chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Illinois attorney who filed lawsuits against Pritzker for stay-at-home order now working with dozens

Illinois attorney who filed lawsuits against Pritzker for stay-at-home order now working with dozens of businesses that have reopened, filing suit for others

“ I would just suggest to all of them that they are putting the patrons of their businesses and the @ @ @ @ @ counties or in their cities in danger when they simply break the rules , break @ @ @ @ @ and they decide that they want to go it alone , '' Pritzker said .

After pouring time and money into his biker bar, Poopy’s, for 24 years, Kevin Promenschenkel faced a coronavirus reckoning: If he wasn’t able to reopen for his annual Memorial Day concert and summer kickoff, his business would not survive.
So the western Illinois bar owner hired lawyer Tom DeVore to file a lawsuit on his behalf Monday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker because of the executive order he signed, effectively shuttering some nonessential businesses starting March 21.
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The St. Louis-area lawyer has become the go-to guy for businesses in the south and west parts of the state chafing at the stay-at-home rules. He also filed suits on behalf of a hairdresser and two Republican elected officials, and is representing about 80 other small businesses.
When he hasn’t filed suit, DeVore has written letters notifying local authorities that each of the businesses intended to reopen despite the stay-at-home order. Most of the businesses that don’t require special state licenses have already reopened, seemingly trying to force local or state officials to do something about it.
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[ How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan ]
In answer to questions Tuesday partly about Promenschenkel as well as local counties and cities wanting to reopen before the state rolls back its order, Pritzker said they should wait and are “not relying on science in any way whatsoever to make their decisions.”
“I would just suggest to all of them that they are putting the patrons of their businesses and the people who live in their counties or in their cities in danger when they simply break the rules, break the law in fact, and they decide that they want to go it alone," Pritzker said.
But Promenschenkel says he takes COVID-19 seriously and said his heart goes out to those who’ve lost loved ones to it, including friends of his. He believes anyone who is at heightened risk should make choices to protect themselves as best they can.
“I know people are worried about the virus. I’m not in a position to be that person anymore because my business is as important to me as my life," he said. “For those of us that are (suing), everything’s at stake. We have no fallback — this is it for us”
[ COVID-19 cases in Illinois by ZIP code: Search for your neighborhood ]
The bar owner decided to put his trust in DeVore after a friend on social media recently called Promenschenkel’s attention to the St. Louis-area attorney’s work and he and DeVore spoke.
“We’re putting our faith into it, that’s for sure,” Promenschenkel said by phone Tuesday from Poopy’s in Savanna, a small town in Carroll County on the Mississippi River north of the Quad Cities. “That’s my target, I’ve got to have that weekend. If I miss Memorial weekend, you know, unless some miracle happens, we’re done.”
As the biggest destination biker bar in the state, he said, Poopy’s makes money seasonally, employing about 80 people in the summer. Three businesses in Savanna already have permanently closed as a result of the stay-at-home order, Promenschenkel said. Other businesses — such as hotels and gas stations — rely on the bikers who visit Poopy’s from all over the Midwest.
“This was my dream, and I always put everything we made back into the business, maybe that was a mistake. At this point even if we survive the summer, we won’t survive the winter. We can’t do this forever,” he said.
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[ Pritzker calls on legislature to ‘act expeditiously’ on coronavirus relief package as state reports record 4,000 new cases ]
”
We don't know how our story ends. But it will never say, we gave up. This is everything to us. To lose it all after 24 years in business, is not a option. Not without a fight. Posted by Poopy's on Tuesday, May 12, 2020
DeVore also filed a lawsuit this week for an 800-square-foot “dive” bar called Dookie Set in the Clinton County town of Carlyle, which also has about 3,000 residents. DeVore said because bars require a liquor license and the hair salon a cosmetology license, a lawsuit was more fitting because Pritzker has repeatedly made clear he’s “dangling their licenses in front of them, threatening to take them away,” DeVore alleges.
Pritzker doesn’t have the authority to close businesses under his order, according to the lawsuits. If anyone does, it’s health officials, and they have to follow state law and regulations to shut down businesses.
“Both reflect in a different lens exactly the measures being taken by the executive office to enforce this order that businesses and local entities are beginning to question,” he said.
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DeVore first started attracting attention in late April when he filed a lawsuit on behalf of state Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, alleging Bailey had been “irreparably harmed” by the stay-at-home order. A Clay County judge issued a temporary order freeing Bailey from Pritzker’s directive. The state later appealed the decision and Bailey recently began following the order again, saying he wants the restraining order vacated so he can present new information and keep the case in Clay County.
Days later, DeVore helped a second politician, Rep. John Cabello, a Machesney Park Republican and Rockford police officer, who filed his own suit in Winnebago County, saying he seeks broader results — Bailey’s exemption only applied to himself. Along with the two politicians and two bars that are suing, DeVore represents Sonja Harrison, owner of Visible Changes hair salon in Louisville, also in Clay County.
As word spread about the lawsuits, DeVore’s phone started ringing off the hook, and he had to more than double his team, bringing on three more attorneys to process the influx of inquiries from business owners.
The fight is real. We won't go down easy. Posted by Poopy's on Monday, May 11, 2020
For about 80 other businesses, DeVore’s Greenville firm has used a different tactic.
DeVore has advised the businesses to write letters to their local health boards, citing a portion of a directive from Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the Illinois public health director, that accompanied Pritzker’s order. The directive says health officials have the authority to shut down businesses that violate Pritzker’s order if they’re determined to be public health risks. The letters go on to tell local health authorities that because the owners believe their businesses aren’t public health risks, they will reopen within 48 hours.
The letters then demand if authorities want the business closed, officials should seek a court order to close the business.
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“We haven’t heard back from them objecting in a single case,” DeVore said.
A spokesperson for Pritzker didn’t immediately respond to a request for a detailed comment.
Chicago Tribune reporter Jessica Villagomez contributed.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 3,601 deaths, 83,021 confirmed cases, 471,691 tests, 26% ICU beds and

Tracking Illinois coronavirus: 3,601 deaths, 83,021 confirmed cases, 471,691 tests, 26% ICU beds and 68% ventilators open

As the coronavirus spreads and local , state and national governments work to contain and mitigate the outbreak , the @ @ @ @ @ .

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine tracked coronavirus cases, deaths and test totals from Jan. 22, 2020 through March 10, 2023, but is no longer providing this data. These charts will no longer be updated.
Check the Illinois Department of Public Health for the most up-to-date data for Illinois.
[ Remembering the lives of those in Illinois who died from coronavirus ]
Can’t see these charts? Go here.


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Commentary: Many of us are trying to figure out how to deal with this new normal. Maybe part of that

Commentary: Many of us are trying to figure out how to deal with this new normal. Maybe part of that process is acknowledging the yuck factor of masks

“ I think probably the most important thing for people to remember is that this is a new activity and @ @ @ @ @ we have to practice .
When you wear a mask and it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ it doesn ’ t mean that you should feel like , ‘ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ out.
’ It ’ s about practicing : How to wear it ; how to @ @ @ @ @ to only touch the loops that go around your ears or your head and cleaning @ @ @ @ @ putting it on .
The more comfortable we get with the activity of it , @ @ @ @ @ be as it becomes part of our routine .
”

