Daily numbers #COVID19

Sunday - 899 new cases of infections with 31 additional deaths

Monday - 1,006 new cases with 33 additional deaths

Tuesday - 1,287 new cases with 73 additional deaths

Totals in Illinois are 13,549 cases of coronavirus with a total of 380 deaths.

In today's press conference the Tuesday death total was referred to as the largest single day death total. As I hoped we wouldn't anymore 1,000 cases days, I'd rather hope we wouldn't keep seeing largest single day total. That's not the first time I've heard that since I've started following the news as far as what the daily numbers are.

Stay-at-home order in Illinois #COVID19

[VIDEO] The press conference was already held sometime after 3 PM Friday and it's old news at this point. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a stay-at-home order to Illinois residents to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. He gave an update as far as how many cases in this state in addition to yet another death to this very contagious virus.

I want you to bear in mind individuals most vulnerable to this virus are the elderly or people with pre-existing medical conditions.  Also bear in mind this stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order doesn't mean you can't leave home for any reason such as buying groceries, picking up prescriptions, visiting a doctor, going for a run, walking a dog, etc. Basically you're not being stopped from doing those essential things that are necessary everyday.

This order is in force from 5:00 PM on Saturday March 21, 2020 until April 7, 2020.

EXECUTIVE ORDER: Stay-at-home order

Here in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has closed Chicago's parks and libraries

SELLOUTS: State Black Caucus Sell Out Each Other and Their Communities

This past Tuesday night I attended the Resident Association of Greater Englewood(R.A.G.E.) semi-monthly community meeting. At the meeting the topic of the formation of the Englewood Violent Crime Task Force(HJR-55) came up for discussion. The author of this bill is State Representative Andre Thapedi (32nd). The formation of the Englewood Violent Crime Task Force is Rep. Thapedi response to the crime that has occurred in his district. His district covers portions of the Greater Grand Crossing, Park Manor and Englewood communities.

 Previously Representative Thapedi  introduced a measure that would give the Illinois State Police the authority to support and co police with the Chicago Police Department the areas one mile east and west of the Dan Ryan where the Illinois State Police already have jurisdiction. The measure was supported by the Illinois State Police and the governor but shot down by both the Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent of Police Garry McCarthy. So in response to the cold shoulder by the City of Chicago the task force was introduced.    The purpose of the task force is as follows

1. Determine the causes of violent crime in Englewood and surrounding communities

2. Determine a comprehensive long term plan of action to substantially reduce violent crime in Englewood and surrounding communities

3. Make recommendations for laws,programs and initiatives  and or money to put the plan of action into immediate effect.

The official resolution is here. As the discussion about the resolution progressed one of the co-sponsors came forth, State Representative Esther Golar (6th) addressed the audience about the resolution with first stating it was not a bill but a resolution and secondly she did not support the resolution nor Representative Thapedi's previous measure to ask for support from the Illinois State Police. A number of hand went up in the crowd when the Representative asked how many of them supported the assistance of the Illinois State Police. Representative Golar district has one of the highest crime rates in the city, state and nation.  I sat in the audience puzzled as to why the representative would co-sponsor a resolution that she did not support written or in spirit. I asked the question to the representative who stated she lives in Englewood and that is why. She also gave me some political rhetoric that was nothing more than her way of cow towing to the crowd.  The representative was proud of throwing her colleague under the bus and this was another example of the ineptness of members of the State "Black Caucus". The caucus fumbled the ball on conceal and carry, same sex marriages and a number of other measures but consistently continue to come back to their constituents and state how hard they are working for them. My answer is Really!!. So after the meeting I contacted state representative Thapedi's office and asked how they felt about being thrown in front of a 18 wheeler going 50 mph. They stated they did not feel he was thrown under the bus and had no problem with Representatives Golar's response. I pondered the response and wonder how many measures that affect the south and west sides have been killed because of over inflated egos of members of the Black Caucus? I wonder how the residents of Park Manor and Greater Grand Crossing feel after telling their State Representative they are fed up with the crime and want a legislator who is going to look out for them and he  picks a team with a  sellout? I guess we will have to wait and see how the residents of these communities feel but for me its time that members of both the City and State Black Caucus's be held accountable and in a number of cases voted out of office. What do you think?

