* Gov. Pritzker praised the leaders of governments in Chicago, Springfield, Sangamon County, Champaign-Urbana and Carbondale today for taking action against COVID-19. He talked about another increase in testing capabilities. And then he unleashed…
Those who have stood up at press conferences to question the data and fuel conspiracy theories. Those who have taken their absurd crusade to the courts and lost nearly every single time. Those who have flat-out told the businesses in their communities to ignore what their local and state public health departments and experts, some of the best in the nation, are telling them what is it going to take to get you to be a part of the solution.
Doctor Ezike and I have stood up here every day, telling you the facts. We’ve had dozens of the nation’s leading experts, present, and give you the info or giving you the information there epidemiological information they’re modeling information. They’ve stood here with us to show you how bad things can get. We’ve given you the data here in Illinois and the best studies from across the nation and the globe. We’ve shown you what this looked like in the spring, and how this wave is already worse than that in many regions of the state.
What will it take to make this real for you?
Do we have to reach a positivity rate of 50% like we’re seeing in Iowa today? 50%. Are you waiting for health care workers to get sick to a point where you don’t have enough staff in the local hospital to cover the next shift? What about if the hospitals become so overrun that you’re sick and you’re dying have nowhere left to turn?
Because I promise you, if you fail to take responsibility in your city and your county, that day is coming closer. And it will be on you.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will still do our jobs. The state will do all that it can to help hospitals surge their capacity and find additional staff. Health care workers will take up their posts on the front lines as they have every single day since this began, but more people will get sick, more people will struggle to breathe and more people will die because you’ve failed to do your job.
While good people do the right thing by wearing masks to keep each other safe, elected leaders in some communities have allowed others to infect their constituents because they’re afraid of the few loud anti-maskers or because the elected leaders themselves are anti-maskers.
In too many of these communities, responsible business owners have followed public health guidelines, only to see competitors flout the rules and prolong the mitigations for everyone else.
There may be a vaccine on the way in just a few months, but a lot of lives can be saved before that happens. And when this is over there will be an accounting by your constituents of who worked to keep the public safe, and who just ignored the science. This is the moment to step up and get it right.
Winter is coming, folks.
I pledged to be honest with you throughout this COVID crisis, and that won’t ever change. We’re running out of time. And we’re running out of options. Our growth in new cases is now exponential. We are seeing current numbers and future projections worse than what we saw in the spring. We’re more practiced at responding to this virus now. So we have significant stockpiles of PPE, we have overflow capacity that’s already planned by our hospitals, and we have much more testing available. That won’t slow the spread of the virus.
Since the stay at home order ended in May, we’ve allowed local governments to make decisions about whether they needed tougher mitigations and enforcement. And we’ve only imposed certain select mitigations at the state level on a regional basis. Those tools worked where people acted responsibly in local communities. But with many community leaders choosing not to listen to the doctors, we are left with not many tools left in our toolbox to fight this. The numbers don’t lie.
If things don’t take a turn in the coming days, we will quickly reach the point when some form of a mandatory stay at home order is all that we’ll be left with every fiber of my being. I do not want us to get there. But right now, that seems like where we are heading.
“I am honored to be reelected to represent Illinois’ beautiful 14th District in Congress. This was a tough race under some very difficult circumstances, and I want to say thank you to my supporters, the voters, and our elections officials for their diligent work.”
“We face urgent challenges as a community and a country. I remain focused on getting results: protecting our families, ensuring a robust economic recovery, and lowering the cost of health care. Whether you voted for me or not, I pledge to represent every member of this community. That’s my responsibility, and I take it seriously. It’s a privilege to bring northern Illinois voices and values to Washington and I can’t wait to build upon all that we’ve accomplished, together.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Travis Akin, Jim Oberweis Campaign Spokesman…
“The Associated Press calling the race in the 14th Congressional District for Lauren Underwood does not change anything in this race from a legal standpoint. Illinois election law has provisions to allow parties in a closely contested race to seek a recount to ensure that all legal votes are counted and to ensure that the final outcome is the right outcome. There are still votes that have yet to be counted. The totals at this point are unofficial totals as the race has yet to be certified. We are committed to exploring all of the legal options at our disposal and will pursue these options that are afforded our campaign under law.”
Close vote margin required
Candidate determines how many/which precincts to recount
Contested election
Candidates “nominated, elected, or declared eligible for a runoff election” for any office may petition for a recount. However, a close vote margin is required: candidates must have received “at least 95% of the number of votes cast for any successful candidate for the same office” to be eligible for a recount. 10 ICSL 5/22‑9.1. These recounts are considered “discovery recounts,” and the results are explicitly not binding on the outcome of the election. The statutes require that the results of the examination and count shall not be certified, used to amend or change the abstracts of the votes previously completed, used to deny the successful candidate for the same office his certificate of nomination or election, nor used to change the previously declared result of the vote on a question of public policy.
Neither candidates nor voters may petition to recount precincts “exceeding 25% of the total number of precincts within the jurisdiction of the election authority.” 10 ILCS 5/22-9.1.
As noted above in “Court-Ordered Recounts,” candidates may also initiate a recount through the election contest process, in which the judge overseeing the contest may hold a hearing to determine if a recount is warranted.
For election contests, any candidate on the ballot and any write-in candidate in any election may contest the election. Candidates may also specifically request an “examination of records and equipment” as part of the contest. Unlike “discovery recounts,” the ruling resulting from an election contest is binding upon the election results. 10 ILCS 5/23 1.6a, 5/23 1.2a, 5/23-1.10a, 5/23-26 and 5/23-28.
…Adding… Chairman Madigan…
“We have won a hard-fought victory in the 14th Congressional District, and I extend my congratulations to Congresswoman Underwood. For the last week, Democratic Party of Illinois attorneys and poll watchers have worked side-by-side with State Central Committee members, including Lake County Chair Lauren Beth Gash and McHenry County Chair Kristina Zahorik, and Democratic volunteers to ensure that every vote was counted until this critical victory was final.”
