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Citizen HYDE PARK Week of April 1, 2020 | Vol. 31 | No. 19 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com
CITY PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS As numbers of COVID-19 cases in the city of Chicago increase, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday, March 23, two key measures to provide relief to hospitals and increase the capacity to aid in the city’s fight to prevent the spread of the virus. One of those measures involves the city’s homeless population. PAGE 2
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City of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (pictured) announced a new agreement with YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to provide emergency shelter for the city’s homeless population during COVID-19. Photo courtesy of City of Chicago/Mayor’s Office
BUSINESS 5 Financial Tips for Teens PAGE 4
NEWS 7 Steps to Prepare for a Home Remodel PAGE 5
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EDUCATION MEASURES ASSIST LICENSEES AND EDUCATION PROVIDERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has announced several proactive measures to help professional licensees and education providers in light of the challenges confronting all Illinoisans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the limitation of in-person course availability and to further reduce contact between individuals, the department has issued a series of variances that provide relief from the provisions of certain administrative rules pertaining to license renewal terms and to continuing education requirements.
Any professional licenses issued by the department that have renewal dates between March 1, 2020 through and including July 31, 2020, are granted an automatic extension to renew to September 30, 2020. Additionally, all current licensees under the department’s jurisdiction whose license renewal deadlines fall within the period beginning March 1, 2020 through and including July 31, 2020, shall have up to, and including, September 30, 2020 to complete their continuing education coursework. The department is also allowing licensees to complete their continuing education coursework without requiring live attendance and permit for interactive webinar and online distance education courses in addition to currently permitted methods. These and all departmental licensees must continue to comply with all pertinent provisions of their respective licensing acts.
HEALTH DENTAL CARE HABITS OF AMERICANS REVEALED IN HONOR OF WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY
Weave, one of the fastest-growing companies in tech, recently announced new research detailing the dental habits and preferences of Americans to help bring attention to World Oral Health Day. Weave commissioned an independent study of over 1,100 people to learn more about their dental care hygiene habits and their preferences for interacting with their dental care providers. The data show that most patients prefer more “modern” dental practices--those who send both appointment reminders and payment requests via text messages. Other key points from the study showed that 70% of patients would gladly leave an online review if their dentist sent them a link to do so and 53% of patients have gone over 3 years without getting their teeth checked. To learn more about Weave’s complete business toolbox, including solutions for dental care providers, please visit www.getweave.com.
LAW & POLITICS RAOUL: BERWYN MAN CHARGED WITH IMPERSONATING ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE EMPLOYEE TO STEAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
Attorney General Kwame Raoul recently announced that a Berwyn man was arrested and charged with posing as an employee of the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, offering government jobs and other favors for cash payments and ultimately defrauding four Cook County residents of at least $15,000.
Hugo Torres, 47, was arrested and charged with one count of theft by deception over $10,000, a Class 2 felony, punishable by three to seven years in prison, and one count of theft by deception over $500, a Class 3 felony, punishable by five to 10 years in prison. According to a press release, Torres was previously convicted in a similar scheme in which he posed as a supervisor for the Illinois Secretary of State and made phony promises of jobs with the Secretary of State’s office. Torres has never been an employee of or affiliated in any capacity with the Secretary of State’s office.
City provides emergency shelter for the homeless
BY TIA CAROL JONES
As numbers of COVID-19 cases in the city of Chicago increase, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Monday, March 23, two key measures to provide relief to hospitals and increase the capacity to aid in the city’s fight to prevent the spread of the virus. One of those measures involves the city’s homeless population.
The city of Chicago reached a new agreement with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to provide access to emergency shelter during the stay-athome order for those who are homeless at certain YMCA locations.
“Chicago’s response to this crisis is moving fast and addressing multiple fronts. I’m proud to make two more critical announcements on measures we are taking to support our healthcare workers and stop the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Lightfoot said. “We have been focusing in these last few days on several important areas, one is our healthcare system, making sure our healthcare system has the support to meet the daily challenge. We’ve also been focused on our vulnerable populations -- seniors, people with underlying conditions and of course, the homeless.” The agreement would create 400 adContinued from page 1
ditional shelter beds, while still adhering to the six-feet social distancing practice. There also will be 500 additional beds at other sites.
