Joint Statement from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and State Representative Tony McCombie, Rep. McCombie will not seek the position of caucus leader:
“The House Republican caucus will remain united in fighting for critical reforms to bring our state fiscal stability and rid it of the corruption it has been under for decades of Democrat control. We share the same goals and will work together as a caucus to help the people of Illinois.”
* Enjoy your day off, but please take some time to remember our veterans on their day. The late Bill Withers will play us out…
…Adding… Press release…
Gibson Gives–the charitable arm of Gibson guitars, the iconic American instrument brand–and Guitars For Vets today announce the inaugural ROCK TO REMEMBER, a virtual concert featuring all original content on Wednesday, November 11, Veteran’s Day.
ROCK TO REMEMBER will be hosted by Jared James Nichols and feature performances from 20 plus artists across the U.S. These artists join Gibson Gives and Guitars4Vets to raise funds to provide music programs for returning U.S. military veterans afflicted with PTSD. ROCK TO REMEMBER will livestream in its entirety on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:30pm CT simultaneously on Gibson Facebook and LiveXLive, a global music and entertainment platform. Fans can donate directly to the Guitars4Vets music program or text “G4V” 707070 to donate.
ROCK TO REMEMBER, will feature original performances and content from a diverse group of artists including Don Felder, Big & Rich, Joe Bonamassa, Phil X and The Drills, Travis Denning, Lee Roy Parnell, Orianthi, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger (Halestorm), Meghan Patrick, Frank Hannon (Tesla) with JT Loux Band, Jimmy Vivino and Friends, Meghan Linsey and Tyler Cain, Honey County, Bones Owens, Nick Perri and The Underground Thieves, Laine Hardy and many more. Additionally, a handful of U.S. veteran graduates of the Guitars For Vets programs will be featured performing their original songs.
Guitars For Vets (G4V) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that directly supports veterans struggling with the challenges of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) by providing them with free guitars of their own and guitar lessons in both a one-on-one, and a group setting. Thousands of U.S. veterans are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggling with physical injuries. In fact, more soldiers have committed suicide since the Vietnam War than have died in actual battle. Many are now finding hope in an unlikely place: behind the wood and strings of a guitar. The healing power of music helps soldiers cope and Guitars For Vets provides veterans with the guitars and a forum to learn how to play to relieve stress. Guitars For Vets pursues its mission to share the healing power of music by providing free guitar instruction, a new acoustic guitar and a guitar accessory kit in a structured program run by volunteers, primarily through the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and community-based medical centers. Guitars For Vets’ mission is to help those who served our country rediscover their joy through the power of music.
Gibson Gives, the 501(c)3 charitable arm of Gibson guitars–believes in the power of music, and that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a truly life-changing event. Headquartered in the heart of downtown Nashville, the iconic, American-made instrument brand Gibson, has been creating, inspiring, and contributing to the ‘share of sound’ for 126 years. After more than a century, Gibson artists, players and fans continue to experience the #1 guitar brand rejuvenated. Gibson is played by the best and brightest artists, across generations and genres and has emerged as the most relevant, most played, and most loved guitar brand around the world.
Thank you for providing staff with your input concerning the upcoming session schedule. There is a strong majority of members who would prefer the House delay convening to a later date; this is primarily motivated by concerns about the rising COVID-19 rates and proximity to upcoming holidays. I’m advised that there are similar concerns among Senate members, who were also surveyed over the weekend.
Therefore, House and Senate leadership will be announcing the cancellation of the veto session (currently scheduled for November 17-19 and December 1-3). We will continue to monitor the evolving conditions relative to the pandemic and keep members apprised of future session dates. As a reminder, the end of the term for the 101st General Assembly is January 13, 2021, on which date the 102nd General Assembly will be inaugurated.
Take care and stay safe,
Jessica
Jessica Basham, Chief of Staff
Office of the Speaker
Illinois House of Representatives
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Official press release…
A renewed surge in COVID-19 infections forced the postponement of the upcoming General Assembly veto session at the Capitol, legislative leaders announced Tuesday.
“The front page in today’s Springfield paper warns of a COVID ‘tsunami’ sweeping the region and its health care system. This is not the time to physically bring together hundreds of people from all around the state. Given what’s happening, it was an obvious decision. It’s not safe or responsible to have a legislative session under these circumstances,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.
The Springfield area’s rolling average positivity rate for confirmed COVID infections had skyrocketed to 14.4 percent in recent days, prompting concerns about hospital capacity in the capital city, which is the medical provider for the downstate region.
