The U.S. and over 20 other nations now have cases of a new variant known as Omicron. Questions about its impact remain.
The Omicron variant was discovered in South Africa due to the recent cause of COVID infections that occurred over there. Epidemiologists and government officials are concerned because this is the most heavily mutated variant known at this time.
The first case in the U.S. occurred in California. The variant has, as of now, been identified in New York City, Colorado, and Minnesota. The cases that have been reported consist of people experiencing mild symptoms or have been asymptomatic. No cases have been reported in Illinois at this time. However, Illinois as of this Thursday reported more than 11,000 new confirmed COVID cases. This is the most the state has seen since December 1st of 2020. The indoor mask mandate for public places will remain according to Governor Pritzker. President Biden has mandated that all international passengers will have to be tested for the virus in the 24 hours before they leave for the US, regardless of vaccination status. I urge you all to stay protected.
Get vaccinated. Get a booster. Get tested. Wear a mask indoors. To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.
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COVID-19 Count as of Friday, December 3rd:
Statewide Totals: 1,835,076 confirmed cases, 26,535 deaths and 39,650,009 tests performed
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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The Uncertain Future of Roe |
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The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Mississippi abortion ban on Wednesday. Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization is a horrendous example of when a state seeks to target women's lives in an unjust manner. Mississippi is seeking to ban abortion after 15 weeks gestation and asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe. A decision would likely occur next summer. This case is the most significant abortion rights case since the landmark 1973 Roe V Wade supreme court ruling, which legalized abortions in our country. I joined with 895 other state legislators around the country in signing onto an amicus brief in the case organized with the help of the State Innovation Exchange, or SiX, a progressive organization supporting state legislative efforts on progressive causes. You can listen to the oral arguments here.
Conservative justices have already signaled their support for Mississippi’s abortion restrictions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh sought to challenge the principle of precedent and cited past historical examples in which the court can and should overturn past supreme court decisions. Ignoring the fact that the context for past progressive wins was to restore or create equality, liberty, and justice for those who have historically lacked protections from our legal system. Justice Amy Coney Barrett callously suggested women could put a child up for adoption and go right back to work as an alternative, completely ignoring the fact that many women are in situations where they can die themselves during birth. The U.S. for several years has been cited for having the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, making this statement even more shocking.
The U.S. Supreme Court should not be used as an instrument at the whims of those who seek to push dangerous outcomes for many of us.
I will continue to fight for all people to have the right to have abortions and to lift barriers to access for such services that seem unmovable to many. When we were working to pass the Reproductive Health Act, many of my colleagues were resistant, doubting our assertions of the imminent threat to the rights guaranteed under Roe, preferring to avoid taking what they perceived as a politically risky vote. That was one of the most hard fought wins of my career, but knowing that we created a safe haven for reproductive health access in Illinois is a great comfort. Earlier this year, we repealed the Parental Notification of Abortion law that had needlessly endangered countless young people literally without a moment to spare. Now, as we brace for the influx of patients fleeing their home states seeking the care being denied them at home, we must find ways to support these patients.
Even before the current wave of restrictive laws began taking effect, Illinois was already seeing significant numbers of inbound patients from other states, most notably from Missouri which has only one abortion clinic for the entire state. Hope Clinic for Women, in downstate Granite City, has always seen patients from outside the state and they are reporting a dramatic increase in out of state patients, many of whom have traveled for days, exhausting what little resources they have. In coverage of the Supreme Court arguments this week, providers were sharing that they’re not just seeing patients from Texas, but are experiencing a bit of a ripple effect as patients in Texas fill appointment slots in closer in states, people find themselves having to search for appointments even further away.
I am thankful that our providers in Illinois are so far able to support the added demand, but remain concerned that this is not the solution. The harder it gets to access abortion care, the more it becomes a luxury available only to those with the means to travel, the ability to take time off of work, find childcare etc. And as our Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky often says, “Roe v. Wade was not the beginning of women having abortions, it was the end of women dying from abortions.” I stand proudly with Jan and my fellow pro-choice colleagues across the country and promise the fight will continue until we all have true access to the full range of reproductive health care services we deserve.
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House Majority Leader Greg Harris Announces Retirement |
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Earlier this week Greg Harris, our neighboring Representative to the south, my longtime friend and ally, and the current Majority Leader of the Illinois House announced that he would not seek reelection to his seat. Having had the pleasure of working with Greg since the early 90s and having shared the honor of representing this area with him for the last 10 years, I am of two minds here. I am obviously happy for my friend and excited to see what his next chapter brings, but I am also aware of the huge load he carries for our state and the incredible depth of knowledge and wealth of expertise he brings to the work. While he has made clear he intends to serve out the remainder of his term, his departure in 2023 will leave a huge hole to fill.
