Not to drag new Cubs starting pitcher Zach Davies into this, but his assessment of the team’s rotation the other day probably won’t keep many opposing hitters up at night.
“People talk about how it’s not a great group of starters, or whatnot, just because of velocity and strikeouts and whatever,” he said in a video conference with reporters. “I’ll take five guys that are going to work their ass off in the rotation and compete every single game, compared to guys with just pure stuff.”
Well, sure, hard work and competitiveness are good things. But is there really any selling a Cubs rotation without any oohs-and-aahs arms — without a Yu Darvish — as good enough or well-rounded enough? Isn’t having both the willingness and the whiplash-inducing stuff the key to the whole operation?
But this column is off to a terrible start because it’s Opening Day at Wrigley Field and we’re supposed to be happy and hopeful. Kyle Hendricks will be on the mound against the Pirates, and he is the very embodiment of what Davies described. There’s nothing lacking in Hendricks. OK, maybe 8-10 mph, but who’s counting?
This Cubs season could be all about believing in what you don’t see. You don’t see any pitchers who look like typical aces. You don’t see a third baseman in Kris Bryant who resembles his MVP self anymore. You don’t see Bryant and fellow infield stars Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo knowing where their futures stand with the organization in this, the mother of all walk years.
You don’t see the new left fielder, Joc Pederson, looking especially different in any way from the old left fielder, Kyle Schwarber. You don’t see Pederson’s new team, the Cubs, looking anywhere near as potent as his old team, the world champion Dodgers.
You don’t see 90-plus-win expectations surrounding the Cubs.
“We don’t care about that, honestly,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said. “That’s it, really. … It’s irrelevant.”
It’s as irrelevant as you want it to be. You can believe whatever you want to believe. Or not believe whatever you don’t want to believe. That’s the beauty of Opening Day.
And speaking of the weather, is it true what the hardy folks say about it being merely a state of mind? I have my doubts. I’m expecting to scan an 80% empty ballpark on a day with temperatures in the 30s and see several thousand freezing, miserable fans asking one another, “Did we really miss live baseball this much? What the hell were we thinking?”
But what do I know? Those same fans might gaze at the green grass through the icicles in their eyelashes and be stirred deep in their souls by how gorgeous and wonderful it is. They might even look at all the things that aren’t there with these Cubs and nevertheless, powered by positive thinking, see another World Series on the horizon. Talk about Opening Day magic.
Soon, the weather will be more suitable for baseball by anyone’s definition. A smart, crafty Cubs rotation could flourish. Bryant could bounce all the way back. Bryant, Baez and Rizzo could sign extensions. Maybe at least one of the three? Pederson could homer nonstop like he did during spring training. The Cubs could rise as the Dodgers fall.
Possible? It depends how you see things. Are the stands 80% empty or are they 20% full?
Pass the hot chocolate. Even if it’s already cold.
The Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network announced Wednesday it has reached an agreement with streaming service FuboTV, giving it a second over-the-top provider one day before Opening Day. Marquee had been available only on AT&T TV among streamers.
FuboTV is a sports-focused service with about 90 channels, including local channels, 30 of the top 35 cable channels and regional sports networks, according to the website The Streamable, which tracks and reports on the steaming industry.
“We are thrilled to have fuboTV offering Marquee Sports Network to Cubs fans. FuboTV has prioritized live sports, and we look forward to them carrying Cubs baseball all season long,” Marquee Sports Network general manager Mike McCarthy said.
FuboTV normally costs $64.99 per month and offers add-on packages. In the Chicago market, all subscribers will pay an additional $6 regional sports fee. In the coming weeks, Marquee will be available in fuboTV’s basic English language channel package in the Chicago area and surrounding regions, including Indianapolis, South Bend, Indiana, and Des Moines, Iowa.
In Chicago, FuboTV already carries ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo and Univision affiliates, as well as ESPN, FS1, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network and NHL Network among many others.
According to the company, it had 548,000 paid subscribers at the end of 2020, representing a 73% year-over-year increase and exceeding its expectations of up to 510,000 subscribers by the end of the year. AT&T TV reported it had 656,000 subscribers in September.