…Adding… I’m told there are no court-ordered recounts for congressional races…
No Illinois court recount. Goes to the Floor of the House.
C. Congressional Office
The Federal Contested Election Act, Pub.L. No. 91-138, 83 Stat. 284 (1969), controls contests for election to federal office. See also the election contest rules for the house involved. Strict pleading requirements apply. H.R.Rep. No. 759, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. (1975); Young v. Mikva, 66 Ill.2d 579, 363 N.E.2d 851, 6 Ill.Dec. 904 (1977).
* The advisory is similar to what the governor has already issued. The regulations appear to anticipate the state’s Tier 2 mitigations…
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) today launched a new citywide strategy - “Protect Chicago” - an effort to help Chicago bend the COVID-19 curve for the second time. This strategy calls on all Chicagoans to change their behavior through targeted regulations, strong messaging, and a community-based outreach strategy. If changes are not made by Chicago residents, businesses, and visitors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the city is on track to lose 1,000 more Chicagoans by the end of the year or even more.
“Chicago has reached a critical point in the second surge of COVID-19, demanding that we undertake this multi-faceted and comprehensive effort to stop the virus in its tracks,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The gains we have made this past year have been the result of our willingness to work together. Even in this difficult moment, we will continue to unite as we always have for our city in order to halt the rise we’re seeing, shake out of the fatigue we’ve been experiencing, and make the crucial difference in what our future is going to look like.”
A key pillar of the “Protect Chicago” strategy will be the implementation of several regulatory measures aimed at combating the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Chief among these new efforts is a Stay-at-Home Advisory, which calls on all Chicagoans to follow clear measures to protect their community and help us flatten the curve. Residents are strongly advised to adhere to the Advisory by following these guidelines, which will go into effect on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 6:00 a.m.:
• Only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up take-out food, or receiving deliveries. If you do leave home, practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others and wearing a face covering at all times.
• Do not have gatherings in your home with anybody outside of your household (except for essential staff such as home health care workers or educators), even with trusted family or friends.
• Avoid all non-essential, out-of-state travel; if travel is essential, quarantining or testing negative prior to travel is required, depending on which state a traveler is originating from.
• Comply with City and State Orders, including wearing face coverings, limiting gatherings, and mandating early closure of non-essential businesses at 11 p.m.
• Practice social distancing and avoid touching surfaces frequently touched by others if you go outside to get fresh air.
• Use remote modes of communication like phone or video chat instead of visiting friends or family, especially on holidays such as Thanksgiving.
In addition to the Stay-at-Home Advisory, the City is imposing new restrictions to limit meetings and social events to 10 individuals (both indoors and outdoors), which will also go into effect on Monday, November 16, 2020, at 6:00 a.m. This capacity limit applies to events such as weddings, birthday parties, business dinners/social events, and funerals, and is applicable to any venue where a meeting or social event is taking place, including meeting rooms. However, the capacity limit does not supersede industries that have specific capacity guidelines in place, which include fitness clubs, retail stores, personal services and movie theaters (generally, 40% or 50 individuals max., whichever is fewer). More information on the new restrictions can be found at chicago.gov/reopening.
“We are at a critical point in our ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said BACP Commissioner Rosa Escareno. “Everybody needs to step up right now to flatten the curve, save lives and help our businesses reopen safely.”
These new regulations and the Stay-at-Home Advisory will be paired with the activation of a community-based outreach strategy that aims to reach all Chicagoans, especially those who live and work in COVID-19 hotspots, which are currently on Chicago’s Northwest and Southwest Sides. The “Protect Chicago” strategy will be pushed out citywide on digital assets and through collateral materials, all zeroing in on the guidance that will keep Chicagoans safe and healthy. The City plans to leverage more than 1,000 City workers, up to 550 contact tracers, and a network of hundreds of community-based organizations to reach Chicagoans who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. The outreach team will be conducting data-based, geo-targeting efforts to focus on the highest-incidence zip codes, neighborhoods and census tracts to provide resources, information and support to individuals and families who have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Chicago has seen spread in every zip code, age group, and race and ethnicity, and the City has partnered with minority-owned communications firms – Flowers Communications Group and Imagen Marketing Consultants – to ensure the strategy is targeted to COVID-19 hotspots and resonates with the communities most severely impacted by the virus.
“Protect Chicago” builds upon already-existing regulations and guidelines designed to manage the second wave of COVID-19. The City continues to recommend that Chicagoans avoid all gatherings in private residences, with an exception for essential staff such as home healthcare workers or educators. Furthermore, CDPH Health Orders require that indoor gatherings within private residences be limited to six non-household members. The City has the authority to fine individuals for breaking this requirement and hosting large social gatherings in their private residences. Lastly, earlier this week, CDPH updated the City’s emergency travel order, however, the recommendation remains for residents to avoid all non-essential, out-of-state travel.
“Protect Chicago” has been developed in coordination with CDPH to respond to evolving public health data and trends that show Chicago deep into a second surge of COVID-19. Chicago, the region, and the nation as a whole have experienced several weeks of steeply rising new daily cases, and the test positivity rate has also been increasing and is now above 14% in the city. Chicago is seeing more than 1,900 new daily cases based on a 7-day rolling average, which is a higher rate than at any time during the pandemic. While Black and Latinx residents continue to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, these increases are being seen across age, race and ethnicity.
“The data are troubling, and I’m very concerned we could be looking at tens of thousands of more cases, which would overwhelm the healthcare system and lead to hundreds more deaths,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “But we know what works and what we need to do to bend the curve. We did it once and I know we can do it again.”
