-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The county court system is not known for its efficiency even in the best of circumstances, and such a delay has the potential to create chaos. Even brief closures last year due to extreme cold weather threw schedules off balance for weeks.
Contrasting the quiet and mostly deserted downtown area, where many followed Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recommendation to work from home, there was foot traffic on 26th Street.
Asked why Illinois hasn’t postponed its primary like some other states have, an elections board spokesman said board officials last week contacted state and city leaders to consult about different scenarios. “We are moving ahead full speed March 17 with this election,” he said, adding that postponing would be a “horrible idea” that would risk disenfranchising voters.
“I’m afraid that mom and pops aren’t going to be able to weather the storm and we’re going to see a rash of businesses close,” one Springfield restauranteur said.
Rush University Medical Center has set up a triage tent. Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the University of Chicago Medical Center could convert parts of their facilities. Cook County’s flagship Stroger Hospital has been preparing since January. Chicago hospitals, like those in much of the country, are prepping for the worst as the coronavirus outbreak grows. Some doctors fear hospitals could become so overwhelmed they could be forced to ration medical care, as has happened in Italy.
Worried about overpaying in a declining market, Chicago’s Origin Investments has “indefinitely postponed” $241 million in apartment deals. “What we’re trying to do is keep our eyes on the horizon and protect our investors.”
Finger-pointing and confusion reign while docs, hospitals wait for $350 million.
Various letters agreeing with a recent opinion piece in the WSJ, “Spendthrift Illinois Races Toward Default.”
The outpouring of support offered at least a show of camaraderie amid a crisis that upended the sports landscape in America this week.
People looking to rent a place in Illinois and in Chicago, in particular, are getting some new protections and may soon get even more relief when it comes to landlords checking their criminal backgrounds and civil court case histories.
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said there is great concern over getting enough Election Day judges, and the board continues to look for more, while providing any new ones with last-minute, online training.
Officials say it’s too soon to say how cancellations, overtime costs and other issues brought on by the coronavirus outbreak will affect Illinois’ ever-precarious finances, but the state remains particularly vulnerable to volatility brought on by events like a pandemic.
Eighteen parks will have “age-appropriate” activities to help families who need a place for their children while schools are closed. The district must limit capacity at each location to 250.
Michael Jarigese paid the mayor using false invoices from his company and used coffee cups to conceal cash bribes, which the mayor accepted in exchange for a multi-million dollar construction contract.
“We saw a lot of crowds out and about today, and I need to be frank: We can have a massive, positive effect on bending the transmission curve, thereby saving lives, if people will take this seriously,” Pritzker said.
Water rationing and forced business closures were among a litany of emergency powers the city council granted Champaign’s mayor and city manager in response to the global health crisis. Many of the new powers expire after 28 days.
It’s estimated Chicagoans give as much as $6.7 billion locally to charity. But with coronavirus concerns and financial uncertainties, that number is likely to change.
Ted discussed the impact of the Coronavirus on Illinois and Chicago’s budgets, the effect of the market crash on Illinois’ already crisis-level pension funds, and how these recent events make the push for a progressive tax all the more foolhardy.
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