Hulu Live TV (4 million), YouTube TV (3 million) and Sling TV (2.47 million) are the top three live-TV streaming services in terms of subscribers. Marquee, which is owned jointly by the Cubs and Sinclair, was on Hulu Live TV last season but was dropped in October.
RSNs have had problems appearing on the top streaming services. The 19 former Fox regional sports networks that Sinclair owns – which were rebranded as Bally Sports on Wednesday – also aren’t on Hulu, YouTube or Sling. They’re only on AT&T TV.
Streaming services differentiate themselves from cable and satellite providers by their price. They generally have one tier of programming, and because they don’t have the volume of channels that cable and satellite do, they cost much less. They also rarely have the RSN fees that accompany linear TV.
Marquee and other RSNs can’t cut the streamers a break because of what’s called a “most favored nation” clause, which prevents programmers from giving one provider a better deal than another. Also, programmers such as Sinclair don’t have the leverage with streamers that they do with other providers. In fact, Hulu dropped Sinclair’s 23 CBS affiliates for six weeks before reaching an agreement in January.
Fubo launched as a soccer streaming service in 2015 and began broadcasting all sports in 2017 before becoming a virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD).
LARGEST LIVE-TV STREAMING SERVICES IN U.S. (most recent reports)
Chicago police’s 15th District, which covers Austin, has reported 28 shootings this year.
A man was shot and seriously wounded Wednesday afternoon in Austin on the West Side.
A gunman in a black Jeep fired shots at the man as he stood on a sidewalk in the 5500 block of West Corcoran Place, according to Chicago police.
The man, 25, was shot about 1 p.m. and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.
Chicago police’s 15th District, which covers Austin, has reported 28 shootings this year through March 28, according to police statistics. That’s one less shooting than the district saw over the same period in 2020.
Pat Nabong/Sun-TimesChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a West Pullman neighborhood news conference Wednesday morning.
Illinois’ COVID-19 uptick took another step up Wednesday as Chicago’s “quantum leap” in cases raised more concerns of a potential third surge of the virus, officials said.
Another 2,592 residents across the state were diagnosed with the virus among 77,727 tests, which lowered Illinois’ average positivity rate to 3.3%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But that key metric has shot up 57% overall in under three weeks, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have jumped 24% over the same time frame. More than 1,400 beds were occupied by coronavirus patients Tuesday night, the most the state’s hospitals have treated since Feb. 24.
1:04 p.m. Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine protects younger teens
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.
Most COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and older. But vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic — and helping schools, at least the upper grades, start to look a little more normal after months of disruption.
In a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, preliminary data showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among those given dummy shots, Pfizer reported.
It’s a small study, that hasn’t yet been published, so another important piece of evidence is how well the shots revved up the kids’ immune systems. Researchers reported high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, somewhat higher than were seen in studies of young adults.
11:53 a.m. 26 Chicago restaurants chosen for DoorDash accelerator program
Geri Hernandez’s restaurant, Savory Crust Gourmet Empanadas, switched to solely takeout and delivery in October 2020 as the pandemic put a major strain on the costs of its branches in Morton Grove and Carol Stream.
As a small business “you’re hanging on a thread anyway,” said Hernandez, the CEO and co-founder. “When the pandemic hit, I thought we were done, that we were going to close. It was a scary time, scary for the whole year. Even now, you don’t know what’s going to happen, there’s a lot of uncertainty.”
Savory Crust is one of 26 Chicago-area restaurants picked to participate in DoorDash’s inaugural Main Street Strong Accelerator Program.
In all, 100 restaurants nationwide will receive a $20,000 grant, access to training support through an eight-week hands-on restaurant operator course that involves small business advising and mentorship, one-on-one financial, legal, and technological expert advice as well as free marketing and merchandising from DoorDash.
More than three-quarters of the Chicago-based restaurants picked for the program are owned by women, 92% by people of color and nearly 40% by immigrants.