Why Speedy Isn't Always Good

Recently, it was brought to my attention that a Payday Loan store was coming to the community. The site at 8701 S Cottage Grove, which was previously a Michaels's muffler will be the new home to

When a pawn shop or payday loan store want to open up they must apply for a special use permit. In April 2012, EZ Pawn, a national pawn shop company presented their case to the residents of the 8th and 6th ward at a community forum held at the offices of Michelle Harris, Alderman of the 8th ward and President Pro-tem of the City council. The community was not receptive and although the community said resoundingly NO they decided to plead their case to the City of Chicago Zoning board. The case was continued until earlier this year and the Zoning Board denied the special use permit for EZ Pawn. The reasons they cited were:

Speedy Cash. of Wichita Kansas currently has no locations in Chicago and this choice of locations is puzzling.

Speedy Cash

Pursuant to Section 17-13-905 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, the Board makes the following findings with reference to the Applicant's application for a Special use Permit: 1. The application is not in the interest of the public convenience and will have an adverse effect on the general welfare of the neighborhood in that the community is overwhelmingly opposed to the establishment of a pawn shop at the Subject Property; 2. It is not compatible with the character of the surrounding neighborhood as it is incompatible with the economic development in the surrounding area in that it will have a negative impact on other potential tenants; 3. The proposed project does not contribute or promote pedestrian traffic in that there are at least four banks within the immediate vicinity of the Subject Property and a pawn shop at the Subject Property will not contribute to the convenience of those residing in its immediate vicinity.

With the zoning board's decision on EZ Pawn, why would Alderman Michelle Harris believe that a payday loan store would add to the community. There is an existing location located in the East 1200 block, one at the 8300 S Cottage Grove and three banks in the East 700 block and several church credit unions with a half mile radius. So why didn't Alderman Harris host a community forum on this site? Why wasn't it published in any of her newsletters? Guess to find those answers we will have to wait for her updated D2 statements to be published by the State of Illinois Election commission to find out.

West Chesterfield December Community Meeting

From West Chesterfield Community Association

Hello All,

West Chesterfield welcomes Ms. Patricia Walsh 5th District Chicago Police Commander and Ronnie Watson Illinois State Police Chief Chicago State University to our WCCA  10am Saturday Meeting at our Cultural Center at 9351 S Michigan.

The 5^th District Commander is invited because the WCCA is now in the 9^th Ward and some residents would like to understand the workings of our neighboring police district in the 9th ward.

The 6th District may send a representative to this meeting, due to scheduling and timing conflicts.

All are welcome to attend, space is limited.

Topics of interest include:

·        Police careers and apprenticeships for youth

·        Overview of troubled areas the 6^th District Police.

·        Gang signs and crime to be aware of.

·        Safety tips for the community during the winter.

·        Beat Officers.

·        C.A.P.S. Meetings future  (Dismantling Announcement.)

·        Special Service Area/Community Policing.

·        Working with problem businesses.

·        Guns being titled like cars.

·        Illegal sign postings on city property.

· Working with the CSU State Police and the Chicago Police Department

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Ms. Patricia Walsh 5th District Commander Chicago Police Department

727 East 111th Street Chicago, IL 60628

Mr. Ronnie Watson  State Police Chief  Chicago State University
9500 S King Drive, Chicago, IL 60619                                                                   

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For your Information: Common Sense Gun Legislation Petition

http://www.change.org/petitions/petition-for-common-sense-gun-legislation

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This is an informational nonconfrontional meeting. 

Illinois State Police: Wanted in the 32nd District

This past Monday November 5, 2012. there were some guest at the Park Manor Neighbors Community Council (PMNCC) meeting. A television reporting team and several reporters were present at the meeting due to the following document.

Press Thapedi Park Manor  After opening with a prayer, the meeting started out with Andre Thapedi, State Representative 32nd District. The 32nd district includes portions of Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, Englewood, Park Manor and Chatham. Representative Thapedi updated his constituents on what was happening in Springfield as well as where he stood on several pieces of legislation.

