rodney Davis to dismiss condemnation of hate speech as ‘political correctness.’ Eight people are dead, Asian Americans throughout our country have experienced an increase in hate crimes in the last year and our fellow citizens are traumatized. Rodney Davis has to choose if he is going to be part of the solution or will he continue to contribute to the problem? Let’s stop with the reckless and hateful rhetoric.”
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* Press release…
Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch officially launched the new “Democrats for the Illinois House (DIH)” political committee, which will serve as the new campaign arm of the House Democratic Caucus. The following is a statement from Speaker Chris Welch:
“Today, I am proud to announce the creation of our new caucus campaign committee, Democrats for the Illinois House (DIH). DIH’s mission will be based on our united effort to work across the state to elect a diverse coalition of Democrats to the Illinois House and continue our caucus’ work on behalf of middle-class families and communities of color in every single corner of our state. These next few years are critical to shaping our state’s future, while reversing the damage done by the Trump Administration that put a dangerous, extreme agenda ahead of meaningful solutions for pandemic recovery and building a more equitable state. I am excited to get to work with our Democratic allies and partners across the state to support and elect Democratic candidates who share our values and commitment to building a stronger state for all Illinoisans.”
The DIH will also include a Fundraising Committee to lead the caucus’s fundraising efforts year-round:
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, Chair
Rep. Jay Hoffman, Vice Chair
Rep. Carol Ammons
Rep. Kam Buckner
Rep. Deb Conroy
Rep. Theresa Mah
Rep. Bob Morgan
Rep. Delia Ramirez
Rep. Mike Zalewski
Click here for more info.
…Adding… Sun-Times...
The new speaker said the new committee will be a lot more inclusive and will have a lot of input from members in the caucus and “we’re going to be working together to raise money.
“It won’t just be the Chris Welch Show, there will be other Democrats out there helping me raise money on behalf of our caucus, this will be a total team effort,” Welch said. “It’s important that we work together, in collaboration and in partnership. When we work together we can achieve some great things.” […]
“I think it’s important when a new leader comes into a position as important as this one that we don’t just ponder about it being a new beginning and a fresh start, we take action, and I believe that this was one of the actions we are taking or have taken to show that this is a fresh start. It’s also a promise that I made to my caucus members that we’re going to do things in a different way.”
A fresh committee is a fresh beginning, Welch said when asked about why he chose to create a new fund instead of just renaming the old one.
The new start will allow Welch and the House Democrats he now leads to distance themselves from Madigan, who has the cloud of a federal investigation looming over him after federal prosecutors brought a $1.3 million bribery case against ComEd that implicated the former speaker last July.
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React to Pritzker’s new vaccine/reopening plan
Thursday, Mar 18, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* CFL…
Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter released the following statement regarding the announcement of new reopening guidelines by the Pritzker Administration:
“We applaud the Pritzker Administration for taking steps today to continue the safe reopening of our economy as vaccines become more readily accessible and eligibility expands. For more than a year, union workers have sacrificed their health and safety to keep our city, county, state, and nation moving. These workers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Meanwhile, thousands of workers sacrificed their livelihoods as entire sectors of the economy were shut down, especially in the hospitality and tourism industries. These skilled workers struggled to put food on the table, pay their bills, and keep their healthcare. The pain and hardship endured by so many can never be forgotten, and the debt we owe these heroes may never be repaid.
“Now, thanks to the heroic efforts of so many, we are finally ready to move closer to reopening our economy and returning to normal. Having a pathway toward reopening helps both workers and their employer plan a more defined path forward. To continue on this pathway to reopening, the health and safety of workers remains an absolute priority. To continue the progress toward reopening and to protect worker safety, continue to follow guidance from the Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago Departments of Public Health. That includes wearing a mask and following all capacity and social distancing guidelines. And when it’s your turn, get vaccinated. Let’s stay committed, stay masked up, and move past this pandemic once and for all.”
This post will likely be updated.
* IHLA…
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association released the following statement regarding the plan outlined by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to ease capacity limits and further reopen Illinois over the next several months:
“The plan outlined by Governor Pritzker is a step in the right direction, and we appreciate him understanding the need for a roadmap to allow hotels and convention centers to hold larger meetings and events. This underscores the importance of providing clarity to event planners, supports our shared goal of getting people back to work safely, and illustrates why the Governor’s announcement reflects his desire to serve as the chief marketing officer for the state,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
* ICCVB…
The following is a statement from Jayne DeLuce, Board Chair of the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (ICCVB) and President & CEO of Visit Champaign County:
“Governor Pritzker’s announcement today that Illinois will progress toward reopening as more people continue to become vaccinated, coupled with last week’s news that conventions will likely re-start this summer under safe guidelines, is exactly the kind of action needed to jumpstart recovery for our state’s tourism industry.