The veto session was scheduled for Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3 to bracket the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The health and safety of the people who work for and serve in the Illinois General Assembly, and their respective families, is paramount. We will continue to monitor the situation, consult medical experts and do intend to schedule additional session days so we can finish our important work,” said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The current 101st General Assembly wraps up business in January when the members of the 102nd General Assembly will be sworn in and the legislative process starts anew. The 102nd General Assembly begins Jan. 13, 2021.
The brief fall session of the General Assembly is known as the “veto session” and is when lawmakers traditionally resolve conflicts with the governor. However, there are no vetoes to address this year. Instead, the legislative agenda is dominated by a comprehensive effort to address systematic racism and social justice.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, leads that effort. She said legislation will be ready when it is safe to return.
“We are still in the midst of a pandemic, and COVID-19 cases are surging across the state, making the risk too high for the General Assembly to gather at this time,” said Lightford. “While we will not be able to pass legislation as soon as we hoped, the urgency to bring an end to systemic racism remains. The moment to put forth this critical agenda is now, and I know President Harmon and Speaker Madigan share our concerns and our commitment to making a difference.”
Q: We just received a tip from two lawmakers saying there might not be a veto session. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there should be one despite a second wave of COVID?
A: Well that would be disappointing. We have so much work to do in Springfield. There’s no doubt. I know why people are concerned about gathering. I am discouraging gathering across the state. But I must say I would be disappointed. There are so we just have so many things we need to accomplish. With regard to the budget in particular, we have major eforts underway that will require the Legislature’s engagement, indeed I’m already working with members of the Legislature. I do not know whether they’re going to not have a session, but again, it would be disappointing.
Two Springfield legislators are, indeed, saying that the House has canceled its reservation with the BOS Center. I called the convention center earlier today and was told that while the House had asked to hold the dates, they hadn’t yet heard anything today either way. The rumor mill is strong, however, that session will be canceled and they’ll return in January for an extended lame duck session. Veto session is scheduled to begin a week from today.
We’ve talked about this before, but things have changed considerably.
* The Question: Cancel veto session or go ahead with it? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23
If the appellate court agrees with the new motion, then the order could be used as precedent by other courts.
In its order, this Court concluded that the Governor has authority under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305/1 (the “Act”), to issue successive proclamations arising from a single, ongoing disaster.
Accordingly, Plaintiff-Respondent Fox Fire Tavern, LLC failed to establish a likelihood of success on the merits of its claim that the Governor lacked authority to issue a successive disaster proclamation on October 16, 2020, and, under this proclamation, to issue Executive Order 2020-61 to address the recent, exponential spread of Covid-19. Because Respondent lacked a likelihood of success on its claim, the circuit court abused its discretion by granting a temporary restraining order enjoining enforcement of this executive order against Respondent.
Publication of this Court’s order is warranted under Rule 23(a) because it “explains . . . an existing rule of law.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 23(a).
No previous opinion of an Illinois Appellate Court has decided whether the Act authorizes the Governor to issue successive proclamations from a single, ongoing disaster.
The Governor has interpreted the Act as authorizing him to issue successive disaster proclamations and, for 30 days following each proclamation, to address the Covid-19 pandemic using emergency powers under the Act. Yet many private organizations and individuals have asked courts across the State to reach the opposite legal conclusion. They have asserted that the Act permitted the Governor to proclaim the Covid-19 pandemic a disaster only once, and that afterward the Governor must use procedures set forth in the Illinois Public Health Act, 20 ILCS 2305/2, to address Covid-19.
Indeed, this challenge to the Governor’s authority to issue successive disaster proclamations during this ongoing pandemic is raised in cases pending across Illinois, on appeal and in pretrial litigation […]
Publication of this Court’s order, which explains an existing rule of law, thus would assist courts across Illinois currently tasked with resolution of this statutory question.
