Last March set a 15 year record for home sales in Chicago – by a lot, as you can see in the graph below. That graph plots the monthly sales figures and a 12 month moving average with all March data points flagged in red. So it’s truly remarkable that this March came even close to matching that sales performance. It fell short by only 1.7% and surpassed all other March sales numbers over the last 16 years by a healthy margin. Just as a point of reference it surpassed the 2020 number (still pre-pandemic) by more than 60%!

Note that in two weeks the Illinois Association of Realtors will report this as a 3.8% shortfall.

Chicago Home Contract Activity

The contract numbers keep looking like the market is slowing down but, for reasons I’ll get to below, that’s not yet translating into lower sales figures. Contracts are down 13.5% from last year, though you can see in the graph that they remain at the upper end of the historic range.

Pending Chicago Home Sales

When we look at pending home sales we get a clue as to why closings are still chugging along. The pipeline of homes under contract is being depleted. March saw a decline of 957 units from last year. And you can see the moving average trending down. At some point this supplement runs its course and starts to impact sales.

Distressed Chicago Home Sales

There’s not that much room left for the distressed sales percentage to decline. Last March it was only 2.2% while this March came in at 1.9%. Not a huge difference. Keep in mind that the pandemic foreclosure moratorium ended a while ago so that’s not depressing the number either.

Chicago Home Inventory

The home inventory situation remains devastating for buyers but awesome for sellers with only a 1.4 months supply of detached homes and a 1.7 month supply of attached homes – both of those being historic record lows. Those numbers compare to a 1.5 month and 2.5 month supply, respectively, last year.

Chicago Home Sale Market Times

Finally the market times are more in synch with the inventory situation. Both detached and attached homes showed significant declines in March. Detached homes sold in only 60 days on average, compared to 72 days last year while attached homes sold in only 88 days down from 100 days last year. Those numbers are actually pretty pathetic compared to other markets in the country that are much hotter than Chicago. But half the detached homes here sell in 22 days or less while half of condos sell in 33 days or less. It’s the other half that are inflating the market times.

#RealEstate #ChicagoRealEstate

Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.

Not much has been written about America’s first responders retiring in unprecedented numbers all across America. The Chicago Police Department for example has endured over 2,000 retirements alone in the last few years. Most of the interest has been in the Defund the Police movements and of course, the sensationalized stories of police-involved controversies. Mistakes, corruption, and the great art of second-guessing which has become a cottage industry while enjoying a bowl of Wheaties or looking at a video in slow motion while perusing the internet or reading, and watching the news. Most of the time in a nice quiet environment with no distractions where, woulda, shoulda, coulda, ARE REFINED COURSES AND solve all problems.

With very few exceptions if one really delved into the reasons why cops and first responders decide to step away I can say this with a very minimum of guesswork, 33 years of personal experience is a front-row seat. There are of course many reasons why that last straw finally broke the camel’s back but for cops and first responders, it’s kind of a take your pick scenario.

They just don’t want to see any more suffering, injustice, or cruelty.

They don’t want to hear any more victims — the sobbing and the shrieks of grieving loved ones.

They don’t want to be around any more thugs, gangsters, killers, sociopaths, lunatics, and most of all critics and second guessers.

They no longer want to be someone in a cesspool, working in it, day after day, year after year, ten to twelve hours a day. Working desperately to try and make sense of dealing with past political and social failures that have doomed so many of Chicago’s neighborhoods.

They no longer want to drown in the crap and stink and filth of it all.

They no longer want to work holidays and off-hours, the missing hundreds of family moments and events and precious family time that can never be made up.

They are exhausted from extending a helping hand to politicians, police brass, and city leaders and being lucky to just get their hands back from the gutless and timid leadership.

It’s not just one thing that suddenly makes that push to get out, it’s kinda like that old Chinese torture “DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS.” What cops and first responders see in those neighborhoods is completely out of the realm of most people’s minds and imaginations.

Working in law enforcement in Chicago and being a first responder is akin to being in a war zone. Being on patrol and responding to violence can and does change the way a human being thinks and acts. Anybody who thinks differently is not really thinking or is completely in denial. The city gangs are front and center, no area of the city is safe. Since 2016 there have been 23,381 people shot and 4,480 souls murdered. Carjacking has become an epidemic with more than 4,000 in the last 2 years alone.

