THE ILLINOIZE: Vaccine supply and demand downstate...Redistricting sucks all the air out of Springfield...National Guard to Chicago...LaShawn Ford and cops

April 20, 2021

Good morning.

It sounds like there’s going to be snow in many places around our state at some point today. It’s like Mother Nature is a little late to her April Fool’s joke.

Stay safe and careful out on the roads today.

I wanted to give you a little more information on our move to a paid subscriber model beginning May 1. Though, to really be technical, I should say May 3.

Here’s how it will work: we’ll be sending three newsletters per week beginning May 3. The first will be either Monday or Tuesday (still determining) and will be free to all subscribers and the public. Then, we’ll likely move to a Wednesday/Friday routine that are subscriber only. Breaking news alerts will either go to subscribers only or will give “free” subscribers a headline, but subscribers will get the details.

We’ll be asking for $7.99 per month or $75 per year. That’s less than two lattes at Starbucks every month and cheaper than a newspaper subscription with a specific focus on the government and campaign news you seek out.

We don’t have the sign up form ready just yet, but should have that for you by Friday or early next week. If you have any questions or thoughts, I’m all ears. (Seriously, they’re huge.) Drop me a note at patrick@theillinoize.com.

For now, let’s get into it.

VACCINE SUPPLY AND DEMAND MYSTERY DOWNSTATE

It’s kind of a chicken or the egg thing.

The state is redirecting as many as 50,000 first doses of the COVID-19 from downstate to the Chicago area.

Is it because downstate counties have plenty of supply or there isn’t enough demand for the vaccine?

Both, says IDPH.

“It seems that the supply now exceeds the demand locally in Effingham and Clay counties and in several other rural counties,” said Jeff Workman, the Administrator of the Clay and Effingham County Health Departments.

Clearly there’s hesitancy downstate, and Vermilion County Public Health Administrator Doug Toole says it’s not specifically COVID related hesitancy.

“No one can say they’re not getting vaccinated because it’s not available to them,” Toole said. As of Monday, 19.9% of Vermilion County’s population of around 77,000 is fully vaccinated.

Read more here in our story this morning.

ALL REDISTRICTING ALL THE TIME

Another day, another day of talking points about redistricting.

The House and Senate held a joint hearing on redistricting in East St. Louis last night. It’s something like the 237th “public” hearing either chamber has put on over the past couple of months, but none of the hearings continue to shed much light on the process.

Instead, groups argue against Democrats moving forward with legislative maps that don’t use accurate census data, that’s delayed due to the pandemic, and a few Democratic insiders repeat talking points about keeping the process “out of the hands” of politicians. Even though politicians draw the map.

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia) and Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) battled about how the census data or an estimate, the American Community Survey, will better represent the state’s poor and rural communities.

Here’s the skinny: Democrats are moving forward hell or high water to pass maps by adjournment on May 31. They’re going to use the ACS data instead of the census data and they know the GOP is going to challenge in court. But, Democrats tell us, they have plenty of case law that they expect a judge, or at least the Democratic-controlled Supreme Court of Illinois, will side with them on.

As for know, the GOP will be shouting from the rooftops in an attempt to damage Governor JB Pritzker, who pledged to veto political maps during his 2018 campaign. And they’ll be gearing up to hit Democrats with the attacks during the 2022 campaign.

For now, it continues.

GUARD TO CHICAGO

With a verdict expected as early as today in the trial of the Minneapolis Police officer charged in the death of George Floyd, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has requested help from the National Guard.

Governor JB Pritzker has deployed 125 Guardsmen to Chicago in advance of the verdict. Floyd’s death sparked the national “Black Lives Matter” movement in 2020, including numerous violent protests and riots in Chicago.

Here’s more on the state sending the Guard to Chicago.

FORD ON COPS

Interesting story in this morning’s Chicago Sun-Times on comments by Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) on what he calls racism and “ignorance” of police.

“If we want to change the behavior of police, we have to educate them,” Ford said.

He filed a bill yesterday to amend the state’s police training law and create a “critical race theory academy” comprised of members ranging from scholars to sociologists and community organizers who are experts in the theory, as well as members of the General Assembly and law enforcement officers.

As you can imagine, the Chicago FOP blew a gasket at the proposal.

Not to mention everything happening on the streets of Chicago, Rockford, Champaign, etc. between police and African American or Hispanic communities, but you have a tense relationship between the legislature, specifically the Legislative Black Caucus and police.

It’s interesting to know what Ford’s comments will have on ongoing discussions between Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) and police representatives on a clean up, or “trailer” bill to the legislature’s controversial criminal justice reform passed in January.

Everyone, even police, will agree there are shortcomings in modern policing. But to have a State Representative who knows how to find Chicago TV cameras calling police racist surely doesn’t help make the process any less complicated.

CONDOLENCES

RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard let us know yesterday about the passing of the Claire Serduik Anderson, RTA’s Director of External Affairs. Claire passed away Friday after an unexpected medical event around Easter.

Her husband, Kurt, worked for former Governor Quinn, is now a lobbyist for Novartis. I’ve never heard negative things about either of them, and it’s terribly sad, especially for their young son. Keep them in your prayers. There’s also a GoFundMe to help out the family. You can contribute here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday tomorrow to former State Representative Bob Winchester. I got to know Bob last year as he supported a congressional candidate I worked with and he’s a wonderful guy who cares deeply about southern Illinois. We hope he has a great day.

Happy Birthday tomorrow to former State Senator Laura Kent Donahue, the pride of Quincy.

BEFORE WE GO…

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Have a great week.