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“This division will not save us”

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Illinois

* DeKalb Daily Chronicle editor Kelsey Rettke…

Our reporting this week has been met with disdain: people have compared our coverage and the health department’s decision to Nazi Germany, equating our reporting of public record with the Gestapo and genocide.

It’s not a fun place to be. But we have to remember there are no ‘bad guys’ here. The bad guy is the virus. It’s the disease that’s left 42 DeKalb County residents dead and many more hospitalized, out of work, without a family member.

That is what we are fighting here. Not each other. If you want to support a local business, order take out or curbside pickup or drop off a check or just straight up cash if you have to. Talk to your local chamber of commerce, municipal leaders, banks to see how you can apply for state COVID-19 relief grants to perhaps take the edge off the devastation your business is feeling. Get tested at the free COVID-19 testing sites in Sycamore and Genoa next week. Wear a mask when out and about. Don’t gather in large groups with people you don’t live with.

A lot of things are spiraling out of our control right now. But these are the things we can actively do in the coming days. We can do this.

Go read the whole thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 2:02 am

Comments

“Our reporting this week has been met with disdain: people have compared our coverage and the health department’s decision to Nazi Germany, equating our reporting of public record with the Gestapo and genocide.” While I agree we should always be vigilant about maintaining our freedoms and liberty, some of the responses that the Chronicle mentions are misguided. The Internet, social media, and technology in general has more pro than cons for humanity. But, like in these cases, it has shown that we have a long way to go as a society. The old Peace Corps slogan was “The toughest job you’ll ever love.” Well, with all the criticism journalists face nowadays I think that slogan applies to them. God bless them all, because journalists are the foundation of a free society.

Comment by Dutch Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 4:53 am
The Chambers are now turning on the govenor because of the economic impact of all this.

They are actively trying to make the bad guy JB instead of the virus. They hold meetings and just complain about JB rather than find solutions to their business issues.

Blaming others is just a distraction. We have to end the virus and everything else will thrive.

Comment by The Dude Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 6:55 am
It’s going to get a whole lot worse out there and blaming JB is’t going to work in the long run.

Comment by Publius Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 7:25 am
There is a lot of misdirected anger and frustration. Many are mad at leaders who try to save lives rather than the people who are hurting businesses—those who refuse to practice mitigation measures and who downplay the problem.

Where are we going without a sense of unity? We have people fighting at the local level, and complete dereliction of duty by the president. I’m afraid and never felt like this before. We had a sense of unity after 09/11, even with our differences. What is going to happen to us?

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 7:28 am
Ya know, if all act like adults, maybe — just maybe we could get back to some type of normal. I am so tired of hearing grown people whining. Yes, this is difficult, my son lost his job late spring..he went from making over $25 an hour to less than $100 a week on unemployment. Luckily he knows how to hustle. BUT again, until we fight this virus in common sense ways, people will keep getting sick and dying. Hunker down, put on a bleeping mask.

Comment by Union Thug Gramma Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 7:33 am
===there are no ‘bad guys’ here===

It’s nice to pretend, isn’t it.

===Talk to your local chamber of commerce, municipal leaders===

How does that square with the following-

===showing DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith dining inside===

At first I thought there were going to be individual places I would no longer patronize due to their behavior. But there are so many municipal and county level officials enabling the worst behaviors that there are now entire counties and regions of the state I will never set foot in again.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, any travel I do in the future will involve my passport. There’s nothing left for me to see in this country outside of the major cities. I don’t want to financially support any of these rural areas with any of my money by visiting them.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 8:28 am
Kelsey Rettke works in a county where the mayors of two of the largest cities, DeKalb and Sycamore, have come out in support of the group of restaurant/bar owners who are suing Governor Pritzker and Dr. Ezike.

Especially in the case of DeKalb, it’s been apparent the chamber of commerce has exercised an outsized influence over city government for years, and this is the natural result.

