CBS Chicago: Chicago To Lift COVID-19 Mask Mandate On Feb. 28

 

[VIDEO] A step in the right direction. Believe it or not it's been just about two years since this state and other states began their mitigation policies with regards to coronavirus. There were stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, schools were closed, some workplaces were shuttered temporarily, etc.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker already announced an end to the states mask mandate imposed from late last summer. And now the city of Chicago will follow suit. Feb. 28, 2022 the city will end its own mask and vaccine mandates for most public accomodations.

Of course as far as health care facilities or public transportation that hasn't changed as of yet. You still need a mask.

ALSO, forgot to note masks may still be required in the Chicago Public Schools.

Politico: Gov't favorability at 15-year low

I wonder how Illinoisians view their state government. I think it's somewhat easy to guage how Chicagoans view their city government. I would say for Chicago their view of city government is generally negative. What does Politico say about the nation as a whole:

A decade ago, Americans felt similarly about their local, state and federal governments. No longer.

Today, just one in three has a favorable view of the federal government — the lowest level in 15 years, according to a Pew survey. The majority of Americans remain satisfied with their local and state governments — 61 percent and 52 percent, respectively — but only 33 percent feel likewise about the federal government.
...
The survey of 1,514 people was conducted Apr. 4-15, with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

ABC: Breaking ground in Atlanta

This is the story from Nightline discussing Mary Norwood. An Atlanta City Councilwoman who will face off against Georgia State Sen. Kasim Reed next month in the race for that city's mayoralty. Norwood may be the first white mayor in a little over 30 years after a string of black mayors of that southern city from Maynard Jackson to the outgoing Shirley Franklin.

West Siders Want Handgun Ban to Stay

From Chicago Public Radio also via The Capitol Fax morning shorts today. Interviewed are some people who resides in West Garfield Park about the possible overturning of the gun ban in Chicago:

WOMAN 1: I think it’s going to be more killings, more robberies, more drive-bys, more crime.

MAN 1: I think it’s going to be kind of crazy. If everybody has got a gun, it’s going to be wild, wild west.

WOMAN 2: I don’t think it’s going to change one bit the amount of gun violence in this community. The people that commit the gun violence, they don’t go and stand in line and send in their applications for gun permits. They obtain illegal weapons and they use them illegally.

MAN 2: I lost a son in 2002 due to handguns. With this law being changed, somebody else’s son is going to be killed .

I cross posted this onto my other blog, The Sixth Ward. I decided this was an important issue worth covering on those parts as well.

The only thing I didn't add was my two cents worth. I think in some respects that these individual's fears are unfounded, however, I understand where it's coming from. Assuming that these individuals come from high crime areas.

I certainly share their concerns, however, while there are those who will start shooting for any reason. Of course those individuals are probably ones who ought to go without a gun. Of course should this impact anyone else who won't shoot for any reason.

I just saw the comment of Woman 2. It's the most sensible quote amongst them all. She's got it right! It's one reason I would like to see the overturning of the gun ban. It's not effective.