Lake Michigan Water Rescue Bill Update |
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This past Wednesday our bill ( HB4165) that would require life-saving equipment along Lake Michigan passed unanimously out of committee. This is a major step forward and puts this bill on track to become law. Illinois would be the first state that borders Lake Michigan with this type of mandate if this bill becomes law.
By mandating rescue equipment such as life rings at all public access points to Lake Michigan, including beaches, piers, and other drop-off points we can prevent tragedies. Thank you to all our witnesses who testified. Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th ward even talked virtually outside in the cold on her way to a city council meeting to ensure we could get this passed. The strength of Maria Cisneros, the mother of our most recent drowning victim (Miguel Cisneros), provided a powerful testimony as well that moved many committee members.
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Maria Cisneros (Mother of 19 year-old Miguel Cisneros who drowned last summer) testifying with photo of Miguel in background. |
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Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward testifying in picture above. |
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That this bill is needed is a tragedy, but it also represents what happens when a community comes together to solve a problem. This recent victory is due to the constituents who have fought so hard last summer and in the previous years. Instead of being paralyzed in the face of such tragedy, many constituents pushed back and even went so far as to install life rings themselves. Special thanks to Halle Quezada who is a local resident who suggested a bill and even started a petition that received over 3,000 signatures and has been pushing hard for so long. Jim Ginderske, a very active constituent, who also sprang to action upon these awful tragedies deserves our gratitude as well. To the many others who have supported this is a big step. The bill will have to return to committee for purposes of a clarifying amendment and then will go to the House floor. Sen. Robert Peters will carry the bill in the Senate once we secure passage in the House.
If you’re interested in following our work, the committee schedule, meetings, and bill assignments are posted here.
Upcoming newsletters will continue to update on the session schedule and process and feature both the bills we’re introducing as well as interesting bills being presented by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
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COVID-19 cases continue to drop in Illinois. However, deaths continue to rise. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health deaths continue to rise. Illinois is now averaging close to 150 deaths per day over the last week. COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decline per day which is a good sign. As of Wednesday night, the state was only averaging 4,824 COVID-19 hospitalized patients which is an improvement compared to the records set during this surge that saw our state averaging more than 7,300 hospitalizations. We are at our lowest hospitalization rate since Christmas. As shown in the graph above from IDPH's website hospitalizations have dropped further this past week.
Boosters have recently been shown to offer significant protection against the effects of the Omicron variant. Please continue protecting yourself and limiting the spread as much as possible. There is talk of a new sub-variant called stealth omicron that has been shown to be on the rise. More is being looked into this new potential sub-variant and as we learn more from the CDC and IDPH we will keep you updated.
Get vaccinated. Get a booster. Get tested. Wear a mask indoors.
Testing remains an issue. As many of you have seen or experienced the "pop-up" testing sites that have been riddled with issues of poor protocols, delayed results, etc. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) unfortunately does not have oversight over these facilities. However, IDPH does regulate labs that partner with these sites to perform the tests. The labs are required to meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards. Each pop-up facility should have a CLIA number so please ask for that number if you do use those facilities.
Please call the CLIA hotline at 1-800-252-4343 to report any bad practices and conditions
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To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.
For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.
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COVID-19 Count as of Friday, January 28th:
Statewide Totals: 2,897,174 confirmed cases, 30,688 deaths and tests performed 50,798,837
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 Biden Administration to Begin Distributing Rapid At-Home COVID Tests |
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Americans are now able to order their tests online at COVIDTests.gov, and tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering. Every household is eligible to order 4 tests.
To ensure equity and access for all Americans, the Administration will also launch a call line to help those unable to access the website to place orders, and work with national and local community-based organizations to support the nation’s hardest-hit and highest-risk communities in requesting tests.
