US jobless claims rise to 719K as virus still forces layoffsAssociated Presson April 1, 2021 at 3:48 pm

In this March 4, 2021, file photo, a sign reading “Welcome Back Now Open” is posted on the window of a Morton’s Steakhouse restaurant as a man works inside during the coronavirus pandemic in San Francisco. California added 141,000 jobs in February as more than a quarter of a million people returned to the workforce. The California Employment Development Department said Friday, March 26, that the state’s unemployment rate in February was 8.5%, down from 9% in January. | AP

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of claims increased from 658,000 the week before.

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose by 61,000 last week to 719,000, signaling that many employers are still cutting jobs even as more businesses reopen, vaccines are increasingly administered and federal aid spreads through the economy.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of claims increased from 658,000 the week before. Though the pace of applications has dropped sharply since early this year, they remain high by historical standards: Before the pandemic flattened the economy a year ago, jobless claims typically ran below 220,000 a week.

Still, the four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week gyrations, fell by 10,500 to 719,000 — the fewest since mid-March 2020, just before the pandemic began to cause widespread layoffs.

All told, 3.8 million people were collecting traditional state benefits during the week ending March 20. If you include federal programs that are meant to help the unemployed through the health crisis, 18.2 million people were receiving some type of jobless aid in the week that ended March 13. That’s down from 19.7 million in the previous week.

Economists monitor weekly applications for unemployment aid for early signs of where the job market is headed. Applications generally reflect the rate of layoffs, which normally fall steadily as a job market strengthens. During the pandemic, though, the numbers have become less reliable as states have struggled with application backlogs and allegations of fraud have clouded the actual volume of job cuts.

Even so, measures of the overall economy show clear improvement from the collapse last spring, with the rising number of vaccinations encouraging people to return to airports, shopping centers, restaurants and bars. The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has dropped from an average of about 250,000 a day in early January to below 70,000, though it has begun to rise again in recent days.

Last month, consumer confidence reached a post-pandemic peak. And the $1,400 checks in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic relief plan have sharply lifted consumer spending, according to Bank of America’s tracking of its debit and credit cards. Spending jumped 23% in the third week of March compared with pre-pandemic levels, the bank said.

And even with the pace of layoffs still relatively high, hiring has begun to accelerate. In February, employers added a robust 379,000 jobs across the country. Last month, they are believed to have added even more: According to the data firm FactSet, economists expect the March jobs report being released Friday to show that the economy added a sizable 614,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate fell from 6.2% to 6%. Less than a year ago, the jobless rate had hit 14.8%.

Some economists are even more optimistic: Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the tax advisory firm RSM, is predicting 1 million added jobs for March.

The Federal Reserve’s policymakers have substantially boosted their forecast for the economy this year, anticipating growth of 6.5% for 2021, up from an estimate in December of just 4.2%. That would be the fastest rate of expansion in any year since 1984.

“With vaccination efforts increasing seemingly by the day, hope may finally be on the horizon,” said AnnElizabeth Konkel, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. “Getting the public health situation back to normal is the only way to stop coronavirus’ economic damage. A robust recovery will only be able to flourish once the virus is under control.”

Still, the economic impact of the pandemic lingers. The data firm Womply reports that 63% of movie theaters and other entertainment venues were closed last week, as were 39% of bars and 39% of hair salons and other beauty shops.

US jobless claims rise to 719K as virus still forces layoffsAssociated Presson April 1, 2021 at 3:48 pm Read More »

2021 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year: Rolling Meadows’ Max Christieon April 1, 2021 at 2:10 pm

Max Christie is a nationally-known player now, a McDonald’s All-American.

It’s easy to forget that four years ago Christie took us all by surprise. His name wasn’t on anyone’s lips as the state’s best incoming freshman.

“I remember all the other kids that were really good in seventh grade having these mixtapes and stuff,” Christie said. “I never had a mixtape [in junior high]. My parents didn’t really throw me out there. Everyone knowing who you are in seventh and eighth grade as you are a young kid maturing and going into high school, I just didn’t think it was necessary and neither did my parents. And now four years, five years later it really paid off. I didn’t need all that attention. It just naturally came, we didn’t force it on me.”