Ms. B’s Kitchen & Catering owner and manager Tawanda Stange said she applied to the program for the financial assistance and the additional support services that come with the training, as well as access to the communities and networks of other restaurant owners participating.
“I was super excited. I’m still really excited. I really need this,” Stange said. “Just being involved in something like this will give me the extra push I need to take my business to another level, with confidence.”
10 a.m. City opening mass vaccination sites at Wrigley conference center, Chicago State
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Chicago will open two new mass vaccination sites on Monday — one at Chicago State University, the other at a conference center adjacent to Wrigley Field.
The decision to open two more mass vaccination sites in addition to the one already operating in a United Center parking lot comes just one day after the city expanded vaccine eligibility to include all essential workers and adults with underlying medical conditions, excluding smokers.
The Wrigley Field site will be at the American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way, the open-air plaza adjacent to the stadium. The Cubs play their home opener on Thursday.
It will be operated by Advocate Aurora Health and have the capacity to administer roughly 2,000 daily doses of the coronavirus vaccine, by appointment only. Appointments will be posted on zocdoc.com/vaccine later this week with additional appointments added each day.
Chicagoans also will be able to book appointments by phone; details on that process will be announced in the coming days. There will be no on-site registration.
9:50 a.m. Reopening retreat: State’s move into less restrictive ‘bridge phase’ pushed back as cases rise, hospital beds fill
Reopening plans are being pushed back in Illinois as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations rise yet again statewide, public health officials announced Tuesday.
With 70% of seniors vaccinated with at least one dose, the state had been on pace to see some business restrictions lifted this week under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “bridge phase” before a full reopening by May.
Not so anymore, as coronavirus cases mount and more people head to hospitals with the deadly respiratory disease. The governor’s intermediate reopening plan also required hospitalizations to “hold steady or decline over a 28-day monitoring period.”
That count has risen almost daily since hitting a one-year low of 1,082 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients March 12. A total of 1,396 beds were taken up Monday night — the most since late February.
“As long as new hospital admissions continue to increase, the state will not advance to the Bridge Phase and on to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan,” officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. “The number of cases of COVID-19 has seen an increasing trend as well. Health officials continue to urge all residents to continue to mask up, socially distance, and avoid crowds to reduce transmission and bring the metrics back in line to transition to the Bridge Phase.”
The state also reported 86,812 vaccine doses were administered Monday. About 105,040 shots are going into arms every day.
Analysis & Commentary
9:52 a.m. I didn’t expect ‘doom’ to be so exhausting
“Impending doom.”
I read the words aloud to my wife.
“Now there’s a phrase that you just don’t see very much,” I continued. “I wonder if other things ‘impend.’ Or is it just doom?”
She started to read something on her phone. The winds buffeted the old house, which groaned like a clipper ship rounding the Horn Monday night, as we fished the internet for news which, despite an upswing in positive developments — vaccines rolling out more and more, weather improving, that ship stuck in the Suez Canal finally freed — suddenly seems grim.
“The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of ‘impending doom’ from a potential fourth surge of the pandemic,” I read. “CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, appeared to fight back tears as she pleaded with Americans to ‘hold on a little while longer’ and continue following public health advice, like wearing masks and social distancing, to curb the virus’s spread.”
When government officials start to cry, that’s usually bad, right? Despite everything that’s gone on for the past … ah … year plus, the people in charge do not generally weep.
Not much can take away from the buzz of Opening Day. Every year, the promise of summer is mixed with the joy of what is, essentially, a kid’s game, as long as you’re willing to ignore the fact that 5-year-olds don’t have contract disputes.
No, Opening Day is almost always all good, especially this year, especially for the White Sox and especially with a pandemic that won’t seem to let go of us. More relief is always welcome on the COVID-19 front. And with this team, there’s not just the anticipation of the first game of the season but the hope for a deep run in the playoffs.
Somewhere in there, though, is the bummer of Eloy Jimenez’ chest injury, which necessitated surgery Tuesday to repair a torn pectoral tendon, which will require five to six months to heal before he can play again.