Individuals with private health insurance coverage or covered by a group health plan who purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 test authorized, cleared, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be able to have those test costs covered by their plan or insurance. Insurance companies and health plans are required to cover 8 free over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual per month. That means a family of four, all on the same plan, would be able to get up to 32 of these tests covered by their health plan per month. There is no limit on the number of tests, including at-home tests, that are covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment, including for those who may need them due to underlying medical conditions.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health is proud to be partnering with the Rockefeller Foundation to offer free COVID-19 tests to households in identified priority zip codes across the state. Eligibility is based on zip codes with the highest risk of Covid-19, using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) combined with state data on Covid-19 burden.
The website is live. Constituents living in eligible zip codes can go to www.AccessCovidTests.org to order a free test kit.
- Each household will receive 1 kit with five tests within one to two weeks after ordering.
- No payment information is required — both the tests and shipping are free to eligible residents.
- The program is currently limited to one order per residential address.
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Trilogy's New Mobile Crisis Response Service |
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The Restore, Reinvest, & Renew Grant Program Re-Opened |
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Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton recently
announced $45 million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program funding to support community organizations that serve neighborhoods most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence, and the war on drugs. Organizations interested in applying for funding can review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by clicking here.
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Energy Assistance For Winter Applications Open Until May 31st 2022 |
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The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Citizens Utility Board are reminding residents to apply for $200 million remaining in utility assistance under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Help Illinois Families initiative, an expansion of the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program under the American Rescue Plan.
This initiative remains available for all qualifying households with low income, regardless of how they may be affected COVID-19. The last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is April 15. After that date you can still apply through your local administering agency through May 31, 2022.
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LIHWAP Applications Open Until August 31st, 2023 |
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The LIHWAP benefit is a limited, one-time, assistance program designed to help households that are facing the threat of imminent disconnection, have already been disconnected or have past due (arrearage) balances over $250 for their water and wastewater services combined. Customers may apply one time for water and one time for wastewater for the life of the program, which is December 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023.
Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2023 or until funds run out. You can apply online here or call the hotline at 1-(833)-711-0374.
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Citizen Class with Chinese Mutual Aid of Chicago |
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2021 Exemptions Auto-Renewal |
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In response to COVID-19, the Cook County Assessor’s Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions; the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year.
If a homeowner received any of the aforementioned five exemptions last year (tax year 2020), they do not need to reapply this year (tax year 2021). If the Assessor's Office requires additional information from a homeowner to process the auto-renewal, they will be sent a booklet in March 2022 with instructions on how to reapply.
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Town Hall on Restoring Voting Rights for People Incarcerated |
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My office along with Senator Simmons' office and Rep Lashawn Ford is hosting a town hall on SB: 828 which is a bill that would restore the right to vote for people serving in IL state prisons.
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Jarvis Square Artisan Market |
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The 25th Annual Fillet of Solo Festival is still being served up HOT & FRESH! Next week marks the first of their LIVE events: a workshop led by 2nd Story on Wednesday, Feb. 2! Check out more details by REGISTERING TODAY on the Fillet website by clicking here!
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When: All month of February
Where: Rogers Park (Howard to Devon, Ridge to the Lake)
This winter season put your money where your heart is!
You can participate in weekly drawings throughout the month of February to win gift cards from local businesses. Support our local independently-owned business community by shopping small during this winter season.
Participants can win weekly gift card prizes for local businesses with a grand prize of $1,000 at the end of the month.
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Join Phylla Greenhouse & Plant Shop along with over 20 vendors for their first in-person event of the year! This event includes a plant swap & social, plant competitions, charity auction & raffle, and food & drinks to enjoy.
The event will be held Feb. 4-6 at 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave on the third floor of Edgewater Presbyterian Church. Be sure to register to receive updates on this event.
Register by clicking here.
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Support your local theatre! The New 400 is open for your movie-watching pleasure, but will now be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Proof of vaccination and masks are required for entry. So bring your card and come see a show!
Spiderman No Way Home: Wed, Jan 26 - Thurs, Feb 3
Scream: Wed, Jan 26 - Thurs, Feb 3
West Side Story: Wed, Jan 26 - Thurs, Feb 3
Licorice Pizza: Wed, Jan 26 - Thurs, Feb 3
House of Gucci: Fri, Jan 28 - Thurs, Feb 3
More information and tickets here.
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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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