Christie’s parents, Max Sr. and Katrina, both played basketball in college. Katrina was a star at Northwestern and Max Sr. was the leading scorer at Wisconsin-Superior. That experience clearly gave them confidence that mixtapes and hype wouldn’t be necessary for their son to succeed.

The Rolling Meadows senior was an instant sensation in high school. He started filling up the stat sheet as a freshman and never stopped. That surprised his coaches, but not his parents.

“To be honest, yes, we knew he would start out that well,” Katrina Christie said. We knew how much work he had put in on and off the court. We didn’t feel this need to put him out there and expose him everywhere. We just kind of kept it quiet and local but we knew what he was capable of and I guess we had more faith in him than everybody else.”

Christie may be the first Sun-Times Player of the Year that has been outscored in a high school game by his mother. Katrina (Hannaford) Christie scored 55 points in a game for Eau Claire Memorial, a high school in Wisconsin.

Christie’s best game in high school was 51 points.

“I wasn’t thinking about my mom’s 55 during that game at all,” Christie said. “It was kind of a close game so I was pretty focused on that.”

Christie led Rolling Meadows to a perfect 15-0 record this season but there was no state tournament due to COVID-19 mitigations. The Mustangs were also limited to a handful of non-conference games and weren’t able to play in the Chipotle Clash of Champions due to conference commitments.

Those circumstances led to Christie being a Player of Year that much of the area has never seen play, a rarity in this era of high-profile shootouts.

“It’s not that big of a deal to me,” Christie said. “If anyone really wanted to come see me they probably would have made the time to come do it. People can watch me on TV next year. I’m not really concerned about the backlash or any reaction to me winning this award. I’m just glad I won it.”

Rolling Meadows' Max Christie (12) and Cameron Christie (24) cover Buffalo Groves' Kam Craft (12). — Rolling Meadows’ Max Christie (12) and Cameron Christie (24) cover Buffalo Groves’ Kam Craft (12).

Rolling Meadows didn’t face a Public League powerhouse during Christie’s high school career. The highest profile game the Mustangs played over the last four years was Christie’s junior year when they lost to Bryce Hopkins and Fenwick.

“No one in the city wanted to play Rolling Meadows,” Max Christie Sr. said. “It just so happened that he is known more nationally than he is locally. People can’t say he’s no good because they haven’t seen him play.”

“He’s played plenty of [top players] in situations that maybe aren’t public for everyone to come watch,” Katrina Christie said. “I think it is more of a motivator for him.”

Christie averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks this season. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo speaks often of Christie’s ability to distribute and play multiple positions, he’s more than just a shooter.

Christie is also the first local player to turn down a scholarship offer from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“Duke wasn’t the right fit but the biggest thing was that Michigan State really preached what they wanted and what they needed me to be,” Christie said. “Just looking at the offense, what would fit me best, Michigan State was the better fit for me.”

Christie is unique in another way. He’s the first Player of the Year from the Mid-Suburban League.

“My goal coming in to high school was to put Rolling Meadows back on the map,” Christie said. “I think especially this year a lot of people saw that the Mid-Suburban League wasn’t just a walk in the park. We had Hersey, Buffalo Grove, a lot of great teams in there. To be the first kid in this area to win the Sun-Times Player of the Year feels great, to break that barrier and show that the MSL is a great conference to play in.”