Which stinks.
The left fielder is one of the many talented cogs in the Sox’ machine, but it’s going to be a challenge to replace the kind of production he put up in 55 games during a pandemic-shortened 2020: a .296 average, 14 home runs and 41 runs batted in. It looks like veteran Leury Garcia will get the Opening Day start in left against the Angels on Thursday night in Anaheim.
Jimenez was injured in a spring-training game last week while trying to rob Oakland’s Sean Murphy of a home run. Sox first baseman Jose Abreu said he cried after learning of the severity of Jimenez’s injury, knowing the role the 24-year-old plays on the field and in the clubhouse. I’m sure the tears had some therapeutic value in the moment, but they can’t loiter. Not with the Angels waiting and not with so much anticipation on the South Side for a big season.
The Sox are built for this kind of body blow, built to absorb something like this. There’s talent all across the roster and, hypothetically, at least, the other cards in the team’s deck should be able to help fill the Jimenez-sized hole in the lineup. It’s what good teams do when a player or two is slumping. Others pick up their games while teammates wage war with their hitting or pitching demons.
You’re right, Jimenez’ injury isn’t a slump. It’s a five- to six-month kick in the teeth. And, no, you can’t replace everything that Jimenez is – hitter, motivator, life of the party… OK, maybe not great leftfielder. But the lineup around him has the talent to take the edge off his absence: Abreu, the reigning American League Most Valuable player; Tim Anderson, the 2019 A.L. batting champion who hit .322 last season; masher of baseballs Luis Robert; Yoan Moncada, who seems primed to have a bounce-back season after a poor 2020; and Yasmani Grandal, a 2019 All-Star.
Andrew Vaughn, the Sox’ 2019 first-round pick, also will get a shot at playing left field this season. He hasn’t played above Class A, which might seem like a giant red flag. But it’s not as if the Sox are a rock band that asks the audience if anyone out there can keep a beat because the drummer is passed out on stage. Vaughn can play baseball. He was the third pick overall in the 2019 draft. Let’s hope it will be fun to find out how that translates at the big-league level.
The alternative is more of Abreu’s tears, and how much fun is that?
Maybe Jimenez will get an opportunity to be the conquering hero just in time for the playoffs. And perhaps earlier than that.
“There’s a chance, certainly, that he beats that traditional time frame for this type of injury of five to six months,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “But quite candidly, no one’s going to know that for at least 12 weeks until he’s completed the healing process and the rehabilitation side of this injury.”
Until then, the Sox simply have to put their collective shoulder down and barrel ahead. “Simply” doesn’t mean “simple,” of course. You’re not supposed to replace a 2020 Silver Slugger without missing a beat. There are supposed to be hardships involved.
But have you seen the White Sox’ rotation? Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Lance Lynn, Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodon. Pretty good. If the pitching staff excels, perhaps the Jimenez’ injury doesn’t hurt the team so much.
The largest firehouse in Chicago history — and the first new multi-apparatus facility in decades on the Far South Side — opened for service Wednesday despite Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s once-bitter feud with the local alderman.
The $30 million, 27,000-square-foot firehouse at 1024 W. 119th St. that will serve as the new headquarters for Engine Co. 115 is a personal and very emotional triumph for Ald. Carrie Austin (34th).
She has campaigned for a new firehouse for 16 years and feared that Lightfoot’s election might bring that crusade to a dead-end.
After all, Lightfoot dumped Austin as chairman of the City Council’s Budget Committee in retaliation for Austin’s decision to support Toni Preckwinkle in the 2019 mayoral runoff.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot greets Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) on Wednesday at Engine Co. 115’s new firehouse in the West Pullman neighborhood.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
“When our mayor came into office, I was the first one [to start begging], ‘Ma’am, please don’t let my fire station go to waste.’ She did not. She had just as much compassion … for this station to be a reality,” Austin said.
“I knew that when we had our groundbreaking and she came out. The weather wasn’t so favorable to us. It was very cold. But she came and stood with us to make this station a reality.”