* By the way, here are all the cases that the state is dealing with…
JL Properties Group B LLC v. Pritzker, Nos. 3-20-0304 and 3-20-0305 (consol.), Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District; In re Covid-19 Litigation, No. 2020-MR-589, Cir. Ct. of Sangamon Cty.; Millertime Partners, LLC v. Pritzker, No. 20-CH-179, Cir. Ct. of Sangamon Cty.; Shakou, LLC v. Pritzker, No. 20 CH 6526, Cir. Ct of Cook Cty; Orphan Smokehouse, LLC v. Pritzker, No. 20-MR-140, Cir. Ct. of Marion Cty.; Rad Gaming, Inc. v. Pritzker, No. 20-MR-109, Cir. Ct. of Clinton Cty.; NKG Pingree Grove, LLC v. Priztker, No. 20-CH-353, Cir. Ct. of Kane Cty.; SBBL, LLC v. Priztker, No. 20-CH- 596, Cir. Ct. of DuPage Cty.; 251 Pub, LLC v. Pritzker, No. 20-MR-1121 Cir. Ct. of McHenry Cty.; Niko’s Red Mill, Inc, No. 20 CH 287, Cir. Ct. of McHenry Cty.; Haymaker Enterprises, LLC v. Priztker, No. 20 CH 65, Cir. Ct. of DeKalb Cty.; and Sheldon v. Lightfoot, 20-CH-04727, Cir. Ct. of Cook Cty.
The Illinois AFL-CIO is comprised of more than 1,500 affiliated unions representing nearly 900,000 workers in Illinois. Union members and their families can be found from Antioch to Cairo and from Danville to Quincy. They work in thousands of occupations, including electricians, laborers, teachers, first responders, health care workers, transit workers and more.
Although we are many, the bedrock principle of the labor movement is solidarity: We are stronger together.
The value of this conviction has been proven time and again throughout the years. All that we have achieved for working families—including higher wages, better benefits, expanded protections and more opportunities for all to thrive—was gained through unity. All the challenges we have overcome—Bruce Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, cuts to wages and health care, assaults on retirement security and even on our fundamental right to bargain collectively—were defeated when we stood as one.
The foes of working families have a different approach. They thrive on discord. Because they know that our power rests in remaining united, they want to divide and turn us against each other.
In this election we maintained pro-worker supermajorities in the Illinois Senate and House, elected a pro-worker President of the United States, defended the U.S. House majority and may yet win a majority in the U.S. Senate. Moreover, we helped to elect growing numbers of women and people of color at both the national and state level who will amplify the voices of those too long marginalized in the halls of power. We did all this, despite our opponents’ millions of dollars of attacks, by standing together.
These victories present a moment of opportunity, but we know the hard work that lies ahead to protect and build upon our progress. The deep pain of the coronavirus pandemic compounds and complicates the policy choices we will face.
At such a critical juncture, we cannot allow political infighting to distract from the task at hand: To build back better for the working people of Illinois and all the United States. Now is the time for unity, not division. Through all the challenges and threats that working families in Illinois have faced over the past years, Speaker Michael Madigan has been a firm ally in defense of our rights, our economic security, and the well-being of our families and our communities. That’s why the Illinois AFL-CIO strongly supports Michael Madigan’s continued leadership as Illinois House Speaker and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Q: Have you or will you encourage House Democrats to vote against Speaker Madigan for speaker? If reelected, isn’t he a major distraction to your agenda in the spring?
A: That’s a decision that members of the House will make in January. They’ll be taking a vote on speaker and that’s their business.
…Adding… Press release…
Illinois House Republican caucus members held a Zoom press conference on Tuesday to demand their Democrat counterparts in the House stand up and speak out against the continued reign of long-time House Speaker Mike Madigan. The Republicans agree with top Democrats that Speaker Madigan’s time in leadership is up.
“When people think of Illinois, they think of corruption. This culture developed over decades while Mike Madigan ruled as Speaker of the House,” said State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield). “The General Assembly simply cannot function with him as Speaker. Every decision, every vote, every committee hearing is stained with mistrust. If last Tuesday taught us anything, it is that Illinoisans have lost all trust and faith in their government. Trust in state government does not improve until we have a new Speaker of the House. Mike Madigan must go.”
State Rep. and Assistant Minority Leader Avery Bourne argued that continued silence by members of the Democrat party is a tacit endorsement of continued corruption.
“It’s time for House Democrats to show some political courage and leadership,” said State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville). “House Republicans are united against Mike Madigan as Speaker, and as of today eight House Democrats have stated publicly that they too will not support him. If five additional Democrats are willing to say enough is enough and it’s time for a change, Mike Madigan’s days as Speaker of the House are over. I’m calling on Illinoisans to contact their representatives and ask that they vote no on Mike Madigan serving as Speaker of the House. Silence in this case, is an endorsement of a continuation of the culture of corruption Mike Madigan has overseen.”
Rep. Mike Marron says his short time in Springfield has illuminated the number one problem facing the state.