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

2020–DJ Steward, Young

2019–DaJuan Gordon, Curie

2018–Talen Horton-Tucker, Simeon

2017–Alonzo Verge, Thornton

2016–Charlie Moore, Morgan Park

2015–Jalen Brunson, Stevenson

2014–Cliff Alexander, Curie

2013–Jahlil Okafor, Young

2012–Jabari Parker, Simeon

2011–Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park

2010–Jereme Richmond, Waukegan

2009–Jereme Richmond, Waukegan

2008–Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor

2007–Derrick Rose, Simeon

2006–Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North

2005–DeAndre Thomas, Westinghouse

2004-Calvin Brock, Simeon

2003–Shannon Brown, Proviso East

2002–Sean Dockery, Julian

2001–Eddy Curry, Thornwood

2000–Cedrick Banks, Westinghouse

1999–Leon Smith, King

1998–Quentin Richardson, Young

1997–Melvin Ely, Thornton

1996–Ronnie Fields, Farragut

1995–Kevin Garnett, Farragut

1994–Jerry Gee, St. Martin de Porres

1993–Rashard Griffith, King

1992–Chris Collins, Glenbrook North

1991–Sherell Ford, Proviso East

1990–Jamie Brandon, King

1989–Deon Thomas, Simeon

1988–Eric Anderson, de Sales

1987–Marcus Liberty, King

1986–Nick Anderson, Simeon

1985–Michael Ingram, Proviso West

1984–Hersey Hawkins, Westinghouse

1983–Len Bertolini, St. Patrick

1982–Bernard Jackson, Phillips

1981–Walter Downing, Providence

1980–Glenn Rivers, Proviso East

1979–Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph

1978–Mark Aguirre, Westinghouse

1977–Eddie Johnson, Westinghouse

1976–Glen Grunwald, East Leyden

1975–Pete Boesen, Maine South

1974–Audie Matthews, Bloom

1973–Mark Vitali, St. Charles

1972–Quinn Buckner, Thornridge

1971–Quinn Buckner, Thornridge

1970–Lloyd Batts, Thornton

1969–Jim Brewer, Proviso East

1968–Jeff Hickman, Lockport

1967–Rick Howat, Downers Grove

1966–Rich Bradshaw, Marshall

1965–Terry Hurley, Steinmetz

1964–Eugene Ford, Crane

1963–Joe Allen, Carver

1962–Cazzie Russell, Carver

1961–Bob Caress, Thornton

1960–George Wilson, Marshall

2021 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year: Rolling Meadows’ Max Christieon April 1, 2021 at 2:10 pm Read More »

DePaul expected to hire Tony Stubblefield as next head basketball coachon April 1, 2021 at 2:25 pm

DePaul is expected to name Tony Stubblefield as its next head men’s basketball coach, according to sources.

Stubblefield will replace Dave Leitao, who was fired after going 69-113 in six seasons leading the Blue Demons.

The 51-year-old Stubblefield has been at Oregon under Dana Altman for the past 11 seasons. He was named associate head coach this past season.

Known for his high level recruiting prowess while at Oregon, which has included four recruiting classes ranked among the top 12 in the country, Stubblefield has been a part of eight NCAA Tournament teams with the Ducks.

Oregon finished the year 21-7 and reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing to USC on Sunday. The 2015-16 team reached the Elite Eight and the 2016-17 team reached the Final Four.

The short list of candidates reportedly interviewed and were under serious consideration included New York Knicks assistant coach Kenny Payne, Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley, Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates, Duke associate head coach Jon Scheyer, Wright State head coach Scott Nagy and Pacific head coach Damon Stoudemire.

DePaul expected to hire Tony Stubblefield as next head basketball coachon April 1, 2021 at 2:25 pm Read More »

Nearly 500 Chicagoans testing positive every day raising concerns of a potential third surge of COVID-19 (LIVE UPDATES)on April 1, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Latest

Chicago sees ‘quantum leap’ in COVID-19 cases — widening Lightfoot-Pritzker split over vaccine plans

Illinois’ COVID-19 uptick took another jump 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.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot agree the uptick has halted any talk of further reopening — but they’re still far apart on when all adults should be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose.

The governor voiced concern Wednesday over the city’s timetable for that move, saying “I think that they will want to do that sooner than they are currently planning to.”

Read the full story from Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout here.

News

9:24 a.m. James Taylor kicking off rescheduled 2021 tour at the United Center

Live music may be returning to the United Center this summer.

James Taylor on Wednesday announced his postponed world tour with special guest Jackson Browne will kick off at the Chicago venue on July 29.

Tickets purchased for the original dates will be honored for the trek that wraps up Nov. 1 in San Diego. (The tour was originally slated for a stop June 9 the United Center; refunds are available at point of purchase for those unable to make the new date.)