…Adding… Michael Jacobson, president and CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association…
It’s very disappointing to hear Mayor Lightfoot spread a falsehood that Chicago hotels are actively marketing and hosting parties or other events that violate current Covid-19 protocols or existing fire code capacity limits. That theory simply is not true. Like every sector of businesses, hotels have unfortunately been victims of a citywide uptick in crime in and around our properties throughout the Central Business District. While there are occasional instances where guests violate the hotel’s policy on the amount of people allowed in each room, those rare cases are dealt with by hotel staff immediately and the guests are evicted. Hotels have far exceeded the guidelines that the City of Chicago set in place to control Covid-19 and are dedicated to protecting our employees and guests. We welcome the opportunity to hear from City of Chicago officials of any reports to the contrary so that they can be resolved immediately.
The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 709,000, a still-high level but the lowest figure since March and a sign that the job market might be slowly healing.
The figures coincide with a sharp resurgence in confirmed viral infections to an all-time high above 120,000 a day. Cases are rising in 49 states, and deaths are increasing in 39. The nation has now recorded 240,000 virus-related deaths and 10.3 million confirmed infections.
As colder weather sets in and fear of the virus escalates, consumers may turn more cautious about traveling, shopping, dining out and visiting gyms, barber shops and retailers. Companies in many sectors could cut jobs or workers’ hours. In recent days, the virus’ resurgence has triggered tighter restrictions on businesses, mostly restaurants and bars, in a range of states, including Texas, New York, Maryland, and Oregon.
Last week’s new applications for unemployment benefits was down from 757,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The still-elevated figure shows that eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 67,158 new unemployment claims were filed across the state last week, the week of Nov. 1.
Illinois’ estimated claims were among 709,000 total filed across the country last week.
The most recent claims represent a nearly 9% decrease from the prior week when 73,515 unemployment claims were filed in Illinois, but a 510% increase over the 11,015 claims filed during the same week of 2019.
Well I think I mentioned the other day that we had a huge spike in this PUA unemployment. And a lot of that is fraud-related we believe, based on the analytics. And so we’re trying to address that.
Look, unemployment is never good no matter what that is, it’s not good. We very much want to continue growing our economy. I have believed from day one that the way you do that is tackle the virus, and make sure that you’re doing everything you can. While you’re tackling the virus to keep people safe in the economy that is up and running. And to some degree is continuing to grow from a low that had hit last spring.
* IDPH Region 3, which runs from Sangamon County west to the Mississippi River, now has a seven-day rolling positivity rate of 16.4 percent. Sangamon County’s rate is 16.2 percent, but its most recent one-day rate is 21.2 percent.
Just days into their two-week plan to allow bars and restaurants to continue indoor service despite Gov. JB Pritzker’s order to curb COVID-19’s rapid resurgence in the region, Sangamon County and Springfield officials are reversing course.
Beginning Friday, area bars and restaurants must stop serving indoors, or risk their liquor or food license if they stay open. That’s according to new executive orders signed Tuesday by Sangamon County Board Chair Andy Van Meter and Department of Public Health Director Gail O’Neill.
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said at a city council meeting he plans to sign a similar order on Thursday.
Region 3 – which includes Springfield and west-central Illinois – triggered the mitigations late last month after the region saw a COVID-19 positivity rate greater than 8% for three straight days. The rules, which include shuttering indoor dining and bar service, were set to take effect Nov. 1.
When local officials announced the plan to defy the governor’s orders last week, they also said if numbers were bad enough, they’d reconsider and implement all regulations aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
In consultation with medical advisors, they set the threshold at an average positivity rate above 12% for the county for three straight days, which would trigger closure of indoor service. The rolling average reached 14.4% Saturday for the county, according to the most recent data available from the Illinois Department of Public Health. It was 13.4% Friday, and 12.5% the day before that. The average rates lag three days behind.
Unfortunately, every day they delayed meant that getting those numbers down to a reasonable level became that much more difficult.
“We are getting very, very dangerously close to overwhelming our healthcare system, which was the point of all this to begin with — don’t overwhelm the healthcare system,” said Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso. “With flu season coming, we are about to be in very, very bad shape.”
With news of the county’s plans to enter full mitigations breaking just before the meeting started, several aldermen had not been briefed on the subject.
Langfelder, who was on a call with county officials where the mitigations were discussed earlier that afternoon, also appeared unfamiliar with the contents of the new restrictions.
He repeatedly told council members that all bar service would cease under the new order before being corrected and told that outdoor service could continue. During the meeting, he asked a reporter with The State Journal-Register to confirm when the mitigations would actually go into effect.
I’m pleased to see local governments are starting to take action to stop the spread. I urge all local government leaders to put the health and safety of your community above all else.
The coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming winter months are taking a toll on the tourism industry in Illinois.
Add to it the veto session at the Capitol being canceled, which usually brings in money to the capital city.
Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Scott Dahl said now, they are looking ahead.
“Literally thousands of people come in town for session. It is a large impact to the city,” Dahl said. “We are hoping for an early spring session and an extended session, as well, to make up for the spring and fall session loss in 2020.”
A long session will not happen if Springfield and the county don’t prove they’re taking this seriously. The capital city should be setting an example for the rest of the state. Until this week, it had been setting precisely the wrong example.
* Meanwhile in Chicago…
The city's test positivity is 14.1%, per @ChiPublicHealth. 7 days ago, it was 10.9%.
There are 1,920 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day in Chicago, on average, up 36% in a week.
An average of 8 Chicagoans died every day this week from the virus, up from 5 last week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,702 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 43 additional deaths.
- Adams County: 1 male 80s
- Brown County: 1 male 90s
- Bureau County: 1 male 90s
- Clinton County: 1 male 50s, 3 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- Cook County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 70s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
- DeKalb County: 1 male 50s
- DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s
- Edwards County: 1 male 70s
- Fulton County: 1 male 70s
- Knox County: 1 male 80s
- Lake County: 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s
- LaSalle County: 1 male 80s
- Macon County: 1 male 80s
- Montgomery County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
- Morgan County: 1 male 50s
- Peoria County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 80s
- Tazewell County: 1 male 80s
- Vermilion County: 1 female 90s
- Wayne County: 1 male 80s
- Whiteside County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
- Will County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 536,542 cases, including 10,477 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 100,617 specimens for a total 8,765,100. As of last night, 5,258 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 956 patients were in the ICU and 438 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 5– November 11 is 12.6%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 5, 2020 – November 11, 2020 is 13.9%.