“When the entire State’s legislative priorities are dependent on gaining favor from one single individual, in this case Mike Madigan, we’ve got a problem,” Marron said. “This democracy that we all love and fight for and rely on is constantly thwarted because Mike Madigan has consolidated so much power that he can single handedly decide if important legislation moves forward. He’s been in state government since before I was born! Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and JB Pritzker have all called his leadership at the top of their party problematic. I don’t care about whether it’s a problem for Democrats politically. Mike Madigan’s continued leadership of the House of Representatives needs to end as soon as possible so a democratic process can be restored and followed.”
Tuesday, Nov 10, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In order to raise the standard for independent work for all, government and business need to work together. That’s why Uber created our Working Together Priorities, which can help people who earn through app-based work receive more security, protection, and transparency. This work is already underway in California, where voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 22.
* Jim Nowlan said he hoped that denying Justice Kilbride’s retention would leave the Illinois Supreme Court deadlocked in partisan rancor over his replacement and then all sorts of magical things would happen.
Um, no. From the Illinois Supreme Court…
Justice Robert L. Carter of the 3rd District Appellate Court has been selected to join the Illinois Supreme Court next month, pending the Illinois State Board of Elections proclaiming the results of the November 3 election.
The appointment of Justice Carter is effective December 8, 2020, and terminates December 5, 2022, when the seat will be filled by the November 2022 General Election. The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill all judicial vacancies.
“Justice Carter’s appointment came via a unanimous 6-0 vote,” Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said.
Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, whose vacancy Carter is scheduled to fill, did not participate in the vote.
“I am humbled by the confidence and trust the Court has placed in me as it is the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court,” Justice Carter said. “It is a place where I first started my career as a law clerk to Justice Howard Ryan and it is where I will retire after this two-year appointment as I won’t seek to run for this seat in 2022.”
Justice Carter, 74, of Ottawa, has been a judge since 1979 and was assigned to the 3rd District Appellate Court on September 1, 2006. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1988 and became Chief Judge in 1993. In December 2002, Justice Carter was elected Chair of the Conference of Chief Judges and re-elected in 2003 and 2005. He holds A.B. (1968) and J.D. (1974) degrees from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Master of Arts (1974) in Administration from Sangamon State University. He completed a one-week course in mediation at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, in the summer of 2001.
In 1969-70, Justice Carter served in the United States Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. He was a law clerk to Justice Howard C. Ryan of the Illinois Supreme Court in 1974-1975 and engaged in the general private practice of law from 1975-1979.
Since 1980, Justice Carter has been a frequent lecturer at judicial education programs for Illinois judges on such topic areas as jury trials, evidence, contempt, and domestic relations. In 2005, he taught and chaired a seminar on Judicial Administration and Management. In 1998, Justice
Justice Carter is hugely respected in judicial circles. And a spokesman for the Supreme Court says he was first elected as a Democrat.
*** UPDATE *** From the ILGOP’s Joe Hackler…
We look forward to an independent and reform-minded Republican winning the open contest in 2022 for the 3rd Judicial District against whatever Madigan-Kilbride pawn Democrats select to run for the seat.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,623 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 79 additional deaths.
Adams County: 1 male 70s
Bureau County: 1 male 70s
Cass County: 1 male 70s
Champaign County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s
Clinton County: 1 female 90s
Coles County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
Cook County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 40s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 3 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 3 males 80s, 1 female 90s, 2 males 90s
DeWitt County: 1 female 90s
DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Effingham County: 1 male 70s
Franklin County: 1 female 50s
Fulton County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Grundy County: 1 male 70s
Jackson County: 1 male 40s
Kane County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
Knox County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Lake County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
LaSalle County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s, 2 males 90s
Macon County: 1 male 70s, 2 females 80, 1 male over 100
Madison County: 1 male 60s
McDonough County: 1 female 70s
Ogle County: 1 male 80s
Peoria County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
Piatt County: 1 male 80s
Pike County: 1 female 80s
Rock Island County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s
Saline County: 1 female 90s
St. Clair County: 1 male 90s
Stephenson County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s
Vermilion County: 1 male 70s
Wayne County: 1 male 80s
Whiteside County: 1 female 80s
Will County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
Williamson County: 1 female 80s
Winnebago County: 1 male 60s
Woodford County: 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 511,183 cases, including 10,289 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 101,955 specimens for a total 8,571,019. As of last night, 4,742 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 911 patients were in the ICU and 399 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 3 – November 9 is 12.0%. This is the number that IDPH has been consistently reporting in its daily releases and is calculated using total cases over total tests. Similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH has been using test positivity for regional mitigation metrics on its website since mid-July. Test positivity is calculated using the number of COVID-19 positive tests over total tests. On October 29, 2020, IDPH began reporting the statewide test positivity in its daily releases. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 3, 2020 – November 9, 2020 is 13.1%.