Let’s talk about face masks.
And by that I mean, what it actually feels like to wear one on a regular basis. This is new for many of us, and guess what? It’s gross. It’s wet. It’s hot. You find yourself touching your face now more than ever because the mask itches or you need to adjust it. If you have glasses, your lenses are fogging up. Breathing is a bit harder and a deep inhale means a deep exhale and wow does that become disgusting fast. The experience of wearing a mask — which we all need to do for all the right reasons — is miserable.
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And all of this discomfort will only get worse — much worse — as we head into summer and sweat enters the mix. And I think many of us are trying to figure out how to deal with this new normal. Maybe part of that process is just acknowledging the yuck factor. “It felt like I had a malarial swamp strapped to my jaw,” is how someone described it on Twitter. Another wryly dubbed the experience “sweltering in place.” Still another simply called it “putrid.”
I reached out to Pride Masks co-founder Alan Spaeth. His company has been making fabric masks that resemble the Chicago flag and he validated some of my anxiety. “Let’s face it, wearing a mask isn’t the most comfortable thing," he said. "It’s not normal to have something covering our faces, making it hard to breathe and speak. They fog up our glasses and hide our expressions.”
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot wears a mask as she prepares to speak about the coronavirus economic recovery plan. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
I asked if he had any suggestions. Fit is important. And for some people, if they’re using cloth masks “a little bit of linen spray or washing the mask in your favorite detergent can also help, especially (one) with a calming scent like lavender.”
That’s worth a try. But the experience is psychologically uncomfortable in ways we aren’t talking about widely, either.
We’re already physically distancing ourselves from one another and masks can feel yet like another barrier to human connection, said Dr. Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson, a psychiatrist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
[ Represent Chicago sports with these face masks ]
Try picking up on sarcasm or vocal inflection when a person’s voice is muffled and you can’t see the lower half of their face.
“The way we present ourselves to the world is so much about our face,” Pederson said. “Obviously I’m not against wearing masks — I think everyone should wear masks — but wearing masks compromises this aspect of social engagement that’s so deep-seated in our existence in terms of connecting with each other. We don’t give it much thought and that’s probably why we’re also not talking about it as much.”
Dr. Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson is an instructor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medcine. (Aderonke Pederson)
I told Pederson about my first venture out wearing a face covering. It was a few weeks ago and it was a disaster. I had no masks — ones ordered online hadn’t arrived yet — so I tied a cotton scarf around my face and went to the store. The scarf kept slipping or sticking weirdly to my skin. The fabric became moist from my breath and I felt like I couldn’t get enough air. I was sweating. My nose was runny and I couldn’t do anything about it. And then eventually the scarf just sort of collapsed down around my neck and I sighed: Fine, I give up.
I paid for my groceries, loaded them in the car and sat in the driver’s seat, exhausted and trying not to cry. I felt like a failure.
It’s such a minor inconvenience, this discomfort. The rational part of my brain knows that. But in the moment I felt overwhelmed.
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Pederson had a theory about that: “I think a mask is supposed to create this sense of safety for people and reduce your anxiety level when you go out — because the idea is that we’re not all breathing on each other. But it also creates anxiety because it’s a constant reminder of the virus and your lack of safety. It’s paradoxical."
For many, wearing a mask or scarf is a new experience. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
In order to do something that’s uncomfortable, she said, “you have to convince yourself the need for it supersedes the discomfort: I need to wear a mask because it protects others. I need it because we have a virus that can kill people. Or make them extremely sick. I need it because we have a virus that doesn’t have a vaccine yet. I need it because we have a virus that doesn’t have a treatment yet.
"So I think that moment you had in the store actually makes a lot of sense. It’s not easy to adapt to this new practice of wearing a mask and you were probably subconsciously reminding yourself of all of this, and that can make you feel defeated.”
Add in racist biases and things get even scarier.
Pederson adds, “You want to talk about anxiety going to the grocery store? It can be that much worse when you’re a black man and the image in society, just historically and in media, is that they are perceived as threatening. Not everyone can get access to masks. So how does that play out when society has created this image of what it looks like if a black man puts on a bandana to cover his face?”
Community residents walk away with five masks a-piece during a mask give away outside the Apostolic Church of God on Saturday, May 9, 2020. The masks were donated by former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Just last week Illinois state representative Kam Buckner tweeted about his firsthand experience with this, writing that the governor’s executive order requiring face masks is the “right thing to do to protect Illinoisians in the face of this deadly virus.”
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But he then detailed how a trip to the store reminded him of the “gratuitous and unwanted attention given to those of us of a certain demographic while engaging in normal social acts.” His Twitter thread lays out the circumstances: He was dressed in weekend casual clothing — a hoodie, sweatpants and gym shoes, along with gloves and a face mask. As he exited the store, a uniformed officer approached and asked to see his receipt.
“After 30 seconds or so, I found it and gave it to him. He barely glanced at it and then asked for my ID. I complied. He walked to his car and was in it for a couple of minutes and returned both the ID and my receipt. When I asked why he approached me in the first place, his response was: ‘People are using the coronavirus to do bad things. I couldn't see your face, man. You looked like you were up to something.’
"Which begs the question, what does someone who is up to something look like? As scores of masked people walked in and out without encumbrance, I was reminded of the reality that I have been programmed to show as much of my face as possible and use certain cues to disarm anyone who might have a learned inclination to be suspicious of my very presence.”
A person wears a mask while walking in Lakeview on in late April. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
By comparison, the physical unpleasantness of wearing a mask is superficial and ultimately something we’ll get to used to anyway, Pederson said.
“I think probably the most important thing for people to remember is that this is a new activity and any new activity we do we have to practice. When you wear a mask and it doesn’t go well one day, it doesn’t mean that you should feel like, ‘I’m not going to figure this out.’ It’s about practicing: How to wear it; how to put it on; trying to only touch the loops that go around your ears or your head and cleaning your hands before and after putting it on. The more comfortable we get with the activity of it, the less anxiety-provoking it will be as it becomes part of our routine.”
By the way, Pederson offered a solution to fogged lenses: If you’re using a mask that doesn’t have a thin piece of metal that you can press down to ensure the mask conforms to the ridge and sides of your nose, you can use a strip of medical tape (the kind you might use to tape a couple of toes together) to create a similar kind of seal.
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Before we ended our call, Pederson and I talked briefly about movies and the way directors rely on an actor’s face to convey so much subtext. This is how audiences often connect with characters — or in the case of “The Dark Knight Rises” and Bane, the opposite because his face and voice are so obscured by that respirator-looking mask.
In 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises," Bane (played by Tom Hardy) is a hulking menace that threatens to engulf Gotham City in chaos and destruction. (Ron Phillips/Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
“I love that image, though,” said Pederson. “I really do. Because it summarizes the anxiety and the threat to social connection. You can’t connect with that kind of character, right?
She had one more thought: “I was thinking about ‘Castaway.’ Tom Hanks made a face on that ball so he could connect with it. Can you imagine if a mask was on top of that? That’s how I think people feel right now: Isolated, and then when you do leave your home the people you come in contact with are wearing a mask.”
So much for that old saw about the eyes being the window to the soul, I said. Pederson thought for a moment.
“I think the eyes can only be a window into the soul because the rest of the face is there.”
A man wears a mask while passing blooming flowers on Michigan Avenue. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
nmetz@chicagotribue.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--At Northwestern, members of a tightknit group of veteran ICU nurses, age 58 and up, are signing on f

At Northwestern, members of a tightknit group of veteran ICU nurses, age 58 and up, are signing on for COVID-19 duty. Meet the ‘Old Dolls.’

Many ICU nurses left through the years , taking jobs that were less physical or less stressful ; an intensive @ @ @ @ @ her feet for an entire 12-hour shift , moving patients twice her size , dealing @ @ @ @ @ next , advocating for patients with doctors and pharmacists , and soothing distraught family members @ @ @ @ @ who left kept in touch , with some now sending food and messages of encouragement @ @ @ @ @ remain in the ICU .

Intensive care unit nurse Raquel “Rocky” Collanto is 63 and cares for her 91-year-old mother, so when COVID-19 patients began to arrive at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, her supervisor offered her options. Collanto could transfer to another department or to a different ICU unit where there would be less risk of exposure to the potentially deadly virus.
Collanto thought about it; the virus scares her.
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Raquel "Rocky" Collanto has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 35 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
But then she thought about the young nurses in her unit, the ones who call her “mom.” They were so full of energy and compassion, and they all wanted to stay and fight.
“I will stay with my team,” she said.
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The “Old Dolls,” a group of ICU nurses in their 50s and older, were a local legend at Northwestern even before COVID-19 struck. And in the days that followed, the 10 who remain in the ICU after 30 years or more have continued to care for some of the city’s sickest patients despite being in an age bracket that puts them at added risk from the virus.
Four are now working directly with COVID patients, and all are playing vital roles in the intensive care units, both as caregivers and supervisors, and as “work moms” for younger nurses.
“I feel like they are such a symbol of hope,” ICU nurse Katherine Glaser, 23, said of the Old Dolls she works with.
“It’s difficult going to work and not really knowing what you’re going to face that day, so having them there, being able to really fall back on them is really, really nice.”
A group of Northwestern ICU nurses in their 50s and 60s, who are called the Old Dolls, stand outside the Galter Pavilion at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on May 5, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Members of the Old Dolls, originally a group of about two dozen, trace their origins to the 1980s and 1990s at Northwestern. Even then, “doll” was an old-school term of endearment, and the Dolls — hard-charging health care professionals in their 30s — weren’t big fans of the term.
But some recall that a fellow nurse, an older man, insisted on using it.
“Hey doll, come help me here,” he might say to a female nurse.
Andrea Baer has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 36 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, why is he saying that?’” recalled ICU nurse Andrea Baer, 58, the youngest of the 10 remaining Old Dolls.
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“I think that played a role — (Old Dolls) was sort of an homage to that old-fashioned nurse who was not at all P.C.”
Many ICU nurses left through the years, taking jobs that were less physical or less stressful; an intensive care nurse can be on her feet for an entire 12-hour shift, moving patients twice her size, dealing with one crisis after the next, advocating for patients with doctors and pharmacists, and soothing distraught family members. But the Old Dolls who left kept in touch, with some now sending food and messages of encouragement to the Old Dolls who remain in the ICU.
Cindy Pascalo has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 39 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“I grew up with everybody, from my 20s, to my 30s, 40s, 50s,” said Old Doll Cindy Pascalo, 60, a nurse in the medical intensive care unit.
“We raised children together. We lost parents together. And just the work ethic: In my unit, everybody helps everybody, so you’re never feeling alone.”
Both Pascalo and another Old Doll, Linda Michna, 61, have daughters who became nurses at Northwestern.
When the coronavirus crisis came, the Old Dolls got the option to work in non-COVID ICUs, according to Jaime Hosler, a patient care manager at Northwestern.
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But four of the Old Dolls opted to work with COVID patients, and all continued to anchor the ICU units, with more than 300 years of combined experience.
Valerie Gongaware has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 39 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“They’ve been so vital to leading our workforce through these crazy times,” said Hosler. “They are the true leaders of our hospital.”
Pascalo has worked directly with dozens of COVID patients as a code nurse whotransfers patients in crisis to the ICU. She feels safe, she said, because staff members are following safety guidelines and wearing recommended protective gear.
“The level of (patient) suffering is 100 times what I’m used to,” Pascalo said of COVID. “The hardest part is they can’t have visitors. I can’t imagine having a loved one in the hospital and not even be able to console them or sit by their bedside.”
She said the COVID crisis is like nothing she’s seen as an intensive care nurse. And the Old Dolls have seen a lot, including the beginning of the AIDS crisis, when no one knew how HIV was transmitted, but intensive care nurses suited up and cared for very ill patients.
Kathleen Hoke has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 39 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
The defining thing about COVID, she said, is that so many patients are getting so ill so fast.
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But there are also success stories: Pascalo treated a young man who was very sick, very scared and expecting a child with his pregnant wife.
“Don’t worry,” Pascalo said, making two promises to the young man that she felt she could actually keep: “We’re going to take care of you. We’re going to make you comfortable.”
The man got extremely ill and had to be sedated and put on a ventilator, but he recovered and was able to transfer out of the COVID unit.
Collanto said that, with COVID, she can sometimes see the fear in the faces of younger nurses. She feels fear herself: “It’s really scary.”
Peach Donnan has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 43 years. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
“The most fear that I have is for my family,” she said. “My mom is older, but I have my own room — we have an extra room where I stay. I use another bathroom. I change my clothes in the garage, and we have working shoes that stay in the unit.”
And now, more than ever, being a nurse feels like a calling, she said. Her younger co-workers have canceled their time off, or come to work after the pandemic led them to postpone their weddings.
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“Everyone is in the unit right now. No one is on vacation,” she said. “I think that keeps me going: to see these kids that are really willing to help out.”
nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Nigerian immigrant working as CNA dies of COVID-19 months before becoming nurse, citizen

