The past 70 days have challenged us unlike any in our history. I am so grateful and humbled by the humanity and resiliency demonstrated by our Carol Stream residents and public servants. The sacrifices of lost celebrations, comfort, and livelihoods have served our community and mitigated the spread of COVID-19. I firmly believe that physical distancing and sensible sanitation practices have been paramount in protecting our residents and thank Governor Pritzker for his assistance so far.

However, as someone who has served in local government for 27 years, I cannot support the miscalculation of tying Carol Stream and DuPage County to Chicago and Cook County. We do not have the same challenges of population density, strained health systems, or public transit that are seen in Chicago, one of the most populated cities in the country. Instead we are a region of small, coordinated communities with great ability to adapt to reasonable protective measures while returning the opportunity to thrive to our residents and businesses. We are a region with an excellent track record of working together to serve our communities.

I understand the value in moving cautiously and with purpose, but I also know that there are consequences to over generalizing in decision-making.

I encourage Governor Pritzker to take a closer look at his peer in New York who has categorized their largest, most densely populated city as its own region. We have trusted you through this process and the numbers are on our side. Please trust our devotion to our communities to sensibly open and operate safely by categorizing Chicago as its own region. 

Sincerely,

Mayor Frank Saverino Sr.