COVID-19 Update: Phase 3 Modifications, Legislative Update and SNAP Online Order Option Available June 2
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Governor Pritzker announced modifications to phase 3 reopening guidelines. Right now all regions in the state are on schedule to enter phase 3 at the end of this month. In phase 3 restrictions have been adjusted to include the following:
- bars and restaurants will have the option to resume operations for outdoor seating only. Tables must be six feet apart and away from the sidewalks, masks and distancing measures for staff must continue to be followed, and other precautions and guidance will be issued.
- boating and camping with up to 10 people is allowed when proper social distancing measures are in place
- golf courses can allow foursomes out on the same tee times. Carts will also be permitted with one person per cart, or one immediate household per cart
- indoor and outdoor tennis facilities can open
- all state parks will reopen as well as all concessions at these facilities
- fitness centers can open for outdoor classes with a maximum of 10 individuals with proper social distancing and indoors fitness centers can open for one on one class options
- other outdoor activities will also be allowed to open while following issued guidance from the Department of Public Health including paintball courses and driving ranges
As a reminder already included in phase 3 are openings of the following:
- personal care services, nail salons, tattoo parlors, beauty salons, barbershops, spas, health fitness studios and all retail stores can choose to open their doors to in person shopping with proper social distancing and face covering requirements being met
Formal industry specific guidance will be released in the coming week. The Governor did emphasize that local governments have the right to place stricter guidelines in their communities as they see fit. Read the
full release here
.
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Legislative Update
Coming back to session after a long absence usually involves a lot of handshakes and hugs, comparing notes on trips taken or projects undertaken, and for me it always involves sharing baked goods. This was a very different experience. Arriving at the Bank of Springfield Center where we've established our temporary House chamber, we were greeted by protestors, many carrying the all too familiar offensive signs bearing swastikas or anti-Semitic slogans. Once inside, we faced a temperature check and metal detectors before being allowed into the chamber where our new desks were arranged roughly in the same way as in the Capitol, only separated by more than 6 feet each. Instead of our usual greetings, folks complimented each other's masks, commented on newly grown out hair and asked about families.
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After coming to order, our first order of business was to amend the House Rules to include a mandate for face coverings. After a brief debate in which one member spoke about his personal opposition, another suggested that we were in "the safest building in the state" because "everyone here has been tested and found negative," and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin implored everyone to abide by the public health guidelines if not for ourselves but for each other, our families and the staff who have worked so hard to put these facilities together for us, the rule passed with only 12 Republican "no" votes. Immediately after, Rep. Chris Welch made a request that the members who were not wearing masks to please do so immediately. Only one member refused, and Rep. Welch then presented a motion that Rep. Bailey be removed from the proceedings until such time as he would comply with the face covering requirement. That motion also passed on a bipartisan vote and Rep. Bailey was escorted out of the chamber. Once outside, Bailey immediately addressed the protestors and press, revealing that he hadn't even been tested for the virus as we had all been asked.
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Since we haven't been in session for 9 weeks, each chamber needed to move an appropriation bill over to the other so the budget process could proceed. Once that was done, both chambers adjourned for the evening.
This morning at 10am, the House Executive Committee will convene in the same chamber as the full House and consider all of the pending legislation in one committee hearing to minimize the need for multiple spaces and hearings. The bills being considered can be reviewed
here
. All of the proceedings will continue to be live streamed
here
and anyone wishing to submit testimony on any of the bills before the committee may do so
here.
Today is expected to be a much longer and more substantive day as we dig into the budget and pressing legislative matters related to the COVID-19 crisis and time sensitive items will be considered.
In addition, the Senate has filed legislation which will allow local governments to issue citations to businesses that are out of compliance with the Governor's executive order, which could be heard in the Senate today. This is in line with most other states' compliance authority and is an effort to get more businesses to comply. Since the issuance of the Governor's executive order some parts of the state are seeing businesses completely disregard the order and are opening their establishments before their designated phase putting patrons and staff lives at risk.
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SNAP Online Order Option Available June 2
Starting June 2 all SNAP recipients will be able to make online purchases using their EBT cards at participating retailers. No extra step is necessary to opt in to online purchases. A notice will be sent out to all SNAP recipients once online vendors are available and ready to take online orders.
W
e encourage any interested retailers to get involved. Information about joining as an online EBT retailer is available at
FNS.USDA.gov: SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot
. Specific instructions appear under: “How can retailers add SNAP EBT to their retailer web site?” Retailer involvement requires specific implementation procedures for Illinois, even if they already offer EBT online. If the retailer reads and agrees to the requirements, they can email
sm.fn.snaponline@usda.gov
and copy
DHS.LINK@Illinois.gov
so that DHS is made aware of their desire to participate in Illinois.
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COVID-19 Count as of today:
2,388 new COVID cases, 147 deaths
21,029 tests run in the last 24 hours
3,914 hospitalizations related to COVID-19. Of those,
1,005 in ICU
554 individuals on ventilators
If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the
Illinois Department of Public Health
:
Hotline
: 800-889-3931
Email
: dph.sick@illinois.gov
City of Chicago's Department of Public Health
:
Hotline
: 312-746-4835
Email
: coronavirus@chicago.gov
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Restore, Reinvest and Renew Grant Program (R3):
Applications Now Open
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Along with the legalization of adult use cannabis the passage of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act set aside 25% of the tax revenue to fund the R3 program. The R3 program is targeted to address the long standing inequities created by the war on drugs. The Illinois Criminal Justice Authority has now opened applications
for grants that support assessment, planning, and service delivery in communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition.
Areas eligible
for funding were identified using community-level data on gun injury, child poverty, unemployment, and state prison commitments and returns, combined with disproportionately impacted areas previously identified by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Organizations that serve residents of-or are base in-
designated eligible R3 zones
will be able to apply. Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, local units of government, tax-exempt faith-based organizations, businesses, and other community organizations. Application materials with instructions on how to apply are available
here: r3.illinois.gov
. The deadline for all applications is Monday, July 20, 2020.
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Payroll Protection Program:
Loan Forgiveness Application
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Last week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released the Paycheck Protection Program’s loan forgiveness application. This application must be completed in order for the lender to determine the amount of the loan that is to be forgiven. The application can be downloaded from the SBA’s
PPP webpage here
.
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Peterson/Ridge Metra Town Hall:
In Case You Missed It
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On Monday, 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez hosted a town hall to provide updates and answer questions about the Peterson/Ridge Metra stop. 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, staff from my office, Senator Heather Steans' office and representatives from Metra were also present. Metra is currently in the procurement process and are projecting a start date this fall with an estimate of 18 months to complete the project. If you missed the town hall and would like to watch it
click here
.
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Care for Real Pop Up
: *
Date Correction
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Care for Real and the United Church of Rogers Park have partnered to provide Rogers Park residents with another option for food assistance during the COVID-19 crisis. They will be using space at the United Church of Rogers Park to host a new food pantry and are looking for volunteers on Thursdays.
Food distribution only takes place on Tuesdays between 12-2pm.
They are seeking volunteers on Thursdays to prepack groceries and prep for the weekly Tuesday food distribution.
Those interested in volunteering should email the Rogers Park Community Response Team volunteer coordinators at
rpcrt.vols@gmail.com
. Though this food pantry is separate from the efforts of the Community Response Team they are assisting in volunteer coordination.
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
5533 N Broadway
Chicago IL 60640
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773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)
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