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* First the governor appointed a director who quit within two weeks. And now this. From WBEZ…
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spent almost his entire campaign last year denigrating former Gov. Bruce Rauner for his “fatal mismanagement” of multiple, fatal Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the state-run Quincy veterans’ home.
But on Tuesday, with Pritzker having inherited the problems at the Illinois Veterans Home, some of his key appointees struggled to tell a legislative panel exactly what they are doing after more than 100 days in power that is any different than under the former administration.
Acting Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia opened the hearing before the joint House-Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee by saying she would not be answering any questions about pending litigation or a criminal probe related to the state’s mishandling of the Quincy outbreaks.
But from there, the former House Democrat and chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee sidestepped a series of basic questions about a recent state audit, water-testing results at the Quincy facility or new notification protocols put in place by lawmakers to deal with future Legionnaires’ outbreaks there.
* SJ-R…
Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, said she found the website being used for notifications hard to use, saying family members of a resident trying to find out about an outbreak has to download a long series of individual PDF letters about it.
“While I think the department is instituting the letter of the law, I don’t think the department is instituting the spirit of the law,” she said.
Chapa LaVia said she will work on making the website more user-friendly.
Concerns regarding the agency’s email communications also came up during the hearing. Kifowit said the email correspondence from the previous administration seemed lackluster and loose.
Chapa LaVia confirmed some staff members in the department don’t have state email addresses, so they are using private accounts to communicate.
How does a state employee not have a state email address?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:25 am
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It seems like they can all use some process improvement training.
Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:32 am
I’m not surprised that things are messed up after years of neglect and denial. What I don’t understand is why the current leadership isn’t more up front about the issues they are facing.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:33 am
Appears someone blew off her homework. Not sure how that is possible or acceptable on this issue, but there it is.
Now that Avengers/Game of Thrones nerdfest weekend is over, perhaps BPIA(TM) can take some refocused personal interest in their work.
And maybe the boss should crack the whip and demand some ROI on his largesse. This FUBAR shouldn’t have happened.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:45 am
“How does a state employee not have a state email address?”
Mike Madigan? Snark
Comment by Bruce (no not him) Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:49 am
Comedy isn’t the only place we can find people “not ready for prime time” it seems….
Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:50 am
The email thing has been going on for years. At first state job in 2007 I didn’t get email access for over a year.
Comment by Glengarry Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:51 am
Linda v Stephanie, this has potential.
Linda has been running the department a short time, so I think some slack should be given, but not much.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:54 am
No e-mail for 100 days. Ask DoOT. And get a “work ticket”
The DoIT way of saying we will do it when we feel like it, stop bothering us.
Comment by Chunga Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 9:59 am
It’s still easier to run for office than it is to run the office.
Comment by GADawg Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:02 am
It’s common that lower level security staff shift employees at Corrections, DHS Mental Health Facilities, etc, do not have email addresses. I’ve never really understood why other than “security”. I’m pretty sure Corrections still uses hand written timecards in some facilities.
Comment by Kayak Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:04 am
Definitely some learning and more homework required. I also see that it’s time for the pay-supplemented staff to assert some more oversight here.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:05 am
Refusing to answer questions? Seems Raunerish.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:15 am
No email = plausible deniability.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:20 am
Spent month denigrating former Gov. Bruce Rauner for his “fatal mismanagement” yet keeps Rauners staff on board 5 months after taking office. Yes many of those same Raunerites are still in management positions continuing Rauners work.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 10:41 am
It always looks easier from the outside than when you’re the one in charge, doesn’t it, JB?
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 11:13 am
No email = IDOC, DHS Mental Health, IDVA and other shift working low level staff must report incidents through their chain of command via handwriting or verbal communication. This process sweeps many of the issues under the rug with no digital “paper trail”.
Comment by Kayak Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 11:56 am
cdog:
I agree. But FYI state business on personal e-mail is still subject to FOIA.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:17 pm
Chaps is never going to hop on the double salary express being that sloppy.
Comment by Sonny Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 12:29 pm
And for those who do have an email account, do they know how to use it properly?
I’ve seen a fair share of inappropriate chain mails, inappropriate-abusive/unethical behavior, and those who would confirm reading thier emails but ignore them (had a situation where a client was threatening to kill an employee and emails to the safety director was read and ignored, eventually the client was stalking the employee outside the work place - naturally the employee quit because the basic principles of communication was ignored)…
Comment by Iamthepita Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Anyone that knows the court system knows you cannot comment on pending litigation . I’d bet the attorney that’s handling the legionnaire case for the state directed her to make that comment . It’s awful what happened at the veterans home under the past administration . She just got there. Give her a chance to learn what needs to be changed.
Comment by Jan Bradley Wednesday, May 1, 19 @ 11:51 pm
A must read summary of what’s happening now at Quincy https://legionellae.org/the-quincy-veterans-home-multi-year-legionnaires-disease-outbreak/
Comment by tim Thursday, May 2, 19 @ 2:15 pm