Do the Chicago Bears have the best receiving core in the NFC North? We discuss one of the hotter topics on social media lately.
This offseason has seen plenty of action throughout the NFC North. Coming off a disappointing season in which they went 8-8, the Chicago Bears had a few holes to fill throughout free agency and the draft.
One of those needs was at the receiver position, but specifically, it was that they needed to add some speed. Following the departure of Taylor Gabriel, whom the Bears chose to cut ties with, they lacked any true straight-line speed on offense.
General manager Ryan Pace drafted Darnell Mooney out of Tulane back in April, adding just that type of speed the team was looking for. Following the draft, Pace wasn’t done. He also inked former New Orleans Saints speedster Ted Ginn Jr., who continues to be one of the fastest players in football.
Recently, the receiving cores have been a hot topic amongst fans on social media. Plenty of people have posted each NFC North team’s receiving depth chart in effort to prove a particular squad has the best in the black and blue division.
I will say this: In attempting to break down each team’s receiving cores, it was a lot tougher than I had originally thought. Finding a clear-cut number one core in this division was a little difficult. But, in the end, I think I’ve figured it out.
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Where do Allen Robinson and his teammates in that room belong? Are they atop the NFC North receiver rankings? Let’s break it all down, beginning with my fourth and last receiving room.
The Chicago Bulls should set their sites on the 2021-22 free agency class.
The only player who may be available to change the franchise for the Chicago Bulls this offseason is hometown native Anthony Davis. The problem is, Davis is likely going to accept his player option and stick with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2020-21 season.
Not to mention, the Chicago Bulls salary cap situation this offseason is not nearly as good as it will be for the 2021-22 season. As we nitpick the job that Gar Forman and John Paxson have done with the team since the Derrick Rose era, we must applaud the financial situation they set the team up for as the 2021 offseason starts.
New Head of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas and new General Manager Marc Eversley will have plenty to work with during their second year running the team. This upcoming season the key will be hiring the right Head Coach and determining which young players are worth keeping and who should be let go. Let go could mean allowing expiring contracts to run out, trade an asset who is expendable, or eat a contract and just cut the player.
The 2021-22 free agency class is setting up nicely for the Bulls. Although many things could happen between now and then that could ruin things, the potential class might be the largest group of big names we have seen. Could the Chicago Bulls finally find the Superstar this team desperately needs?
Coaster for Chicago’s Atlas Beer, by Prager Brewing.
My birthday weekend has been more active than I might have expected. We finally got new shingles on the house, we tried to take part in some of the justice rallies in our area. I even got the wife, who does not drink, to sit at the outdoor section at Black Horizon with draft beers and cheese boards for just an hour or two. The current Phase 3 restrictions actually suit her.
There are still some Phase 3 reopenings that may come about the day before, or even the day of. If I catch them, I”ll be adding to this article.
Also, One Trick Pony Brewing announces in this Facebook post that they have approval from the village of Lansing to relocate from their current industrial park location to a building in downtown Lansing. Of course, under the present circumstances there’s no way to be sure when this would really happen. But checking Google Streetview of the location, I found one of those odd vehicles that gets created when Google Maps stitches two photos together:
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Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
Only 53.3% of Chicagoans have filled out their Census which is well behind the national average.
Chicago is set to lose millions if not over a billion in funding if more Chicagoans don’t fill out their census information to help the city get its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year that will be distributed based on the census information.Trust me, it only takes a few minutes to complete and completing the census would help your community get its fair share.
Tron Griffin grew up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He writes about issues facing Chicagoans. You can check out Tron’s podcast at https://anchor.fm/tron-griffin
Who are you? Who, who, who, who? I really wanna know Who are you? Who, who, who, who? Come on tell me who are you
You see the images coming out of Washington D.C. The city is surrounded by men and women in uniforms trying to police the protesters. You have the city cops, the National Guard, some military and then there’s anonymous protectors. They have uniforms, helmets, shields and batons. What they don’t have is anything that identifies who they are. Nothing about which branch they represent. Nothing showing their rank. Nothing about their name.
It’s like being at a baseball game before 1930. Back in the olden days when there were no names or numbers on the back of the player’s uniforms. The problem is players like Babe Ruth only carried a bat. These guys carry weapons. You can’t even tell who they are with a program.
I woke up in a Soho doorway A policeman knew my name He said, “You can go sleep at home tonight If you can get up and walk away. I staggered back to the underground And the breeze blew back my hair I remember throwin’ punches around And preachin’ from my chair
We know they were called in by the current federal administration, but that’s all we know. Protesters try to talk with them and there’s no response. Journalists ask them to identify themselves and they get nothing. Even the city’s mayor doesn’t have a clue. Nothing. Nada. Zip!