Greg’s possibly best known for leading the passage of the state’s marriage equality law, but Springfield types know he’s the go-to guy on all things healthcare and is arguably the most well-versed person in state government when it comes to our budget. Having served as an appropriations chair for several years and now continuing to serve on our chamber’s budget working group, I can attest that Greg’s skill in this area is immense and I will miss his steady leadership, wise counsel, and skillful negotiations.
When Greg took office in 2006, he replaced another giant: our state’s first openly LGBTQ member of the legislature, Larry McKeon. The 13th district has been well served by these two men who have done so much to improve the lives of our LGBTQ siblings over the years.
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Relaunched IL Rental Payment Program |
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The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will launch a second round of the Illinois Rental Payment Program this upcoming Monday, December 6th. Applications will be accepted through Sunday, January 9th.
Applicants are eligible for up to 15 months of assistance. The grant can cover the past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months if deemed necessary. The maximum grant amount is $25,000. The emergency rental assistance is provided by the Federal government and is free to tenants and housing providers. If approved, the grant will be paid to the housing provider in the form of a check.
You may find more program information including grant information, eligibility requirements, FAQs, and other resources by clicking the link below:
You can also contact my district office for assistance by calling 773-784-2002.
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Regalia Restaurant Ribbon Cutting |
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I was delighted to join the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce along with Ald. Harry Osterman's office in celebrating the opening of Regalia at 5959 N Broadway.
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Broadway Animal Hospital Ribbon Cutting |
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I was delighted to join Broadway Animal Hospital, Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and Ald. Harry Osterman for their ribbon cutting of their new location. Their services include general wellness, dental care for pets, spay/neuter, and much more. Book an appointment here and visit them at 6211 N. Broadway!
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2021 Gun Safety Report Card |
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I am thrilled to have received an A+ on the Gun Violence Prevention Action Committee’s 2021 Gun Safety Report Card. The Gun Safety Report card awards grades to legislators with an emphasis on the Block Illegal Gun Ownership (BIO) and Fix the FOID bill. I am excited about this comprehensive bipartisan gun safety package and will continue to advocate for gun safety for Illinois residents in my work. |
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The IDES has shared an instructional packet on how to create your ILogIn account. You can find these instructions below. |
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Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are still open. Through LIHEAP, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provides qualifying residents utility bill assistance. To apply and find more information on eligibility, visit here.
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Access Living has some upcoming virtual events focused on those with disabilities.
Listening Session on CPS Issues
Date: Thursday, December 2
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
Location: Zoom
This virtual event is a listening session to hear about issues affecting students with disabilities in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Both parents and students are welcome. They are looking for guidance on focusing their education advocacy from constituents themselves. Event information can be found here and registration for the event can be found here.
Emergency Prep for Immigrants with Disabilities
Date: Wednesday, December 8
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Zoom
Access Living's Disability and Immigration Taskforce of Illinois (DITI), in collaboration with the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois will be hosting a Zoom webinar on what a disaster could look like in the state of Illinois. If you are an immigrant with a disability, learn what you should do now to both physically and mentally prepare for a possible emergency. ASL/CART Captioning, Spanish & Chinese Interpretation provided. Registration for the webinar can be found here.
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Wild Onion Market Announcement |
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A food co-op is coming to the Rogers Park/Evanston area! Wild Onion Market has been organizing and is very close to finding a site for the store. This community-owned, democratically run, full-service grocery store will offer a values-based alternative to the traditional grocery store model — a place to shop for locally farmed and produced food, a store that cares about food access, equity and justice. Wild Onion Market will keep food dollars in our community, employ locally, and prioritize sustainability in food production and packaging.
Momentum is building and as of today, there are 969 Owners. Co-ops are powered by the community (without a corporate headquarters or parent company). The first 1000 Owners will be forever known as the "Founding Owners" the visionaries who took a stand in support of the dream and helped to lay the foundation for the cooperative. Founding Owners will be honored in-store with a permanent visual display and on the website with a page recognizing their support.
Joining the co-op costs $250 for a lifetime ownership share (one share = one vote). Monthly installment payments start at $10/month and scholarship is available making ownership accessible.
Learn more about the project, subscribe to email updates, and become an Owner at wildonionmarket.com. (It takes 2 minutes to join the co-op online using a credit card or PayPal. There is information about scholarship and instructions for paying by check on the website, as well).
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Lakeview Township Property Tax Appeals Workshop |
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Please support our Annual Fall Coat Drive! A wish list can be found on Target's website linked in the flyer below. |
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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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