The major portion of his time was spent on his proposal that he plans to submit to Governor Pat Quinn. Representative Thapedi stated that he was going to request that the Illinois State Police who currently patrol the Dan Ryan expressway expand their coverage area a minimum of one mile east and west of the expressway to assist the Chicago Police Department. There were some puzzled looks in the room, but Thapedi explained that the dan Ryan Expressway fell into the 32nd District and there are several street owned by the State of Illinois in the district, therefore he had a right to make this request. Also, he explained that the Illinois State Police patrolling the Dan Ryan is a result of an Intergovernmental agreement that dates back to the Harold Washington administration.

Representative Thapedi stated he could not stand back and do nothing for his constituents and felt that "out the box" solutions were necessary. He stated his office gets inundated with calls about crime and shootings. He further stated he could not see any reason why a parked State Police car could not assist the Chicago Police, He used a popular phrase "Really" several times to emphasize that this made sense. Some in the audience compared this to the calls several other State Representative have made to call on the Illinois National guard. Others called it the creation of a police state and others called it grandstanding and non innovative. Representative Thapedi stood firm that this was a quick fix but anything that saved the lives of young people was worth looking into. Also,he again reiterated that there is already cooperative between the two law enforcement agencies and the Illinois State Police have valuable resources that the Chicago Police Department does not have.

Representative Thapedi proposal overall was well received by members of PMNCC who have seen a spike in violent crime. He stated his office was researching all the necessary legalities and was open to input from the members. He office was also circulating a petition that he also plans to submit to the Governor. Lastly, he was asked did he think Mayor Rahm Emanuel would sign off on this agreement and he stated he is a State Representative, but could not see why the mayor would not welcome the assistance.

Guns and Race: A Frank Conversation

 

This upcoming Wednesday and Thursday, ICE Theaters will host their monthly presentation of Black World Cinema. But unlike most of their other presentations, this month's will stir a bit of controversy. The film "Negros with Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power" will be the monthly presentation. The trailer reads

Negros With Guns tells the dramatic story of the often-forgotten civil rights leader who urged African Americans to arm themselves against violent racists. In doing so, Williams not only challenged the Klan-dominated establishment of his hometown of Monroe, North Carolina, he alienated the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, which advocated peaceful resistance. Robert F. Williams was the forefather of the Black Power movement and broke dramatic new ground by internationalizing the African American struggle. Negroes with Guns is not only an electrifying look at an historically erased leader, but also provides a thought-provoking examination of Black radicalism and resistance and serves as a launching pad for the study of Black liberation philosophies. Insightful interviews with historian Clayborne Carson, biographer Timothy Tyson, Julian Bond, and a first person account by Mabel Williams, Robert’s wife, bring the story to life.

Also, there will be a screening of a follow up documentary "No Guns For Negro's" The trailer reads

The historical record provides compelling evidence that racism underlies gun control laws — and not in any subtle way. Throughout much of American history, gun control was openly stated as a method for keeping blacks and Hispanics “in their place,” and to quiet the racial fears of whites. This film provides a brief summary of this unholy alliance of gun control and racism, and to suggest that gun control laws should be regarded as “suspect ideas,” analogous to the “suspect classifications” theory of discrimination already part of the American legal system.

While the films will be thought provoking, the community forum on Thursday August 2, 2012 afterwards will be insightful and explosive, as a panel moderated by WVON radio's Cliff Kelley will discuss Stand Your Ground, Conceal and Carrry and other gun law issues.
The scheduled Panel Discussants:
Chris Cooper, Candidate for States Attorney
David Lemieux - Retired Chicago Police Detective
Lori Meriweather - single mom and stalking victim
Gimbu Kali, Pres & Shawn Gowder, VP, Chicago Firearms Safety Association
Radie - home invasion survivor

  Organizations:
 Chicago Firearms Safety Association
 IllinoisCarry.com
The Illinois State Rifle Association
The Second Amendment Sisters
Effective Firearms Personal Protection Consultants

 This screening and forum was scheduled months ago but with the recent shootings in Colorado, the question has come up if this conversation is approriate at this time. I reached out to the co promoters, Chicagoland Firearms Safety Association for comment but was unable to reach them. Some have argued with the violence that has been seen on the streets here in Chicago that it is an appropriate time.

flood assistance form the city of Chicago

Some info that Ald. Lyle passed on to us, so we can pass on to you. If you have been affected by the recent rains have flooding issues, see below, from the City of Chicago web site.