“ They really are the unsung heroes in health care , ” she said of CNAs .
“ These are @ @ @ @ @ no insurance .
Their families are mostly low income .
It breaks my heart .
@ @ @ @ @ but many others also are losing their lives for so little .
... She was @ @ @ @ @ American Dream .
”

Nearly five years after emigrating from Nigeria, Ijeoma Afuke was within reach of realizing two major goals.
The certified nursing assistant was studying to become a nurse in the United States. Afuke’s exam was scheduled in June.
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She also had completed the requirements to become a United States citizen and had an important interview in April that was postponed due to the emergence of the coronavirus.
Before she could reschedule it, the 35-year-old Chicago woman became another casualty working on the pandemic’s front line in the health care sector.
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Ijeoma Afuke is shown with her daughter, Adaugo, which means "princess," in this undated family photo. Afuke, 35, worked as a certified nursing assistant at an Uptown nursing facility. (Family photo)
Afuke died April 29 at Stroger Hospital of pneumonia related to a COVID-19 infection. She did not have a serious underlying medical condition that made her more vulnerable to the virus, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Her husband, JJ Afuke, said he believes Ijeoma contracted the virus while working for MADO Healthcare in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The nursing facility had an outbreak of 50 confirmed cases among residents and staff and three deaths as of Friday, state public health officials said, citing the most current information available.
Afuke said his wife had complained about a lack of personal protective equipment at work. He urged her to take a break last month after she came down with coldlike symptoms, but she brushed it off and continued to work.
He said she soon became too weak to walk up the stairs of their South Shore apartment.
Afuke said he also tested positive for the virus, but his symptoms have been less severe. As he plans his wife’s memorial services for next week, the Lyft driver described his overwhelming grief. The couple has a daughter, Adaugo, which means “princess,” who turns 3 in August.
Ijeoma Afuke, 35, who died April 29, 2020, of complications related to the coronavirus, is shown with her husband, JJ Afuke, in this undated photograph. The couple lived in the city's South Shore neighborhood. Her husband believes she caught the virus while caring for residents as a certified nursing assistant at MADO Healthcare in Uptown. (Family photo)
Ijeoma Afuke, 35, died April 29, 2020, at Stroger Hospital from complications of COVID-19 without further underlying serious medical conditions. She was a Nigerian immigrant who came to Chicago in August 2015 to begin a new life with her husband. (Family photo)
“I lost my angel,” he said. “She was a great mother, a great wife and an extraordinary human being. My wife is my superstar.”
He said Ijeoma immigrated in August 2015 to begin a new life with him in Chicago. The two wed a few years earlier when he was in Nigeria for his father’s funeral. A mutual friend had introduced them.
She remained behind in Nigeria until 2015 while studying nursing and securing all the necessary paperwork to come to the United States.
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She was from the state of Abia in an eastern part of the country. JJ Afuke’s niece said the couple’s bond was evident to others in the family despite their 27-year age difference.
“He was head over heels for her,” said Adaku Otuonye, of Lake Villa. “For my uncle, she was God’s gift. She fulfilled him and was that missing part of him.”
Afuke said his wife was a nurse in Nigeria but had to complete the licensing process in the United States. In the meantime, Ijeoma was working as a certified nursing assistant while studying for her licensing exam to be a nurse in June.
“She liked America and the opportunities,” Afuke said. “She just wanted to pursue nursing and do the best she could. She was very smart, a go-getter and very ambitious.”
Afuke said his wife loved her job and was committed to her patients, even when she became sick.
“I told her to stop working, but she did not want to,” he said. “She wanted to keep helping people.”
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He took Ijeoma to the hospital April 19. One week later, despite a persistent fever, he said she was stable and still speaking to relatives and friends on the phone daily. Her April 29 death was unexpected, he said, and came suddenly shortly after she was intubated due to a fluctuating heart rate.
“Everyone was looking forward to seeing her be successful in America,” Afuke said of her family in Nigeria. “I never thought she would die from this because she was very much alive and was talking to me and her friends all week.”
A spokesman for MADO Healthcare described Ijeoma Afuke as a “dedicated” co-worker. In a statement, he denied allegations that workers were not properly protected and said the company is following city, state and federal safety guidelines.
“Never in our 59-year history of providing compassionate nursing care has the country and the world faced the daunting challenges presented by this pandemic — one that has impacted every sector of our society,” the statement read. “Our co-workers are among the true heroes in battling this insidious virus.”
Afuke said the couple had hoped to have two more children. He said his wife believed their gifted daughter would grow up to become a doctor and help others. He has not told her yet that her mother is dead.
He said the child has looked for her around their apartment and has asked, “Where is mommy?”
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His niece, Adaku Otuonye, set up a fundraiser to help defray tens of thousands of dollars in medical and funeral expenses. It had raised $10,000 by Tuesday.
She said her uncle, who has self-quarantined, has not been able to return to work in weeks.
“They really are the unsung heroes in health care,” she said of CNAs. Their families are mostly low income. It breaks my heart. She was one person, but many others also are losing their lives for so little. ... She was just trying to find the American Dream.”
cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Mayor Lori Lightfoot says city will ‘take action’ if defiant churches hold in-person services despit

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says city will ‘take action’ if defiant churches hold in-person services despite stay-at-home orders

“ We ’ re going to be communicating over and over again over the course of this week .
I @ @ @ @ @ anxious .
But defying common sense and public health guidance only puts their congregations at @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We don ’ t want to see a cluster break out because @ @ @ @ @ only one way of showing their reverence to the God that they worship .
The @ @ @ @ @ two or more are gathered in my name , there will I be also .
@ @ @ @ @ ways in which we show our devotion to our faith that don ’ t include @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Potentially setting up a Sunday confrontation with defiant church leaders, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city is prepared to enforce stay-at-home orders against houses of worship that continue holding in-person services.
Lightfoot made the comments at a Tuesday news conference when she was asked about church leaders vowing to continue holding religious services despite social distancing requirements. Previously, the mayor criticized the services as putting people at risk but said she preferred to do educational outreach.
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Now, however, Lightfoot said the city will take some unspecified action to enforce the stay-at-home orders.
“We’re going to be communicating over and over again over the course of this week. I understand that people are getting anxious. But defying common sense and public health guidance only puts their congregations at physical risk,” Lightfoot said. “We don’t want to see a cluster break out because faith leaders believe they have only one way of showing their reverence to the God that they worship. The Bible tells us, where two or more are gathered in my name, there will I be also. There’s lots of ways in which we show our devotion to our faith that don’t include physically putting people at risk.”
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The Metro Praise International church in the Cragin neighborhood, May 11, 2020 in Chicago. The church held a service on Sunday ignoring guidelines set forth by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
She added: “We’re going to continue to have that discussion but, if necessary, we are going to take action to make sure there is compliance to the stay-at-home orders.”
The dispute kicked off after Metro Praise International Church on the Northwest Side opened its doors for in-person services in an act church officials described as “passive resistance” to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ongoing stay-at-home order.
That defiance led Lightfoot to tweet Monday morning, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re doing. When you gather like this, you are putting yourself and your loved ones in serious danger.”
It doesn't matter who you are or what you're doing. When you gather like this, you are putting yourself and your loved ones in serious danger. https://t.co/rNIwDJlo1i — Mayor Lightfoot #StayHomeSaveLives (@chicagosmayor) May 11, 2020
Another church, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, hosted Sunday services in Albany Park despite the stay-at-home order.
At a Monday afternoon news conference, Lightfoot said she spoke with the pastor of Elim Romanian and had a “very pleasant” talk with him. She said she hoped to do more outreach but expressed reluctance to take harsher action.
But in interviews with the Tribune on Monday, the leaders of those churches criticized Lightfoot and Pritzker.
Cristian Ionescu, pastor of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, said Tuesday he was “a little bit taken aback” by the mayor’s remarks and that the two are supposed to have a conference call in the near future.
Nevertheless, Ionescu said he still plans to have service this weekend.
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"I refuse to keep people at home when they want to come to the service if we apply all those restrictions and precautions.
He previously called his church’s first in-person service in two months an “extraordinary success” and said the church took extreme measures to ensure all participants were safe.
Joe Wyrostek, pastor of Metro Praise International Church, shared Ionescu’s frustration.
“I just feel like we were put at the back of the bus,” he said, referring to religious leaders. “We were not in any of the discussions.”
Wyrostek said he decided to resume church services after seeing Pritzker’s “cautious” reopening plan, which wouldn’t allow for gatherings of more than 50 people until the fifth and final phase.
"We have to stand up for ourselves at some point,” Wyrostek said. “We’ve lost trust in what they’re doing. We have to peacefully resist and see where it goes.”
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Churches pose a thorny enforcement problem due to potential First Amendment questions and a political one, too, as no elected official wants to cross local ministers.
gpratt@chicagotribune.com
jaanderson@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Businessman Willie Wilson threatens lawsuit to force Illinois to pay for face coverings under Gov. J

Businessman Willie Wilson threatens lawsuit to force Illinois to pay for face coverings under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order

Wilson , a two-time mayoral candidate who runs a medical supply company , has offered to sell millions of disposable @ @ @ @ @ of Chicago .
He has also donated a large number of masks to aldermen and @ @ @ @ @ to hand out , while sparring with Mayor Lori Lightfoot over how best to make @ @ @ @ @ comply with the face covering requirement .