The Illinois Veterans’ Home LaSalle (IVHL) is reporting 3 new resident deaths in the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 68 residents and 70 employees at IVHL have contracted COVID-19, including six residents who have passed away. IVHL has implemented testing, isolation, and sterilization protocols at the facility and is following all public health guidance in its continued response.
Case positivity and test positivity rate are both relevant and offer insight into the bigger COVID-19 picture. Case positivity helps us understand whether changes in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing or due to more infections. Whereas, test positivity accounts for repeated testing and helps us understand how the virus is spreading in the population over time.
Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. A confirmed case is laboratory confirmed via molecular test. A probable case meets clinical criteria AND is epidemiologically linked or has a positive antigen test. If a probable case is later confirmed, the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once. Probable deaths and confirmed deaths will continue to be reported separately.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
Twelve Springfield Fire Department personnel, including Chief Allen Reyne, have tested positive for COVID-19.
Thirty-seven Springfield firefighters in all are currently quarantined because of the virus.
Reyne has been Mayor Jim Langfelder’s point person for the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Meanwhile…
The University of Illinois Springfield is suspending all campus activities through at least Wednesday after 15 people on the campus tested positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/zeWe582fST
* I have tried very, very hard over the years to stay as far away from covering local Springfield politics as I possibly can. It was a lesson I learned from reading trial lawyer Gerry Spence’s autobiography. When he bought his ranch, he refused to get involved in any local lawsuits. It seemed like a pretty darned smart idea.
But the locals are now making my vow more and more difficult every day, especially since the city’s response to the virus is weighing heavily on legislators’ minds as they’re asked to decide whether to return to Springfield for veto session. The bet is they’re not coming back, but we’ll know more soon.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked by Dave Dahl yesterday what he thought about Springfield’s mayor wanting to loosen restaurant restrictions while the county sheriff won’t enforce the judge’s order as the city’s COVID-19 point person has come down with the disease. His response…
I’ve been saying for some time now that we really need local officials to take this more seriously, to take some responsibility on their own shoulders. The idea that you’re not going to enforce the mitigations, and then the idea that when it does get enforced with a citation, let’s say, that the state’s attorneys not gonna follow through on that…
I know that locally they think that’s immediately good politics, but it’s good politics for a very small, very loud minority. The vast majority of people want us to take strong action with regard to mitigations and that takes responsibility at all levels of government.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday that he’s imposing new restrictions on Southern Illinois counties in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Prtizker said Region 5, which encompasses Southern Illinois, along with Regions 7 and 8, encompassing Chicago’s south and western suburbs, will enter into Tier 2 mitigations on Wednesday. […]
Rep. Dave Severin, R-Marion, said he continues to have concerns about Pritzker’s mitigation strategy. Severin said he understands the virus is real and a serious health threat; he and his wife both recently recovered from COVID-19. But Severin said he’s been particularly concerned that one sector of the economy — bars and restaurants — have been asked to shoulder the brunt of the sacrifice while IDPH data show there are numerous other potential sources of spread.
Severin is right that taverns and restaurants have been asked to shoulder the burden here. And he’s also right that there are other potential sources of spread.
But I have yet to see anyone making Severin’s arguments (and there are many, so I’m not trying to pick on him) asked whether they support a broad shutdown as an alternative, or if they’re just throwing flak in the air.
The reopening of restaurants, gyms and hotels carries the highest danger of spreading Covid-19, according to a study that used mobile phone data from 98 million people to model the risks of infection at different locations.
Researchers at Stanford University and Northwestern University used data collected between March and May in cities across the U.S. to map the movement of people. They looked at where they went, how long they stayed, how many others were there and what neighborhoods they were visiting from. They then combined that information with data on the number of cases and how the virus spreads to create infection models.
In Chicago, for instance, the study’s model predicted that if restaurants were reopened at full capacity, they would generate almost 600,000 new infections, three times as many as with other categories. The study, published Tuesday in the journal Nature, also found that about 10% of the locations examined accounted for 85% of predicted infections. […]
The models produced in the study reported Tuesday also suggested that full-blown lockdowns aren’t necessary to hold the virus at bay. Masks, social distancing and reduced capacity all can play a major role in keeping things under control.