“Like so many Chicago institutions, nonprofits like the YMCA face an uncertain future. But that concern is secondary to the health and safety of Chicago’s citizens – especially the most vulnerable in our community like displaced and homeless individuals,” Richard Malone, president and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, said. “In partnership with the city and other community-based organizations, the Y is proud to step up to provide needed shelter in YMCA locations across the city that have been shut down by COVID-19.”
Recently, the Department of Family and Support Services has temporarily suspended referral into shelters because city-funded shelters are 99 percent full. The Department of Family and Support Services is also working to reconfigure shelters to adhere to the social distancing practice. The agreement with the YMCA helps to bolster the city’s efforts to respond to the needs of the homeless populations during COVID-19.
“The health and safety of all those we serve are among our highest priorities,” Lisa Morrison Butler, commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services, said. “I applaud the YMCA for coming forward to help address a critical need for homeless residents. Everyone has a role to play in getting ready, staying healthy and making sure the most vulnerable residents get the support they need.” The Department of Family and Support Services also has accelerated its Homeless Outreach Program team, by increasing visits to encampments to provide resources, gauging interests in shelter placement and working to identify residents at higher risk for coronavirus because of chronic health issues and older age. The team also made hand sanitizer and wipes, hygiene kits and deployed hand-washing stations to larger homeless encampments.
“I applaud the commitment and dedication of our city’s partner organizations as we work together to meet this moment brought by the COVID-19 virus,” Mayor Lightfoot said. “By working in tandem with healthcare experts and local organizations to increase capacity for those affected, we have been able to develop innovative solutions to ensure every resident – regardless of status or where they live – are able to obtain the care and refuge needed to prevent the spread of this disease and keep every Chicagoan safe and secure.”
All Vehicle Emissions Testing Stations Closed Until April 7
Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim recently announced the temporary closure of all vehicle emissions testing stations in Illinois.
In the interest of safeguarding the health of all Illinoisans, including motorists that bring their vehicles in for emissions testing and the workers that perform these tests, the Illinois EPA will temporarily suspend vehicle emissions testing, including at all centralized and decentralized inspection station locations.
The steps are being taken to aid in the state’s efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The suspension is effective now through April 7, 2020, and may be extended depending on circumstances, according to a press release. The Illinois Air Team Call Center will remain open and available to address motorist emissions testing inquiries. Motorists with questions may call 844-258-9071 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM or visit the Illinois Air Team website at http://illinoisairteam.net. Vehicle registration expirations dates have been extended by 30 days allowing motorists to wait to have their vehicles tested and renew vehicle registrations. The Illinois EPA is working closely with the Secretary of State’s Office (SOS) regarding vehicle registration extensions to ensure the two agencies are aligned in implementing their respective duties.
The Illinois EPA will continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis and will rely on public health experts to help evaluate the re-opening of vehicle emissions testing stations.
Supreme Court Sides with Comcast in Discrimination Dispute Against Byron Allen
BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
In a decision issued online Monday, March 23, over entrepreneur and media mogul Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Networks in a discrimination lawsuit against Comcast, the Supreme Court’s justices have unanimously decided to send the case back to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The lower court will now determine whether or not is should reconsider Allen’s claims in his $20 billion suit.
In an Op-Ed for BlackPressUSA. com, Maurita Coley, President and CEO of the Multicultural Media, Telecom, and Internet Council (MMTC) explains, “The lawsuit arose out of Comcast’s decision several years ago not to carry several Allen-owned television channels, such as Pets.TV and Recipe.TV. Comcast has argued its rejection of Allen’s channels was purely a business decision, reflecting what it viewed as the channels’ limited audience appeal. Allen then promptly filed a $20 billion lawsuit against Comcast, alleging that the company’s refusal to contract with Allen’s company was racially motivated, in violation of Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
“District Court Judge Terry Hatter – a well-respected African American judge with an apparently strong record on civil rights – dismissed the case three times, finding that Allen had not established a plausible argument that Comcast would have contracted with his company ‘but for’ Allen’s race.