Taylor postponed the tour last April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down all live music/theater venues across the country. Browne contracted coronavirus last March, revealing at the time he suffered only minor symptoms and recuperated while quarantining at home.

“(Jackson and I/James and I) want to thank all those who have graciously held onto their tickets; we appreciate your continued patience as we navigate these unchartered waters. We didn’t want to have to cancel this tour that we’ve been waiting so long to perform together, so we’ve been working to get these dates rescheduled to a time period when the U.S. is reopened and safe to gather for a concert,” the two legendary singer-songwriters said in a joint statement.”

Read the full story from Miriam Di Nunzio here.

New Cases & Vaccination Numbers

Another 2,592 residents across the state were diagnosed with the virus among 77,727 tests.
Nearly 500 Chicagoans are testing positive every day, an average figure that has jumped 37% over the past week.
Illinois is vaccinating more people than ever as the state’s rolling average is up to a new high of 109,538 shots doled out per day.
On Tuesday, 137,445 shots went into arms, the state’s third-highest daily total yet.

Nearly 500 Chicagoans testing positive every day raising concerns of a potential third surge of COVID-19 (LIVE UPDATES)on April 1, 2021 at 2:38 pm Read More »

Breaking down Week 3’s top high school football gameson April 1, 2021 at 2:41 pm

No. 1 Loyola at No. 9 Brother Rice, 4 p.m. Thursday

No team in the state has a tougher first three games than Loyola (2-0, 1-0 CCL/ESCC Blue), which already owns top-10 wins over St. Rita and Mount Carmel. Coach John Holecek’s Ramblers always have been built around lockdown defenses and this team is no different. Marty Auer and Artist Benjamin have had big takeaways in the first two weeks. And Vaughn Pemberton, one of the area’s premier backs, has been especially dangerous out of the Wildcat formation. Toledo-bound Willie Shaw, who can line up at receiver or running back, leads Rice (1-1, 0-1), which is coming off a 20-16 loss to Pulaski Road rival Marist.

No. 3 Marist at No. 8 Mount Carmel, 4 p.m. Saturday

Two multi-talented senior quarterbacks will be in the spotlight in this CCL/ESCC Blue showdown. Marist (2-0, 1-0) has Coastal Carolina recruit Dontrell Jackson Jr., while Mount Carmel (1-1, 0-1) counters with Temple recruit Justin Lynch. But don’t forget about Marist senior Jamari Grant, who ran for 154 yards and a touchdown last week against Brother Rice. Mount Carmel also has a productive back in Illinois recruit Kenenna Odeluga.

No. 4 Batavia vs. Geneva, 5:30 p.m. Friday at Northern Illinois

Whenever these two rivals get together it’s special, and their 102nd meeting will play out on the big stage at Husky Stadium. Batavia (2-0, 2-0 DuKane) will be without quarterback Kyle Oroni, who suffered a broken leg in last week’s win over St. Charles North. Josh Dornink and Dondre Phillips are a pair of backs capable of picking up some of the slack for the Bulldogs’ offense. Geneva (1-1, 1-1) snapped a 10-game losing streak in decisive fashion last week, blanking St. Charles East 30-0 as its defense had six takeaways.

No. 15 Wheaton Warrenville South at Wheaton North, 1 p.m. Saturday

This crosstown rivalry is heating up again with both teams 2-0 overall and in the DuKane Conference. Wheaton North has a promising running back in Brayton Maske. who averaged 10 yards a carry and scored twice against Lake Park last week. Eddie Robinson and the Wheaton Warrenville South offense heated up after a scoreless first half to get past Glenbard North last week.

Eisenhower at Shepard, 7 p.m. Thursday

The arrow is pointing up for these District 218 rivals. Shepard (1-1, 1-1 South Suburban Red) is coming off its first win over Richards in 28 years, a 42-8 romp that featured six takeaways and 50- and 83-yard TD runs by junior Kendrick Washington. Junior quarterback Nashon Johnson, a transfer from Proviso East, has been a nice addition for Eisenhower (2-0, 2-0), which also has a productive back in Jhajuan Lott.

