Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot
Press Conference/ Launching Chi COVID Coach App
April 27, 2020
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Mayor Lightfoot and Citadel Announce Weekly Stay Home. Hit Play. Series to Bring Chicago’s Cultural Icons to Students at Home
Virtual field trip episodes will post on www.HitPlayChicago.org and air on WTTW
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April 27, 2020
CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Citadel today announced the launch of
Stay Home. Hit Play.
, a weekly video series that will bring engaging, educational programming from Chicago institutions to students and families across the city. The series will partner with the city’s museums and cultural institutions to invite students to go behind the scenes at some of Chicago’s most iconic places on Wednesdays while staying home.
Mayor Lightfoot will join museum curators and staff as they lead virtual tours of their most popular exhibits and even share hidden treasures not usually seen by the public. Viewers will take virtual field trips to places like the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Museum of Science and Industry, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and Lincoln Park Zoo. Along with each episode, students will find corresponding worksheet activities to further engage with each museum experience.
“The exciting launch of Stay Home. Hit Play. allows our city’s cultural gems to come to life, ensuring our students are able to stay connected and engaged with our world-class museums and institutions amidst the unprecedented restrictions of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “We are especially appreciative of the partnership of our parents, students, museum leaders and staff, WTTW, as well as Citadel, whose support was instrumental for the creation of this series. As challenging as this moment has been, we will get through it together, and I look forward to joining all of Chicago in re-experiencing these inspiring sites when this crisis ends.”
“My colleagues and I are excited to join the Mayor and our neighbors across Chicago as we discover – and rediscover – some of our favorite places in a new way,” said Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel. “These institutions embody what makes Chicago special. They invite us to learn, imagine and dream together, and we hope Stay Home. Hit Play. will inspire children and parents this spring.”
In the inaugural Stay Home. Hit Play. segment airing on Wednesday, April 29, Mayor Lightfoot will stop by Shedd Aquarium to visit the penguins, feed the sharks and say hello to Nickel the rescued sea turtle. “Shedd Aquarium is proud to bring people eye to eye with animals and their remarkable underwater biology and aquatic biodiversity through this new opportunity,” said Bridget Coughlin, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shedd Aquarium. “We can’t wait to reopen our doors and welcome everyone back to Shedd. In the meantime, we are thrilled to kick off this at-home series and continue to welcome and connect with people virtually.”
Young learners will also find Stay Home. Hit Play. twice a week on Chicago’s PBS station – WTTW. “WTTW is honored to partner with the City of Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot, Citadel and our city’s museums and cultural institutions on an initiative that aligns with our purpose to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration,” said Sandra Cordova Micek, President and CEO of WTTW. “As a public media organization, it’s our role to respond to the needs of our community with trusted, educational and immersive programming.”
The series will premiere Wednesday, April 29, on
HitPlayChicago.org
and will air Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. on WTTW (11.1) and on Monday, May 4 at 12:30 p.m. on WTTW Prime (11.2). Subsequent Stay Home. Hit Play. episodes will air each Wednesday online and Fridays and Mondays on TV, and all segments and related student worksheets will be available on the series website.
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Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Public Health Release Test Results from Samples Collected at Former Crawford Generating Station
Validated environmental results confirm no asbestos in dust emitted from implosion of smokestack; Air quality remains within EPA standards
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April 27, 2020
CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today joined Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Allison Arwady, M.D., in releasing validated test results from samples taken to monitor the environmental impact from the smokestack implosion at the former Crawford Generating Station on April 11, 2020. Testing was conducted by two governmental agencies – the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), and CDPH’s data has been validated by a non-governmental agency. Officials believe the test results, which included analysis of particulate matter, dust composition, building debris and soil composition, show that there is no apparent health risk to the surrounding community.
“The health and safety of Chicago’s residents in all of its 77 neighborhoods remains our top priority during these unprecedented times, which includes accounting for environmental wellness throughout our city,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Since the beginning, my administration has been committed to creating a Chicago that is more environmentally sound for all of its residents, particularly those most vulnerable and who have been neglected for far too long. We remain committed to maintaining the health and wellness of Chicagoans, and conducting these tests were crucial to our understanding of what the environmental and health implications of the incident are for residents in the nearby community.”
On April 11, CDPH collected 14 neighborhood dust wipe samples, which were tested for asbestos and metals – including lead, cadmium, selenium, nickel and zinc, chromium and arsenic. CDPH also tested soil samples on April 13 for the presence of asbestos, polynuclear aromatics (PNAs), semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs, pesticides and inorganics. SUMMA canisters that are used for air sampling were installed by CDPH on April 14 and looked at organic compounds and dust particles, with additional air monitors being installed to account for sustained readings over the next several weeks.
Air quality tests conducted by CDPH and the US EPA, published today, show no particulate levels considered to be unsafe for human health, per US EPA standards. Specifically, the US EPA measured particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10, and found no sustained readings were above the national air quality ambient standard threshold. SUMMA canister air tests did reveal low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and CDPH is currently reviewing these results with experts to better understand potential sources and impacts while comparing them to background levels found in the air, both in Little Village and across the city. CDPH and US EPA will continue to sample, monitor and publish data on an ongoing basis to track any changes in air quality.