To help decrease the positivity rate, IDPH recommends the following.
Yesterday, IDPH released additional recommendations for how best for Illinoisans to keep themselves and their families safe as cases continue to rise in the state. For the next three weeks, IDPH is asking people to stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work if working from home is not an option, buying groceries, and visiting the pharmacy. CDC and IDPH recommend limiting travel no matter the distance. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised.
*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.
* Wednesday…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,657 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 145 additional deaths.
Adams County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Boone County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
Carroll County: 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
Clinton County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Coles County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 male 30s, 2 males 40s, 3 females 50s, 5 males 50s, 6 males 60s, 8 females 70s, 6 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 7 males 80s, 5 females 90s, 2 males 90s
Crawford County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 3 males 80s
Edwards County: 1 female 90s
Ford County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
Franklin County: 1 male 80s
Grundy County: 1 male 70s
Hamilton County: 1 female 60s
Henry County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 80s
Jefferson County: 1 male 90s
Kane County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Kankakee County: 1 male 80s,
Knox County: 1 male 60s, 2 females 90s
Lake County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 90s, 1 female 90s
Lee County: 1 male 80s
Livingston County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Macon County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Macoupin County: 1 female 70s
Madison County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
Marion County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Mason County: 1 female 60s
McHenry County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
McLean County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Morgan County: 1 female 80s
Peoria County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Pike County: 1 female 70s
Rock Island County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
Saline County: 1 male 80s
St. Clair County: 1 male 80s
Tazewell County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
Vermilion County: 1 female 90s
Warren County: 1 male 70s
Wayne County: 1 male 90s
White County: 2 males 80s
Whiteside County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 70s
Will County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
Williamson County: 1 male 80s
Winnebago County: 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 523,840 cases, including 10,434 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 93,464 specimens for a total 8,664,483. As of last night, 5,042 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 951 patients were in the ICU and 404 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 34– November 10 is 12.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 4, 2020 – November 10, 2020 is 13.6%.
Sadly, another resident at the Illinois Veterans’ Home LaSalle (IVHL) has passed away. This is the seventh resident death at the home. Currently, there are 72 residents with COVID-19 and 72 employees.
The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is in regular consultation with IDPH and the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs and is following all public health guidance. After the first positive tests at the facility on November 1, 2020, visitation was halted on November 2, 2020 and new admissions postponed. All positive residents are isolating in a separate wing of the facility. Over the summer, IDVA constructed 25 negative pressure rooms with capacity for 44 residents, which is now in use in this wing. IDVA is also ramping up the use of antigen testing in the facility in order to more rapidly test residents and staff.
To help decrease the positivity rate, IDPH recommends the following.
Work from Home if Possible
For the next three weeks, work with your employer to plan to work from home unless it is necessary for you to be in the workplace. We ask employers to make accommodation for this. Our goal is to reduce transmission as we head into the holidays so businesses and schools can remain open.
Participate in Essential Activities Only
For the next three weeks, stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work that must be performed outside the home, COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy, and buying groceries.
Limit Travel and Gatherings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health experts tell us that gatherings and travel in and out of communities present a high risk of spreading the infection. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised and is potentially dangerous. Please, travel only if necessary.
*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.
Thursday, Nov 12, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
It’s been more than 600 days since the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) was first introduced, but communities across the state that developed this bill are still waiting for their lawmakers to take action.
Since its introduction in February of 2019, support for CEJA has continued to grow. 82% of Illinois voters support the bill, and 74% of voters say that legislators must pass it this year, not delay it until 2021.
CEJA was recently updated to include stronger utility reforms, end automatic rate hikes and double down on our commitment to equity for Black and Brown communities through meaningful wealth-building opportunities. CEJA isn’t just a set of ideas, it’s a fully drafted bill. You can read about it at ilcleanjobs.org.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage our state’s economy, we need solutions that will create thousands of new jobs by unlocking millions of dollars in private investment, without raising taxes or hiking rates. CEJA can’t wait.
There needs to be a deep dive to determine the reason for this outbreak. Were all of the safety protocols meant to keep our Veterans safe properly followed? These American heroes and their families deserve a full investigation to determine what went wrong!https://t.co/XsoZJ58VmL
Sen. Rezin lives in Morris, which is in Grundy County, which has a seven-day average positivity rate of 20.7 percent. It’s most recent daily rate was 30.3 percent.
The veterans’ home is in a county with a seven-day average positivity rate of 19.9 percent. That virus had to get into the home somehow. Think it might’ve come from the community, whose leaders are resisting mitigations?
Just a thought.
Also, this isn’t a statewide closure of indoor dining. It was done on a regional basis and every region is now in dire straits.
* Meanwhile…
State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and State Representative La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) joined together to call on Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Michael Madigan to call a joint hearing of the General Assembly to discuss the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are now eight months into this pandemic. It is well past time for the General Assembly who is a coequal branch to take a more active role in the management of this pandemic,” said Sen. Rezin. “Legislative hearings will allow the public to hear directly from the Governor’s Office, state and local public health officials, small businesses, and other impacted stakeholders about what exactly goes into the decision-making process for our state’s response. In addition to providing the public with much needed transparency, these hearings will finally give legislators the opportunity to directly ask the Administration about the data and assumptions they choose to use. For too long, we have been left in the dark with more questions than answers. This has been particularly true when it comes to the Administration’s mitigation rules.”
Enhanced mitigation has been imposed across the state that disproportionately impacts the hospitality industry despite contradictory claims from local health departments about their role in spreading the virus.