Responding to traumatic events over and over again is known as Critical Incident Exposure.” The mind becomes fixated to be always on the lookout for threats and constantly guarded. Anyone who is interested in being a first responder or do you know anyone who is? Talk to those who rode the beats. Those 2-hour movies and television shows are fantasies. Serving and protecting have a price to pay.

Let’s be honest – no one ever enjoys going to the doctor. But when you put your life in the hands of a trusted professional and get disappointed, the experience is utterly disagreeable. Unfortunately, many people fall victims to medical negligence, dealing with the dreadful consequences of a doctor’s error. Injuries due to medical negligence can worsen patients’ conditions, lead to serious disabilities and substantial losses. And the physical and emotional trauma caused by the injuries can be long lasting. 

Medical errors can happen in any setting, but some mistakes are more frequent than others. However, you cannot establish liability simply by pointing to one mistake. You must prove that your injury is a direct result of the doctor breaching the standard of care. 

In this article, you’ll learn the most common types of medical negligence. But first, let’s take a look at how you can recognize if you are a victim of a medical error. 

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/hIgeoQjS_iE 

What are the signs of medical negligence? 

According to Medical Negligence Law UK experts, medical negligence occurs when “a doctor harms their patient by providing care that is beneath the standards of professionalism, skill and diligence expected of them.”

Victims of medical negligence are entitled to compensation for their pain and financial damage. Recognizing the signs of medical negligence is critical so that victims can take the necessary steps to claim their losses. 

Some common signs of medical negligence include:

Your treatment doesn’t work, and you don’t get any better;Your condition worsens;You develop another condition due to improper treatment; Your doctor overlooks your concerns;There is no aftercare following your illness or treatment;Your doctor is unwilling to answer questions regarding your condition;You got a different opinion from another medical professional. 

Common types of medical negligence

Misdiagnoses

For most medical conditions, it’s crucial to get a proper diagnosis and receive a treatment plan as soon as possible. That way, your chances of recovering increase. On the other hand, if you are misdiagnosed, treatment is delayed, and your condition might worsen in time. In addition, improper treatment can lead to side effects that can negatively affect your health. 

Getting an incorrect diagnosis can be accounted for as medical negligence. When your GP or another medical professional fails to identify or record your symptoms, that’s a negligent medical misdiagnosis. Failure to order accurate tests and adequately analyse their results also falls into the category. Cancer, diabetes and stroke are some frequently misdiagnosed medical conditions. Their symptoms can be easily missed or misinterpreted as different conditions if the doctor fails to take proper care during the diagnosis. 

Overdiagnosing a medical condition

This type of negligence is the opposite of misdiagnosing a medical condition. Overdiagnosing can be as harmful to patients as not getting the proper treatment from the very beginning. 

Unnecessary testing is dangerous for patients – and so is prescribing medication that might not be needed. 

Different conditions require different types of treatment. If you don’t get a proper treatment plan, you put your health at risk, and the damage can be permanent. Treating a condition that’s not even real can lead to severe consequences and impact the patients’ life considerably. 

Surgical errors

This is another common form of medical negligence. Many different issues can fall under the umbrella of surgical errors. When undergoing surgery, patients are the most vulnerable – at this point, it’s of the utmost importance for doctors to take proper care of them. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and some doctors make errors that can have devastating effects.

Here are some examples of surgical errors:

Perforation. When performing surgery, cutting a vein, muscle, or organ is one of the highest risks, as they should never be touched throughout the procedure. When this happens, the patient could deal with additional medical problems.  Incorrect placement of the medical device. Medical devicesare indispensable when performing a surgery. Pumps, replacement joints, and pacemakers can make patients’ lives easier when implanted. However, if done incorrectly, the procedure can have the opposite effect. Incorrect placement of a medical device can lead to catastrophic events. Improper site. This is often the result of medical professionals’ miscommunication. In this case, an inappropriate surgery is performed on the patient. Foreign objects. Doctors can also make the mistake of leaving foreign objects, such as a sponge, inside the patient. Unnecessary surgery. Sometimes, doctors prescribe surgeries that are later revealed to be unnecessary. This frequently happens with pacemakers and hysterectomies. Anaesthesia complications. Because this type of medical procedure is very specific, even the slightest mistake can cause many complications. An under dosage or an overdosage could put the patient’s life at risk. 