Breaking down Week 3’s top high school football gameson April 1, 2021 at 2:41 pm Read More »

2021 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area basketball teamon April 1, 2021 at 2:44 pm

Robbie Avila, Oak Forest, 6-8, F, Jr.

Mulit-dimensional big man with a terrific feel for the game. Averaged 25.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and three assists. Set a school record with 42 points against Tinley Park and with 21 rebounds against Richards. Is on pace to break school’s all-time scoring record despite COVID-19 shortened season.

Isaiah Barnes, Simeon, 6-7, G, Sr.

Michigan recruit. All-City selection. Took his game to a new level after transferring from Oak Park, developing into a consistent three-point threat. Averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists. One of the area’s best athletes capable of taking over games for long stretches. Helped Wolverines to 9-1 record and first-place finish in Red-South/Central.

Timaris Brown, St. Patrick, 6-5, F, Jr.

All-City selection. Averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals despite deferring to senior teammates. Impressive shooting long range and getting to the basket. Helped lead Shamrocks to 8-3 season and invitation to the Chipotle Clash of Champions.

AJ Casey, Young, 6-8, F, Jr.

All-City and two-time All-Area selection. Didn’t miss a beat after transferring back to the Public League from Tinley Park. One of the top 30 players in the national Class of 2021 and has offers from a dozen major college programs including Ohio State, Kansas, Michigan, Gonzaga and Illinois.

Max Christie, Rolling Meadows, 6-7, G, Sr.

Michigan State recruit. McDonald’s All-American and Sun-Times Player of the Year. Three-time All-Area selection. Averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. All-time leading scorer in school and Mid-Suburban League history with more than 2,000 points. Led Mustangs to MSL title and 15-0 season.

Kam Craft, Buffalo Grove, 6-5, G, Jr.

Two-time All-Area selection. Averaged 27.1 points, a school record. Also led the team in rebounds (7.4) and steals (2.9). Shot 53% from the field and 41% from three. Has scored 1,694 points in his career. Currently has offers from Maryland, Nebraska, Xavier, DePaul and more.

Conor Enright, Mundelein, 6-2, G, Sr.

Drake recruit. Dynamic, always active guard that partnered with SIU recruit Scottie Ebube to lead Mustangs to 43-6 record the last two seasons. Averaged 14.5 points, six rebounds, four assists and shot 46% from three. Led team to North Suburban Conference title and a spot in the Chipotle Clash of Champions.

Brandon Hall, Thornton, 6-4, G, Sr.

East Tennessee State recruit. Strong and athletic force that helped lead the Wildcats to two extremely successful seasons, including a run to the sectional finals last season cut short by COVID-19. Excellent three-point shooter and a rebounding force despite playing mostly on the perimeter. Averaged 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Chaz Harvey, Brooks, 6-2, G, Sr.

Uncommitted. All-City selection. Smart, smooth guard broke out of the shadows of the White Division to lead the Eagles to a fourth-place finish in the powerful Red-South/Central. Averaged 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and two steals. Scored 25 against Simeon, 29 against Corliss and 27 against Curie.

Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick, 6-6, G, Sr.

Kentucky recruit. Two-time All-Area selection. Lawless Award winner in Catholic League. Averaged 24.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 steals, 1.5 blocks and shot 59%. Made game-winning plays in the final minute against DePaul Prep, Loyola, St. Ignatius and Leo.

Braden Huff, Glenbard West, 6-10, F, Jr.

Emerged as one of the state’s most dominant all-around players. Put up 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks while averaging just 22 minutes a game. Led Hilltoppers to 16-1 season and West Suburban Silver co-championship.

TY Johnson, DePaul Prep, 6-2, G, Sr.

Loyola recruit. Two-time All-Area selection. All-City selection. Led Rams to Chipotle Clash of Champions tournament title. Averaged 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals and shot 51%. The undisputed leader and top player on the area’s top-ranked team.

Louis Lesmond, Notre Dame, 6-5, F, Sr.

Harvard recruit. East Suburban Catholic Player of the Year. Led Dons to 15-3 season. Averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and two assists. Was a dominant force on defense as well, regularly shutting down the opposition’s best guard or wing player.

