It's pretty breathtaking - this is not a plan to re-open Illinois, this is a plan to extend his one-man rule for many months with almost zero accountability or transparency. There is little regard to the complete economic devastation one man, J.B. Pritzker, is causing.
Here are some thoughts and things you will not hear at our governor's daily publicity stunts:
1) “We put this plan together not only because the state needs a plan, but because mayors need a plan, because small business people need a plan. Workers need a plan. Everyday Illinoisans need a plan." This is a quote from the governor yesterday. His plan took 2 months to generate, which is unbelievable, but I am glad he finally released something. Like many, I've been asking for a plan from the governor for weeks and I know many mayors, small businesses, workers, and others could have used a plan a long time ago. The plan is not what any of us were looking for, but it is something.
2) He still thinks you need to wait at least another month to get a haircut. Churches? Dentists - nope. Mental health assistance - difficult. But get in line at the liquor and dope stores. The governor's priorities are so offensive.
Also offensive are his claims that anyone who questions him doesn't take the pandemic seriously or doesn't care about lives. His constant fallback to attacking those who ask questions show how weak his position is. There are ways to safely open - the governor just prefers to keep moving the goalposts.
3) The governor keeps referring to "data," "science," "models," "experts" and other important sounding things...but he shares very little of this with the public. Other states are much more transparent and clear. The governor clearly wants no accountability. He hides behind words and name-calls anyone that asks questions. That's not transparency and that's not leadership.
4) I, like many, have been asking for a regional approach. We finally have a regional approach - but it is 4 regions. Why on earth are places like Grundy County and Kane County looped in with Chicago? Other states have numerous regions, Missouri is doing it county by county. 4 regions in a state as big and diverse as Illinois? For goodness sake, there are 11 long-time identified and mapped Health Regions in the state, but we carve them up and combine them down into 4 now? This is a way to claim regionalizaton...without having real regionalization.
5) Small businesses are being devastated and there is no end in site for many of them. Barbers, hair stylists, florists, jewelry stores, furniture stores, clothing shops, many restaurants, and many others are being devastated. There are ways for these places to safely open and practice social distancing. Jobs, businesses, livelihoods, and much more are being permanently - and unnecessarily - lost by the governor's ham-handed approach.
It's a disgrace how little the governor cares about these people. Oh he does care, you might say? Then get them safely open like they are in so many other places! And, in case you were wondering, the governor still hasn't found the time to get the State of Illinois' unemployment system properly running to help many of these same self-employed and "gig" workers.
6) This "plan" is a complete death blow to Illinois higher education. What student is going to commit to an Illinois school with the lack of clarity from the governor and with so many questions in the air? You have real leaders like Mitch Daniels in Indiana firmly announcing that Purdue will be open - and laying out thoughtful and actionable plans. Illinois schools and students are being hung out to dry. SEMO, Missouri State, Iowa, Indiana State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Murray State, Truman State, and many other schools must be loving this.
7) There are 5 phases and a minimum - I emphasize the word minimum - 28 days between each phase. All other states are at no more than 14 days between phases and have much more clear goals. The benchmarks to hit in some phases are not achievable in the time frame, anyway, so this is going to be a 12+ month plan, not a 5 month plan. Get ready for more overreaching and likely illegal Executive Orders.
8) The legislature is still MIA. Where is the leadership? The governor will continue his one man rule until those in a position to leverage the legislature as a co-equal branch of government do so. Right now there is literally zero oversight. The governor sure seems to enjoy being an autocrat - but that is not how our system of government is supposed to function. The legislature is the voice of the people and the governor and his Democrat allies have muzzled the people.
9) The governor still apparently thinks the capital is in Chicago. Why is he not leading the state from Springfield?
My tone is angry because this "re-opening plan" is a complete farce. It's offensive. We are setting a terrible precedent. Families, communities, and businesses are being devastated. People can't work, people can't get unemployment, people are being shoved into a hole they will not be able to climb out of simply because of government edicts coming from one person. There is literally no oversight in Illinois government during this time of crisis.
The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. -Thomas Jefferson
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