Session Overview and Bridge Phase:
Updated State and City Guidelines on Reopening
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With just 13 scheduled session days before adjournment, we are heading into the home stretch with a great deal more left to do. We anticipate seeing the proposed legislative map in the days ahead, while we continue to work through Senate bills in the House, continue work on the budget, and await other major legislation such as the Clean Energy Jobs Act, ethics and elections reform, and trailer bills for cannabis and criminal justice reform. If that sounds like a lot of work in a very short amount of time, it is, but it’s doable. We sometimes joke that session days are a little like dog years. |
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Between now and May 31, we’ll try to do updates a little more frequently with news on my pending legislation as well as features on some of the bigger bills working their way through. I’ll also try to do a bit more every day on our social media channels, so be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more up to date information and calls to action.
Twitter: @RepKellyCassidy
Facebook: @RepCassidy
Instagram: @Kmcchicago
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Bridge Phase
On Friday, May 14th the “Bridge Phase” started in Illinois and in the city of Chicago. As more residents are getting vaccinated, Illinois is working to move to Phase 5 in which the state will fully reopen with businesses and recreation resuming normal operations as well as where conventions, festivals, and large events can take place with no capacity limits. Governor Pritzker has announced he hopes to start Phase 5 on June 11. During this Bridge Phase, residents should still continue to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask in public.
State Guidelines for the Bridge Phase
Dining
- Seated areas: Patrons should be at least 6 feet apart with parties of no more than 10
- Standing areas: 30% capacity indoors; 50% capacity outdoors
Health and Fitness
- 60% capacity
- Group fitness classes of 50 or fewer indoors or 100 or fewer outdoors
Offices
Personal Care
Retail and Service Counter
Amusement Parks
Festivals and General Admission Outdoor Spectator Events
- 30 people per 1,000 sq. ft.
Flea and Farmers Markets
- Indoor: 15 people per 1,000 sq. ft.
- Outdoor: 30 people per 1,000 sq.ft.
Film Production
Meetings, Conferences, and Conventions
- Lesser than 1,000 people or 60% capacity
Museums
Recreation
- Indoor: Lesser of 100 people or 50% capacity
- Outdoor: Maximum groups of 100; multiple groups permissible
Social Events
- Indoor: 250 people
- Outdoor: 500 people
Spectator events (ticketed and seated)
Theaters and Performing Arts
Zoos
While the state has announced these guidelines the city of Chicago can impose stricter regulations. View a full list of city guidelines in the bridge phase here.
Illinois could revert back to a previous phase in its reopening plan if there is a resurgence in the pandemic. That would be measured by an unspecified "increasing trend" in Illinois' case rate as well as one of the following, measured over a 10-day monitoring period:
- Hospital admissions for COVID-19 like illness trend increasing and above 150 daily average
- COVID-19 patients in the hospital trend increasing and above 750 daily census
- Mortality rate trend increasing and above 0.1 daily average
- ICU bed availability < 20%
In vaccine news, this week youth ages 12-16 became eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. To find an appointment for a teenager in your life, visit zocdoc.com/vaccine.
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COVID-19 Count as of Wednesday, May 19th:
If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 800-889-3931
Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov
City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 312-746-4835
Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
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Non-Taxable Unemployment Benefits |
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Earlier this spring, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan stimulus package into law. Included among the relief measures was a provision making the first $10,200 per taxpayer (up to $20,400 for married taxpayers filing jointly) in 2020 unemployment benefits nontaxable for all filers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) under $150,000. For those of you who collected unemployment benefits last year, this may entitle you to a larger income tax refund.
If you also filed your federal income tax return early, the IRS will automatically recalculate your federal return and issue a refund on any overpayment that results. For more information on this process, please consult the updated IRS guidance.
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If you filed by paper before March 15, you will need to file an amended Illinois return using Form IL-1040-X which can be found on the IDOR website. Please write "Unemployment Exclusion" across the top of your Form IL-1040-X. Information on how to properly exclude unemployment income and re-compute your AGI is available on the IRS website.
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If you filed electronically or by paper after March 14, and included your unemployment exclusion no further action is needed. You can track the status of your Illinois tax refund check by visiting myrefund.illinoiscomptroller.gov.