Nick Martinelli, Glenbrook South, 6-7, F, Jr.

Stepped into his older brother Dom’s shoes as an all-around star and All-Area selection. Led Titans to 16-2 season. Averaged 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting an incredible 67.5% from the field and 57.7% from three.

Blake Peters, Evanston, 6-1, G, Sr.

Princeton recruit. Leading scorer in school history with 1,585 points. Key factor in the Wildkits’ incredible run over the past four seasons. Averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Made national headlines with his 3/4 court buzzer-beater as a freshman, one of several game-winners in his career.

Ethan Roberts, Hersey, 6-5, G, Sr.

Uncommitted. Emerged as a star player in the Mid-Suburban League after one season of adjusting to the league after transferring from Memphis. Averaged 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Led Huskies to 13-3 season.

Julius Rollins, Hillcrest, 6-6, F, Sr.

Recently decommitted from Kent State. Averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals in limited minutes on a squad loaded with potential Division I players. Led Hawks to 13-0 season and South Suburban Blue title.

Jaden Schutt, Yorkville Christian, 6-4, G, Jr.

Widely regarded as one of the state’s best shooters, Schutt improved in all facets this season including playmaking and attacking the rim. Averaged 26.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.6 steals. Shot 55% from the field and 40% from three.

Ben Schwieger, Waubonsie Valley, 6-5, G, Sr.

Loyola recruit. One of the state’s most efficient players, averaging 17 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 67.1% from the field and 48.6% from three with a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio.

JJ Taylor, Kenwood, 6-8, G, So.

The state’s top-ranked sophomore became a legitimate star this season, averaging 28.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. Teamed with fellow sophomores Darrin Ames and Davius Loury to lead a very young team with a first-year head coach to 12-2 overall record and third place in the rugged Red-South Central.

2021 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area basketball teamon April 1, 2021 at 2:44 pm Read More »

Rent Control Gets a New Lease on Life in Illinoison April 1, 2021 at 2:00 pm

In 2017, state Rep. Will Guzzardi introduced a bill to overturn the state’s ban on rent control. It didn’t get out of committee.

In 2019, Guzzardi introduced the bill again. Same result.

This year, though, the bill passed the House’s new Housing Committee, which Guzzardi chairs, and is headed to the floor for a vote by the full body.

Illinois has prohibited municipalities from adopting rent control since 1997, when Republican Gov. Jim Edgar signed the Rent Control Preemption Act, a measure promoted by the free market American Legislative Exchange Council. The bill addressed a non-existent issue, since rent control has never been imposed anywhere in the state.

The economic calamity that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, though, seems to have created an acceptance of government intervention in the housing market. Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an eviction moratorium which is currently set to expire April 3. The state used federal coronavirus relief funds to launch emergency rental and mortgage assistance programs, which have paid out $324 million to 56,000 households. In this environment, rent control may be another tool to prevent economically stressed Illinoisans from losing their homes.

“We need to have a few more tools in our toolbox, especially coming out of this pandemic, to stabilize the housing market,” said Roderick Wilson, executive director of the Lugenia Burns Hope Center in Bronzeville and legislative coordinator of the Lift the Ban Coalition, which has been lobbying for Guzzardi’s bill. “Once that moratorium is ended, people still owe what they owe. With rent control, it doesn’t cost [the state] a dime.”

Guzzardi also believes that COVID has contributed to the advancement of his bill. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that the pandemic has put 30 to 40 million Americans at risk of eviction.

“The pandemic has brought to the foreground a housing crisis that has been lingering in the shadows,” he said. “You saw how little it took, because of fragile economic circumstances, limited savings, it didn’t take long for this to become a crisis. It really helps us make the case that our hands have been tied.”

Guzzardi’s bill, HB116, is only seven words long: “The Rent Control Preemption Act is repealed.” Its passage alone would change nothing about the housing market. It would simply allow cities to pass rent control ordinances. As a state official, Guzzardi has no opinion on what those should look like. (“That’s kind of none of my business.”) Wilson, though, is a community organizer who was priced out of Bronzeville, and now lives on the West Side. He thinks rent control in Chicago could look like Oregon, which in 2019 passed a statewide rent control law limiting rent increases to no more than 7 percent annually, plus the rate of inflation. (Oregon’s law applies only to multi-unit buildings more than 15 years old, which would cover most Chicago renters.)