Businessman Willie Wilson is threatening to sue the state of Illinois unless Gov. J.B. Pritzker sets aside money to help poor people buy masks to wear in public places during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pritzker issued an executive order this month requiring people in stores and other public places where they can’t socially distance to wear some kind of face covering.
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While the governor’s order said coverings could be fashioned from pieces of cloth or shirts, Wilson in a letter to the governor argued that people may not be able to do that, and said “scientific studies suggest that T-shirts, bandannas, scarves, and tea towels offer insufficient protection from the virus.”
“People should have the very best masks,” Wilson said Tuesday. “Poor people aren’t going to have masks. They’re going to try to go into stores and be put out because of that.”
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If the governor doesn’t amend his order by Thursday to help fund the purchase of masks, Wilson said he would sue in federal court “to compel you to include provisions for the indigent and vulnerable."
Willie Wilson appears outside the Thompson Center in Chicago on May 12, 2020, to speak about a letter he sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker calling on him to amend his executive order regarding face masks. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Asked to comment on Wilson’s letter, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abuddayeh responded with part of a Cook County Circuit Court finding in which a judge ruled against a request for a temporary restraining order blocking Pritzker’s mask requirement from taking effect. The court ruling notes that the governor’s order allows homemade masks and does not say that “people must buy masks that are expensive or hard to find in stores.”
Wilson, a two-time mayoral candidate who runs a medical supply company, has offered to sell millions of disposable face masks to the city of Chicago. He has also donated a large number of masks to aldermen and community groups in the city to hand out, while sparring with Mayor Lori Lightfoot over how best to make sure Chicagoans are able to comply with the face covering requirement.
Wilson said he isn’t trying to position himself to profit from the sale of masks to the state. “Well, I gave away 5 to 7 million masks already, so that certainly wouldn’t be the motive,” he said.
Wilson wants to run as an independent against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., in the fall election. The threatened lawsuit isn’t a move to raise his profile, he said. “No, my profile’s already raised,” he said.
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Watch live: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and health officials provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and state health officials are scheduled to provide an update on the coronavirus in Illinois at @ @ @ @ @ the latest coronavirus updates here .

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chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Thousands of Illinois families with mixed immigration status have been denied stimulus checks. Lawsu

Thousands of Illinois families with mixed immigration status have been denied stimulus checks. Lawsuits and lawmakers push to change ‘these inequities.’

The CARES Act , signed into law late March , provides emergency assistance to individuals , families and businesses affected @ @ @ @ @ .
The law offers one-time payments of up to $ 1,200 for adults and $ @ @ @ @ @ under 17 to taxpayers who filed returns using a Social Security number .
To be @ @ @ @ @ individuals to be U.S. citizens , permanent residents or qualifying resident aliens with a Social @ @ @ @ @ can not receive federal aid if one of the spouses doesn ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ they could receive a stimulus check if one of them is a member of the @ @ @ @ @ alleges .

U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, D-Ill., seen Jan. 14, 2019, is among lawmakers spotlighting how U.S. citizens married to immigrants are being denied coronavirus relief payments. On May 12, 2020, he urged Congress to “rectify these inequities." (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois lawmakers are urging Congress to strike language in the federal relief package that denies financial assistance to U.S. citizens wed to spouses who don’t have Social Security numbers.
U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy" Garcia, D-Ill., called on the U.S. House to “rectify these inequities in the coming days” at a virtual news conference Tuesday.
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There are more than 3,700 Illinois families who did not get stimulus checks due to the immigration status of a spouse, Garcia said.
“Imagine being denied financial stimulus assistance simply because of the status of your spouse. Imagine U.S. children denied of assistance because their parents are undocumented,” Garcia said.
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Several individuals married to immigrant spouses, including one Illinois resident, have filed lawsuits claiming it is unconstitutional for the federal government to exclude them from any financial assistance because of who they married.
On April 24, an Illinois man under the pseudonym John Doe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against President Donald Trump, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, alleging a provision of the coronavirus relief package denying $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans married to immigrants without Social Security numbers is discriminatory.
The suit asks that the section in question be removed from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and demands unspecified damages. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action certification, asks for a jury trial.
The CARES Act, signed into law late March, provides emergency assistance to individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 health crisis. The law offers one-time payments of up to $1,200 for adults and $500 for each dependent child under 17 to taxpayers who filed returns using a Social Security number. To be eligible, the law requires individuals to be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or qualifying resident aliens with a Social Security number. Mixed-status families cannot receive federal aid if one of the spouses doesn’t have a Social Security number, but they could receive a stimulus check if one of them is a member of the U.S. military, the suit alleges.
There are 1.2 million Americans who are ineligible to receive a stimulus check because they have immigrant spouses, according to the lawsuit, which cites figures from the Migration Policy Institute.
Doe, the man who filed the lawsuit, is married to an immigrant with whom he files joint tax returns. His wife pays taxes with an individual taxpayer identification number, which the IRS issues to workers who don’t have Social Security numbers, according to the lawsuit.
The suit alleges Doe and other Americans like him have been discriminated against because of the person they chose to marry.
Garcia was joined Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, and state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, and three lawyers representing Doe and others denied federal assistance.
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Vivian Khalaf, one of the lawyers representing Doe, said at Tuesday’s news conference there have been about 6,000 people who have signed up to be part of the John Doe case, including 1,500 Illinois residents. The firm also has filed similar lawsuits in federal courts in California and Wisconsin for other plaintiffs.
abjimenez@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @abdel1019


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--We’ve lowered the paywall on this essential coronavirus coverage

As the scope of this pandemic came into focus , I started thinking about people living in assisted-living facilities and @ @ @ @ @ bound to experience .
I ’ ve spoken several times at assisted-living facilities around Chicago @ @ @ @ @ aspects of life for residents is the social interaction and the activities and entertainment the @ @ @ @ @ s largely gone now .
Worse yet , many facilities have had to limit or @ @ @ @ @ seniors stuck alone in their rooms or apartments .
So maybe there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ at least that aspect of this crisis .
I tossed an idea out on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ the hashtag # PandemicPals , asking for thoughts and advice on how to network with @ @ @ @ @ where there might be seniors facing isolation .
Read more .

As a public service to our readers and community, we have lowered the paywall on some of our most critical stories so everyone can access this important information. We rely on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing.
We are updating a daily live blog with the latest developments on the reopening of Chicago and Illinois. This is where you’ll find updates on the number of COVID-19 cases in our area, as well as the most up-to-date recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Public Health, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
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As summer nears, Chicagoans are desperate to get out and about — to have a summer picnic with family, to get back to work, to get a haircut. Here’s how and when you might be able to do those things.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday a five-phase plan to get Illinois reopened as the COVID-19 pandemic slows its toll on health care providers. The plan, from “Rapid Spread” to “Illinois Restored,” splits the state up into regions and allows each region to open a different phase should the impact of the pandemic be different throughout the state. The plan also emphasizes that a region can move backward if the health metrics indicate enough risk. Read more.
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Testing for COVID-19 has greatly expanded in Illinois, with the state announcing more than 10,000 test results a day since April 24. The expansion has allowed the state to open up its guidance for who should be able to get a coronavirus test. The Illinois Department of Public Health is saying that testing is available without a doctor’s order to anyone with coronavirus symptoms or an underlying risk factor. Tests are also provided to people on the front lines of the pandemic, such as medical workers, first responders and employees of prisons or nursing homes. Search the map for coronavirus testing site near you.
All Illinois residents over age 2 must wear a face mask when they can’t maintain a 6-foot social distance in public. Studies show that the coronavirus can spread between people interacting in close proximity, including people who are not showing symptoms. Here’s where you can find them, what kind to get and how to make your own.
Americans are brainstorming with neighbors, posting questions on social media, and googling for tips and advice. The question at the center of all the hand wringing and head scratching: How do you thank the essential workers who remain out in the world, exposing themselves to greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, so that we can buy our groceries, receive our mail, travel by public transportation, and get health care if we need it? Here are some creative ideas to inspire you.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 68 (Chicago Tribune)
They were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many were proud grandparents. Two were sisters from a tight-knit South Side family. All were loved, relatives say, and will be forever missed. As the number of deaths attributable to the coronavirus ticks upward, the Tribune is working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region. These are some of those victims.
Hundreds of Chicago restaurants have pivoted their operations to delivery, takeout or curbside pickup after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all bars and restaurants in Illinois are closed for dining-in service through April 30. We’re collecting information on restaurants across the area that are still open for delivery or take out. Find a restaurant near you.
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A sign in the windows of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, seen on March 11, 2020, reminds people to wash their hands. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
You wake up with a sore, scratchy throat, and begin coughing and sneezing. It’s probably a run-of-the-mill cold, or it could be the beginning of a bout of seasonal flu. But with dozens of cases of the novel coronavirus surfacing in Illinois, some people are bound to wonder: Could this be the coronavirus? Here’s what experts advise for Illinoisans who fear they are showing signs of coronavirus.
The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has placed an extra burden on Chicagoland nonprofit organizations. Here is an evolving list of where you can make donations to organizations helping those in need.