Choking back tears, Austin said, “We fought hard for this. … And I’m grateful that it is a reality. Mayor Lightfoot, I cannot thank you enough for the blessing that you’ve given to my community. … Right down the street is the Salvation Army [center]. That was our only safe haven. Now, we have the city of Chicago [creating] a safe haven for the people of this community.”
Austin noted that during her most recent health scare, she was treated by an ambulance from Engine Co. 115.
“The young man said, ‘Alderman, you’re in good hands. When you see somebody that you recognize and you’ve fallen, that means a lot. The same company did their best to save my husband. The same company in 1994 did their best to save Lemuel. And here it is, Lemuel’s widow. You did your best to get me to safety,” Austin said.
Lightfoot offered what she called a “friendly amendment” to Austin’s praise.
“I didn’t give this firehouse to the residents of this ward and these communities. … I ran on a pledge to make sure that I would see the entirety of the whole city. Not just the downtown and the North Side,” the mayor said.
“This community has been neglected for way too long. Residents here pay their taxes, work hard and deserved to benefit from their hard-earned tax dollars like any other resident across our city. So we are here to fulfill the aspirations and the needs of the people in this community. And I am grateful to be a part of it.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks to Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II on Wednesday after cutting a ribbon for a new firehouse with Ald. Carrie Austin (34th).Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The grand opening came just in time for retiring Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II.
His mandatory retirement, at the age of 63, takes effect Friday.
Ford noted the new single-story firehouse includes a radio communications tower that will enhance data and voice communications, greatly reducing dead spots that hampered operations in the past.
“This firehouse is beautiful, state of the art, and what the community from the Far South Side has needed for more than a couple of decades. And more importantly, what it deserves. We’re replacing a combined, 300 years of facilities,” Ford said.
“Because of its location and amenities, this new firehouse will allow a more efficient use of resources for personnel on the South and Southeast Sides. … Our communications are markedly improved because of the equipment being installed. … Nothing can lead to tragedy more than a gap in communication, and this new facility will help enhance communications for both the police and fire departments.”
Chicago will open two new mass vaccination sites on Monday — one at Chicago State University, the other at a conference center adjacent to Wrigley Field.
The decision to open two more mass vaccination sites in addition to the one already operating in a United Center parking lot comes just one day after the city expanded vaccine eligibility to include all essential workers and adults with underlying medical conditions, excluding smokers.
The Wrigley Field site will be at the American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way, the open-air plaza adjacent to the stadium. The Cubs play their home opener on Thursday.
It will be operated by Advocate Aurora Health and have the capacity to administer roughly 2,000 daily doses of the coronavirus vaccine, by appointment only. Appointments will be posted on zocdoc.com/vaccine later this week with additional appointments added each day.
Chicagoans also will be able to book appointments by phone; details on that process will be announced in the coming days. There will be no on-site registration.
1:04 p.m. Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine protects younger teens
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.
Most COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and older. But vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic — and helping schools, at least the upper grades, start to look a little more normal after months of disruption.
In a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, preliminary data showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among those given dummy shots, Pfizer reported.
It’s a small study, that hasn’t yet been published, so another important piece of evidence is how well the shots revved up the kids’ immune systems. Researchers reported high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, somewhat higher than were seen in studies of young adults.
11:53 a.m. 26 Chicago restaurants chosen for DoorDash accelerator program
Geri Hernandez’s restaurant, Savory Crust Gourmet Empanadas, switched to solely takeout and delivery in October 2020 as the pandemic put a major strain on the costs of its branches in Morton Grove and Carol Stream.
As a small business “you’re hanging on a thread anyway,” said Hernandez, the CEO and co-founder. “When the pandemic hit, I thought we were done, that we were going to close. It was a scary time, scary for the whole year. Even now, you don’t know what’s going to happen, there’s a lot of uncertainty.”
Savory Crust is one of 26 Chicago-area restaurants picked to participate in DoorDash’s inaugural Main Street Strong Accelerator Program.
