Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x2 * Another day, another lawsuit

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has called for an emergency city council meeting Wednesday evening to discuss COVID-19 and the state mitigation measures that went into effect Sunday, which include the suspension of indoor dining and bar service. […]

But Langfelder — worried about the impact the shutdown could have on local restaurants — has been openly critical of the added restrictions. He has advocated in recent weeks for a “stair-step” approach that would allow indoor dining to remain open during mitigations. […]

Twenty-two restaurant owners from the county filed a lawsuit Friday in Sangamon County Circuit Court against Gov. JB Pritzker seeking relief from the order.

Others followed the governor’s order and closed for indoor service. And a new Facebook group called “Support Responsible Dining in Springfield IL” was created on Sunday to encourage people to support the businesses following Pritzker’s order. The page already has more than 300 likes as of Monday morning.

I went over this with subscribers earlier today, so I’ll just let that stand. Suffice to say that a Sangamon County judge already dealt with this issue back in May. The full list of restaurants filing the suit is here.

From the attorney general’s office…

The plaintiffs have not served the defendants or sent us a copy of what they have filed.

* Meanwhile…

The City of Springfield received a $799,000 federal CARES Act grant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of that, $200,000 was set aside for small business grants, but to date, none of those have been distributed.

Extra community development block grants were also planned for low-interest small business loans, but Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said a public hearing must be held before those are acted upon. […]

Another CARES Act grant in the amount of $700,000 is also coming to Springfield, but how that money will be spent is set to be determined at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the Municipal Building. The meeting will also be available to view over Zoom.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the Sangamon County Department of Public Health…

There is currently a long line for COVID-19 testing in our SCDPH parking lot. Please use Singer Ave. to Shackelford Dr. (behind JC Penny) when getting in line. Any one who is in the testing line by 5:00pm will be tested today.

COVID-19 testing will also be offered tomorrow from 9:00am-5:00pm in our parking lot, 2833 South Grand Avenue East Springfield, IL 62703.

Seems bad.

*** UPDATE 2 *** I asked SIU School of Medicine for a statement about Mayor Langfelder’s comments…

This is a difficult time for public health, municipal and business leaders. We know that all groups have the health and well-being of all at the top of their priorities. We now face very difficult situations for which there are no easy choices, as we simultaneously endeavor to save lives and promote our livelihood. These issues are complex and multifactorial.

The SIU School of Medicine rejects the simplicity of a false dichotomy that pits public health against economic well-being. We can and should protect both by following the best medical and economic evidence and the public health guidelines designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We urge compliance with mitigation strategies while we all engage in active, multilateral dialog between the leaders of business, government entities, academic institutions, and community organizations. Together we can strive for the best actions for our citizens and communities.”

Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH
Dean and Provost of SIU School of Medicine

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:25 am

Comments

There’s probably a lot of overlap between restaurants suing and those who opposed the minimum wage increase last year. They would be better served uniting to encourage supporting small business takeout orders than suing the Governor’s office.

Comment by KnopeWeCan Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:32 am
Sadly, Langfelder’s actions put the City’s budgets and businesses before public health.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:34 am
There’s a lot of restaurants on that list that I can do without, but it will be a tragedy to never go to Indigo again.

I think many of our restaurateurs have forgotten that people vote with their feet.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:38 am
The State should have all the legal cost reimbursed and this will stop the nonsense

Comment by truthteller Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:41 am
To me the opposition to the minimum wage increase was simply a “more for me” play. Ignoring the realities of a pandemic is more like callous disregard for the safety of the public and their staff. I had earlier decided that I wouldn’t patronize any of the handful of establishments that filed lawsuits over this. I guess this just expanded the list.

Comment by Out Here In The Middle Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:42 am
I know a few local restaurant owners. And my son works in the field. It seems the big chains / franchises are going to follow JB’s orders … especially the corporate owned operations. I didn’t re-read the list this minute, but I believe the plaintiffs are all small locally owned businesses.

Right or wrong, Langfelder added fuel to the fire. Some restaurants have closed indoor; others are still open. We’ll have to see what the city council does Wednesday night.

I don’t expect the plaintiffs to win their suit, but I expect some of them to defy any ruling, partly based on some of the information circulating from the meeting the resturant owners recently held at Panther Creek.

So it’s going to come down to enforcement, which was already sonewhat lacking in this area. Langfelder can influence the liquor commission, but while most have one, not every plaintiff has a liquor license. It’s previously proven Langfelder doesn’t have control of the county health department. (If you aren’t local, the city health department merged into the county a while back, eliminating the mayor’s say.) And the county health department, when restaurants opened early the last time, didn’t take action as long as guidelines on spacing, etc were followed. They only investigated following complaints.

So if JB’s ban is going to get enforced, it is going to have to be the State Police inspecting and issuing fines. Not sure how that will work out; local enforcement used to have a spotty record on undocumented restaurant workers, only acting when complaints were received.