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--United Airlines will give passengers worried about COVID-19 on packed flights a chance to rebook

Delta Air Lines , on the other hand , said it would limit the number of customers on board by @ @ @ @ @ of capacity in first class and 60 % in coach and other cabins .
Delta @ @ @ @ @ customers from picking middle seats and certain seats in two-seat rows when buying tickets .
@ @ @ @ @ next to someone they ’ re traveling with should speak to the agent at the @ @ @ @ @

United Airlines said it will give passengers on crowded flights a chance to rebook before they fly, after some travelers raised concerns about a lack of social distancing.
Starting next week, United said it will try to contact travelers 24 hours in advance if a flight appears to be nearly full so they can switch to a different flight or take a travel credit. The option also will be available at the gate if enough passengers to occupy at least 70% of all seats on a flight have checked in.
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It’s easy to understand why passengers would expect plenty of empty seats. The number of travelers going through airport security screening is down more than 90% compared with last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration. United has said 85% of its flights are less than half full.
But airlines have also dramatically cut the number of flights they operate, meaning some can still fill up.
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Previously announced policies designed to encourage social distancing on board may have left some travelers expecting to have an empty seat next to them, but that isn’t always guaranteed.
A San Francisco doctor’s photo of a crowded United plane was shared thousands of times on Twitter over the weekend. The man, who said he was traveling home with a group of doctors and nurses who had been working in New York hospitals, wrote that he expected middle seats to be empty based on an earlier email from the airline.
I wanted to update that I did hear from @united tonight. They reached out and were extremely gracious. No need to rehash the whole discussion, but here is what they said about their new policy: https://t.co/G2FrLdm78S — Ethan Weiss (@ethanjweiss) May 12, 2020
In a Tweet on Monday, he praised the airline’s new policy notifying travelers on crowded flights as “making the process more transparent and clear.”
United adjusted its seat selection systems last month to avoid seating customers next to each other when possible, including limiting customers’ ability to choose a middle seat when booking a ticket. However, the airline doesn’t guarantee those seats won’t be sold.
Delta Air Lines, on the other hand, said it would limit the number of customers on board by capping seating at 50% of capacity in first class and 60% in coach and other cabins. Delta has said it will prevent customers from picking middle seats and certain seats in two-seat rows when buying tickets. Passengers who want to sit next to someone they’re traveling with should speak to the agent at the gate, Delta said.
Southwest Airlines and American Airlines also said they are limiting the number of customers on flights, but did not say by how much. American has said it will block half of all middle seats through May 31.
An empty middle seat doesn’t guarantee the recommended 6 feet of space to prevent spread of the coronavirus, and major carriers like United, American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue require customers and crew to wear masks in flight.
While most flights are relatively empty, John Grant, senior analyst with aviation data firm OAG, was skeptical airlines would limit flight capacity as travel picks up. If airlines sell fewer seats, they will need to raise fares to compensate, something they will likely be hesitant to do as they’re trying to encourage consumers to begin traveling again, he said.
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lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--All In Illinois adds at-home learning resources for kids from state museums

Field Museum bird guides are one example of activities families may access through the Kids Content Series , a new @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office ’ s All In Illinois campaign .
Partnering with Illinois museums and @ @ @ @ @ educational resources for families at home .

A view upward at the Field Museum on June 25, 2018, shows the model skeleton of the titanosaur Máximo, the centerpiece of a newly remodeled Stanley Hall that includes hanging gardens and models of prehistoric flying reptiles. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
Museums are closed, but many of the ways kids can learn through them are now available online.
And kids might find some activities even cooler than walking around inside a museum — like bird watching.
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Field Museum bird guides are one example of activities families may access through the Kids Content Series, a new resource available on the governor’s office’s All In Illinois campaign. Partnering with Illinois museums and attractions, it offers kid-friendly educational resources for families at home.
“I think it’s a great reminder that we have these organizations in our state, and that they also consistently provide really high-quality digital and educational content,” said Emily Graslie, the Field Museum’s chief curiosity correspondent.
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Parents and children can use the Field Museum’s guides to learn more about plants, animals, insects and more.
Graslie said it’s a prime time to spy birds in Illinois. Birds like Baltimore orioles and orchard orioles are migrating from Central America, and you might be able to spot them in your neighborhood.
“These birds have flown thousands and thousands of miles,” she said. “It’s pretty special.”
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
She added that some of the birds’ favorite foods are, conveniently, grape jelly and oranges — foods that are safe for them to eat and that kids may have at home.
Put out a cup of grape jelly, she said, and, “You might get to see one of these amazing tropical birds come visit.”
Graslie hosts “Brain Scoop” on YouTube, and in a new video announcing the state’s website for activities, she thanked children for staying home and washing their hands.
Resources in the Kid Content Series will include coloring pages, word searches, videos and virtual field trips. Activities will be released throughout the next month.
Participating museums include the Field Museum, John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Ill., and Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, with more to be added.
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement announcing the series that it “also offers a taste of a variety of family-friendly experiences that will be available to them, once it’s safe to visit.”
abowen@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Chicago auto mechanic has faced short slowdowns after blizzards, but now no one’s driven anywhere fo

Chicago auto mechanic has faced short slowdowns after blizzards, but now no one’s driven anywhere for weeks. ‘This is a new one.’

“ Those big snowstorms , no one wants to move their car and you ’ ll have two , three @ @ @ @ @ happens , ” he said .
“ But this is a new one , where @ @ @ @ @ out and do anything .
But it always seems everything works out and we always @ @ @ @ @ ”

Al Shimizu works on a car at his shop, Nal's Auto Repair, on May 5, 2020 in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
For 45 years, Al Shimizu’s business has depended on people driving their cars near or far with barely a second thought.
During two months of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, Shimizu has scraped together work mostly from people not driving their cars: dead batteries, flat tires and stolen catalytic converters. “I guess the thieves were making the rounds. It only takes a minute to steal,” he said.
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Sheltering in place has led to far fewer cars on the road, and that has meant far fewer cars pulling into Shimizu’s garage at Nal’s Auto Repair.
The entrance under the "L" tracks to Nal's Auto Repair in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Shimizu, 74, launched his business in 1975 in Lincoln Park with his former boss, Nao Kasamoto — hence, “Nal’s.” They moved Nal’s to its current North Center home in 1982. Shimizu bought out his partner, who retired, in the 1990s.
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Shimizu has weathered many storms, literally and figuratively, during more than four decades in the business.
Until COVID-19, most crippling had been the actual storms — the legendary Chicago blizzards that paralyze the city.
“Those big snowstorms, no one wants to move their car and you’ll have two, three, four weeks where nothing happens,” he said. “But this is a new one, where people are afraid to go out and do anything. But it always seems everything works out and we always seem to survive it.”
Business has been erratic during the pandemic, Shimizu said. The average number of cars pulling up to the garage has dropped from 12 or more per day to one or two. Some weeks have been surprisingly busy, though, usually after a burst of warmer weather.
Al Shimizu, right, works at his shop, Nal's Auto Repair, on May 5, 2020 in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Shimizu has kept all four of his mechanics on the payroll because he doesn’t want to lose them. Instead, he’s stopped paying himself.
“The boss always takes the hit first,” he said. “I don’t want to lose our good guys because they’re hard to replace. There are a lot of mechanics out there but they don’t all do a good job."
Business was good enough before the pandemic that Shimizu was thinking of hiring one more mechanic. That plan is on hold.
[ Pandemic pivot: How Chicago-area businesses and workers are managing the coronavirus crisis ]
Shimizu was disappointed not to get a loan when the first round of money was issued through the Paycheck Protection Program. Last week, however, he was told to expect more than $40,000.
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“That was big,” he said.
He might even start paying himself, he said.
Shimizu and his team are at Nal’s for full workdays, even when there isn’t much work. They wear masks when customers come in, and try to keep 6 feet from each other. Before the stay-at-home order, lunch came from nearby fast-food restaurants. Now they make hot dogs, brats and hamburgers on a grill hauled in to economize.
A classic car under restoration at Nal's Auto Repair in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
The slowdown has allowed Shimizu and his team to tackle some long-term projects, such as restoring a 1969 Corvette for a woman who bought the car new with her late husband.
He figures business will pick up as soon as people revert to old driving habits. “All these cars are still out there, and when we break free of everything happening right now, we will probably get busy again,” he said.
The next-door business — a body shop, to whom Shimizu leases space — is hurting far more, he said. Keeping a car operable is still necessary for many people. Pulling a dent from a door has become a luxury.
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Shmizu has considered retirement for a few years, and entertained different scenarios for making his exit. He suspects COVID-19 will affect his plans.
"If I can get through this virus thing, maybe I can walk away and take some more time off,” he said.
jbnoel@chicagotribune.com
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Chicago-area companies and workers to face harsh realities about their paychecks and their place in the local economy. The Tribune is reaching out to hear, and share, their stories.


