Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x2 * “It’s good politics for a very small, very loud minority”

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* We’ve discussed this outbreak already, but I didn’t realize that Chief Reyne is also the mayor’s coronavirus point person…

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

— WMAY News (@WMAYNews) November 10, 2020

* 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.

*** UPDATE 1 *** This town, man…

A total of $799,156 in federal CARES Act relief funding was organized by the City of Springfield back in May of this year.

To date, less than half has been distributed, including zero for small business owners. […]

Langfelder said an application process for the small-business grants will be developed by the end of November.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Hopefully the city follows suit. This was a bad idea from the beginning…

BREAKING: With local COVID-19 cases rising at an alarming rate, Sangamon County will enter full mitigations effective midnight Thursday.

It comes a week after city/county officials said they would defy Gov. Pritzker's order and allow indoor dining & bar service to remain open.

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) November 10, 2020

The city of Springfield, which controls liquor licensing within city limits, will likely follow suit.

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) November 10, 2020

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 12:06 pm

Comments

To the post,

I’ve been a big advocate towards following the governor’s lead, I’ve felt Governor Pritzker has had the best interests of Illinois at heart. His quote here is no exception.

The thing about a virus, you don’t need a majority or a minority to infect so many people. It takes ONE person to do something that is dangerous to others’ lives.

The vocal, noisy, minority have little rationale to be Covidiots, the vocal, noisy minority are at times selfish, foolish for the better good.

National leadership may help, it cant hurt, so until that leadership arrives, the governor is doing his best to do as the majority sees as life saving, and trying also to save the minority from themselves and from hurting Illinois’ most vulnerable

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 12:22 pm
the governor is right.

Comment by very old soil Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 12:22 pm
Springfield has really showed their true colors during COVID.

From the early refusal of the mayor to shut down St Patrick Day events to the local football coaches throwing a fit about not being able to play, the locals just don’t care if it means they don’t get what they want.

But it shouldn’t surprise many, this is the same group of people who will tell you they want smaller gvt and gvt to live within it’s means, until cuts and reductions start happen then they scream about losing state jobs.

I’ve lived here over 45 years, there is a reason some call it Springpatch.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 12:28 pm
- Thirty-seven Springfield firefighters in all are currently quarantined because of the virus.-

The SJR said that many of the firefighters attended a private party this past weekend. I find this inexcusable. The numbers are going up, hospitals are getting crowded, and some of Springfield’s first responders decide that it is acceptable to go party together? I personally think that everyone who attended the party should be on unpaid administrative leave since they were not following the guidelines. The SFD and its leadership should be ashamed. When is the Mayor going to wake up and lead?

Comment by Observation Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 12:44 pm
“Reyne has been Mayor Jim Langfelder’s point person for the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Is Chief Reyne an Infectious Disease Expert or at least an M.D.? If not why is he the point person for the city’s Covid-19 response? I would think with SIU School of Medicine, HSHS, Memorial, and Springfield Clinic there would be at least one expert in Sprinfield to lead this.

Comment by Steve Polite Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:04 pm
Gerry Spence’s book positively impacted me 25 years ago and every day since.

Comment by Old LES student Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:08 pm
If the Governor wants his order enforced he should tell the state police to enforce it. It rings hollow that he wants the locals to do something he won’t do. You first big guy. These small towns can’t Afford to fight the Lawsuits.

Comment by Time Time Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:16 pm
We’re told time and again that the two hospitals and the medical school are the economic engine for Springfield’s future. In the midst of a global pandemic, Jim Langfelder acts as if they don’t exist. It’s embarrassing.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:24 pm
When is the Mayor going to wake up and lead?

Can’t stop hitting the snooze button…Zzzzzzz at the wheel?

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:26 pm
===We’re told time and again that the two hospitals and the medical school are the economic engine for Springfield’s future. ===

Something tells me they’re about to be at full capacity.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:29 pm
If this gets out of hand and the local hospitals fill up, you can bet the locals will blame Chicago, Democrats and the Gov for it.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:32 pm
UIS is better than WIU. WIU is headed to 350 about 10% of everyone on campus staff and students.
This is from Health not WIU.
Springfield is the rule not the exception in most downstate counties. Looking at your news feed the Rock Island a blue county has an infected coroner.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:38 pm
How is it that Chicago can make so many downstate so irresponsible? That tax money that flows downstate must somehow be contaminated with irresponsibility contagion.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:43 pm
Springfield’s still a small town that had a state capitol dropped in the middle of it.

Comment by Johnny Tractor Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:49 pm
“he should tell the state police to enforce it.” Does the ISP have any jurisdiction inside the city limits?

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:51 pm
== If the Governor wants his order enforced he should tell the state police to enforce it. ==

So local officials have no obligation to obey and to enforce state laws?

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:57 pm
==by the end of November.==

One hates to rush into things.

Comment by Monadnock Pigeon Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:15 pm
Ashen lady, Ashen lady
Give up your vows, give up your vows
Save our city, save our city right now

Well, I woke up this morning, got myself a beer
Well, I woke up this morning, I got myself a beer
Yeah the future’s uncertain, the end is always near

It’s all I can think of, Rich.

Save your City.

Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:15 pm
=Langfelder said an application process for the small-business grants will be developed by the end of November.=

What the stinking WHAT(banned punctuation)

After all of his bleeting and they have not even completed the application PROÇESS?

He and his team would resign right now if they had any integrity.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 2:29 pm
“Langfelder said an application process for the small-business grants will be developed by the end of November.” My biggest question of this is, is this incompetence or are they just too busy to try and take care of small business? I know what my opinion is.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 3:19 pm
What in the heck are they waiting on releasing that other $400k for??? I’m no resident of Sangamon County but I know there ARE businesses who ARE complying with the mitigation measures and suffering just as bad if not worse than these other super-spreader restaurants.

Comment by Chambanalyst Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 4:03 pm
==- Time Time - Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 1:16 pm:==

You do realize that what you’re calling for is the complete abolition of local police? Murder, burglary, etc. are all state laws.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Nov 10, 20 @ 4:37 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

*** UPDATED x2 *** “It’s good politics for a very small, very loud minority”

Comments

Add a comment

Last 10 posts:

* UPDATED x2 * “It’s good politics for a very small, very loud minority”