“This is a sign that Illinois is on track to safely welcome visitors and with that comes revenue for our state and municipalities, customers for our small businesses, and jobs for our workforce.”
* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…
“The testimony provided to the Tourism & Hospitality Committee by leaders from the industry likely had a great impact on some of the Governor’s decisions today. Planning and discussing a path moving forward is the only hope we have to bring jobs back and keep this sector alive.”
“With infection rates dropping and the vaccine more widely available, the Governor messaging that Illinois will soon be open for business was urgently needed to keep conventions and visitors on the books.”
* Chicagoland Chamber…
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce released the following statement in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement regarding additional steps to ease restrictions and reopen Illinois:
“Gov. Pritzker’s announcement of reopening steps provides important guidance that will allow businesses to prepare for greater capacity over the next several months. As the economic engine of the state, Chicago’s businesses require consistency in order to plan how to reopen further, rehire workers and bring employees back to the worksite. This guidance is especially important to small businesses and our tourism, conventions and hospitality industries, which have been devastated by the pandemic with thousands of businesses closing their doors, resulting in tens of thousands of people losing their jobs. While the road to recovery is long, we applaud the governor for outlining metrics and creating a path forward for the business community to get people back to work and jumpstart our economy,” said Jack Lavin, President & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
* Harmon…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon welcomed news of expanded vaccine access and plans to re-open the state’s economy.
“We’ve made it to this point thanks to modern science and the personal sacrifices of people all across this state. You’ve followed the rules and kept each other safe until a vaccine was widely available. Thank you.
“I urge everyone to remain patient and vigilant as we head into what is hopefully the final phase of this horrible pandemic.”
* NFIB…
NFIB State Director Mark Grant released the following statement today in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s revised reopening plan:
“Small businesses appreciate Governor Pritzker’s plan to increase capacity limits as more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s been a frustratingly difficult year for small business, and today’s announcement is another sign the worst is behind us.
“However, given everything they’ve endured over the past 12 months, small business owners can’t look away from the threat of a $900 billion tax hit if the governor succeeds in decoupling Illinois’s tax structure from the federal changes enacted specifically to help small businesses recover from the pandemic. This misguided proposal not only hurts employers but creates barriers to rehiring many of the workers who lost their jobs when businesses had to scale back or shut down.”
* Affordable Assisted Living Coalition…
“AALC welcomes the announcement today from Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike on the implementation of a metrics-based, vaccination informed framework for Illinois to fully reopen. We also want to applaud the outstanding work our Supportive Living Program communities have done to vaccinate residents and staff, which has contributed to the state’s ability to move toward normalcy and phase 5 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, ” said Karin Zosel, Executive Director of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition. “We encourage all eligible populations to get vaccinated as soon as possible so that we can visit with loved ones, return to normalcy and live a healthier life.”
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* Press release…
Governor Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike today announced a metrics-based, vaccination-informed framework for Illinois to advance to Phase 5 of the state’s Restore Illinois Plan, our new normal. In recognition of an increasing national vaccine supply and the state now averaging 100,000 vaccine administrations per day, Governor Pritzker also announced that all Illinois residents age 16+ will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 12th, with additional announcements to come about populations who will be made eligible prior to universal eligibility.
Currently, every region of the state is in Phase 4 of the five-phase Restore Illinois mitigation plan, with Phase 5 comprising a post-pandemic normalcy as detailed here. The newly announced metrics offer Illinois a bridge between the state’s current Phase 4 restrictions and the “new normal” operations of Phase 5. This “Bridge Phase” will serve as a transition period with higher capacity limits and increased business operations, without prematurely embracing a reckless reopening before the majority of Illinoisans have been vaccinated. All regions of the state will move through the Bridge Phase and ultimately to Phase 5, together. The state’s mask mandate will continue in accordance with current CDC guidance.