“We are committed to protecting the health and wellness of all Chicagoans, and it was imperative that my team conduct a robust investigation into the samples they were able to collect onsite to better understand the health implications of this event,” said Dr. Arwady. “Based on the validated results that we are publishing today we have no reason to believe the implosion emitted additional toxic materials into the surrounding community, but the department remains committed to continue ongoing tests of the site to monitor these levels.”
The settled dust composition was tested by CDPH with additional analysis and validation conducted through a non-governmental agency. Based on the nature of the former Crawford Station site, testing for lead and arsenic was made a priority, and no asbestos was detected in the samples collected from the area where the dust cloud settled. The samples were also tested for inorganic materials and metals, and while small concentrations of lead and barium were found in the dust, health experts determined that the levels found do not present an apparent health risk to residents.
Soil samples were collected from around the site of the former smokestack, and composition testing was conducted by CDPH that were also analyzed and validated by an outside party. Results revealed metals in the form of arsenic, barium, lead and mercury, consistent with expectations of the site, as well as with background levels found in soil throughout the city. Health professionals believe these levels do not currently pose a material health risk to the surrounding community. These substances are part of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) overall cleanup oversight through the IEPA’s Site Remediation Program which began in 2018 and will continue until future buildings, roads and grassy areas are installed. The project on remediation can be tracked
here
.
CDPH will continue to actively monitor the site and take samples, while also dispatching an environmental consultant who will thoroughly inspect the site for any additional environmental issues. The developer and its subcontractors have been issued 16 citations that resulted in fines totaling $68,000 for the incident, and following robust conversations and collaboration with City leadership announced additional efforts to assist and support residents in the surrounding area.
All structural demolition activity remains on hold at the Crawford site while the clean-up efforts take place. Due to the dilapidated nature of the site, DOB will continue working with the developer to determine the immediate next steps to help ensure the safety of the site and prevent work site incidents.
Mayor Lightfoot has also implemented a six-month moratorium on implosion demolitions citywide, pending the creation of a specific implosion permitting process with updated guidelines. For more information, and to view the testing results, please visit
chicago.gov/crawfordstationresponse
.
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Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events
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The City's Jumping Jack Program (scheduled to run from Saturday, May 23 through Sunday, September 6, 2020) is on hold pending further guidance on community gatherings from local public health officials.
The health and safety of our citizens remain our highest priority. As such, we are closely monitoring developments around the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) and sharing safeguards and best practices as outlined by federal health authorities plus state and local officials.
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Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
While the City continues to prioritize its public health response in order to keep residents safe and healthy, we are also looking ahead to the next phase of this challenge to develop ways Chicago can emerge stronger post COVID-19. On April 23, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot
announced the creation of a COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce
to advise city government as economic recovery planning efforts get underway.
The Taskforce will be co-chaired by Mayor Lightfoot and former White House Chief of Staff Sam Skinner and led by a group of industry experts, regional government leaders, community-based partners and policymakers. It is comprised of five core committees, with recommendations developed out of the Policy & Economic Stimulus Committee, the Mental & Emotional Health Committee, and the Marketing & Business Development Committee. There will also be a Regional Coordination Committee to ensure alignment across neighboring governing bodies, as well as a Change Study that will analyze economic and social impacts of COVID-19 on the city and be used as a basis for many of the recommendations developed by the other Committees. Over the next several weeks, the Taskforce will:
- Help unite Chicagoans during this unprecedented time and build opportunities to grieve as well as cope with the loss of first responders, front line workers and loved ones from COVID-19;
- Address COVID-created unemployment;
- Reaffirm Chicago as a destination for businesses, workers, tourism and events;
- Engage regional partners and policymakers to ensure recovery efforts are aligned across multiple jurisdictions;
- Conduct a “change study” to gauge the full extent of economic hardship and provide a baseline for the city as well as the business community.
Learn more about the COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce at
chicago.gov/coronavirus
.
What's New
- Modified Stay at Home Order - Governor JB Pritzker has announced that he will sign a modified version of the state's stay at home order that will go into effect on May 1 and extend through the end of the month. The modified order will strengthen the state's social distancing requirements while allowing residents additional flexibility and provide measured relief to non-essential businesses in the safest way possible.
- Emergency Ordinance - The City Council yesterday approved an ordinance introduced by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to codify the executive authorities enacted last month to ensure a citywide emergency health response amid COVID-19. The ordinance codifies emergency action taken by Mayor Lightfoot in March following the onset of the pandemic and provides guidance around the City’s efforts to support and equip frontline workers and provide necessary supplies and care for residents.
Resources
- Smart 911 - Sign up for Smart 911 and create a safety profile for yourself and your family. In the event of an emergency, your Safety Profile is made available to call takers the moment your phone or one associated with your account dials 9-1-1. The service is free and sign up can be completed in minutes at smart911.com.
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