“The surge in positive COVID-19 cases in Illinois forced the cancellation of the Fall Veto Session,” said Rep. Ford. “The General Assembly can’t leave the weight of this virus on the back of the executive branch. In order to protect the well-being of Illinoisans, we need a bipartisan and bicameral plan working with the executive branch.”
Additionally, the two legislators are encouraging Governor Pritzker to join with the General Assembly as an equal partner by supporting public legislative hearings and agreeing to make state officials and consultants available.
Gov. JB Pritzker has created new enforcement rules for mask wearing.
Pritzker said the statewide emergency order allows warnings and then fines of up to $2,500 against businesses and other organizations that do not ensure that people wear masks on the premises.
That much-noted rule was approved by JCAR, so it’s still on the books today.
Q: Are you considering a statewide mask mandate?… Is that a consideration?
*facepalm* *heavysigh* *screamatmycomputer*
For months as I’ve watched these media briefings I’ve been quietly repeating to myself a lesson I was taught growing up: “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” But I think I’ve finally reached my limit on that.
Combine this with the ridiculously out of control COVID-19 problem in the town where I live, and I feel like I need to take some time off over Thanksgiving and socially distance on some beach somewhere before I wind up at the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes…
Whew. OK. I think I’m better now. Sorry you had to witness this. And I really do like that reporter. He usually does good work and probably just had an off day. We all make mistakes. And Springfield’s mayor does seem to finally be getting the message. We’ll see.
I’m still gonna do the socially distant beach-bum thing, though. And I have just the spot.
* These first two are from the New York Times. Here are the national metro areas with the greatest number of new cases, relative to their population, in the last two weeks…
* The national metro areas where new cases are rising the fastest, on a population-adjusted basis…
Man. Kankakee is a freaking mess. And with Ottawa’s ranking, we can clearly see why there are problems at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. Also, Bloomington? Do better, please.
* And this is from the Covid Act Now website. Illinois counties sorted by test positivity rate. The Eastern Bloc’s territory dominates..
On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Mike Madigan’s Chief of Staff announced that the fall veto session has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19 and proximity to the upcoming holidays. In response to the announcement, State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) issued the following statement:
“No one is discounting the severity of COVID-19, especially now that we are in the midst of a second wave. However, we were able to meet safely in May and, with proper precautions, we can meet safely now. We have a top-notch Springfield staff that pulled together a safe environment in May that included testing, mask mandates, an abundance of hand sanitizer, and more than enough room to practice social distancing. Not one legislator contracted COVID-19 during our session in May, so we know full well the staff is capable of pulling this off.
“I can’t help but wonder if the cancelation has more to do with political unrest within the House Democratic caucus than it has to do with health and safety. I certainly hope that’s not the case, because it would be a great injustice if Speaker Madigan has placed his political problems ahead of our ability to do the people’s work during a scheduled veto session. We have a multi-billion dollar budget hole to fill and we need to be in session in order to have a voice in crafting a solution. In addition, I mentioned in a recent letter to the Governor that we need to return to Springfield so we can hit the reset button on our COVID-19 response and work together on a better plan.”
* Rep. Grant did more than just wonder…
On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Mike Madigan’s Chief of Staff announced that the fall veto session is canceled due to concerns over COVID-19 and proximity to the upcoming holidays. In response to the announcement, State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) issued the following statement:
“I question the motivation behind this cancelation. We were able to meet safely in May in an environment that included testing, mask mandates, regular use of hand sanitizer, and more than ample room to practice social distancing. No one from the House, Senate or staff contracted COVID-19 during our session in May, so we know staff is capable of putting adequate safety precautions in place. Congress is meeting and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be.
“The people of Illinois are counting on us to do our jobs, and since we know we can safely meet, I must wonder if the cancelation is more about Madigan’s growing unpopularity within his caucus and the Governor’s disinterest in engaging with the legislature than it is about our health. We have to get back to Springfield and legislators must be allowed to have a voice in future COVID-19 decisions. This cancelation sends a bad message to Illinoisans who want their voices heard through their elected representative to the House.”
* And the Tribune editorial board just came right out and said it…
Rather than bring lawmakers back to the capital where face-to-face interactions could intensify conversations to oust him; rather than deal with a major budget shortfall, a pension crisis or a timely Legislative Black Caucus agenda that includes criminal justice reform; rather than pass overdue ethics legislation that would put the ComEd investigation in the spotlight; Madigan canceled veto session altogether. Let Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who recently joined others in calling for Madigan’s ouster as state party chair, struggle with the budget and pension headaches himself. Make him wear the jacket. This is about that too.
…Adding… Rep. Halpin is the second House Democrat to disclose a COVID-19 diagnosis this week. Subscribers know that Rep. Deb Conroy also contracted the virus…
State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is recovering from COVID-19 after five days of enduring chills and fever.
Halpin said his test result came back positive on Monday, but he believes he contracted coronavirus from a family friend on Oct. 31.
“I’m feeling better now, but I had woken up on Election Day in the middle of the night with fever and chills,” Halpin said. “At that point, I made the decision to contact the doctor. For about five days or so, I was in a lot of pain with a headache and fever. I never had any trouble breathing, but it was definitely a miserable five days. After that, I started feeling better with less fatigue.”
But, yeah, it’s all Madigan.
* Meanwhile…
Chicago Unions’ Statement on Partnering with Speaker Madigan to Strengthen Worker Power in Illinois
The unions of Chicago’s labor movement, including the Chicago Federation of Labor, released the following statement supporting Speaker Madigan and partnering with him to strengthen worker power in Illinois:
“As the electoral dust settles and we look toward the next legislative session, the Chicago labor movement is excited and energized to bolster worker power and protections through state legislation. Our best chance to do so is in partnership with House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, a staunch defender of working people. Speaker Madigan has steadfastly advanced workers’ rights, resulting in some of the strongest prevailing wage, collective bargaining, gender pay equity, minimum wage, and worker safety laws in the country. He also spent four years valiantly defending the rights of union members from former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s reckless ideological attacks. Given the choice, Speaker Madigan held the line for working people and we thank him.