The strongest opposition to the bill comes from Illinois REALTORS, a real-estate industry group. “Government price controls on rentals have been empirically proven to reduce the number and quality of affordable rental units in the areas they are imposed. In areas where there are existing housing shortages, rent control imposed by local governments has dramatically worsened the shortages. Worse yet, policies like government-imposed pricing in housing has been proven to increase segregation and continue patterns of disinvestment along racial lines,” REALTORS said in a statement. “As of February 2021, available housing inventory for sale in Illinois was down over 49% year-over-year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois was over 100,000 units short of enough affordable housing units that were needed and fell over 60% behind the number of necessary affordable rental units. H.B. 116 would allow proponents to shift millions of dollars of housing costs onto neighboring properties.”

Guzzardi and Wilson both believe rent control can stabilize neighborhoods, and perhaps prevent some of the population loss that has made Illinois the nation’s second-fastest shrinking state. Guzzardi’s Northwest Side district, which includes Logan Square, Hermosa, Avondale, and Old Irving Park, has seen “a huge displacement of Latinx families” as a result of rising rents and property values.

“That’s why I’ve been working on this bill in the first place,” he said. “I know a lot of the tenants who tried to organize at this building around the corner from me where the developer bought the building and they slapped a new coat of paint on there and they said, ‘Your rent just went up by 50 percent, and you’ve got until the end of the month to figure it out.’”

During his 2018 campaign, Gov. J.B. Pritzker supported repealing the rent control ban. However, Pritzker has not taken a position on HB116, and his spokeswoman, Jordan Abudayyeh, did not respond to a question about whether he would sign it.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot may be a bigger obstacle. In the 2019 mayoral campaign, rent control was one of the few significant policy differences between Lightfoot and her runoff opponent, Toni Preckwinkle. Lightfoot was opposed to rent control, preferring to build affordable housing instead; Preckwinkle thought it would be a “solution to the problem of Chicago’s rising rents that are pushing families out of their homes and communities.”

That was two years ago, though, before the pandemic that may have forever changed our views of government’s role in the housing market.

Rent Control Gets a New Lease on Life in Illinoison April 1, 2021 at 2:00 pm Read More »

Morning Cubs Roundup: It’s Opening Day, enjoy it!on April 1, 2021 at 2:27 pm

Cubs Den

Morning Cubs Roundup: It’s Opening Day, enjoy it!

Morning Cubs Roundup: It’s Opening Day, enjoy it!on April 1, 2021 at 2:27 pm Read More »

Chicago trio Moontype make indie rock for the dreamer in everyoneLeor Galilon April 1, 2021 at 11:00 am

Bassist and vocalist Margaret McCarthy began releasing music as Moontype while enrolled in Oberlin’s music conservatory. She began with a 2017 self-released EP called Fan Music, in which drifty singing, plucking, and strumming are barely audible through what sounds like the hum of a box fan.…Read More

Chicago trio Moontype make indie rock for the dreamer in everyoneLeor Galilon April 1, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

2 women die in SW Side house fireJermaine Nolenon April 1, 2021 at 1:02 pm

Four men were shot March 28, 2021 on Interstate 57 near 127th Street. — Two women were killed and a man was seriously injured in a house fire April 1, 2021, in the 5200 block of West 64th Place. | Adobe Stock Photo

Two women, 60 and 41, were taken to the hospital in serious condition, but later died.

Two women died and a man was seriously injured in a house fire early Thursday in Clearing on the Southwest Side.

Authorities responded to a house fire about 2:10 a.m. in the 5200 block of West 64th Place, Chicago police said.

A man and woman from the residence, 57 and 60, were taken to Holy Cross Hospital in serious condition, and the woman was later pronounced dead, police said. A third woman, 41, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where she was pronounced dead.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet released the details of the fatalities.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

2 women die in SW Side house fireJermaine Nolenon April 1, 2021 at 1:02 pm Read More »

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