Military troops and tanks roaming the streets is a scene that we’ve only seen in other countries. It’s a site that seems normal in places like China and North Korea. Seeing this in the USA shakes most of us to our core. Most of us already distrust the current administration. Seeing unidentified troops adds to our mistrust.
2020 has been anything but normal. Impeachment, pandemic, unemployment, protest have all become part of what is now the new normal in Trump-world. Maybe this is, too. Still, I just have one question….
WHO ARE YOU?
Who are you? Who, who, who, who? Come on tell me who are you? Who are you? Who, who, who, who? Alright who the fuck are you? I really wanna know Oh, I really wanna know Come on tell me who are you, you, you, you
My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
Summer is here, and the humidity has begun to creep in. Between the intensity of COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd, we are all in need of some relief. Folks, music can be the key to relief and new belief.
Run The Jewels released their long-awaited fourth album, RTJ4. It started with the hard-hitting “Oh La La” single, and it continues with a scorcher called “JU$T.” The hook is sung by Pharrell Williams, while Zach De La Rocha makes another guest appearance, exploding out of the speaker.
“Look at all these slave masters posing on your dollar!”
The timing of this release is nothing less than historical. Killer Mike’s verse on “Walking In The Snow,” is eerily reminiscent of a scene that just rocked our country last week with the murder of George Floyd.
“And every day on the evening news they feed you fear for free. And you so numb you watch the cops choke out a man like me And ’til my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, “I can’t breathe.” And you sit there in the house on couch and watch it on TV The most you give’s a Twitter rant and call it a tragedy”
After a few listens, I’m convinced this is the album our country needed. Channel the rage and take it to the voting booth. Let’s make some real changes. Also, buy this album, support this group. We need to keep hearing their voices.
The other big release this week is Sideways to New Italy, from the Rolling Blackouts CF. It’s another step in the right direction, a jingly-jangly affair reminiscent of a young REM, or Guided By Voices. After two listens through my favorite song is “Beautiful Steven.”
J. Mascis, of Dino Jr fame, appears on Kestrels’https://kestrels.bandcamp.com/ latest single, and they have a lot in common. Kestrels remind me so much of Ride, while they do have some Dinosaur Jr. in their veins; or maybe it’s the ridiculous lead J rips out in the bridge. His solos are the stuff of legends.
Is it Sugar, is it Husker Du? Nope, it’s Bob Mould and he’s back, sounding more punk rock than ever on “American Crisis.”
Gizmo Varillas releases another new single called “One Day At A Time,” and there’s a Rusted Root, Paul Simon vibe. He has grabbed my attention and kept it. Definitely, one to watch.
Travis returns after 10 years, but I’m a bit underwhelmed. “Ghost” is a good song, but so similar to everything else they’ve done.
Too Short is back with Lexy Pantera, who sounds like MIA. This new style gives Short Dogg some new life and he sounds rejuvenated. Man, this dude has stuck around in the game for almost 40 years, respect due!
Geographer continues to impress with his latest single, “Love Is Madness.” Awhile back he released a New Order cover for “Age Of Consent” that I really liked, and since then I’ve been a fan.
This Aaron Park “The Storyteller” is such a cool slice of freeform jazz. That’s why I’m leaving it right here for you. Having a cookout? Put this on low, and enjoy the birds chattering over the top of this think piece.
That’s it for me. Wave and smile at someone you don’t know this week.
Here my husband and I are, with the Mayo brothers!, in front of the Gonda Building at Mayo Rochester, with one of them wearing their protective mask!
This blog post is the 22nd in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID19); the 20th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction; the 21st post was about my twin sister’s surgical recovery; and the 22nd post was about my twin sister’s first infusion of T-DM1 at Mayo Clinic. To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.
Today, the patient is doing well. She has no breast/chest wall concerns. Shoulder mobility remains intact. She reports no edema in her breasts. She notices no persistent mood changes since cancer diagnosis. She has no body image or sexual function concerns. She is exercising and weight is stable.
As I’ve said before, Mayo Clinic is amazing. Main concerns I brought into my meeting today were questions about recurrence. What should I be looking for or be aware of? Did the cancer come back already? How would I know? I had no idea I had breast cancer in the first place last year because I had no symptoms or lumps. So how was I supposed to know if the cancer comes back?