“COVID-19 has not gone away, but the light we can see at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter as more people get vaccinated,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It’s time to begin to cautiously move toward normalcy, and it’s imperative that we do so in a way that maintains all the progress we’ve made to date. With projections from the Biden Administration indicating that weekly vaccine deliveries to Illinois will surpass one million doses in April, it is fully in our power to turn the page on this dark and devastating chapter even as we race a tough clock: the new variants. I invite all Illinoisans to join me in wearing your mask and getting vaccinated when it’s your turn. Step by step, we can get out of this the same we came into it – together.”
“We want and need to move forward, but we must be measured and cautious in the approach,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Rather than flipping a switch and saying we’re now in Phase 5, we’re looking at it more like a dial – dialing back some of the capacity restrictions that helped reduce transmission, and ultimately the number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We don’t want to move too quickly and risk a significant reversal of our progress.”
“We are proud to have worked alongside IDPH and our industry partners to craft guidelines that will allow a safe return for some of the biggest economic drivers in our state,” said Sylvia Garcia, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). “This measured approach to reopening under Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan will help support a sustained economic recovery for our businesses and communities.”
METRICS AND GUIDELINES
As Illinois moves towards our new normal, the administration is outlining clear metrics that will allow the state to continue progressing in the battle against COVID-19 without sacrificing the gains made over the last twelve months.
The bridge to Phase 5 allows for higher capacity limits at places like museums, zoos and spectator events as well as increased business operations. As with all mitigations the administration has implemented to combat the virus to date, the Bridge Phase is based on science and was developed by health experts.
To advance into the Bridge Phase, the entire state must reach a 70% first dose vaccination rate for residents 65 and over, maintain a 20% or lower ICU bed availability rate and hold steady on COVID-19 and COVID-like illness hospital admissions, mortality rate, and case rate over a 28-day monitoring period. To advance to Phase 5, the state must reach a 50% vaccination rate for residents age 16 and over and meet the same metrics and rates required to enter the transition phase, over an additional 28-day period.
To prevent a large increase in new COVID-19 cases, Illinois will revert back to an earlier phase if over the course of 10 days the state experiences an increasing trend in COVID-19 and COVID-like illness hospital admissions, a decrease in ICU bed availability, an increase in the mortality rate, and an increasing case rate.
In an update to current Phase 4 mitigations and the capacity limits of the bridge to Phase 5, individuals with proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) 1-3 days prior to an event or outing do not count against capacity limits. The mitigation plan announced today also includes additional adjustments to current Phase 4 mitigations, made in coordination with business leaders and health experts, to ensure mitigations reflect the latest science and are consistent across industries.
As regulations are rolled back gradually in the weeks ahead, Illinoisans should continue practicing the public health guidelines that have kept us safe during the pandemic, including wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance.
“Today’s announcement provides what retailers across Illinois have been seeking: a clear path forward to a full re-opening that will help stem the devastation the pandemic has inflicted on the industry. This will also help bring some financial stability to state and local governments that rely on the vital revenue stream retail generates. With the expanding availability of vaccines – including those offered at hundreds of retail pharmacy locations across Illinois – we are hopeful the pathway toward a full re-opening will be a short one,” said Rob Karr, President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
“The plan outlined by Governor Pritzker is a step in the right direction, and we appreciate him understanding the need for a roadmap to allow hotels and convention centers to hold larger meetings and events,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “This underscores the importance of providing clarity to event planners, supports our shared goal of getting people back to work safely, and illustrates why the Governor’s announcement reflects his desire to serve as the chief marketing officer for the state.”
“While we still have a long way to go, today’s announcement is an important step towards recovery,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association. “We have urged Governor Pritzker to set a path to allow for expanded events with extensive safety measures in place, and this pragmatic approach to loosening restrictions will greatly enhance business opportunities for restaurants, event companies, conventions, and culinary tourism — all of which are critical to Illinois’ economic engine.”
COVID-19 VACCINE AVAILABILITY
Since the COVID-19 vaccine was first made available in Illinois last December, the state has administered over 4.3 million doses. Through partnerships with local health departments, pharmacies, community health centers and other care providers, the state is currently administering an average of 100,000 vaccines each day. So far, the state has administered the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 1 in 4 Illinois adults over the age of 16, including over 58% of Illinoisans ages 65 and over.
Since coming into office two months ago, the Biden Administration has taken the weekly vaccine distribution to states from 8.6 million when it came into office to over 16 million this week. Back in December, the first shipment that came into Illinois was about 109,000 doses. This week, including the federal government’s allocations for pharmacy partners, community health centers, the United Center and the City of Chicago, more than 800,000 doses were delivered to Illinois. Based on current projections, the state expects that number to surpass one million doses a week in April.
