Letter to Governor Pritzker from County Chairman Kurt Prenzler
Posted by Bluangel on May 2, 2020, 7:01 pm
May 2, 2020
The Honorable J. B. Pritzker, Governor State of Illinois State Capitol, Room 207 Springfield, Illinois 62706
Dear Gov. Pritzker,
First, I want to thank you for your hard work and leadership in leading the Illinois response to the COVID-19 health crisis.
This past week you said that you would consider shifting from a “state” to a “regional” approach regarding re-opening the economy.
The purpose of this letter is to ask you to allow Madison County to proceed, as a county, to re-open businesses in a safe, phased way.
Our county health department has been complying with IDPH regulations and mandates, and that will not change.
Madison County is the largest county, by population, south of Will County. Our economy is closely tied to Missouri, which is allowing counties greater decision-making.
Our economic problems are increasing by the day. Just yesterday, our county employment office received a WARN layoff notice for 737 union and management jobs at the US Steel Granite City works. The decline of gasoline demand has impacted the refinery in Roxana, which is the largest in the Midwest. Closed small businesses don’t get headlines, but the job losses are just as real.
You have mentioned hospital capacity as a factor influencing your decision making. Hospitals in the St. Louis metro area acted decisively by cancelling elective surgeries. Now area hospitals have excess capacity, are losing millions, laying off thousands of employees, and are trying to convince the public that it’s safe to re-schedule elective surgery.
We are no different than counties across the country, in that our COVID cases and deaths have been largely concentrated in nursing homes.
The shutdown of “non-essential” businesses has led to unintended consequences. Small retailers labeled non-essential look out their front window to see the parking lot in front of Target full with cars and shoppers. Restaurants without drive-through lanes watch their customers buying lunch at Jimmy Johns and McDonalds, while they remain closed. Florists are approaching Mother’s Day watching their customers go into Walmart and local supermarkets to buy flowers.
We believe that we, as a county, can responsibly help these small businesses to re-open.
Over the past several weeks, we have collected dozens of one-page plans from small businesses and churches, with their plans to re-open. A review of these plans showed that our small businesses want to do the right thing, and can be trusted to re-open their operations in a safe, phased way.
We are responsible citizens facing economic ruin. We can be trusted to re-open our economy in a responsible and informed way. But we need your help before it is too late. Your prompt response to our local economic problems is required and appreciated.
Respectfully, Kurt Prenzler, CPA Madison County Chairman of the BoardMAGA
Re: Letter to Governor Pritzker from County Chairman Kurt Prenzler
That's what leaders should do....respect one another and try to work together... At least it will bring a favorable response faster than one of those jack wagons who are sneezing all over each other and carrying signs with hate speech all over them.
I think it was a well-written letter.
That is the part I don't get about this... I think small businesses and even some larger businesses COULD open.
I don't like the unfair competitive advantage these hypermarkets enjoy just because they have food.
I suppose I can see desperate times needing desperate measures, but we have had over a month to see this all in practice.
I think a little independent florist needs the same opportunity that Wal Mart or the Schnuck Brothers have to get flowers to mama....as well as Amazon, et al.
Being all of that said, before you think I'm sounding like an April Fool version of myself...
There simply are things that would be irresponsible to do.......
Restaurants and Bars.... I mean that's a mess of people congregating.
Same with churches. These jackass faux-Christians preaching their rights are taken away from them. Well folks, God gave you intellect and GOd has allowed miracles to happen and the Church has been one of the biggest empowerers of scientific discovery. USE the brains God gave you for the betterment of humanity. To get 300 people in one room or more is the least Godly thing.
And then when people keep crying about their freedom...they just don't know what freedom is. They have no idea, because their selfishness, their garishness, and lack of education prevents them from understanding.
Freedom in their minds is pretty much being allowed to do whatever the hell they want. Little problem is that never was an ingredient of a free society. Everyone has to have just a little bit of restraint, or there will be freedom from no one. Even the bullies (the fittest who survive) would then have to protect themselves and live in fear.
Freedom requires a giving of self for others, and is indeed tempered with self-discipline and self-restraint.
I give Chairman Prenzler credit for his letter. If we're going to get through this, these people need to work together.
I think JB is doing a fabulous job. I believe Illinois has nothing to gain by staying closed one more day than it has to. He at least considers the request of regionalizing how these codes are enforced.
All in all, we have to listen to science, and if anyone is actually consistent in their standards.... then life is the greatest value worth protecting.
When you ban books before you ban guns, you've admitted that you're more afraid of children learning than you are of children dying.
Re: Letter to Governor Pritzker from County Chairman Kurt Prenzler
JB is doing a fabulous job, you mean since he stopped whining about having to do anything at all. In fact ill take that back, i still dont think ole JB is doing anything without checking first with Tom Perez. The best thing JB has probably done on his own is to send his wife to a red state to enjoy herself, that was very thoughtful.