My advanced practice provider / survivorship clinic notes from our meeting today read:
There is no evidence of malignancy on today’s clinical breast examination and review of systems. We reviewed breast cancer risk reduction strategies. Encouraged monthly self examination. Discussed follow-up recommendations for breast cancer surveillance following cancer diagnosis and treatment. Recommend clinical breast exam every 6 months for 1st 3 years following cancer diagnosis and treatment and annually thereafter. Routine breast/chest wall imaging is not needed.
I was so relieved to know everything checked out okay! It looked like my cancer was (still!) all gone, and shows no signs at this point of coming back. My nurse practitioner let me know that, along with a healthy diet, alleviating stress in my life, avoiding alcohol (which has interaction effects with estrogen) and tobacco, and taking good general care of myself, there is a “very low chance” that my cancer will ever recur. Obviously, no one can predict the future, but the odds are good that I’ll never have to deal with breast cancer again.
But, my twin sister and I are part of the less than 2% of women who get breast cancer under the age of 40. And actually even less than that, because 65% of those 2% are between the ages of 35 and 39. So, given that my twin sister and I are part of the 45% of the 2% of women under the age of 40 who get breast cancer in the first place, I will always be overly suspicious of the tiny bit of breast tissue remaining in my chest and of my “chest wall,” which is close to my former breast tissue and is also a place where recurrence sometimes occurs. (Not to mention we are at risk for ovarian cancer, too, given family history. But I had a consult with a Mayo Clinic oncological surgeon about that risk in January. She said it’s not a high enough risk to remove my ovaries until I have children if my husband and I want them and told me to come back in 10 years after we’ve expanded our family. She also set me up with a primary care physician closer to home to help me make sense of all that. More on that in a future post!)
To mitigate the fear involved with this, I felt much better after my nurse practitioner showed me what a thorough physical self-exam with implants looks like. She said everything looked good, but to let me know to let them know about any lumps, bumps, changes in skin composition or color, or pain that I experience. “We are here for you!,” she said. So I’m very happy that I’ll continue to go to visit Mayo every six months. Because they’re the best.
My husband and me waiting for my nurse practitioner in the exam room!
Battling fatigue
Another main concern I brought up to my nurse practitioner today is the fatigue I’ve been experiencing in recent months. I was totally fine for the several weeks after my surgery, then all of a sudden, six weeks after my surgery, I got this super suspicious rash called “pigmented purpura” and was so fatigued I felt like I’d gotten hit by a train. I was sleeping 10 to 11 hours a night and felt like I was wandering around in a brain fog all of the time. It has gotten better in recent weeks, but only little by little.
“Will I ever be back to what I felt like before surgery?,” I asked. “Normal?”
She said that I would, but that sometimes it takes up to a year–and sometimes a bit longer–to really feel like “myself” again. Regular exercise helps a lot with battling fatigue, she said. So, when I got home from my appointment yesterday evening, instead of taking a nap like I wanted to, I biked 5 miles on a stationary bike and walked my dogs for a mile after that. Hopefully those sort of decisions helps me in the long-term! In the meantime, I’m finding God is trying to teach me patience in real-time by requiring me to be patient with myself and my own physical, emotional, and mental limitations.
Gonda 2, the floor of the Gonda Building at Mayo Clinic that houses the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic, put up amazing and encouraging decorations for patients in the lobby!
Trusting God in uncertain times
“How are you doing, especially with everything going on with the world right now?,” my nurse practitioner asked me.
I paused for a moment, because I didn’t really expect that deep of a question, or know really how to respond. I teared up a little bit in spite of myself. Honestly, I am pretty upset and stressed given that we are in the middle of a global pandemic and a global reckoning with systemic injustices–all while I’m recovering from cancer and my twin sister is still going through chemotherapy. But, as the eternal optimist that I am, I said: “As well as can be expected, I think. I’m trying to be kind to myself, and am taking things one day at a time.”
She said that sounded like a good plan, and asked what sort of outlets I had to process everything I’ve been through. I let her know my husband is a pastor so I spent a lot of time at church, that I love to work out and play golf, and that I love to spend time with and process things with family and friends. She said it sounded like I had a good, balanced routine, and to keep that up.
She asked how my workout routine was going. I said that I’ve been doing elliptical work, biking, and lifting dumbbells and walking our dogs. I told her that I tried to run a few weeks ago and had to stop after three blocks because my foobs started tingling and going numb and being super uncomfortable–even strapped into the super amazing and supportive sports bra that I purchased from SheFit last month that I love. She let me know that’s totally normal because my nerves were severed in the operation and are still in the process of healing and figuring out what’s what inside of my incisions / around my implants.