Thanks to an increased allocation of vaccine doses from the federal government, all Illinois residents will be eligible to receive the vaccine beginning April 12th. At that date, all state-supported mass vaccination sites, local health departments, pharmacy partners – in short, every jurisdiction that receives vaccine from the State of Illinois’ allocation – will be instructed to move to widespread eligibility.
Currently, all vaccines are administered by appointment only. While vaccine eligibility is expanding on April 12th, making an appointment to receive a shot may take time. Information regarding vaccination locations as well as details on how to book an appointment to receive the vaccine can be found at the state’s COVID website, coronavirus.illinois.gov. Residents who don’t have access to or need assistance navigating online services can call the toll-free IDPH hotline at 833-621-1284 to book an appointment. The hotline is open 7 days a week from 6am to midnight with agents available in English and Spanish.
Illinoisans who are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine cannot schedule an appointment for a future date. Residents are encouraged to be patient in the days and weeks following April 12th as vaccination appointments may be limited.
To date, the FDA has authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in 16- and 17-year-olds as well as adults. The Johnson & Johnson and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are currently FDA authorized for use in those 18 and older.
*** UPDATE *** I should’ve included these charts…
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* Alexander County, which is in deep southern Illinois, has many, many problems. It’s lost 30 percent of its population since 2010. Its median income is less than $37,000. Almost a quarter of its residents, a third of whom are Black, live in poverty.
According to IDPH, less than 2.6 percent of Alexander County residents are fully vaccinated - 156 out of 6,060. That’s the worst in the entire state. And even though African-Americans make up a third of its population, just 20 percent are fully vaccinated while 64 percent of whites in the county are fully vaxed. At last check, the county is sitting on 180 unused vaccine doses.
* So NPR Illinois’ Hannah Meisel asked Gov. Pritzker yesterday why things are going so wrong down there. This is what he said…
So let me say, you know, there’s a wide range of capability among the 97 local public health departments. And we’ve tried to provide greater capability for those that may be less well staffed, for example, or have less resources. So you’ve seen us move the Illinois National Guard all across the state where we need to bring greater equity, or we need to add manpower, I have to say, woman power too. The Illinois, the Illinois National Guard, honestly, we’ve had such terrific, the men and women who have been at those sites, if any of you who have been to those sites, these are amazing people who are stepping in and doing life saving work. You usually think of them as going to war on our behalf or defending our nation outside our borders or handling a flood or some other challenge. But here, they’re you know, they’re literally saving people’s lives every day by vaccines. So we’ve sent them on in mobile missions across the state to areas, we have one coming up that attempts to address the areas that you were talking about in far southern Illinois, the southern seven region. And so that’s, you know, really what we’re doing is trying to measure capability and then add to the capability where it may not exist. Taking Adams County as a pretty good example, they’re very good at moving their vaccine into people’s arms. There are some other counties, even bigger counties, that have what they did with their vaccines is they handed them off to community partners. And then in some cases, those community partners put some of it on the shelves in inventory, thinking that they might have a need for them at a clinic that they might run two weeks hence. What we want is for everybody to get this vaccine into people’s arms right away. And at the Illinois Department of Public Health, it’s hard for us to track what the local public health department does with each of those doses, sending them to those local community partners. And so we rely on the LHDs to continually speak with their community partners to get that vaccine off the shelves and into people’s arms. And they’re doing a much better job today than they have ever before. And again, when you look at the top 10 biggest states in the country, we’re actually number two among those top 10 states at getting the vaccine from the delivery into people’s arms fastest.
Lots of words.
Also, you’d think that since the county has the worst vaccination rate in the state, Dr. Ezike would be more informed about what’s going on down there. But she didn’t appear to have any knowledge about what was happening when asked about the county in a Senate committee hearing earlier this week.
…Adding… Hannah…
*** UPDATE *** The governor’s office says that in addition to National Guard mobile teams…
The IDPH minority health office in partnership with the LHD this weekend will be on the ground in Alexander County providing additional access to vaccine for minority and hard to reach populations in Cairo, Mounds and Cobden.
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[This post has been bumped up from last night for greater visibility and to add fresh updates.]
* Confirmed…
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker public schedule…
Daily Public Schedule: Thursday, Mar. 18, 2021
What: Gov. Pritzker to join Dr. Ezike to give a COVID-19 update.