In all, 100 restaurants nationwide will receive a $20,000 grant, access to training support through an eight-week hands-on restaurant operator course that involves small business advising and mentorship, one-on-one financial, legal, and technological expert advice as well as free marketing and merchandising from DoorDash.
More than three-quarters of the Chicago-based restaurants picked for the program are owned by women, 92% by people of color and nearly 40% by immigrants.
Ms. B’s Kitchen & Catering owner and manager Tawanda Stange said she applied to the program for the financial assistance and the additional support services that come with the training, as well as access to the communities and networks of other restaurant owners participating.
“I was super excited. I’m still really excited. I really need this,” Stange said. “Just being involved in something like this will give me the extra push I need to take my business to another level, with confidence.”
9:50 a.m. Reopening retreat: State’s move into less restrictive ‘bridge phase’ pushed back as cases rise, hospital beds fill
Reopening plans are being pushed back in Illinois as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations rise yet again statewide, public health officials announced Tuesday.
With 70% of seniors vaccinated with at least one dose, the state had been on pace to see some business restrictions lifted this week under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “bridge phase” before a full reopening by May.
Not so anymore, as coronavirus cases mount and more people head to hospitals with the deadly respiratory disease. The governor’s intermediate reopening plan also required hospitalizations to “hold steady or decline over a 28-day monitoring period.”
That count has risen almost daily since hitting a one-year low of 1,082 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients March 12. A total of 1,396 beds were taken up Monday night — the most since late February.
“As long as new hospital admissions continue to increase, the state will not advance to the Bridge Phase and on to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan,” officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. “The number of cases of COVID-19 has seen an increasing trend as well. Health officials continue to urge all residents to continue to mask up, socially distance, and avoid crowds to reduce transmission and bring the metrics back in line to transition to the Bridge Phase.”
The state also reported 86,812 vaccine doses were administered Monday. About 105,040 shots are going into arms every day.
Analysis & Commentary
9:52 a.m. I didn’t expect ‘doom’ to be so exhausting
“Impending doom.”
I read the words aloud to my wife.
“Now there’s a phrase that you just don’t see very much,” I continued. “I wonder if other things ‘impend.’ Or is it just doom?”
She started to read something on her phone. The winds buffeted the old house, which groaned like a clipper ship rounding the Horn Monday night, as we fished the internet for news which, despite an upswing in positive developments — vaccines rolling out more and more, weather improving, that ship stuck in the Suez Canal finally freed — suddenly seems grim.
“The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of ‘impending doom’ from a potential fourth surge of the pandemic,” I read. “CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, appeared to fight back tears as she pleaded with Americans to ‘hold on a little while longer’ and continue following public health advice, like wearing masks and social distancing, to curb the virus’s spread.”
When government officials start to cry, that’s usually bad, right? Despite everything that’s gone on for the past … ah … year plus, the people in charge do not generally weep.
Even though Chicago Police Supt. David Brown says he’s committed to reforming the department, the changes are continuing to come slowly — with the city missing about 40% of last year’s deadlines under a federal consent decree, according to a watchdog report released Wednesday.
The 2019 consent decree — a sweeping court order requiring reforms to discipline, supervision, training and recruiting — stems from a 2017 lawsuit by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Raoul was concerned about cops engaging in civil-rights abuses — highlighted by the 2015 release of a video of a Chicago police officer shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times. Officer Jason Van Dyke went to prison for the killing.
Now, the department faces scrutiny over the more than 500 citizen complaints filed against police during the protests and rioting that gripped the city last summer.
“CPD’s response to the protests over George Floyd’s death also epitomized entrenched problems in its practices and culture,” Raoul wrote in a response to the latest of three watchdog reports on the consent decree since 2019.
“Whether through visibly refusing to comply with health precautions like wearing masks, obscuring badge numbers and nameplates, or using excessive force, a significant number of CPD officers (though not all) took actions that were openly hostile to the culture of accountability required by the consent decree,” Raoul said.