Comment by yinn Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 8:34 am
==But there are so many municipal and county level officials enabling the worst behaviors that there are now entire counties and regions of the state I will never set foot in again.==

Invisible Man: You could add Springfield’s Mayor Langfelder to your list. Last week, despite Region 3 and Sangamon County inching ever closer to 8% (actually 7.8% as of Friday’s number), the mayor was begging the Governor and IDPH to allow the city to continue indoor dining at bars and restaurants. And if mitigations aren’t imposed in REgion 3 by Halloween, then I’m sure Saturday night Halloween celebration in downtown Springfield will not feature precautions, masks, social distancing and everything else.

https://www.sj-r.com/news/20201021/langfelder-indoor-dining-should-remain-even-if-greater-covid-19-restrictions-imposed

Comment by Chatham Resident Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 8:35 am
Local chambers basically own municipal governments, so naturally local officials will be aligned with them. The businesses are acting desperate- and many are- lashing out at the only officials they think they can influence, rather than channeling the energy into something actually would help them- loud, nation-wide demands for a massive relief bill.

I’m sure the spring elections will be defined by covid discussion- and a lot of covidiots will get elected behind their resistance to health measures.

Comment by In 630 Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 8:35 am
@yinn, what a contrast to Champaign-Urbana where the mayors of both cities have imposed restrictions beyond the state’s in order to help keep in-person instruction at UIUC going. They clearly understand that students being in C-U instead of remote is a matter of significant importance to the local economy. Apparently DeKalb’s leaders don’t think that community transmission potentially rising to a level where NIU would be forced to send all students home is a big deal for the local economy.

Comment by Zim Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 8:49 am
TheInvisibleMan,

But just imagine those trips! I’m anticipating my German jaunt.

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:01 am
I mentioned yesterday this is the intersection of lives and livelihoods. The UI rate in Dekalb County is 8.7% peaked at 15.0% in April. Total deaths of 42 (28 in nursing homes) with a county population of 100K. People are more afraid of being jobless/homeless than dying of the virus. No fiscal relief coming as the Senate adjourned.

Comment by 1st Ward Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:21 am
=== People are more afraid of being jobless/homeless than dying of the virus.===

You can’t un-die.

Your opinion, unless you have a cite, is a bit hyperbole.

=== No fiscal relief coming as the Senate adjourned.===

Maybe, February… maybe.

=== If you want to support a local business, order take out or curbside pickup or drop off a check or just straight up cash if you have to. Talk to your local chamber of commerce, municipal leaders, banks to see how you can apply for state COVID-19 relief grants to perhaps take the edge off the devastation your business is feeling. Get tested at the free COVID-19 testing sites in Sycamore and Genoa next week. Wear a mask when out and about. Don’t gather in large groups with people you don’t live with.===

This is what we should be supporting. Covidiots thinking to anything but this virus is what’s hurting us all and dividing people.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:25 am
Local governments could raise money by ticketing the non-compliant. Fines and court costs per ticket (for those who challenge health ordinances would be substantial, even in small communities. Just a thought.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:29 am
This may be the year that King could pull off the upset–the Graduated tax amendment, the overall displeasure with the the State of Illinois, the fact that this district is not Chicagoland related makes Ms. Bustos very vulnerable.

Comment by Seaver41 Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:37 am
A quarter million dead is nothing to these ghouls. Shame on all of them.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 9:48 am
Unreal to me how many people are saying on local social media “We’ll never hear about the virus again once the election is over” and “At least if Biden wins Democrats will stop pretending there’s a virus to hurt Trump.” It’s getting scary.

Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:19 am
It’s nice to hear from some adults in the room.
Kudos for standing up to be ignorant.

Comment by Drake Mallard Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:31 am
Chatham Resident. Move to Springfield and run for mayor. It’s easy taking potshots from the ten miles away.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:31 am
I’ve started boycotting places that aren’t enforcing COVID guidelines, and unfortunately in the central region, that’s a lot of businesses.