That reminded her that she had a free sports bra from Athleta to give me as a gift from the Breast Clinic!, and said that I hoped I liked it. I could expect that sort of sensation as I heal for a while, she said, and that I should “listen to my body” and stick with elliptical or biking exercises with less impact than running for now. I can do that!
A gift of an Athleta front zip sports bra from Mayo Breast Clinic! I can’t wait to try it!
I was talking with a friend this week, reflecting on what it was like to get diagnosed with cancer last year. She asked what it was like to be diagnosed with cancer and put the (other) plans I had for my life on hold. The response that popped into my head was from Proverbs 4:25-27. My response was: Sometimes God calls you to something, and you can’t look to the right or the left because it’s so abundantly clear that He wants you on that path. For me, last year, it became clear that, for me, being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer was the way my life was going to go at that point in time. So I basically put my head down, prayed, and persevered. Now I’m a survivor!!! Now what?
Here are some resources my nurse practitioner in the Survivorship Clinic gave me today, including one on the importance of building resilience as a cancer survivor!
Building resilience
At the end of my meeting with my nurse practitioner, she gave me some literature that discusses the importance of exercise, healthy nutrition, and building resiliency as a cancer survivor. She also gave me some literature with tips about how to manage stress related to COVID19, and encouraged me to focus on cultivating resilience through practicing gratitude, accepting my circumstances, and living a healthy lifestyle.
“You’re doing a lot of that already, so keep it up,” she said.
On my way out of the clinic, I ran into my twin sister’s chemotherapy coordinator who told me it was nothing short of a miracle that my twin sister got in for her breast cancer surgery before Mayo shut down all elective surgeries in March. I also dropped off a thank you card we put together for our double mastectomy surgeon that we were unable to give to her after my sister’s surgery because COVID made everything hit the fan the week after my sister had her surgery (all doctors visits went online).
As my husband and I walked out of the breast clinic, I heard someone yell:
“Hey! You! Pink tshirt!”
I turned around and a woman at the Gonda 2 checkin desk was waving.
“How are you and your sister doing??? I’d recognize those tshirts anywhere!”
My husband and I walked over to the front desk, laughing. We told the front desk staff all about how my sister and I are doing, how my sister is going through TDM1 every three weeks, and how I was celebrating my 6 month survivorship appointment today. They were very excited for both of us, and said they’d see us soon.
“We love your shirts! And we’re here for you guys!!” they said.
I texted everyone to let them know we absolutely have to wear the matching pink tshirts I made for everyone (and our doctors :)) every time we visit because it’s how the Gonda 2 folks will identify us 🙂 My work at Mayo today was complete 🙂
What’s next
In six months, I’ll go back to Mayo Clinic for my one-year survivorship clinic appointment and physical exam with my breast clinic doctor. I’ll also have a one-year follow-up with my plastic surgeon. In the meantime, my twin sister is going through her regimen of TDM1, administered every three weeks at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, for the next 9 months or so–then she’ll join me in the survivorship clinic!!!
Thank you again for your continued prayers–God is good!!!
This blog post is the 22nd in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID19); the 20th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction; the 21st post was about my twin sister’s surgical recovery; and the 22nd post was about my twin sister’s first infusion of T-DM1 at Mayo Clinic. To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.
Sister Christian is a blogger, reporter, editor and follower of Jesus Christ seeking to find little miracles each and every day. She especially loves finding Jesus in art, music and culture. Learn more about her on Twitter @adailymiracle, and on Facebook as “A Daily Miracle.” Send an email to [email protected] with any comments, concerns or suggestions!
The fact that Brees now gets it drew the ire of the President of the United States, and that’s what brings us to Michael Bradley. The Captain of the United States Men’s National Team, and MLS’ Toronto FC, sounded off on Trump and I don’t disagree with anything he had to say.
The son of former Team USA and ChicagoFire Coach Bob Bradley, who spent his teenage years in suburban Palantine, said that Donald J. Trump is completely empty and doesn’t have a single moral bone in his body. Bradly, 32, also pointed out that essentially we have no leadership at the top right now in this country. (Bradley also called out the GOP senators that have continually enabled Trump too)
It’s a popular sentiment on social media these days- the USA really has no President. We have a former game show host who does nothing but divide, stage pointless photo-opps and call out quarterbacks on Twitter.
“We have a president who is completely empty. There isn’t a moral bone in his body,” Michael Bradley said on a conference call with the media.
“There’s no leadership. There’s no leadership from the president, there’s no leadership from the Republican senators who have sat back and been totally complicit in everything he’s done for the last three-and-a-half years.”
