Restaurants make up 10-15% of Springfield’s sales tax revenue, so this closure could end up hurting the city budget, but City Budget Director Bill McCarty said he’s also worried it will hurt the city’s character. “Our local businesses, that’s the heart and soul of our community. That’s what makes us unique, so it’s heartbreaking any time we see one of those depart."
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.