Regardless, personally we will be back to take-out from a couple of trusted places when we don’t feel like cooking.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:53 am
It always seems that for anything, minimum Wage, health codes, and now this local restaurant owners have to be made to comply while they are kicking and screaming. The restaurant business seems to be so low margin or poorly run that with any kind of disruption there are always a lot of closures no matter what. I know they employee many locals but I don’t know why we have made everything about them. The same can be said about the tax amdendment.

Comment by Publius Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 12:24 pm
I know one of the business owners who signed onto this suit. I consider him a friend, and I can assure you he’s a good guy who is operating under the specter of his business closing. It’s stressful for him. But I can say without any hesitation that he and the others are unquestionably, objectively in the wrong here. “Responsible dining” doesn’t exist in a community that has such a disregard for safety, so we need to explore other options.

Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 12:25 pm
Springfield mayor is literally a full-time job and I have no idea how Jim Langfelder spends his days because he’s doing nothing.
$200K in assistance for small businesses sitting there for months because meetings haven’t been scheduled?
No one voted for him because he’s a charismatic leader. His lone strong point was that he’s supposed to be an effective bureaucrat.
At this point, Siri would be a more effective mayor because at least when given an assignment she’d plug in a time to get it done.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 12:31 pm
==So if JB’s ban is going to get enforced–

I am glade to see the list of restaurants. That will allow me to do my own enforcement, forever more.

Comment by Bigtwich Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 12:35 pm
Today is the one month anniversary of opening my restaurant. We are open for take only because it’s the responsible, safe way to do it. There are no politics involved. I do a thousand different things to keep my guests, my staff, and myself safe already. This is no different.

Comment by Howard Seidel Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:02 pm
==His lone strong point was that he’s supposed to be an effective bureaucrat.==

I thought another strong point was that one of the sons of the late Ossie Langfelder (popular Springfield mayor from 1987-1995).

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:06 pm
==I am glade to see the list of restaurants. That will allow me to do my own enforcement, forever more.==

Unless absolutely unavoidable (for Walmart or other non-Dollar General or County Market big box stores), ever since moving to Chatham several years ago I have tried to limit or avoid Springfield shopping as much as possible. So this restaurant boycott list isn’t much different than my pre-pandemic personal preferences. In favor of supporting “local” businesses in Chatham, Auburn, etc.

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:09 pm
As a 25 year resident of Springfield the lack of action from Mayor Langfelder is very upsetting. He knew about these mitigation guidelines and can’t hold a meeting until Wednesday? To come out and say he wasn’t going to enforce these guidelines left the door open for all businesses to put their employees and customers at risk.

In July he said Springfield would enforce all Phase 4 guidelines and that lasted about a week or two. Bars and restaurants went back to pre-COVID status in order to get as many customers they could.

Now we are at 10.2% positivity rate and he’s once again sitting on his hands doing nothing to protect the citizens of the City. It’s time Mayor Langfelder thinks about all the people of Springfield and puts politics aside.

Comment by Club J Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:24 pm
Langfelder is the same guy who partied the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day at the Alamo and Frankie’s Brewhouse in downtown Springfield with holiday revelers. Claiming he wasn’t afraid of going out with people as long as he washed his hands. Doing this only a few hours before Sangamon County’s first COVID death was announced.

He is the same mayor who didn’t cancel the St. Patrick’s Day parade until the Governor forced his hand:

https://capitolfax.com/2020/03/15/mayors-of-chicago-springfield-are-taking-vastly-different-approaches-to-covid-19/

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:27 pm
The next Springfield mayor’s race isn’t until spring 2023. If the Governor is reelected the prior fall, I will not be surprised if there’s an Administration-backed candidate in the Springfield mayor’s race. Plus after the remap, if Butler and Murphy are remapped into the same legislative district as some are speculating here, I will also not be surprised if one of them decides to leave the GA and run against Langfelder.

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 1:37 pm
I am so disgusted when I see folks wearing their masks around their chins or not at all. I feel badly for the restaurant staff, but come on, your lack of enforcement is part of the reason for the mitigation…..and our Mayor Langfelder is a joke.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 2:07 pm
Pardon the Springfield-centric comment, but if the 2023 Mayoral election were tomorrow, I’d vote against Langfelder. That said, if his 2023 opponent is connected to the Sangamon County GOP (Murphy / Butler ??), I’d hold my nose and vote for Langfelder. Since the Mayor Aldermanic form of government started in 1987, the WORST mayor was the only one with the party’s official imprimatur, Karen Hasara. Looting of the Water Fund (and stopping land acquisiton for Lake II), bloating of city headcount, Renatta Frazier, The Office Sports Bar and Grill beating. Don’t need that again.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 2:08 pm
Anyone Remember,

That’s interesting. One of the most corrupt mayors in Chicago’s history (and that is some history) was Big Bill Thompson. He was a Republican back before all the elections went non-partison in the 1990s.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 2:47 pm
== He was a Republican back before all the elections went non-partison in the 1990s.==

Yeah, like 60 years before..