“I just hope that people are able to go to the polls in November and think about more than just what is good for them, more than what is good for their own status, their own business, their own tax return. I hope that people can go to the polls and understand that in so many ways, the future of our country and the future of our democracy is at stake.
“We need as many people as possible to understand that at a real level, to think about what four more years with Trump as president, what that would mean, how terrible that would be for so many people. If we want any chance to start to fix those things, then Trump can’t be president, it’s as simple as that.”
Bradley doesn’t pretend to be a sociopolitical expert. He acknowledges that he doesn’t know everything he needs to know about the racial and law enforcement issues that have currently set our nation ablaze. However, much like Brees, he’s taking the time to educate himself, and encourages others to do the same.
That’s key- taking the time to listen, watch, learn and grow.
“I have spent the last 10 days watching, listening to it all and I don’t even know where to start,” Bradley said of the Black Lives Matter protests that are going on all across the nation.
“There is so much that needs to be said. I’m horrified, angry, disgusted and embarrassed we live in a world where Black men, women, children fear for their lives daily.
“We have to find real ways to front this head-on. What we have been doing, the way we have been living is not good enough.”
“We all have to do more, we all have to educate ourselves more, we all have to have more difficult conversations, we all, especially, especially white men, white women need to listen, need to put themselves, need to do the best that they can to understand that there is a perspective and a world totally different than the one that they’re used to.”
“I have strong feelings on this. I can’t pretend to know everything, and I could never begin to understand what it’s truly like for Black families, but I want to understand more, I need to understand more, I need to listen, I need to read, I need to educate myself more.”
There are a lot of athletes giving their take on all that is going on in this country right now. The bigot Laura Ingrahan’s “shut up and dribble” idea is long dead. For the perhaps the strongest take, against Trump, Michael Bradley is certainly right up there.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and ChicagoNow.
He’s been a featured guest in dozens of media outlets including The History Channel. His work has been cited in hundreds of publications including the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
I’m Jerry Partacz, happily married to my wife Julie for over 40 years. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. I’m enjoying retirement after 38 years of teaching. I now have an opportunity to share my thoughts on many things. I’m an incurable optimist. I also love to solve crossword puzzles and to write light verse. I love to read, to garden, to play the piano, to collect stamps and coins, and to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
It’s almost time to pay the piper (aka the City). But not quite.
Yesterday Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and City Comptroller Reshma Soni announced the City’s phased approach for ticketing and enforcement to help residents who are continuing to experience financial hardship due to COVID-19.
The announcement comes after the Lightfoot Administration temporarily suspended many of the City’s enforcement activities including debt collection and payment plan defaults on utility bills, compliance and other violations in an effort to provide financial relief to residents experiencing increased financial pressure from the COVID-19 global pandemic.
During this time, the City only continued ticketing enforcement for public safety and parking meter violations.
On June 3, the city officially moved into phase three of its ‘Protecting Chicago’ re-opening framework ‘Cautiously Reopen.’
On Monday, June 8, the City will resume several services and reopen many of its buildings.
Beginning July 1, the City will also use a staggered approach to phase in the collection of business taxes that have been deferred, as well as resume regular ticketing and collections.
Here’s what you need to know:
Beginning June 8
City Hall Payment Center re-opens.
The payment center located at 400 W. Superior will continue to operate while the neighborhood payment centers will open in phases throughout June.
Motorists with unpaid tickets who had not been assessed penalties prior to March 18, 2020 will receive notices informing them of due dates and timelines around penalties.
Reminder notices will be sent for ticket and utility payment plans.
Ticketing will continue for public safety violations and for unpaid parking meters.
Beginning July 1
Late payment penalties will be assessed on past due utility balances.
Past due payment plans will be defaulted.
Collection and enforcement activities including booting will continue.
Residential and municipal utility customers with payment due dates prior to June 30 will not be assessed additional penalties until July 1.
Ticket enforcement activities will increase citywide including street sweeping violations.
Beginning July 15
Certain deferred tax payments will become due.
Motorists will receive a grace period through July 15 to purchase residential parking permits, city stickers and renew license plates before enforcement begins on July 16.
While the City Hall payment center will reopen in phase three the City will require all residents making physical payments in person to abide by important guidance, including: physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting capacity to <10 persons; and staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19.
Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize other methods to make payments including City kiosks and the online portal.
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wntown Lansing. Of course, under the present circumstances there’s no way to be sure when this would really happen. But checking Google Streetview of the location, I found one of those odd vehicles that gets created when Google Maps stitches two photos together:
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