Where: James R. Thompson Center, 15th Floor, Blue Room, Chicago
When: 11:30 a.m.
Watch live: https://www.Illinois.gov/LiveVideo
* St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern…
What the governor’s office is saying is… the mitigations now are going to be hopefully rolled back based upon the number of people vaccinated. […]
So the governor will be rolling out percentages of here’s a number of people above this age limit that need to be vaccinated. If we meet that goal, then we’re able to start to roll back whatever mitigations are still remaining.
* WREX TV…
The new phase will rely on factors like the vaccination rate in each region and will allow more capacity at bars, restaurants and gatherings.
* Crain’s…
Gov. Pritzker will announce Thursday that on April 12, vaccine eligibility will expand to any Illinoisan 16 and over, according to two people familiar with the state’s plans. The sources could not confirm a Chicago Tribune report that the expansion will not apply to Chicago. The city receives a separate vaccine allocation from the federal government than the state. […]
The state is also expected to announce details tomorrow on a “bridge phase” between the current Phase 4 and the coming Phase 5. During the bridge phase, more pandemic restrictions will be lifted.
That interim phase will begin when 70 percent of people 65 and older have received at least one vaccine dose. Currently, 59 percent of seniors have received their first dose.
Phase 5 would begin when at least half of Illinois residents 16 and older have received their first dose. Currently, 18 percent of those between 16 and 64 have received theirs.
* Tribune…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday is expected to widely expand eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine starting April 12 to all Illinois residents 16 and older except those in Chicago, sources told the Tribune.
It’s part of a revised reopening plan that also includes slightly increased capacity limits for retail stores, theaters and outdoor venues, among other changes, sources said. […]
Pritzker said Wednesday he’s working with business interests and health professionals in developing an incremental reopening plan for Illinois that is expected to be released this week.
“We’re working with industry leaders, (and) we’re working with our doctors at (the Illinois Department of Public Health) as well as other experts in the state to make sure that the phased reopening is not only healthy for everybody but also good for the economy as we move it forward,” Pritzker said outside Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in downstate Lincoln.
* ABC 7…
The step between Phase 4 and 5 will allow for greater capacity limits for bars and restaurants, social gatherings, museums and zoos, etc., depending on whether they are indoors or outdoors. Bars in particular will be allowed 20% standing capacity, but the six-foot social distancing will still be required. […]
Suburban Cook County is expanding its eligibility starting Monday, March 22, as the county moves to Phase 1B+, which includes people younger than 65 with underlying conditions.
Cook County public health officials said the decision was partly made based on the promise of more vaccine doses on the way.
* Sun-Times…
The bridged reopening Pritzker is planning to announce on Thursday will allow for “a gradual increase in capacity limitations” as the state vaccinates more people and continues to monitor case numbers, one source said.
All of the state’s regions will move into the intermediate phase — there will be additional metrics to meet, involving new case numbers and the state’s positivity rate, to get to Phase 5, which is a full reopening, the source said. The state has been in Phase 4 since last summer. […]
Part of the challenge to lifting restrictions will be handling threats posed by newer, faster spreading coronavirus variants — but the governor suggested that was not an insurmountable hurdle to reopening.
“Let me be clear to everybody,” the governor said at a news conference in downstate Decatur. “I am more optimistic today than I have ever been throughout this pandemic, about where we are going and getting to the end of the pandemic.”
* WTTW…
President Joe Biden set a goal that all American adults be made eligible for the vaccine by May 1.
“We’re looking at following President Biden’s prescription for opening everything up for all comers who want the vaccine, and perhaps even earlier than that if we can do it,” Pritzker said.
Chicago’s public health commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, at a separate event on Wednesday, appeared dubious the city will be able to reach that mark
* Related…
* Chicago Walgreens stores aren’t consistently giving COVID-19 vaccines to people with health conditions. Why?
* Can state strike a balance for a more ‘normal’ summer? What officials say
* Navy Pier hotel to open Thursday, as the popular Chicago attraction prepares for crowds to return
* Trump Tower vaccine fiasco ‘absolutely can never be repeated,’ Lightfoot says
* Mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Batavia to open Friday
* ‘I’m ready to see people’: More than 6,000 vaccinated at Schaumburg Convention Center
* Despite reopening talk, Frontier Days organizers stand by cancellation
* Why Rockford’s real estate industry may be the most competitive in its history
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