Capping occupancy at 20% in locations in the Chicago metro area cut down on predicted new infections in the study by more than 80%. And because the occupancy caps primarily only impacted the number of visits that typically occur during peak hours, the restaurants only lost 42% of patrons overall.
Reducing maximum occupancy numbers, the study suggested, may be more effective than less targeted measures at curbing the virus, while also offering economic benefit. […]
The model also suggests just how effective lock-down measures can be in public spaces by noting infections and the use of those spaces over time as cities put lockdowns into effect.
In Miami, for example, infections modeled from hotels peaked around the same time the city was grabbing headlines for wild spring-break beach parties that prevailed despite the pandemic. But those predictions shrunk significantly as lock-down measures went into effect.
The owners of FoxFire restaurant in Geneva plan to take their fight against an indoor dining ban to the Illinois Supreme Court.
On Friday, Illinois’ 2nd District Appellate Court ordered a reversal of Kane County Judge Kevin Busch’s decision to grant a temporary restraining order to prevent the enforcement of a state-ordered indoor dining ban at restaurants in Kane and DuPage counties in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. In response, FoxFire plans to take the case to the Illinois Supreme Court.
“It is obvious to say that FoxFire is disappointed with the Appellate Court’s decision,” attorney R. Gregory Earl, III, of the Geneva-based firm Myers, Earl and Nelson said in a statement on Monday. “Unfortunately, the Second District has decided to play politics rather than applying the statute. This case is about separation of powers, which the Appellate Court has missed completely. Instead, the justice authoring the opinion misstates law and fact. Needless to say, FoxFire will file their appeal to the Supreme Court of Illinois where they hope justice will be served – against the governor’s overreach and for the ability of a local restaurant to continue to pursue its calling, safely.”
* From the Illinois Medical Professionals Action Collaborative Team (IMPACT)…
Illinois continues to exceed daily records for new COVID-19 cases. As healthcare professionals, we understand that many in our communities are experiencing pandemic fatigue, giving rise to complacency. As the weather turns cold several activities, including gathering indoors without masks and distancing, are contributing to this surge.
We are better at identifying and treating this disease, and survival rates are improving slightly in COVID-19 patients since the start of this pandemic. This is good news, but has not changed the overall trajectory and danger of the pandemic. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois have doubled over the last three weeks, a very dangerous trend. Analyses of IDPH data project that Illinois will surpass its ICU bed capacity by Thanksgiving, and deaths per day will peak mid-December. These trends affect not only COVID-19 patients; if hospitals are overwhelmed, care will suffer for those with other unforeseen emergent conditions, such as heart attacks, appendicitis, cancer diagnoses, and motor vehicle accidents, all common conditions. When hospitals hit capacity, if doctors and healthcare professionals lack hospital beds to treat people mortality will increase amongst all seriously-ill patients. While the news regarding the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine is encouraging, its approval and widespread distribution could still take months, and in the meantime thousands of Illinoisans will get sick and need hospitalization.
Immediate action will flatten the curve and prevent overwhelming our hospitals: Enforce universal masking: Reinforce the importance of wearing masks whenever leaving the home or interacting with anyone outside of the immediate household. Add steeper penalties for those who do not wear face coverings, and incentivize those who do wear face coverings. Incentivize businesses to enforce universal masking and turn away customers who do not follow the rules.
Emphasize no indoor gatherings, even in private homes, especially during the holidays: Epidemiologic data shows strong evidence that indoor gatherings transmit COVID-19. Everyone needs to avoid inviting others into their homes and attending gatherings in others’ homes. Gatherings of any size increase the risk of spread of the virus. Having a negative COVID-19 test does not mean someone is safe to attend a holiday meal indoors. This message is critical as we enter the holiday season. Families should explore other ways to gather, such as outside meals or meals using Zoom and Facetime.
Emphasize and simplify messaging on isolation and quarantine: Simplify messaging on quarantine, testing, and isolation. Anyone with symptoms or exposure must get tested. Anyone with NO symptoms but with exposure or travel to a high-risk location MUST quarantine for 14 days. If found to be COVID-19 positive, an individual must isolate for at least 10 days after onset of symptoms. Many of our patients struggle with the nuances of these terms and believe a “negative test” can substitute for quarantine.