Infections

When patients go to the hospital, they expect the best from their visit. Sometimes, however, their experience isn’t the best because they might be at risk of developing infections. This is another form medical negligence can take.  

No matter their position, all medical professionals must take preventive measures to avoid infections being transmitted from one individual to another. The error of not cleaning their hands or instruments correctly can lead to serious infections for a patient. 

What to do if you are a victim of medical negligence

Medical negligence should not go unpunished. If you’ve been a victim of a doctor’s negligence, you should fight for your rights and get the justice you deserve. With the support of an experienced lawyer, you can increase your chances of winning the case. It’s better to have them by your side because they understand the legal aspects and know the steps to get the desired outcome. 

In a medical negligence case, gathering strong evidence is vital. Your medical records are a valuable tool for the legal professional as they can begin analysing the information. Negotiating a fair settlement is also critical, as it helps you avoid the uncertainty of a trial or appeal. 

What’s more, you get to be compensated for your suffering. Compensation is fundamental in medical negligence cases because it acts as insurance for the person who has suffered many losses. Thus, it allows you to pay for litigation costs, business failure and medical bills. 

Final thoughts

Medical negligence is a serious issue that shouldn’t be overlooked. Doctors must ensure patients’ safety throughout all the medical evaluations and procedures. No one should ever suffer significant damage due to the negligence of a healthcare provider. 

Ryan Jensen (photo by Rikk Carlson)

AAA

Iowa PPD

Iowa and Buffalo will play a doubleheader today.

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Four more players were added to the Iowa roster, but they’ve gone directly to the IL (LHP Steven Brault, LHRP Brendon Little, RHRP Jonathan Holder, RHRP Dakota Mekkes).

The I-Cubs roster is currently listed as having 33 active players, which is not allowed, but I believe several veterans remained behind in Mesa in the final days of spring training and have not officially reported to the team yet. I wonder if those players, such as John Hicks, Ildemaro Vargas, Stephen Gonsalves and a couple of other pitchers travelled north to Chicago with the Major League club and are waiting to join Iowa when their first home stand begins in Des Moines on Tuesday. If so, and no one gets injured between now and then, it is possible we see a few guys playing the first series get released in the coming days. Another possibility is that one or more of the veterans exercised an out in their Minor League deal and it has not been reported yet.

AA

Tennessee Roster and Preview

C: Bryce Windham, Harrison Wenson, Cam Balego (UT) – Miguel Amaya (IL)

This could be an intriguing year in the development of Bryce Windham. An athletic utility player in college, Windham took well to the catcher conversion program after turning pro, but after suffering a midseason injury the Cubs kept his starts limited to starts at 2B/3B/DH in the 2nd half. His bat picked up the pace during that time however and he finished the year with a .276/.362/.395 line for the year. Miguel Amaya’s elbow surgery has opened the door for the everyday job at Tennessee. Windham has 3rd catcher/utility man upside in a similar way that P.J. Higgins did previously. Windham however is a bit more capable in the field and swings the bat from the left side. He’ll be Rule 5 eligible this fall.

IF: Chris Morel (UT), Chase Strumpf (3B/2B), Luis Vazquez (SS), Bryce Ball (1B), Nelson Maldonado (1B/DH), Delvin Zinn (UT), Christian Donahue (UT)

The lone infielder on the 40-man roster at Tennessee is utility man Chris Morel. A plus defender with a cannon arm at 3B, he’s also a capable fill in at SS and 2B, and then took seamlessly to significant playing time in CF and RF last year as well. His development on defense remains ahead of his offense however. Always blessed with good bat speed he finally appears to have added a decent amount of muscle to his slight frame which should help him access more power this season. He’s made incremental improvements to his plate discipline and pitch recognition every year, but he started off his career as an unapologetic hacker and still has strides he needs to make before he becomes a viable MLB option.

