Business sectors directly affected by the coronavirus and mitigation employ 1.5 million Illinoisans. The longer the shutdown, the more industries and jobs face cuts.
“This is supposed to be the American Dream for me and my family … I’m holding on to everything I can, but I’m losing because of this house. It’s a nightmare."
“I really like the story of how we started this business. “My husband, Ben, and I started out 12 years ago. At the time, I really wasn’t expecting that we’d become full-time landlords. For me, it was a way for us to buy a house with the space we needed, plus cash flow. I come...
“There’s a silence among politicians. An apathy, when it comes to property taxes. And a history of mismanagement."
A quarter of Illinois’ workers are staring down the economic impacts of a global pandemic.
“We’re a hospital, and we also have a primary care facility and a specialty group. We serve all aspects of the community."
Our team wanted to give you a look at the harsh reality of life in downtown Chicago during the COVID-19 crisis.
“I had just built up a savings account for the first time. Now I’m fighting to keep everything."
Struggling businesses, individuals and families need relief while the economy is shut down. Despite Illinois’ financial woes, leaders can help the recovery by lifting government-imposed financial burdens.
“Before the health crisis, we were growing at such a rapid pace and scale that we were looking to expand either our space or to a second location this year. Now with the coronavirus, everything has come to a screeching halt."
State lawmakers putting together ethics reforms have not met since the first week of March, when the coronavirus ended gatherings.
"Isn’t it odd that people like us have to live within our means but government doesn’t? It makes no sense."
The last thing Illinois needs is more bad news for the sake of it. But ignoring this reality threatens to make this crisis worse.