Work from home: Support employers to allow as many people as possible to work from home. Illinois contact tracing data identify office and non-office workplaces among the top 7 reported possible exposure locations amongst those diagnosed with COVID-19. Prepare and highlight the threshold by which we can restrict indoor, non-essential business: No one wants to go through a shut down again. What we need is to ensure that people understand we will have no choice but to restrict indoor, non-essential business if cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. It is important to incentivize businesses to move to alternative models of commerce that avoid indoor transactions. Contact tracing data identify restaurants, bars, and business/retail among the top 6 possible exposure locations amongst those diagnosed with COVID-19.
County and state governments should require stronger surveillance and mitigation programming at all private and public grade schools and universities: Schools and universities remain sources of COVID-19 transmission. Our government needs to put immediate guidelines in place to regulate testing, quarantining and social distancing in all schools in our state.
As we head into a dark and long winter, the above actions could help slow the spread of COVID-19. A shelter-in-place order would bring severe economic hardship to many small businesses, but may be needed. At this perilous moment, we have choices: impose more restrictions, follow the rules and hopefully, avoid more economic and public health hardship, or face the most challenging winter of our lives. Urgent action now can not only save lives, but save livelihoods .
The governor’s office might wanna take heed of the call to “simplify messaging on isolation and quarantine.” Just sayin…
Illinois Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan is not the evil Darth Vader trumpeted by opponents’ ads — but he has shut down democracy in Illinois, and must go.
James Nowlan, a former GOP lawmaker who chairs the anti-Kilbride committee Citizens for Judicial Fairness, asks political audiences in towns such as Carthage, Monmouth and Utica if they ever wished they could vote against Madigan.
“They almost come out of their chairs with applause,” he said. “And I say, ‘This year you can (vote against Madigan). You can vote against Tom Kilbride.’”
Illinois can fix its broken fiscal system — without increasing tax rates on the rich, or anyone else. Hard work and painful actions will be required, but it is absolutely necessary to a healthy future for our state. […]
Think of the revenue side of state and local finance as a four-legged stool. The legs are the income, sales and local property taxes plus fees, hundreds of them. In Illinois, the property tax leg is way too long; the sales tax peg is skinny and short; our present income tax leg is, we contend, about the right length and, last time we looked, Illinois license and fee revenue was less than in most states.
As for the critical state sales tax, Illinois exempts more than 100 or more services that other states tax, such as auto repair and personal care services. And we exclude scores of items as well, such as photographic equipment for movie shoots and semen for artificial insemination of livestock. […]
The supreme irony of our plight is that the one, singularly powerful politician who could muscle the votes together for comprehensive budget reform is embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Maybe we should allow Madigan one more term as speaker, so he can make fixing Illinois his lasting legacy. If he is not around, then the governor and a new legislative team will have to shoulder the herculean task. They won’t make any friends with a public that lacks understanding of the crisis we are in, yet it has to be done.
And as an example of the kind of heavy lifting that will be necessary, consider what Madigan accomplished 10 years ago in March. He rushed necessary but controversial public pension reform legislation through the legislature before influential government employee and teachers unions had time to pick off lawmakers to vote against it. The legislation created a new “tier” of worker benefits that were far less superior, and less expensive, for all new hires. The unions were hotly against it.
But Madigan sprung the bill as a surprise, got it through committee and onto the floor, and passed it in record time, before the rising up. He had to. He knew he had to. Positively Homeric.
Could Pritzker do something like that to fix the state’s budget mess? No.
* You should probably read the whole thread, but he’s got two interesting maps I wanted to share…
Louder for the people in the back. This is a map of people who said "Yes I want a Democratic president, but hell no you're not gonna raise taxes on the rich."
The Illinois Commerce Commission has announced that it will continue to help residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Spokeswoman Victoria Crawford said the moratorium on disconnections has voluntarily been extended by several state regulated utilities through the winter of 2021 for eligible low-income residential customers, and those who self-report to utilities that they are experiencing financial or COVID-19 hardship.
“There had been an agreement in place that had put a moratorium in place on residential shutoff until September 30, but now that has been extended,” Crawford said. “We went back to the utilities (companies) and said, ‘Hey, we would like to see you extend the moratorium,’ and most of them did.”
Crawford said Ameren Illinois, Aqua Illinois, Illinois American Water, Commonwealth Edison’ Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, and Utility Services of Illinois have committed to extending the moratorium on utility disconnections for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program qualified residential customers and those financially impacted by COVID-19.