“There was a time, not that long ago, when Illinois was heading down the same political path as our Great Lakes neighbors— Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio — where Democrats and labor were shut out of power, and right-to-work-for-less became the law. If it were not for Speaker Madigan, working people would have been marginalized and their voices silenced like those in neighboring states.
“Instead of political in-fighting, we encourage everyone to focus their energy on finding ways to support the workers who are sacrificing so much right now, especially Illinois’ public employees who have risked their own health and safety to keep Illinois running during this pandemic.”
Bob Reiter, Chicago Federation of Labor
Don Villar, Chicago Federation of Labor
Rosetta Daylie, CBTU
James Connolly, Chicago Laborers’ District Council
Jesse M. Rios, AFGE
Sam Cicinelli, Automobile Mechanics’ Local 701
James F. Coyne, Plumbers Local 130
Donald Finn, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
James M. Gardiner, Iron Workers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity
Terrence J. Hancock, Teamsters Local 731 and Teamsters Joint Council 25
Brian Hickey, IUOE Local 399
Mack I. Julion, National Association of Letter Carriers - Branch #11 Chicago
Thomas Balanoff, SEIU Illinois State Council
Gregory Kelley, SEIU Healthcare
Karen Kent, UNITE HERE Local 1
Ronald D. McInroy, UAW Region 4
William W. Niesman, IBEW Local 9
Robert O’Toole, UFCW Local 1546
Gary Perinar, Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
Jesse Sharkey, Chicago Teachers Union
John Spiros, Jr., International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council #14
Raymond Suggs, Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 73
James M. Sweeney, IUOE Local 150
James T. Tracy, Chicago Fire Fighters Local 2
The Illinois AFL-CIO issued a similar statement on Tuesday.
Republicans opened the door to voting for a Democrat for House Speaker in January if it meant ousting Madigan — instead of casting their usual ceremonial votes for the House Minority Leader.
State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) last week survived a well-funded Democratic challenger in a race targeted by Madigan’s political organization.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to turn the state around,” Batinick said. “For me, the one “no: vote is the vote for Speaker Madigan. Beyond that, I would be willing to engage in conversations and negotiations.”
State Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) said he wouldn’t even mind ending up with a speaker politically to the left of Madigan.
“I’d be happy to take the risk of a more progressive member getting in charge just to have a fair fight in the arena of ideas,” Marron said.
Rather than seeking GOP support for a candidate against Madigan (which could easily turn off a whole lot of Democrats), the easier way to do this is to simply deprive the House Speaker of 60 votes. The House rules require “the affirmative vote of a majority of those elected.” If enough Democrats vote “Present,” then he can’t get to 60. They can then try to coalesce around someone else later.
* Remember, hospitalization is a lagging indicator. The exploding number of positive cases you see today will eventually translate into increased numbers of people in the hospital…
There are now more Illinoisans hospitalized with COVID-19 than there ever were during the pandemic's first wave this spring.
145 more COVID-positive Illinoisans are also reported dead - the most since May.
Illinois COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased 76 percent in the past two weeks. The state also has the fewest number of available hospital beds since the pandemic began.
Faced with a record number of COVID-19 patients, some Illinois hospitals are returning to strategies similar to those they adopted in the early days of the health crisis, including limiting elective surgeries and adding more beds.
One health care provider, NorthShore University HealthSystem, has converted its Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview back into a COVID-19 hospital, meaning it is no longer taking patients in need of overnight care if they don’t have COVID-19. Non-COVID-19 patients who need to be hospitalized are being sent to other facilities in the system.
The five-hospital system also has started evaluating elective surgeries on a case-by-case basis, delaying some depending on their urgency, said Dr. Lakshmi Halasyamani, chief medical officer. […]
Concerns also are growing about staffing levels. Though hospitals can add beds, they can only add as many beds as they have the ability to staff. Amid this second COVID-19 surge, hospitals are seeing their medical workers catch COVID-19, outside the hospital, preventing them from working. Nurses are in high demand nationwide, unlike in the spring when some areas had many COVID-19 cases and others did not.
Hospital leaders are pleading with community members to wear masks and social distance.
The staffing issue is not discussed nearly enough. You can have plenty of beds, but if you have a staff shortage due to illness or whatever, you can’t fill your hospital.
Yesterday, there were 50 hospitalized patients at SIH, a record high since the pandemic began. Staff at SIH is prepared to care for patients, but the extra steps involving PPE make caring for them more intensive.
“It’s not really a bed issue right now, we have the beds. It’s more the staffing demand to care for a patient with COVID-19 is much more substantial than taking care of a medical patient that’s in the hospital or a critical care patient that’s in the hospital. It’s, logistically, it’s just much more difficult” said Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Harre. […]
Right now, with more than 100 healthcare workers out sick or in quarantine, they stress the need all of us to do our part to stop the spread of the virus.
Like many other healthcare facilities, Carle Foundation Hospital is seeing an increase in staff members with COVID-19. In a statement they said in part…
“We continue to offer leading safeguards in our workplace to protect our staff and patients. While we’re continuing to monitor the situation closely and working through numerous solutions we know we are at a critical juncture in our community.”
The Adams County COVID-19 Medical Capacity dashboard shows hospital bed availability at one percent. […]
[Dr. Mary Frances Barthel with Blessing Health System] said what she’s seeing in the hospital reflects how the community is acting. She says it’s time to stop gathering in large groups, or things are going to get real bad.
“At some point, it will just overrun the system,” Barthel said.
When we said available beds, these aren’t just for COVID-19 patients, they’re for everyone.
So if you get in a car accident, or have another medical emergency, the low capacity of beds could impact you even if you don’t have the virus.
Barthel said the need for staff is more important now than ever, especially if they add beds.
She said like community members, many staff members are out with COVID or possible exposure.