Flood Assistance

July 26, 2010

The City of Chicago has begun the process of applying for flood assistance from the Federal government, and we need residents’ help.

To provide a complete damage assessment to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), please fill out the posted form.

Instructions are provided to make this as easy of a process as possible.

Residents can download the form online and email it back to flood2010@cityofchicago.org.

Residents can also call 311, and an operator will assist you with completing the form over the telephone. Completed forms can be emailed, or dropped off at your local Aldermanic office.

Residents who do not have access to a computer can visit anyone of the Chicago Public Libraries to download the form.

As always, if residents have any questions, we encourage you to call 311.

Flood Initial Damage Assessment Form
Flood Initial Damage Assessment Form Instructions

Illinois utility begins light bulb recycling

AP:

The state of Illinois has partnered with Ameren Illinois Utilities to offer recycling bins for compact flourescent light blubs.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Ameren announced the program Tuesday. The utility says it will use a $50,000 grant from the department to place nearly 100 recycling containers in its service area.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CFL bulbs use one-third the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer and save $30 or more in energy costs over their lifetime.

This program is being utilized in downstate cities, but it would be nice to see ComEd create such a program here in Chicago!

Early applications available for Ill. heating help

Pantagraph.com:

Early applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will be available beginning Tuesday. Quinn says he encourage eligible residents to apply so "they can stay safe, warm and healthy this winter."

Under the program, heating bill payments are made to utilities on behalf of households. In Illinois, households earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible.

The governor's office says this year the program is expected to spend $150 million to aid 300,000 households this winter. More information is available by calling 1-877-411-WARM.

If you know anyone in need, please pass this information along to them!

State denies 130,000 late applicants college aid

Sun-Times:

The state will deny the financial aid applications of an estimated 130,000 students -- the most in Illinois history.

They were denied because they applied for state aid after May 15, a cutoff months earlier than in years past, thanks to Springfield's budget woes.

Hardest hit? Students at community colleges and returning adult students, because they tend to apply for aid later.

What's more, under the state budget compromise reached earlier this month, which slashed funding for the state's Monetary Award Program in half, no student at any Illinois school will receive aid for the second half of the 2009-2010 school year.

If lawmakers don't provide more funding, "that would be horrendous,'' said Andy Davis, director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, which runs MAP.

Ill. has worst stimulus site in nation: group

AP:

The report by the watchdog group Good Jobs First gave Illinois the worst ranking in its 50-state study. On a point scale of zero to 100, Illinois receive no points at all.

Researchers checked if states provided specifics on how much money's being spent in the state. It says Illinois' site has no such figures.

The study by the Washington, D.C.-based group sought to check how states are doing in fulfilling President Barack Obama's pledge that the $787 billion federal stimulus bill would strive for "an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability."

Check out the Recovery Illinois website @ http://recovery.illinois.gov/ and let us know what you think of it.

Good, bad and ugly: Illinois' new capital plan

Greg Hinz likens passing legislation in Springfield to making sausage. Especially looking at the key successes and failures made by Gov. Quinn in pushing through the recently enacted capital plan.

The Human Cost Of The Cuts

Progress Illinois:

Our budget fallout tracking project has so far identified nearly 15,000 individuals already affected by the state budget impasse -- either social service providers who have been laid off because of the fiscal uncertainty, or clients of those private agencies who have lost their services as a result.  With a bird's eye view, our map illustrates what the inaction in Springfield has already cost the state.

Well worth your time if you're concerned about the budget impasse in Springfield.

Students brace for the worst as cuts to state grants loom

Chi-Town:

The news that state officials have drastically cut financial aid for the coming school year has some college students thinking about taking on extra jobs to pay their tuition bills, while others say they may have to drop out.

Last week, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission cut Monetary Award Program grants to about 137,000 students in the state by more than half.

The big cut means students will get about 85 percent of their promised aid for the fall term. They will receive no aid at all in the spring unless the state legislature passes a budget with greater funding for the grant program.

Damian Wolak, the undergraduate student body president at the University of Illinois at Chicago, says he’s been the first person to tell many of his peers about the looming cuts.