Comment by OneMan Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 2:51 pm
Ja, like back in the 20s. Still it is interesting that Republicans never won again. I mean, I know Cermak (my fave Chicago mayor–obviously) put together the ethnic coalition juggernaut that probably carried the Democratic party all the way through to the 50s-60s.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 3:03 pm
I would pay money to hear the judge in this case to say in open court, “What don’t you understand about ‘No’? The ‘n’ or the ‘o’?”

And then sanction the plaintiff lawyers.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 3:15 pm
Looking at the Springfield lists you see a lot of bars that serve food on the “open” group and a number of restaurants that don’t serve alcohol on the complying list. Local or national, large or small its a matter of how dependent the business is on alcohol sales.

Comment by Beecher Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Name your favorite state law or regulation. Now imagine if it was “enforced” to the same degree the Governor enforces his COVID regulations.

Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 3:40 pm
SIU’s Dean has a lane. Waxing vague about the multifactorial issues involving economic livelihood is not that lane. A two sentence presser would have sufficed: “Mask, distance, hand wash. If you aren’t doing/enforcing those things, you are in the wrong.”

Comment by A State Employee Guy Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 3:57 pm
I’m sorry to see Saputo’s on this list of places I will never eat at again, ever.

Comment by Rasselas Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:00 pm
“Now imagine if it was “enforced” to the same degree the Governor enforces his COVID regulations.”

Just how is the governor supposed to enforce the law? You know as well as I do, that law enforcement is done by the local authorities.

It is up to the municipalities and counties to enforce these execution orders. They have made the conscious decision to put their constituents in danger by refusing to enforce sound public health measures.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:04 pm
==I’m sorry to see Saputo’s on this list of places I will never eat at again, ever.==

Saputo’s, aka “Mike Madigan’s Place.”

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:18 pm
Count me in to the growing chorus of those saying they will no longer patron the list of establishments in the suit. Hopefully they are reading these comments. They have lost any of my business in future. I work for the GA and will also bring this up to my colleagues when we come back into session. Those who selfishly disregard the health and safety of the community must be held accountable. If a Democrat challenger Langfelder his next election, I will certainly be voting for them instead. I’ve really lost any and all patience for those who continue to violate public health measures. People are dying everyday. The individualistic nature of the U.S. has truly reared its ugly head during this pandemic.

Comment by Reality Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:24 pm
cermak_rd -

As an immigrant to Illinois (not from the Midwest), I’m amazed how Illinoisans ignore GOP corruption. Yes they found $700 thousand in shoeboxes in Paul Powell’s apartment in 1970. Yet, in 1944 after Big Bill Thompson’s death, they found $1.8 million in cash in his safe-deposit boxes … that’s $4.1 million in Paul Powell shoebox money, or 6 times greater. Yet no one ever talks about that. Will save Cellini for another post.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:29 pm
I’m still trying to figure out what the Dean/Provost is saying?

Comment by Dr. Pepper Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:37 pm
All these politicians pushing for “normal” and bleating about it remind me of Gov. LePetomaine in Blazing Saddles. Completely clueless.

Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:41 pm
Thank you Howard Seidel. The food at your restaurant is delicious, and I’m so glad to know you take the health and we’ll being of your employees and your customers seriously.

Comment by Harold Hill Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:45 pm
== how Illinoisans ignore GOP corruption ==

It’s not just the GOP; it’s both parties. Chicago, a Denicrat stronghold, has an unofficial corruption tax; it’s rate is 10%.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 7:16 pm
Good to know that Springfield area restaurant owners are pursuing relief in the local circuit court. The 5 months lapsed since a similar case was adjudicated there represents a real opportunity now.

Comment by PK Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 8:45 pm
We do not live in Sangamon County, but shop and eat out in Springfield. Have notified Langfelder’s office that if he continues to oppose enforcing Governor Pritzker’s latest order, we will shop and eat elsewhere. I can easily give other cities my sales tax dollars.

Comment by Fox Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 9:12 pm
==Pardon the Springfield-centric comment, but if the 2023 Mayoral election were tomorrow, I’d vote against Langfelder. That said, if his 2023 opponent is connected to the Sangamon County GOP (Murphy / Butler ??), I’d hold my nose and vote for Langfelder. ==

Not to deviate from the subject again, but regarding possible 2023 Springfield mayoral candidates. Could we also see fiery independent-leaning Dem Ward 7 alderman Joe McMenamin as a possible candidate for mayor against Langfelder?

Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 9:22 pm
Chatham Resident, I’m personally hoping for Tony DelGiorno.

Comment by KnopeWeCan Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 9:29 pm
Congrats. Mr. Seidel. In one fell swoop, you’ve managed to compliment 1 month anniversary and dis others doing less than a 1000 things. The only way, indeed.

Comment by PK Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 9:53 pm
==Chatham Resident, I’m personally hoping for Tony DelGiorno.==

I didn’t realize this until a moment ago, but wouldn’t a better candidate against Langfelder that will likely get Administration backing be Kristen Dicenso? She’s been very critical of the mayor’s nonchalance against the virus since his infamous St. Patricks Day celebration.

Comment by Chatham Resident Tuesday, Nov 3, 20 @ 1:48 pm