Adams County’s 7-day average positivity rate is 16 percent.
Additional hospital bed sets have been requested by Winnebago County agencies due to the recent surge in COVID-19 patients in Region 1 hospitals.
Winnebago County Emergency Management, city of Rockford Emergency Management, and the Winnebago County Health Department requested the bed sets from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency through the Regional Hospital Coordinating Center
A bed set includes a bed, headboard with suction and oxygen, HEPA filter, lamp, trunk, tent and chair. The bed set does not include additional medical personnel.
“The increasing rate of COVID-19 infection has stressed the healthcare systems in the region and highlights the consequences of unchecked transmission in the community,” officials said in a news release. “All entities should be adhering to the Tier 2 mitigations outlined in Executive Order #2020-62 to protect the community.
A group of Illinois health-care workers wrote an open letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) on Monday predicting that “Illinois will surpass its ICU bed capacity by Thanksgiving.”
Two leaders of the group, the Illinois Medical Professionals Action Collaborative Team (IMPACT), said Illinois is “on a bad trajectory.”
“Cases have been rising really sharply, especially in Illinois, where for the past four days we had more than 10,000 cases, which was the highest number of cases that a state had experienced,” said Vineet Arora, chief executive of the team.
Arora, who is also a hospitalist at the University of Chicago, is afraid the rate of infection will reach a point similar to New York at the height of its spring surge, “where physicians were having to decide, does this patient have a higher chance of surviving, or this patient?”
Maybe the Tribune will now revisit its irresponsible May 6 editorial that essentially said Pritzker should declare victory and ease up. This is what happens when you ease up too much.
* Which brings us to the evolving mayor of Springfield…
At the end of October, right before the record-breaking case numbers and positivity rates, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder was already worried about hospitals in Springfield.
“Are they bringing people in from outside that region?” Langfelder said in an Oct. 29 interview. “If so, that should stop immediately. We should take care of the ones within their service area. If it’s beyond that, we need to make a determination how to approach that.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Langfelder eased his stance.
“When you’re in healthcare, you’re there to serve the public, so they’re not going to restrict healthcare,” Langfelder said.
HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield confirmed this, saying they don’t plan on turning people away.
The Illinois High School Association announced Wednesday that it has formally invited representatives from Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office and the Illinois Department of Public Health to its board meeting on Nov. 19.
“The board hopes to create a dialogue and build a more collaborative relationship with all the entities involved with developing sports policy in our state as everyone tries to navigate the myriad issues caused by the pandemic,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “The board’s decision to move forward with the IHSA basketball season was not meant to be adversarial. It was rooted in a desire to receive more direct communication and data from our state partners. They hope all the groups will see the mutual benefit of increased discourse and be represented at the meeting on November 19.”
The invite comes after only eight of the IHSA’s [813] member schools announced they would participate in the IHSA’s basketball season.
The board’s decision wasn’t meant to be adversarial? Right. They stood by silently while their supporters were picketing outside the homes of administration officials and told the Illinois Department of Public Health to shove their public health rules where the sun doesn’t shine and went full speed ahead for “the kids,” and, of course, their sweet income stream, some of it due to state law.
Without adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the governor and the IDPH, insurance companies would not cover the liability costs for schools.
The Southern Illinois University men’s basketball program has paused team activities due to positive COVID-19 test results, head coach Bryan Mullins announced on Thursday.
SIU will not participate in the Wade Houston Tipoff Classic in Louisville, Ky., from November 25-29, as previously scheduled.
“We have diligently followed the safety protocols established by our administration and local health officials, but as we’ve seen throughout the country, Covid cases can and will arise,” Mullins said. “We will resume preparation for the season as soon as our medical professionals deem it is safe to do.”
Dear President Harmon, Speaker Madigan, Leader Brady, and Leader Durkin,
As you are well aware, our state faces an immediate and significant set of financial challenges – revenue loss due to the continued economic impact of COVID-19, uncertainty regarding additional federal aid for state and local governments, need for maintaining vital state services that taxpayers expect, and significant revenue from the fair tax constitutional amendment now taken off the table. The situation calls for us as elected leaders to come together and develop a set of solutions with the goal of bringing our budget into balance.
To this end, my administration is continuing to take pro-active steps in an ongoing effort to responsibly manage our way through this current crisis, including undertaking cost reductions and efficiencies within executive branch operations. In addition, I’ve engaged in regular discussion with Congressional leaders and members about the need for support for replacement of COVID-related revenue losses by local and state governments.
While I have responsibility for making difficult yet necessary internal budget management decisions, this alone cannot solve the current challenge. As you are aware, statutory and court ordered limitations provide varying degrees of legal protections for a large portion of this year’s budget approved by the General Assembly. My predecessor and his administration made the decision to plunge the state into a fiscal disaster for two years in part by utilizing executive powers he did not legally possess. I refuse to follow that same path. With the current pandemic causing health, education and financial turmoil for working families, our state must address our budget challenges without delay.
Given the defeat of the fair tax and given the pandemic’s deepening effect on our fiscal situation as it wears on longer than expected, the time is now for us to act. Therefore, as an important first step, I will be convening a meeting with the two Democratic and two Republican legislative leaders. Our immediate focus should be on reconciling our FY21 budget and bringing it into balance this fiscal year. As you know, without federal coronavirus relief for the state (and local governments), budget stresses remain even in the current year. In short, your ideas, your input, and your feedback are critical at this moment. Ultimately and as always, the legislature will need to approve the efforts to balance our expenditures and revenues.
My Chief of Staff Anne Caprara will be reaching out to your respective offices to identify an agreeable date and time next week to convene this meeting which I hope could take place as soon as possible. While all of us have been asked about both potential cuts and revenue options in the wake of the defeat of the fair tax amendment and the impact the pandemic has had on our state’s revenues, I would suggest that the agenda for our first meeting focus on coming to an agreement on the size and scope of the deficit we face in the current fiscal year. For your review, I have enclosed a copy of the FY21 budget summary reflecting GOMB’s accounting and estimate of revenues and expenditures associated with the General Funds as of the date of this communication.