“They feel as if the MAP grant is like an entitlement, that they got their letters in the mail and they think everything is coming and everything is well,” Wolak says.

But in fact, the 6,200 students at UIC slated to get the state grants this coming year will collectively receive just $10.2 million under the current state budget. That compares with $24.5 million in state funds handed out to a similar number of UIC students last year. For individual UIC students, the average grant would drop from $4,000 to about $1,600 for the year.

Anyone out there affected by these cuts as they seeks to attain their degrees?

County’s public guardian in court today; suing over budget

Sun-Times:

Cook County Public Guardian Robert Harris filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court Tuesday, asking a judge for a temporary restraining order and injunction against the service cuts which could go in to effect July 1 unless lawmakers in Springfield can cobble together a budget to spare counseling and other human services programs that face the ax.

He’ll appear before a Cook County judge today at 2 p.m. on the matter.

Harris is suing the governor and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on behalf of about 100 wards of the state, children who have been sexually abused by a parent and even one child who was burned and jumped out of a window to escape an attacker.

Go to the article to see what Mr. Harris could be losing if these cuts do go into effect next month.

Via The Dome!

Duncan praises state's education reforms

Tribune:

Speaking in Chicago today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised progress made toward reforming Illinois education since an April visit here when he scolded the state for its lack of past action.

"I was probably a little tough in my comments to Illinois," he said at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. "Since that time, there's been some absolutely remarkable progress I would not have predicted."

Duncan pointed to the recent move by state lawmakers to double the number of charter schools allowed in the state, efforts to create new data systems to track performance and discussions underway to boost state standards.

The former head of Chicago Public Schools made his remarks at a conference sponsored by Advance Illinois, a bipartisan reform group led by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and Bill Daley, the former U.S. commerce secretary and mayoral brother.

State unemployment rate hits 25-year high

AP:

Illinois' unemployment rate reached 10.1 percent in May, the highest it's been in 25 years.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says another 17,400 jobs were lost in May, mostly in manufacturing. That brings the total number of unemployed to 671,400.

However, fewer jobs were lost in May than in April, when the unemployment rate stood at 9.4 percent.

Illinois suspends funerals for poor

WBBM-AM:

For the poor, it's a final indignity, funeral directors say: The state of Illinois is suspending payments for funerals for the indigent.

That money -- $1,103 that goes to the funeral home, $552 for the cemetery -- can make the difference between a modest service and a burial in a potter's field, said John Baran of Baran Funeral Home at 2644 N. Central Ave.

"I know we're going through budget cuts," Baran said, "but. . . . "

A letter to funeral homes last week from the Department of Human Services announced the cutback, blaming "the General Assembly's failure to approve the revenue plan proposed by Gov. Quinn."

"The program doesn't have funding right now," the agency's Tom Green said Monday.
...
He said Illinois pays about $15 million a year for about 10,000 funerals for the poor.

A funeral home makes "maybe 50 bucks" on these burials, Baran said, "by the time you pay the transportation to pick up the body, transportation out to the cemetery, the embalming, plus the casket."

The state will pay for funerals that have taken place, Green said. But payment for funerals held after July 1 will be pushed to the budget year that begins July 1, 2010.

Funeral directors predicted bodies will begin piling up at medical examiner's offices.
...
Already, some funeral home owners have gotten so tired of waiting for state reimbursement that they've stopped handling indigent burials, Baran said.

Really tough times!

BTW, Illinois is said in this article to be one of a handful of states to offer assistance to indigent families who have to bury loved ones. It also mentions that Catholic Cemetaries will not turn away anyone.

Black on Black Love in state house bill 313

Via Capitol Fax this bill is in PDF format and the following paragraph is on:

Section 1370.

The sum of $200,000, of so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Build Illinois Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Black on Black Love for costs associated with the acquisition and renovation of a new facility.

This organization, founded by former hair care magnate Ed Gardner, was once located near 95th and Cottage Grove on the lot of the former House of Kicks (which was a former Gardner enterprise). Currently the home of Black  on Black Love is at 1000 E. 87th Street. I do believe that's the home of radio station WVON-AM.

Now the next question is where else might this foundation move?