”Low-income families and those impacted by COVID-19 should not have to fear losing basic services like electricity, heat or fresh water,” Crawford said.
* Meanwhile, Gov. Pritzker’s 30-day eviction moratorium expires at the beginning of next week. From a press release…
The Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA), in cooperation with its affiliate members, conducted an online survey of nearly 400 Chicago housing providers to determine the effect of COVID-19 on the stability of the City’s rental housing market. The survey was conducted September 29 through October 2, 2020.
The survey focused primarily on September rent collections, which was a month after the $600 additional federal unemployment benefit expired and when many tenants had exhausted their state unemployment benefits. The survey also asked the respondents to indicate the type of buildings they owned, and where those buildings were located. […]
Rent collections are down.
Rent collections in the month of September were significantly lower than usual. The industry standard for a safe level of rental collection is 95% payment of full rent, but the NBOA survey showed that only 54% of respondents had received that amount. Alarmingly, 29% of respondents indicated that their rent collections were below 85%, which is considered the industry threshold for profitability. As such, it is likely that about one-third of respondents are losing money on their buildings.
The problem is worse on the south side of the City of Chicago and in the south suburbs. On the north side of the City, 51% of respondents indicated their rent receipts met the industry standard, but on the south side it was only 34%.
Housing providers are facing arrearages of 180 days.
The survey also tried to measure just how far renters are behind in their rent. Forty-three percent of respondents reported having at least one tenant who was more than 180 days (six months) in arrears. When broken down by region, the survey indicated 48% of respondents with holdings primarily on the south and west side reported having at least one tenant more than 180 days in arrears, while 38% of respondents who own primarily on the north side reported at least one tenant seriously behind in their rent.
Vacancies are on the rise.
The survey also measured the availability of vacant units, finding that 42% of respondents reported a vacancy rate of more than 6%, which is just at the edge of a safe level. Alarmingly, 21% of respondents indicated a vacancy rate of 11% or higher. At this level, housing providers face additional financial burdens due to non-productive units (which may be on top of units paying reduced or no rent).
Tenants are not always communicating their needs to housing providers.
Half of respondents said they had residents who were refusing to communicate with them. This lack of communication is a serious problem and hampers housing providers’ ability to manage their buildings. When housing providers are not receiving communications from their tenants, they are neither able to budget for expenses nor negotiate accommodations or payment plans.
State legislators are considering eliminating or limiting aspects of qualified immunity for law enforcement.
Qualified immunity isn’t an explicit federal statute or law but a legal doctrine established in its current form by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1982 case Harlow v. Fitzgerald which grants government officials immunity from civil suits in the course of their duties. It is most often used in cases of alleged police misconduct or brutality.
At a joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law and Public Safety committees on Thursday, lawmakers heard testimony from legal experts, law enforcement and municipal officials on the impact of qualified immunity and its potential removal. The committee also discussed officer liability and amendments to the Uniform Peace Officers’ Disciplinary Act.
State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, co-chaired the hearing.
“Qualified immunity is often used as justification for excessive force and other forms of police misconduct,” Peters said in a release after the hearing. “If officers had to worry about facing consequences from their actions, maybe they would think twice before brutalizing our communities. We cannot and will not win real safety and justice until police officers are able to be held accountable for their actions.”
In order to lose qualified immunity, officers must violate “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.”
State education officials and youth employment advocates are proposing expanding job skills programs in areas with large minority student populations and high unemployment, while also removing barriers to employment that disproportionately affect minorities. […]
[Mari Castaldi, director of policy and advocacy at the Chicago Jobs Council] suggested lawmakers invest state funding in projects such as a Barrier Reduction Fund, to help job seekers and career training program participants address barriers to employment.
She also urged that they implement policy changes at the state level to remove unnecessary barriers that disproportionately impact young people, minorities and women.
For example, she said, Illinois still suspends driver’s licenses of people who can’t afford to pay ticket debt from automated camera tickets and low-level traffic tickets.
Current estimates indicate that as many as 500,000 Illinoisans had suspended licenses for failure to pay, she said, despite the implementation of the Illinois License to Work Act this year, which no longer allows for non-moving violations to result in a suspended Illinois driver’s license.
The Governor’s daughter is not in this picture. Stop using children as pawns in dangerous conspiracies. I’d say let’s have some decency, but that seems in short supply with some lately. Wear a mask, keep your distance & don’t lie. Thanks. pic.twitter.com/5RKgmAPTf4