Thank you for your service to the State of Illinois. I look forward to our discussions ahead.
We’re actually doing well with state revenues and state spending hasn’t exploded out of control. The problem is that the state relied on $5 billion from the federal government which hasn’t come through (and may not, considering the US Senate situation) and the failure of the graduated income tax. Because of that, the budget is $3.9 billion in the red.
“The House Republican Caucus saw this coming back in the early days of the pandemic, but instead of heeding any warning, the majority Democratic Party decided to go it alone and depend on higher taxes and more reckless spending,” Durkin wrote in a letter to Pritzker on Tuesday.
“Passing a budget based on hypothetical revenue and false promises from a now-failed tax increase was unconstitutional and totally disingenuous to the citizens of our state who depend on government services,” Durkin said.
Durkin urged Pritzker to use his authority to make unilateral cuts to bring the budget into balance. “I suggest you begin with the 6.5% cuts your office directed agencies to identify in 2019,” Durkin wrote.
Pritzker has said cuts alone will not be enough to address the state’s long-term structural deficits.
Also, keep in mind that cuts made half-way through a fiscal year have twice the impact that they do at the beginning of a fiscal year. A $3.9 billion cut in January, for instance, is equal to a $7.8 billion cut made during the previous July.
* Senate President Don Harmon was asked about this hole back in May…
Q: Was it responsible to put together a budget with so much borrowing? The Rauner administration, for example, had a $4 billion hole for the grand bargain.
A: There is so much we don’t know today that we hope to know in a few months. We don’t know the depths of the economic hit we’ve taken from this virus. We don’t know how much more we’re going to have to spend in order to respond to it. We don’t know whether the voters are going to approve a constitutional amendment in November. We don’t know how the federal government is going to respond, although I believe that they will. And we don’t know who is going to be in charge in Washington for the next four years. In the next several months, we’re going to know all of that, and that will give us much better information about how to put together a durable state budget.
And, as we all know by now, things didn’t quite go as they hoped. And now here we are.
I figure the state will borrow $5 billion from the Federal Reserve if the US Senate doesn’t come through and try to work things out over time.
According to Jackson, in prevailing political theory, “the American people, and certainly I think the people of Illinois, are what are called symbolic conservatives and operational liberals. That is, they want low taxes. They don’t want any new taxes or new revenue increases whatsoever, and yet they also don’t want any cuts.”
Several years ago, the Senate Republicans proposed a “menu” of possible cuts that they said legislators could pick and choose from to balance the budget. The menu was their argument against a possible income tax hike. The Senate Democrats beat up the Republicans constantly for those “draconian” cuts and the SGOP messaging against tax increases was overwhelmed.
“It’s not Madigan’s fault that they lost the two seats in southern Illinois because just what’s been happening. There’s no Democratic Party down there anymore,” Redfield said. “What the Democrats have been successfully doing is trading suburban seats for downstate seats.”
The problem for Madigan, Redfield said, is that the Democrats were expected to do a lot better in the suburbs than they did.
“It’s the expectations game and the money game,” Redfield said. “They spent an ungodly amount of money to not win seats.”
It looks like the House Democrats are going to come out of the suburbs with a wash. The HDems appear to have lost two seats. With some counting to go, Rep. Mary Edly-Allen of Libertyville is trailing by almost 1,600 votes (down from more than 4,000) and Rep. Diane Pappas of Itasca is losing badly. But they’re also picking up two seats. GOP Reps. Grant Wehrli and Allen Skillicorn both lost.
And, of course, the HDems lost two southern Illinois seats when Reps. Monica Bristow and Nathan Reitz both were defeated by Republicans. Reitz was expected. Bristow was given a shot at winning.
* The Downstate race that isn’t getting much, if any media attention is in the Rockford area, where Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) is currently ahead of Democrat Dave Vella by just 315 votes with a lot of votes yet to count (including “disinformation” about the tallying).
Rep. Cabello was the first Illinois elected official to endorse Donald Trump for president in the 2016 campaign and now it’s possible that he may not be reelected even though Trump was on the ballot.
Unions were once a Cabello ally, but they went all-out to defeat him in 2018 and again this year because he flipped on organized labor over an important prevailing wage bill. Their candidate this year is the grandson of the father of Rockford Democratic politics, the late Rep. Zeke Giorgi, a mentor to embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan. The state even has a Rockford building named after Zeke. And Madigan was a huge issue in the campaign.
At one point, a video of Cabello went semi-viral. The video showed him saying to Vella during a televised debate: “I call bullsh*t. I cannot believe that you sit here and tell the people of the 68th District that you will not vote for Mike Madigan.” The video (click here to watch it) then played a clip of a Snoop Dogg song as “Thug Life” flashed on the screen and a white ballcap bearing that phrase was superimposed on Cabello’s head along with sunglasses on his face and a gold chain around his neck.
How are y’all missing this?
Cabello was also an early and outspoken opponent of the Democratic governor’s stay at home order, even filing his own lawsuit (which he eventually withdrew). He has been the most vocal critic of the governor’s decision to release inmates early to avoid prison virus outbreaks. Heck, he even held an in-person campaign event right before election day. As mentioned elsewhere on the blog today, Winnebago County’s 7-day average positivity rate is 18.4 percent and its overwhelmed local public health department has requested hospital bed sets from the state.
And to wrap it all up in a nice bow, Rockford has been the scene of several Black Lives Matter protests and Cabello is a city cop who lives in a blue-collar suburb that is less than three percent Black.
It really could be a great news story, perhaps even nationally, but it’s mostly being ignored. Ballot counting will end next Tuesday, so maybe they’ll pay attention then.
* In the meantime, check out what one of Cabello’s supporters made…
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