Maggie Hickey.Provided
Maggie Hickey, the independent monitor of the consent decree, said its purpose is to ensure cops have the “training, resources and support they need to perform their jobs professionally and safely.” She noted last year’s deadlines were extended by more than two months because of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order in the spring.
“In sum, the city and the CPD did not meet most of the deadlines and compliance obligations in the third reporting period,” the report said.
Hickey’s report noted that three superintendents, including Brown, have been in office in the years since the consent decree was approved. The changes in administrations can “create logistical and cultural challenges that can slow reform,” she said.
She also pointed to two new citywide units of officers, the Critical Response Team and the Community Safety Team, saying, “We continue to have concerns regarding the challenges that these types of teams present and Chicago’s history with roving teams.”Corruption was rampant, for example, in the now-disbanded Special Operations Section, in which officers were convicted of ripping off drug dealers.
On Wednesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried to get out ahead of the latest critical report card from the independent monitor by issuing a joint statement with Brown that claimed a “threefold increase” in compliance during the most recent reporting period.
She also accentuated the positive Wednesday after a ceremony opening a new firehouse at 1024 W. 119th St., the largest in Chicago history, which will serve as the new headquarters for Engine Co. 115.
“What the report reflects is that, even through a pandemic, the police department made up a lot of unfinished business from the previous two reports and then, really focused like a laser beam in making sure they got a lot of things right, a higher percentage of meeting deadlines, but importantly, making real, substantive progress,” she said.
“I’m not going to be satisfied until we believe that we have reached the end of a long journey, and we’re not there yet. But I’m very happy with the progress the department has made. I know that there’s a seriousness and a commitment that maybe hadn’t been there in the same way before.”
The city has at least five years from the beginning of the consent decree to comply with it. But it could take longer than that based on the experiences of other cities like Los Angeles, New Orleans and Seattle, the mayor said.
Lightfoot rejected a claim from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois that the police department has made insufficient and late progress toward “community engagement.” There are always “new people that you need to reach,” she said, adding that Brown made a “significant commitment around community engagement” that represents a “sea change in the mindset” of the police brass.
Brown mandated that “every front-facing department member and unit engage in some kind of act of community engagement or service every week,” Lightfoot said. That includes tactical officers and members of specialized units like the Community Safety Team.
To underscore the “sea change,” Lightfoot said cops are now coming up with their own projects to help serve children and seniors in Chicago neighborhoods. “Where there may have been reluctance early on, now there’s enthusiasm on the part of members of this department. And that is a big sea change,” she said.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul.AP
Raoul previously told the Sun-Times that it’s like “pulling teeth to get compliance with just producing documents.” In his response to the latest report, he said a lot of the police department’s commitments to transparency and accountability haven’t been implemented. He also complained about the Civilian Office of Police Accountability’s failure to comply with court-ordered mandates.
Lightfoot responded by pointing fingers.
“With due respect to the attorney general, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done also at the state level. And it would be good if they also focus on making sure that their house was clean,” she said.
Also Wednesday, the Chicago Police Department was the focus of a separate critical report by city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, who said police have made “minimal progress” in developing a new gang intelligence system after the older version was blasted for “widespread data quality issues.”
“Lady Bird wanted the highways clear of billboards and junkyards, and filled with green landscaping and wildflowers.”
As I accelerate through my twice-daily commute along Interstate 294, I get a sense that Mrs. LBJ wasn’t particularly successful in her drive to beautify America. The billboards she fought against are the mile markers of my journey. Most times the giant messages pass into my subconsciousness where I keep my mental records.
I know where to expect a Blue Cross/Blue Shield “through it all.” I have counted as Brian Uhrlacher’s hair restoration billboard postings outnumber the total tackles in his Bear’s career. A big red arrow points the way to mortgage refinancing savings, while Wintrust is trying really hard to out-hometown the other guys. And the strip gentlemen’s clubs advertise what they have always advertised.
As a sign of the times I know who is pushing rapid COVID-19 testing, and who wants me to learn all about marijuana, both medicinal and recreational. Preferably not indulged in while zooming past construction zones and road shoulder stalls.