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting death — and fears of racial profiling — weighs heavily on Chicago’s black r

Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting death — and fears of racial profiling — weighs heavily on Chicago’s black running community: ‘The danger feels more and more personal’

“ It ’ s at the forefront of my mind .
The fear is there , but you keep pushing @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s OK. Keep running for your health .
Keep running for your @ @ @ @ @ ’ t let this take you down .
Running is what you do to feel @ @ @ @ @

When Picasso Russell meets with other runners, the conversation often turns to their gear — the newest, the warmest, the most comfortable.
But for Russell and other black runners, another topic arises: what is safest to wear while training.
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“Culturally, humor is our way of dealing with things,” Russell said. “I might kind of passively say, ‘I can’t wear that black or that gray,’ or, ‘I can’t wear all black where I live.’ Or, ‘It must be nice to wake up that early and run when it’s pitch black at 5 or 6 in the morning.’
“It’s almost a luxury you can run when there’s no daylight. It comes off as ‘ha, ha, ha,’ but there’s some truth beneath that.”
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Considerations such as what to wear, where to run and when to run to avoid being racially profiled have become even more prevalent in black runners’ conversations. A video emerged last week of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery being shot and killed while jogging in Georgia in February by a white man who was accompanied by his father.
After the video sparked a national outcry, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, into custody.
The Players Coalition — a group of professional athletes formed in 2017 to advocate for social justice and racial equality — sent a letter with more than 60 signatures to the Department of Justice demanding an immediate investigation into Arbery’s death. Many athletes have expressed outrage on social media about the shooting and extended sympathies to Arbery’s family.
We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes! Can’t even go for a damn jog man! Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I’m sorry Ahmaud(Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the..... pic.twitter.com/r1PNxs8Vgn — LeBron James (@KingJames) May 6, 2020
Arbery’s supporters across the nation ran 2.23 miles Friday, on what would have been his 26th birthday, to memorialize his slaying on Feb. 23. Protesters have linked his death with other cases of unarmed black people gunned down while engaging in everyday activities.
“The danger feels more and more personal,” said Matthew Manning, who co-founded the black running group GumboFit in Chicago with his partner Courtney Phillips. “If we had to make a list based on the deaths that have happened to black men and women, it’s basically for living. This one just resonated on another level.
“As a runner, this literally could have been us. These things happen here as well. There are moments (Phillips has) said to me and I’ve said to her, ‘Sometimes when you leave, I don’t know if you will come back.’ Sometimes that feels like an exaggeration, but every day there’s another reminder why it isn’t an exaggeration.”
Terrance Lyles laced up his red shoes Friday afternoon and began jogging down South State Street from East 71st Street.
The 45-year-old avid marathoner kept a slower pace than he’s used to — 11 minutes per mile — but he was in no rush. Instead of his usual playlist of R&B, hip hop and classical music, he took in the roar of cars on the Dan Ryan Expressway below as he rounded out 2.23 miles.
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Lyles turned off his music because he wanted to show respect for Arbery, whose death has shaken him as a black runner.
“He’s miles and miles away in Georgia and I’m in Illinois, but he’s with me,” Lyles said. “We’re one and the same because it can happen to either one of us. That’s why I consider this very personal to me.”
Lyles said he has faced racism while running outside. In 2008, he decided to explore a forest preserve trail system in the south suburbs. As he pounded his feet on a roadway close to the trail, a group of young white males passed him in a car and yelled out a racial slur, Lyles said.
“I was in shock at that moment that it happened, but overall I’m not surprised that some people still harbor those type of feelings,” Lyles said. “It makes you sad because it’s a shame that people feel like they have to still do that.”
Since Arbery’s death, Lyles has pondered the issue of safety as a black runner further with his Facebook group, Men Run Deez Streets, which focuses on fostering a running community for men of color. He already takes painstaking efforts to run in daylight, wear brightly colored gear, carry identification and keep tabs on his surroundings.
Despite their grief over the Arbery killing, Lyles said it has deepened his and others’ passion for running.
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“I feel like my runs are now dedicated to Ahmaud Arbery,” Lyles said. “Myself and other black men in my community have actually taken on the stride of becoming even more motivated to run.”
People of color can feel excluded from the running community to begin with. A 2019 national survey by Running USA showed only 3% of “core runners” — those who train year-round and compete in races — are African American while 85% are white.
Groups around the nation, including in Chicago, are dedicated to providing an inclusive space for black runners.
Matthew Manning and his partner Courtney Phillips, co-founders of a Chicago running group called GumboFit, before their morning run at Kenwood Park on May 9, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Manning and Phillips founded GumboFit to help foster that sense of community. The feeling of unity is especially welcome now, as runners are unable to meet for weekly group jogs while following guidelines to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
“It’s an affirmation of the power of creating space,” Manning said. “People come for the community and stay for the challenge, or people come for the challenge and stay for the community. It’s almost a spiritual and communal ritual to run together.”
Alan Brazil, who helps run the 2,000-member Black Chicago Runners — the MOVEment! Facebook group, said as many as 100 members gather on nice summer Saturdays for runs. His group was organized to inspire exercise and fitness, with members supporting each other on slow 1-mile jogs and cheering each other on during marathons.
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“It’s really like I’ve added a second family,” he said.
Now, as they run in isolation, runners post photos of themselves or their routes and participate in virtual runs to connect with each other.
“God knows, I’ve thought a lot about Ahmaud,” Brazil said. “Nobody goes on a run and thinks this will be the last day of my life (because of) someone who doesn’t know you and thinks you’re in the wrong place.”
Arbery’s death has interrupted the sense of peace many derive from running.
“For me, this just brought awareness about safety,” said Mike Brown, who lives in Hyde Park. “I thought running is generally a safe activity. It’s something harmless. If someone sees someone in running gear, someone would be like, ‘Oh, this guy is doing something to benefit himself fitness-wise.’
“In the past I never thought about that before. Maybe I was naive. You wouldn’t think someone would show up with a weapon.”
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Some runners said they tend to skip running while traveling, especially in the South. But unease can creep in even in Chicago.
The closure of the popular running path along the lakefront has forced runners to seek routes on side streets and in neighborhoods they might not be as familiar with. Russell recalled meandering from his Uptown neighborhood until he wound up in residential Bowmanville.
“I got quickly uncomfortable,” he said. “Nobody has seen me before. Let me get out of here.”
He returned to the main roads.
Russell, who also works out with GumboFit, said he feels a difference running solo versus running with a group.
“Without that pack and the context, you notice the body language and expressions of others,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s confusion or admiration. ‘What’s that brown person doing in the street sprinting?’ ”
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GumboFit co-founders Matthew Manning and Courtney Phillips do some stretches before a morning run at Kenwood Park on May 9, 2020. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Black runners said they worry that wearing a mask while running could increase instances of being profiled. People of color, following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by wearing masks, have been followed by security in stores, including two black men wearing surgical masks at a Walmart in Wood River, Ill., near St. Louis.
Laurence Holmes, who hosts a sports talk show on WSCR-670 AM and is part of NBC Sports Chicago’s on-air team, has a face mask that reflects his rooting interests.
“I have an awesome White Sox mask,” he said, “but it’s mostly black. I worry about stuff like that. I have one that’s a pink face covering. Other men of color talk about wearing bright colors too. At least it’s not weird now (to wear a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus). But the thought crossed my mind about what it looks like when a black man is wearing a black mask.”
Holmes has been running for 10 years, mostly around his diverse Hyde Park neighborhood, where he said he doesn’t feel “othered.”
“It’s not weird to see someone running down the street, to see a person of color exercising in the park here,” Holmes said. “I’m pretty aware of that. I rarely run outside of the South Side.
“It’s so funny. Occasionally I’ll post maps of where I was (running), and if I’m in South Shore, someone will comment, ‘Oh, you have to be careful down there.’ It’s not that dangerous to me. It feels a lot less dangerous.”
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Phillips, the co-founder of GumboFit, said black runners won’t be deterred. She feels a responsibility to continue to encourage her community to stay active and healthy.
“I’m concerned stepping outside because of the virus, and now there’s this,” she said. “Running on the street for (Arbery’s) birthday, you get the eyes looking at you. They know why you’re running. People not in the black community, how is it affecting them? Is there empathy?
“It’s at the forefront of my mind. The fear is there, but you keep pushing. We have to show that it’s OK. Keep running for your health. Keep running for your own well-being. You can’t let this take you down. Running is what you do to feel free and liberated.”
The Tribune’s Alice Yin contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Cook County sheriff accuses lawyers for jail inmates of shifting their demands over COVID-19 precaut

Cook County sheriff accuses lawyers for jail inmates of shifting their demands over COVID-19 precautions

“ It has been clear throughout this litigation that plaintiffs ’ counsel lack appreciation for the complexities of jail operations @ @ @ @ @ say nothing of these times of uncertainty , ” the sheriff ’ s filing stated @ @ @ @ @ in this litigation with no understanding of the tremendous burden it places on the sheriff @ @ @ @ @ for minimal gain , as nearly all of the relief they ’ ve pursued as @ @ @ @ @ the jail .
”