Chase Strumpf initially struggled in his transition to 3B, but stuck with it and appeared more comfortable by the end of last season. Reports from this spring indicate he’s settled in nicely at the position. They key for him has always been the bat though. He’s got a good idea of the zone and improved his strength last season, but his power was still fringe-average last season, especially as a corner guy. He also got a little pull happy at times. If he can develop an all fields approach which should help him keep his average up, Strumpf could make a case for a 40-man roster spot this fall. It will be an intriguing upcoming roster watch throughout the season.

There is no doubt Luis Vazquez can pick it at SS, that Nelson Maldonado can hit for a high average, or that Bryce Ball can draw a walk and hit a ball 450+ feet. They all have one or two MLB caliber tools. Vazquez and Maldonado have bulked up a bit this year in the hopes of doing more damage with their frequent contact at the plate.

Christopher Morel (photo by Rikk Carlson)

Morel and Delvin Zinn are also two of the most energetic players in the org and a joy to watch. Both make unexpected plays in the field and especially on the bases on a regular basis.

OF: Nelson Velazquez, Yonathan Perlaza, Darius Hill

Nelson Velazquez was one of the bigger breakout stories in the Cubs system last year. Always a player who flashed the ability to help with all five tools, he previously struggled with consistency and approach at the plate. His athleticism also suffered in 2019, but all that changed in 2021. He looked stronger and fitter. His defense rounded back into shape (his plus arm never went away). Most importantly he cleaned up his swing and became more selective at the plate. He developed a true plan of attack and it helped him shine in the AFL and earn a 40-man roster spot. He’ll likely head to Iowa at some point in the summer.

Neither Yonathan Perlaza or Darius Hill will wow you on a baseball field, but Perlaza continues to develop a better approach and a bit more pop at the plate, and Hill makes frequent contact and consistently works good at bats. Both likely top out as AAA depth, as Perlaza offers little defensively and Hill lacks power, but they are guys who could stick around the system for a while and you never know, they may be capable of an unexpected leap.

Morel and Zinn will see plenty of outfield time as well.

Rotation: Ryan Jensen, Cam Sanders, Riley Thompson, Anderson Espinoza, Javier Assad, Peyton Remy, Brandon Leibrandt

The rotation will be led by a long list of hard throwers. All four of Ryan Jensen, Cam Sanders, Riley Thompson, and Anderson Espinoza are capable of running it up to the mid-to-upper-90s on a consistent basis. Once he is stretched out after a positive COVID test delayed his entry into the US for Spring Training, I would expect Brailyn Marquez and his potential triple digit fastball to join this group as well. It could be a really fun rotation to watch this summer.

Jensen is still lacking a put away pitch among his secondaries. The slider has flashed in the past, but he has always been working on a new curve. For Sanders it is all about consistency. His delivery, velo, secondaries, and most importantly control have all wavered at various times throughout his career. I’ve long expect a transition to the bullpen is in order, but one more shot as a starter will not hurt. At his best he has a starter’s four pitch mix. Thompson developed a go-to changeup and improved his control back in 2019, but shoulder issues wiped out his 2021 season. Reports are his velocity has returned to his collegiate levels of 95+ and like Jensen has reworked his curveball, which could be the key to a potential breakout.

Riley Thompson (photo by Rikk Carlsson)

Those three will be Rule 5 eligible this fall and possess the type of arm you hate to lose. It’s a good bet all three get added if they stay healthy and show any kind of improvement this season. Espinoza and Marquez are already members of the 40-man roster, but both have also been frequent visitors to the IL.

Espinoza returned from four consecutive lost seasons to show off the same easy velo which once made him a Top 100 prospect in the game. His once plus changeup wasn’t as sharp however, and his new slider only flashed. He’s got to lock in those secondaries and stay healthy this year. He’ll have only one more option season in 2023 so it is imperative he stay on the mound and settle into a role as either a starter or reliever by the end of 2022.

It is a similar story for Marquez, but he is a year younger, and has one additional Minor League option so the clock is not ticking down quite as quickly. Still, I get the feeling the org is growing a bit impatient with the talented lefty, and if he could at least put together a strong second half it would put a lot of minds at ease.