This month I have noticed a new billboard, a new advertisement asking for an investment of my time and thought as I thunder past. It must be about 650 sq. ft. in size, rising just to the right of the southbound lanes. And it features a silhouette image of a firearm. I am not an expert, but whizzing past, it sure looks like an assault rifle.
I assume the billboard is advertising a gun store, or a shooting range, or some other gun-related enterprise. I don’t care what it is for. It disturbs me and I despise it. I don’t get upset seeing reminders of the health plan I no longer belong to, the hair I can’t grow, or the pot and women that I don’t indulge in–but seeing weapons of mass destruction on my very favorite tollway? It brings tears to my eyes.
In the indeterminate future I will retire. I will not drive past this billboard. Better yet, I can wish the billboard, and the death it portrays, will go away. If only my wishes would come true.
Lady Bird Johnson could have told you rifles don’t beautify highways. She could also have told you how one changed her life.
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Hi! I am Les, a practicing pathologist living in the North Suburbs and commuting every day to the Western ones. I have lived my entire life in the Chicago area, and have a pretty good feel for the place, its attractions, culture, restaurants and teams. My wife and I are empty-nesters with two adult children and a grandchild. We recently decided to downsize, but just a bit! I will be telling the story of the construction of our new home, but also writing about whatever gets me going on a particular day. Be sure to check out the “About” page to learn more about where we plan to go with this blog!
LOS ANGELES — Chrissy Teigen will grace the front of People magazine’s “The Beautiful Issue” in a cover story that delves into her evolved definition of beauty, facing racism growing up and her heartbreaking miscarriage last year.
The magazine revealed the cover Wednesday of the annual issue, which hits newsstands Friday.
On this year’s cover, Teigen appears smiling along with her children Luna, 4, and Miles, 2, with the quote “I’ve learned how strong I am.” The 35-year-old model and cookbook author is married to R&B crooner John Legend, who was named Sexiest Man Alive by the magazine in 2019.
Teigen, who is of Thai-Norwegian descent, said she wants to follow her Thai tradition in remembering her son, Jack, who died at 20 weeks of her pregnancy. She was hospitalized with excessive bleeding before the miscarriage. She said it’s important for Luna and Milles to stayed connected with their late brother and always “embrace the ones that we’ve lost” based on her tradition.
“We have this new home that we’re building, and this tree being planted inside,” she told the magazine. “The whole reason why I wanted it was so Jack’s ashes could be in that soil, and he could be with us all the time and grow through the beautiful leaves.”
Over the years, Teigen said her definition of beauty has evolved after giving birth to her children. She has taken a proud stance of embracing her healed scars as a mother.
“Beauty is being able to see how powerful your body is,” she said. “It’s really, really nice to be able to come to an age where I can appreciate every little scar and see my body as something that’s done incredible, miraculous things. The difference is these two beautiful, wonderful babies, and these scars are the things I’ve been through and the journeys I’ve healed from.”
Motherhood has also changed Teigen’s views on her wellness. She used to enforce a strict eating regimen during her modeling days, dealing with the ups and downs of the diet culture.
But now, Teigen is focused on what makes her feel good and does her best to “indulge in it.”
“I’ve spent way too many years counting calories and scheduling way too many workouts and trying to figure out what ‘wellness’ meant to me,” she said. “Now I know that it’s on the ground playing with my kids or going to an aquarium or a park.”
Teigen touched on enduring racism while growing up. She often had friends — Black or white — who protected her after racist comments. She said some of her friends got suspended from school for defending her.
As Teigen grew older, she saw more racism occur during her modeling career.
“I experienced more everyday casual racism once I entered the modeling world,” she said. “When they needed someone racially ambiguous — that’s what they called it — that was always going to be me.”
People’s announcement comes a week after Teigen quit Twitter, citing it as a negative influence on her life. She wrote in a final series of posts that criticism she’d endured on the site had left her “deeply bruised.”
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Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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lesraff
January 17, 2020 at 12:00 am