Sheriff Tom Dart accused lawyers for Cook County Jail detainees in a court filing Monday of playing a game of “constitutional whack-a-mole” over the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, saying he’s appealing a federal judge’s order dictating social distancing and other protocols at the sprawling Southwest Side facility.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly issued a preliminary injunction mandating specific measures to battle the spread of coronavirus at the jail, including additional testing, social distancing and banning double-inmate cells and group housing in most cases. The judge denied other relief sought by the plaintiffs, including ordering the release of medically vulnerable detainees because of the pandemic.
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The ruling came as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Loevy and Loevy law firm and the MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University alleging Dart has failed to stop a “rapidly unfolding public health disaster” at the jail, which has been identified as one of the nation’s leading hot spots for coronavirus infections.
In a 29-page brief filed late Monday, lawyers for the sheriff fired back at continued efforts by plaintiffs’ attorneys to seek the release of detainees, accusing them of using the pandemic to push a “decarceration” agenda that is disrupting efforts to keep inmates and staff safe.
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The filing also alleged that the plaintiffs have shifted their demands so many times, “it is what the sheriff can only characterize as constitutional whack-a-mole.”
“It has been clear throughout this litigation that plaintiffs’ counsel lack appreciation for the complexities of jail operations in ordinary times, to say nothing of these times of uncertainty,” the sheriff’s filing stated. “They have persisted in this litigation with no understanding of the tremendous burden it places on the sheriff’s office staff and for minimal gain, as nearly all of the relief they’ve pursued as long been in place at the jail.”
In appealing Kennelly’s injunction order, the sheriff’s office pointed to recent ruling in Alabama that overturned a similar injunction, saying it placed the district judge in the role of “super-warden.”
“The jail simply cannot operate under threat of contempt and disruption when so many resources have been invested to protect detainees — as much as is structurally and operationally possible, and well beyond what is objectively reasonable,” the sheriff’s filing stated.
Kennelly said in his order two weeks ago that the injunction will likely remain in place until coronavirus is no longer a threat to spread among the jail population.
Dart filed a notice of appeal with the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday, records show.
Meanwhile, efforts to contain the virus continue at the jail, which currently houses 4,032 inmates. As of Monday, seven detainees have died after contracting COVID-19 at the jail, according to the sheriff’s office. Another 190 inmates currently have the virus, seven of whom are hospitalized. Hundreds of others tested positive and have since recovered.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--A group of Chicago churches has formed a food delivery service that caters to underserved communitie

A group of Chicago churches has formed a food delivery service that caters to underserved communities and helps shoppers stay inside

“ We have to do something about this , because people are dying just wanting to get food and having @ @ @ @ @ essential jobs , ” said Derrick Puckett , lead pastor at Renewal Church of Chicago @ @ @ @ @ ’ s co-founding churches .
“ They can ’ t order groceries delivered to their @ @ @ @ @ have to go to the store because their SNAP or EBT benefits are not accepted @ @

Amid reports of COVID-19’s disproportionate effect on underserved communities, a group of Chicago churches has formed a food delivery service to help shoppers stay inside.
Chicago Delivers is a new partnership of four area churches providing vouchers/gift cards for groceries or meal deliveries to neighborhoods on the South and West sides.
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The program comes in response to recent statistics revealing the inequitable effects of the coronavirus on black and Latino communities.
Lukas Rivera, the 10-year-old son of pastor Erik Rivera, helps hand out box lunches to passersby and motorists with members of The Brook church on Monday, May 11, 2020, on Chicago's West Side. The Brook is among four churches collaborating on the Chicago Delivers program. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
“We have to do something about this, because people are dying just wanting to get food and having to leave their houses for essential jobs,” said Derrick Puckett, lead pastor at Renewal Church of Chicago, one of the program’s co-founding churches. “They can’t order groceries delivered to their home through Instacart. They have to go to the store because their SNAP or EBT benefits are not accepted.”
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The response has been overwhelming. Since beginning its program more than two weeks ago, Chicago Delivers has already facilitated more than $300,000 worth of food deliveries to more than 1,200 applicants and counting.
There is a waitlist, but applications are still being accepted. 100% of the donations go toward food deliveries. People can donate at the chicagodelivers.org through a digital donor box, direct wire transfer or the Zelle app.
Users of the program can choose between a one-time grocery delivery through Instacart or a month of prepared meals from the Chicago-based Open Kitchens. Grocery amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis and can range up to $300, according to Chicago Delivers.
Mary Rosario, left, and Alberto Mesa hand out box lunches Monday, May 11, 2020, on Chicago's West Side. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
The group tries to make as many accommodations as possible, including gluten-free and dairy-free options.
Once users have selected between the options, they can shop for their own groceries and meals. If they need extra assistance with their selections, coordinators are available to assess their needs and help them navigate the remaining aspects of the program.
The four churches collaborating are Puckett’s Renewal Church of Chicago, Progressive Baptist Church, Compassion Baptist Church and The Brook. All of the deliveries have been made possible by a network of volunteers and donations.
Emmanuella Carter is one of the volunteers. She normally works as the women’s ministry director at Progressive Baptist Church and said she switched to helping with the delivery service as soon as it launched.
Pastor Jeremy Barahona offers a prayer to a person in a car as members of the Brook church hand out box lunches Monday, May 11, 2020, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
“Usually their reactions in the beginning is the same, which is, ‘are you guys real?’ ” Carter said. The reactions she has encountered have been remarkable.
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“One of the first and most memorable calls I’ve had was a senior lady who was blind. She lived in a senior building, so people couldn’t visit her apartment, and she didn’t really have family or anyone to help her,” Carter said.
The woman feared risking exposure if she left for food but also had difficulty using her kitchen. She told Carter that she had eaten nothing the day before. Chicago Delivers was able to help.
"We were able to set her up with prepared meals from Open Kitchen. She just began to cry and she wanted to pray with me on the phone,” Carter said.
Pastor Erik Rivera of The Brook hands out box lunches with other members of the church Monday, May 11, 2020, on Chicago's West Side. The Brook is among four churches that have collaborated for the Chicago Delivers program. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
The ability for users to select their own items is an empowering part of the program, Puckett said.
“This is not to speak down, because food is food, but many programs don’t give people the chance to pick their own groceries. To be able to do that, folks have felt uplifted, taken care of and respected during the pandemic,” Carter said.
Chicago Delivers is actively seeking donations.
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“Different organizations, denominations, church networks, restaurants, business owners, anybody that wants to give, has been helping,” Puckett said. “It’s been a blessing to see people from so many different walks of life come together during this time, and not the division we so often see in our country or our city.”
More info: chicagodelivers.org


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Chicago imposes new rules for 3rd-party food delivery companies, requiring transparency on receipts

David London , the Senior Lead for East & Federal Government Relations at DoorDash , doesn ’ t think the @ @ @ @ @ “ Unfortunately , this unnecessary and overreaching regulation , issued under the guise of the @ @ @ @ @ lead to confusion and hurt restaurants and delivery workers , ” writes London in an @ @ @ @ @ DoorDash has already cut commissions in half for more than 2,000 Chicago restaurants through May @ @ @ @ @ focused on serving the restaurants , customers , and Dashers who use our platform as @ @ @ @ @ hope to find future opportunities to partner with Chicago and its restaurant community , ” @ @ @

New rules announced by Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday ensure diners who order delivery in Chicago will know exactly how much of their bill is going to the restaurant and how much is covering fees imposed by a third-party delivery company.
With dining rooms currently closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants are relying heavily on delivery and pickup orders for business. Many are now using third-party delivery services like Grubhub and Uber Eats to handle the logistics of the ordering and delivery process. But some restaurateurs have complained about high fees and other issues related to those companies.
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The new “first-in-the-nation rules,” from the mayor and Chicago’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection office will “increase transparency and fair competition,” according to a press release.
There are no new fees, but third-party delivery companies will now have to provide an itemized receipt that includes all of the charges. That includes the cost of the food, any taxes, delivery charge, tips and “any commission or service fee paid by the restaurant to the third-party delivery company.” According to the city, right now “customers may believe that the restaurant is receiving the full menu price of the food,” even though that’s not the case.
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“I think it may cause third-party sales to decrease," said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. "I don’t think people actually understand all the ‘hidden’ costs, and when they do, they may seek better values.”
On the flip side, Malnati said, “I think customers may also see that many restaurants are now charging a higher price for delivery than they charge in their restaurants, in order to offset the big delivery charge. They are often actually paying twice for the service. We have always employed our own drivers. It’s a much better solution, and is also a far better value to consumer.”
In an official statement, Grubhub took issue with the policy saying, "These arbitrary disclosure rules... represent unprecedented and illegal interference in private contracts freely entered into and negotiated by two companies. Even worse, the rules will do exactly the opposite of their intent by causing confusion to consumers. These efforts by policymakers risk discouraging people from enjoying restaurant meals safely at home and hurt our efforts to support restaurants.”
According to the statement, Grubhub continues to “support policy and legislation that help restaurants serve their communities,” but the company believes “a path to reopening these businesses must be the focus.”
David London, the Senior Lead for East & Federal Government Relations at DoorDash, doesn’t think the change will help restaurants. “Unfortunately, this unnecessary and overreaching regulation, issued under the guise of the current emergency, will only lead to confusion and hurt restaurants and delivery workers,” writes London in an email. He notes that DoorDash has already cut commissions in half for more than 2,000 Chicago restaurants through May. “We will remain focused on serving the restaurants, customers, and Dashers who use our platform as we explore our options and hope to find future opportunities to partner with Chicago and its restaurant community,” writes London.
Nick Kokonas, the CEO of Tock, is less worried. “It proves our point,” writes Kokonas in an email. “Tock charges a flat 3% of the sale to the restaurant. I suppose we will have to disclose that on the receipt now ... but it doesn’t affect the customer at all, and it’s as much as 8 to 10 times less than some other services which can charge up to 30%.”
Restauranteurs welcomed the new rules.
“There are times when the government has a duty to ensure the consumer is fully informed of all business practices, regardless of one’s feelings about a free enterprise market; this is one of those times,” said Kevin Hickey, chef and owner of The Duck Inn. “As a restauranteur, I have every right to not engage GrubHub because of their predatory service fees, but that removes my goods and services from a substantial portion of the market.”
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“It would be great if it helps bring down third party fees,” said Robert Garvey, chef and owner of Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. “I think consumers will be surprised at how much of the overall cost goes to delivery services.”
“Transparency before and during these trying times is always how we would like to operate,” said Donnie Madia, partner in One Off Hospitality Group. “And so should our third-party partners. So I would compliment the mayor on her decision.”
Still others don’t see the policy making any difference.
“I really don’t see how it will change the perception of the guest,” said chef Carrie Nahabedian, owner of Brindille and Kostali restaurants. “It’s ‘the cost of doing business’ in most people’s eyes. We’ve never done takeaway or delivery, but in a couple of weeks, we will start."
nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com
pvettel@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Glassdoor layoffs due to COVID-19 include nearly 200 in Chicago office