RHRP: Eury Ramos, Dauris Valdez, Blake Whitney, Graham Lawson

Eury Ramos and Dauris Valdez both throw a good fastball. We’ll see if they can develop the necessary control and a consistent secondary offering to earn a 40-man spot this fall. On the other end of the spectrum is Blake Whitney. He began his career with the look of an org arm. He’s always known how to pitch and seems to have a rubber arm, but at first the stuff didn’t excite much. It seems like that stuff has ticked up just a tad in each successive season and I’m curious to see if it has again. If so, he could at least earn an extended shot in Iowa in the coming seasons.

LHRP: Burl Carraway, Bryan Hudson, Brandon Hughes, Scott Kobos

This group has the opportunity to be a lot of fun. Burl Carraway is a former 2nd round pick with elite spin rates and the potential for three plus pitches. Control was a major issue early last season, but he settled in by the end. Bryan Hudson is also a former high round pick (3rd) who has steadily improved his velo and control over the years. His arm slot and 6’8″ frame give him added deception and extension.

Bryan Hudson (photo by Stephanie Lynn)

The other two guys come with less draft cachet but are interesting stories nonetheless. Brandon Hughes began his career as an outfielder before transitioning full time to the mound. He’s a very good athlete who repeats his delivery well. His sweeping slider is really tough on both left and right handed batters, giving him multi-inning utility. He dominated in a split season between South Bend and Tennessee in 2021.

Scott Kobos went unpicked in the abbreviated 2020 draft, but then managed to finish his 2021 with a cup of coffee in Triple-A after beginning the season down in Low-A. His crazy success at the lower three levels (1 ER allowed in 30.2 IP between MB and TN) was a bit BABIP driven, but Kobos limited free passes and missed a decent amount of bats as well.

Got another item that’s beer-related, which was sent to me for my comment.

You know doubt know of many recipes using beer, in bread, chili, and just about anything else where it can lend some malty sweetness.

Bixby Chocolate of Rockland, Maine, has partnered with Allagash Brewing Co. To offer a line of three nut brittles, each made with a different Allagash beer. Why, yes, let’s try some.

I may not be the one to ask about peanut brittle, since I can see it’s mostly sugar interrupted by a few nuts. Also, beer was last in the packages ingredients list, so any alcohol would have been cooked out, leaving us to guess where beer flavor would come in.

I sampling the candy under optimal conditions: typing with my bluetooth keyboard on my phone while watching Svengoolie.

Bixby Allagash White Beer Brittle

These are somewhat oddly shaped bits of brittle, but at least, unlike many kinds, there are not many sharp edges. Lots of peanuts crowded around. Looks like the pieces have been dusted with some fine salt as well. It yields pretty nicely when I bite into it. I’m actually picking up on the cream butter used to make this. Not as much of anything I’d label “beer.” I did expect to get a kind of malty note that helps cut back on sugar sweetness.

A bit of light salty aftertaste, and some more cream to it.

Bixby Allagash North Sky Cacao Nib Beer Brttle

A “mixed nut” brittle, with peanuts, pecans and almonds. North Sky is Allagash’ Belgian-style stout. The brittle is a shade darker than the White, so there’s that. More light peanut brittle nose. The additional nuts alone give this a little more zest. I had to get a tiny bite with a cacao bit alone to isolate that taste, and surrounded by sugar, its has a bit of a Hershey’s Kiss note. The stout just gives it a bit of a molasses edge. Again, a dusting of sea salt gives the candy a nice finish.

Bixby Allagash Sixteen Counties Spicy Chili Beer Brittle

The “Sixteen Counties” is a golden ale made with all Maine-grown grain. This is made with chipotle chiles. Again, a butter toffee nose above anything else. A bit of chili heat from the first bite. Not too strong, but a nice lingering afterburn. A bit more noticeable malt along with corn syrup sweetness to help even out the burn.

I admit, I don’t go much for brittle, and certainly don’t get much into the gourmet kind; mainly for the sake of my teeth. But these were very enjoyable.

You can order Bixby’s beer brittle at this link.