Comment by Arguenda Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:37 am
Local government officials who don’t demonstrate care during this pandemic will soon be standing in front of the mirror wondering what happened. Dr. Ezike isn’t brought to tears for any reason other than she sees what track we are on. This will be a difficult winter and holiday for many families losing loved ones. Just order carry out already… and stop making it worse.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:50 am
== People are more afraid of being jobless/homeless than dying of the virus==

That’s true for some people. However, a lot of the people acting out have jobs that are perfectly fine. They just refuse to believe that their behavior should change. Hence a homecoming dance at a barn in Auburn in the midst of a pandemic. Or they just refuse to believe there is a pandemic because a national leader says we’ve turned the corner and calls government employees idiots on Twitter. Until people start acting like adults and believe the health departments, we aren’t getting out of this. I will take the vaccine when the scientists say it’s safe. Others won’t because ‘ vaccines are evil and are forced on you by the government. End snark’.

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:53 am
Chatham Resident, isn’t far off with his concern about Springfield’s Mayor. I live in Springfield and remember he had to be convinced at the last minute to cancel the St. Patricks Day parade. So I’m sure he’s not going to make any adjustments for Halloween since it’s on a Saturday and he knows downtown will be packed. City and County bars are boasting about Halloween parties like the virus is on fall break.

Comment by Club J Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 10:53 am
Living in burbs, our numbers were super high early. A relative in DeKalb claimed that this was not happening there because they lived “cleaner” lives. Whatever that means. Grandchildren pulled out of public schools and put in private so they could attend in person. Living life as if COVID only happened in bad Chicago and suburbs

The cleaner life has proven to be problematic

Why are people so unable or unwilling to accept that this virus-and all viruses—live in a person-a host. Contact with people increases odds of gettin it. That’s all that needs to be said. More people, more virus. Not difficult

Comment by A Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 11:07 am
We are reaping the harvest of decades of seeds planted to disparage science and expertise. Shame on us for allowing this willful ignorance to flourish.

Comment by pawn Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 11:23 am
==”will involve my passport.”==

There is the small matter of other countries again allowing entry by US passport holders. And until we get our collective stuff together here at home, how likely is that?

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 11:47 am
===Shame on us for allowing this willful ignorance to flourish.===

Shame on *us*? I don’t think so, pawn. I’ve never disparaged science. There is one group, though, that has routinely done so - Republicans. Shame on them is what you mean.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolus Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 11:54 am
No one needs to fear shaming restaurant and bars these days. They get shamed through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other sites routinely. One minute they have a few customers, then suddenly the place is empty. Many anonymous commentators here also bravely shame them while hiding behind their monikers. I know of several restaurants that met in house seating requirements by spending huge money to upgrade their air filtration, heating and air-conditioning systems for just one example. Try purchasing lawn table and chairs at an end of season discount? The restaurants and bars scooped them up. They borrowed money they already no longer had so they can be accused of killing people by ignorant shamers? Shame on them, right? Their livelihoods, their families, their employees mean little or nothing to the shamers here.

I don’t see Governments offering tax relief. Just daily regulations that are confusing, expensive and change constantly. The California Governor’s widely ridiculed take off your mask to take a bite then put it back on?

I come from a restaurant family. Until I bolted from that profession to practice law during the last Millenium, I even ran one for a while. With tight profit margins in good times and a life expectancy of most restaurants or around 7 years in good times, their current frantic cries for help are met with shamers shaming them.

No, shame on most of you for having that attitude towards them.

There I vented. Don’t try to shame me. Won’t work.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 12:32 pm
==City and County bars are boasting about Halloween parties like the virus is on fall break.==

Halloween seems to basically be “St. Patrick’s Day II” in Springfield. Not just at bars but it also seems like any establishment selling liquor, including gas stations.

I remember about 5 years ago there was a sign at the then-new Casey’s (Stanford Ave./Junction Circle/North Street) telling customers not to wear masks and costumes in the store. I saw a similar sign at one of the Qik-n-EZ stores in town too. And then I thought, “Seriously?”

Comment by Chatham Resident Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 12:33 pm
Flap. I wouldn’t plan a trip to Europe right now. Doctors in Spain walked off the job because their state run health care is in shambles. Germany,UK, and Czech Republic numbers skyrocketing.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Oct 27, 20 @ 12:49 pm