Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
“Mayor Lori Lightfoot is making good on her extraordinary threat to shut down the lakefront and all of its parks and beaches to prevent Chicagoans from defying a statewide stay-at-home order aimed at slowing community spread of the coronavirus,” the Sun-Times reports.
Posted on March 26, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
A few months ago, as I was preparing to go into an important conversation with someone I was in conflict with, I told a friend that I was going to work really hard to keep it civil. And then I realized: “She won’t let it be civil.” Therefore, true communication could not take place. It made me wonder if trying to resolve our differences was even worth it or a waste of time because the other side wasn’t willing to listen from the get-go.
I’ve thought of this often since then when thinking about folks trying to have serious, good-faith discussions with Donald Trump and his followers. Trump befouls everything, including good faith attempts at serious discussion. And his supporters are dug in. Just look at his approval ratings in the midst of his historic and deadly handling of the coronavirus crisis.
So when Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared to chide Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week for expending energy criticizing Trump, I thought she had a point: Trump isn’t open to being persuaded. And now you’re down in the mud with him, along with everyone else in his orbit.
On the other hand, I liked seeing Pritzker fight – fight for us. Someone has to, even if it’s to eternal frustration and fleeting psychological satisfaction. And Pritzker’s exchanges with Trump weren’t just to move Trump, but to reveal to the public what’s going on behind the scenes as the state tries to acquire the medical supplies it desperately needs to save lives.
Posted on March 25, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
At the Jewels on Clybourn this morning.
TIL what kind of pasta people don’t like: pic.twitter.com/JjmJdG6SLq
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 24, 2020
Posted on March 24, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
“Chicago police broke up at least two house parties Saturday night as dozens of people there defied orders to stay at home and keep away from large groups during the coronavirus pandemic,” CBS2 Chicago reports.
This demonstrates the importance of the state’s stay-at-home order – and that the state and city mean business.
Posted on March 22, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
“Can the state tell your favorite local restaurant to close, or tell you that you must stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave, because of an emergency? The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have closed down bars, movie theaters and dine-in restaurants. Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have imposed a shelter-in-place order that allows people to leave their homes only for essential activities,” Politico reports.
“In response to these drastic measures intended to slow down the spread of coronavirus, there are plenty of voices on social media, and even some in government, denouncing such measures as unprecedented, un-American and unconstitutional. Most of us have never imagined such impositions outside of a situation of armed conflict, but allegations that those measures in the current circumstances are unlawful are wrong.”
I’ve been wondering about this. In short: Can they do this?
Posted on March 19, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
I don’t think people fully grasp how much death is on its way. https://t.co/s9MWl2rish
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 18, 2020
Posted on March 18, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
As of this writing, around 10:30 a.m., voting does not appear to be going well. Now the blame game begins – as it should! – and Governor Pritzker could lose much of the capital he’s built with his coronavirus performance.
BREAKING: For the first time, @ChicagoElection spokesperson Jim Allen says his agency urged @GovPritzker to prohibit voting in person and go to a fully vote-by-mail election. That recommendation was rejected.
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) March 17, 2020
Posted on March 17, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
I may regret stating this later, but as of right now I have to say that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is doing a great job of leading. He communicates clearly, he’s commanding, and as far as I can tell, he’s competent. And you know what else? For a guy born into extreme wealth, he seems awfully “normal.” (He always has; I knew him a smidge a few years ago.) Meaning, he’s not insane.
His predecessor tried to portray himself as “normal,” but obviously was driven by some odd demons given his stature in life. And our governors before that, well . . . not sure I’d take any previous Illinois governors in a crisis like this over J.B., though I suspect Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson would round out the top three if you had to choose who to steer the state through this. In other words, I’m really glad Bruce Rauner or Rod Blagojevich isn’t governor right now.
Am I wrong?
Posted on March 16, 2020
By Steve Rhodes
“Cook County government’s public health system, known as Cook County Health, treats the most vulnerable people – patients who are already really sick with conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes by the time they show up to see a doctor. It’s historically been a destination for the uninsured and, increasingly, for people who can’t afford the insurance they have,” WBEZ reports.
“Budget woes and staffing issues have plagued the health system before. But the rising demands of providing so-called uncompensated care – treatment Cook County Health provides that it does not get paid for – are wreaking havoc on the county government’s finances. Those financial pressures not only threaten taxpayers’ wallets, but also the quality of care at the health system.”
Don’t worry, though. Joe Biden has a plan for our health care system. Right?
Posted on March 13, 2020