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If you filed your 2020 Illinois tax return electronically or by paper after March 14, and did not include your unemployment income exclusion you will need to file an amended Illinois return using Form IL-1040-X which can be found on the IDOR website. Please write "Unemployment Exclusion" across the top of your Form IL-1040-X. Information on how to properly exclude unemployment income and re-compute your AGI is available on the IRS website.
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Illinois Rental Payment Program How to Apply Webinar |
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Our office has partnered with the Illinois Housing Department Authority, Alderwoman Hadden and Senator Simmons to host a "How to Apply" webinar for landlord and tenants interested in applying for the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP). The event will take place on Tuesday, May 25 at 6PM.
Login the day of to participate via webex here or join by phone:
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
+1-240-454-0879 USA Toll
Access code: 177 234 7759
Applications have opened and can be found here.
- Tenants can initiate applications starting Wednesday, June 9th. Housing providers/landlords may initiate a joint application starting Monday, May 17 through Monday, June 7.
- Tenants will have until Monday, June 14 to complete their portion of a landlord-initiated application.
- Tenants may initiate their own application starting Wednesday, June 9 through Monday, June 28.
- Landlords will have until Tuesday, July 6 to complete their portion of the tenant-initiated application.
If you are interested in applying and need assistance with the application please find a list of local housing stability services providers here. More details and FAQs can be found on the IHDA website.
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Small Business Grants, Loans and Funds |
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The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding. Learn more and apply here.
My Block My Hood My City Small Business Grant: To help keep businesses open during the pandemic they are awarding relief grants to small businesses totaling $500,000. Maximum grant is $25,000. Apply ASAP, submission deadline is May 30th. More information here.
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Care for Real Food Pantry Extended Hours & Drive-Through Location |
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Starting May 20th, Care for Real will be providing free food in a new drive-thru format.
Location: Parking lot of Misíon Cristiana Elim
1615 W. Morse Ave.
Hours: Thursdays from 4PM - 6PM
Directions: Vehicles enter the parking lot from southbound Ashland Ave. Individuals are to remain in their cars during distribution. Staff and volunteers will be collecting household information and dietary needs in advance to groceries being distributed.
For individuals without a car or who prefer not to drive, Tuesday afternoon hours will remain for the walk-up pantry at United Church of Rogers Park, at 1545 W. Morse Ave. from 12PM - 2PM.
For more information and to learn how to volunteer and support visit Care For Real's site.
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New Leaf:
Free legal aid cannabis conviction resource
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As part of the Cannabis Taxation and Regulation Act we passed in 2019, part of the sales tax revenue goes to legal aid organizations that provide free state funded services dedicated to clearing past cannabis convictions for eligible Illinois residents at no charge. New Leaf is one of those organizations. This free resource is specifically designed as a step toward righting the wrongs of the decades-long war on drugs.
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ComEd Small Business Assistance Program |
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The Small Business Assistance Program provides eligible small business customers, with a one-time grant up to $1,000 towards a past due balance, once every 12 months. Eligible customers may also place a remaining balance into a payment plan of up to six months.
Eligibility:
Small business customers applying for this program must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have an active ComEd service account (includes customers disconnected within the past 30 days).
- Use less than 1400 kilowatts (kWs) of peak demand. This includes customers who are
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0-100kW or watt hour. To confirm the amount of kWs your business uses, reference your ComEd bill (see sample bill).
- Have a past balance, per the bill due date.
- Have not received Nonprofit Special Hardship grants in 2020.
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49th Ward Youth Advisory Council Needs Recruits |
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Are you a young person in the 49th Ward with an interest in leadership and civics? Come join us for our upcoming Prospective Members Meeting for the 49th Ward Youth Advisory Council!
The Youth Advisory Council is open to all 14 -19 year-olds who either live or go to school in the 49th Ward. Members provide legislative feedback, learn about governmental processes, and develop community projects.
The Council is currently recruiting new members for the Summer 2021 term, which will run from the beginning of June to the end of August. Any interested youth are highly encouraged to attend the Prospective Members Meeting on June 1st at 5 pm to learn more about the Council.
If you have any questions or are unable to attend the meeting but would like to join, please email grayson@49thward.org for more information.
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The Northside American Job Center at Truman College and Illinois Department of Employment Security are hosting a virtual job fair on Wednesday, May 26 at 10:00 AM.
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
5533 N Broadway
Chicago IL 60640
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773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)
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