“ We have already initiated outreach to affected workers , ” Huffman said .
“ Our rapid response teams continue @ @ @ @ @ the state who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis with a goal of developing @ @ @ @ @ needs of all workers who have been laid off or furloughed so that they can @ @ @ @ @ ”

California-based job and recruiting site Glassdoor laid off 300 employees Thursday, or 30% of its workforce, due to COVID-19 business declines.
The layoffs affected 194 employees in Glassdoor’s 3-year-old Chicago office, according to required notice the company filed with the state last week.
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“Words cannot describe how sad I am that we find ourselves in this position,” Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong said in a memo sent Thursday to employees. “It truly breaks my heart to say goodbye to such a talented group of people for reasons that are outside of their control.”
Sutherland-Wong, who joined Glassdoor in 2015 and became CEO in January, cited the “unprecedented” health crisis for double-digit percentage declines in site traffic and direct sales, as employers “dramatically reduced" their recruiting.
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Glassdoor already had paused hiring, cut program costs and reduced executive salaries, with Sutherland-Wong taking a 50% reduction in total cash compensation for 2020.
“Unfortunately, all of this was not enough,” Sutherland-Wong wrote in the memo.
The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires businesses with 75 or more employees to provide the state with 60 days advance notice of pending plant closures or mass layoffs.
Glassdoor filed notice with the state last week about the 194 planned permanent layoffs, Illinois Department of Commerce spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said in an email Tuesday.
“We have already initiated outreach to affected workers,” Huffman said. “Our rapid response teams continue to work with employers across the state who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis with a goal of developing a plan to meet the needs of all workers who have been laid off or furloughed so that they can rejoin the Illinois workforce.”
Launched in 2008, Glassdoor quickly grew into one of the largest job sites in the world. In 2017, Glassdoor opened an office in Chicago’s Fulton Market district that housed 300 workers as of last summer, making it the company’s second-largest office outside its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay area.
Glassdoor spokesman Tyler Murphy said Monday that Chicago is still the company’s second-largest office, but declined to say how many employees remain after the layoffs.
The company announced plans last summer to double its Chicago footprint by leasing space in a new Fulton Market office building and adding up to 500 employees over the next few years.
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“We have no real estate updates to share at this time," Murphy said. “We continue to maintain an office in Chicago.”
Employees affected by the layoffs will get a minimum of three months’ pay, health care costs covered through the end of the year and the ability to keep their Glassdoor laptop “to help with (their) job search," Sutherland-Wong said in the memo.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--What does your face mask say about you?

What does your face mask say about you?

Although stay-at-home guidelines are gradually being lifted in many cities , social distancing is still in place .
The CDC @ @ @ @ @ face coverings in public settings , especially where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain @ @ @ @ @ toward reopening , it looks like wearing a protective face mask will be part of @ @ @ @ @ foreseeable future .
What your mask looks like has no bearing on how well it @ @ @ @ @ spread of the coronavirus , but our face is our way to communicate and express @ @ @ @ @ we wear are now becoming a form of self-expression .
Everyone from established fashion designers @ @ @ @ @ creating masks , with many donating all or some portion of proceeds to COVID-related causes @ @ @ @ @ easy to find a mask that says something about you .

Although stay-at-home guidelines are gradually being lifted in many cities, social distancing is still in place. The CDC continues to recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, especially where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. As the country moves toward reopening, it looks like wearing a protective face mask will be part of our daily routine for the foreseeable future. What your mask looks like has no bearing on how well it works in preventing the the spread of the coronavirus, but our face is our way to communicate and express ourselves, so the masks we wear are now becoming a form of self-expression. Everyone from established fashion designers to Major League Baseball are creating masks, with many donating all or some portion of proceeds to COVID-related causes, so it’s easy to find a mask that says something about you.


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--Another coronavirus change: Expo Chicago art fair moves to next spring

“ To have someone think long game like this is really , really helpful , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ that that ’ s out there , but it also helps us to know that @ @ @ @ @ where we can imagine there ’ ll be a lot less uncertainty than there would @ @ @ @ @ in September , October , November .
”

Claiming a new date on the American visual arts calendar, Expo Chicago, the big fall art fair on Navy Pier, is being postponed until next spring, the organization announced Tuesday.
The announcement of April 8-11, 2021, as the event’s next dates reflects an increasing understanding that the traditional late September long weekend was not going to fall early enough in the expected coronavirus recovery cycle, said Expo Chicago President and Director Tony Karman.
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A month ago, Karman still hoped that the 8-year-old event, which brings together galleries, collectors, curators and other art lovers, could take place on the planned September 24-27, 2020, dates.
“We just needed to make this decision and make this decision now," Karman said before Tuesday’s announcement, "to ensure the health and safety and well being of our patrons.”
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The decision follows the announcement last week of Illinois’s and then Chicago’s incremental plans toward re-opening businesses and public spaces. Both sets of guidelines involve crossing a variety of public-health hurdles before, in the final phases, large public gatherings might occur again, and both pledge to follow the science and the data over those hurdles.
"To Disarm: Angela Davis Mugshot," a teapot by Roberto Lugo presented by Wexler Gallery of Philadelphia at Expo Chicago on Navy Pier, Sept. 19, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Experts doubt the city or state will be ready by fall to host crowds as large as those of — full name — Expo Chicago, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, which Karman said has drawn nearly 40,000 people over the four days.
“It was obvious that the risk to so many wasn’t worth taking,” he said. “After all, we’re only as good as the exhibitors that were looking to do the fair, and it would have been hard for them.”
One of the more than 125 galleries that exhibit at Expo Chicago is the city’s Corbett vs. Dempsey, and like its Chicago peers it has been closed in order to help slow the virus’s spread.
Co-founder John Corbett said he fully supports the Expo Chicago decision to claim new time in the spring rather than just make a shorter-term postponement.
“To have someone think long game like this is really, really helpful," he said. "It helps us to know that that’s out there, but it also helps us to know that it’s a time where we can imagine there’ll be a lot less uncertainty than there would be, for instance, in September, October, November.”
Work by Spyros Aggelopoulos presented by Dio Horia Gallery of Athens, Greece at Expo Chicago at Navy Pier, Sept. 19, 2019. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Corbett, who sits on the fair’s selection committee, added, “You want it to be something where you can go into it really feeling gung ho about getting people out to see the work.”
Monique Meloche,an Expo exhibitor and founder of the gallery that bears her name in the West Town neighborhood, also backed the move.
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“It’s the absolute right decision,” she said. “I know they were very hopeful of being the first (art) fair to reopen during this thing, but it’s just become apparent the timing is not going to be right.”
One potential challenge with the change, she said, is that Chicago’s September weather is pretty reliably good, while April, the new Expo date, and May, the traditional date for Chicago art fairs before Expo began in 2012, “is always iffy,” she said. “Fingers crossed on the climate.”
On the other hand, countered Corbett, April might well be the time when art fair aficionados are feeling ready to get together in large numbers again.
With other fairs making postponements by steps rather than leaps, “the way things are rolling out, it may put Chicago in a position to be one of, if not the most, important fairs in that period in the United States,” Corbett said.
Karman said it remains to be seen whether Expo Chicago would remain on the spring calendar or seek to return to September for future editions.
sajohnson@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @StevenKJohnson


chicagotribune--2020-05-12--El Milagro delays reopening tortilla plant

In a letter to employees in late April , the company said that a longtime sanitation worker died due to @ @ @ @ @ disease caused by the new coronavirus .
Several other workers tested positive and showed symptoms @ @ @ @ @ ’ s temporary closure .
El Milagro said at the time that it would pay @ @ @ @ @ during the two-week closure .

An El Milagro tortilla factory that closed for two weeks of deep cleaning after an employee died from COVID-19 will remain shuttered for an undetermined amount of time to complete a construction project.
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The facility originally was only expected to remain closed through May 9. The company had said the temporary closure would cut its production of corn tortillas by 75%.
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“We voluntarily closed our plant to allow everyone (workers) at least a two-week quarantine and prevent spread of the virus. While it was closed, we elected to do some deferred construction, so we will reopen when that is completed,” El Milagro said in a statement Monday.
It was unclear whether workers at the factory, on Western Avenue on the city’s Lower West Side, will be paid during the extended closure.
The El Milagro tortilla factory in the 2900 block of South Western Avenue is seen April 27, 2020, in Chicago. The factory was shut for two weeks for a deep cleaning after an employee died of COVID-19, but El Milagro said May 11 that it will remain closed to complete "some deferred construction." (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
In a letter to employees in late April, the company said that a longtime sanitation worker died due to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Several other workers tested positive and showed symptoms, which prompted the plant’s temporary closure. El Milagro said at the time that it would pay employees 40 hours a week during the two-week closure.
El Milagro said in Monday’s statement that it has taken several safety precautions, including hiring sanitation staff to clean surfaces hourly, requiring employees to wear face masks or other types of face coverings, adding protective partitions in work spaces, providing more areas for lunch breaks to accommodate social distancing and staggering work shifts.
abjimenez@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @abdel1019