“Allen appealed to the 9th Circuit, which remanded Judge Hatter’s dismissal with a new guideline to the lower court that a plaintiff can state a viable claim under Section 1981 if discriminatory intent plays any role in a defendant’s decision not to contract, regardless of whether race discrimination was a “but for” cause of that decision. Comcast petitioned the Supreme Court to review the 9th Circuit’s decision, and the Supreme Court agreed.”
The Supreme Court filing, Comcast Corp vs. NAAAOM, was the result of an appeal by Comcast of the 9th Circuit’s decision.
Comcast argued that the Section 1981 ban can only be interpreted as requiring “but for” causation. It argued that everyone must have “the same right” as white citizens “to make and enforce contracts.”
Comcast assured the justices that reasons that have nothing to do with race, such as a lack of bandwidth, and its decision to focus on news and sports content, were the basis of their decision not to carry ESN’s channels.
Moreover, Comcast noted it had, for many years, carried numerous other African American-owned networks.
ESN countered that Comcast’s position would prohibit a plaintiff who alleges that race was a motivating factor for the refusal to contract from conducting fact-finding discovery on the claim, no matter how strong the evidence of racism, unless the plaintiff could meet the stringent requirement of plausibly alleging that race was the ‘but-for’ cause of the refusal to contract. That, ESN reasonably insists, is an extremely high and difficult hurdle because “the defendant typically is the only party with access to evidence of the defendant’s motives.” On Monday, Comcast released the following statement, “We are pleased the Supreme Court unanimously restored certainty on the standard to bring and prove civil rights claims. The well-established framework that has protected civil rights for decades continues. The nation’s civil rights laws have not changed with this ruling; they remain the same as before the case was filed.
“We now hope that on remand, the 9th Circuit will agree that the District Court properly applied the law in dismissing Mr. Allen’s case three separate times for failing to state any claim.
“We are proud of our record on diversity and will not rest on this record. We will continue to look for ways to add even more innovative and diverse programming that appeals to our diverse viewership and continue our diversity and inclusion efforts across the company.” NNPA attempted to contact Byron Allen’s attorneys for a statement. However, at the time of this writing, neither Allen nor his attorneys have provided any comments.
Aerica Karriem, a Family Mediator and Relationship Coach expert, has taken an unprecedented step to launch Black Online Therapy dedicated to serving black families globally.
As many people stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, the arguments and tension, while everyone is together, may be increasing.
Now, families can access the support they need from the comfort of their homes for themselves and their loved ones for their overall emotional health and well-being.
“Our main focus is to provide a confidential, convenient and affordable way to help prevent the onset or worsening of mental breakdowns or mental health conditions,” says Karriem.
“We provide social emotional learning and effective communication techniques to help repair and restore families all over the world.” Black Online Therapy was founded on three guiding principles: love As many people stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19, families can now access emotional health and well-being support from home.
for humanity, integrity no matter what, and unity to those who matter the most.
Karriem, a stay at home mom for 14 years, decided to take classes, go to seminars, read hundreds of hours of related family and healing books and more importantly, she got involved in her community. She became a certified family mediator and relationship coach. In addition to that, she created a curriculum and certifies others to do the same, according to a news release.
“We must understand our children are constantly mimicking us,” says Karriem. “So, when we begin to dishonor and devalue ourselves and we continue to communicate with such harsh mannerisms, they know nothing else, but what they see.”
Karriem added, “I know hurt people, hurt people. We don’t want anymore people in the world hurting, so we are committed to go the distance to ensure that we focus on healing deep rooted hurts and pains in our communities. We’ve had our feet on the ground, have done a great amount of leg work, research and surveying in order to quantify the needs in our communities. It’s been worth it, as our priority is to be extremely valuable for our clients,” she said.
For more information about Black Online Therapy, please visit http:// blackonlinetherapy.com/
A Spring Cleaning To-Do List
Family Features - Spring cleaning often lands in a perfect spot on the calendar to serve as an annual reminder of your regular home maintenance to-do list such as changing HVAC and appliance filters, checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and cleaning exterior appliance venting. Keep this checklist from Kidde in mind this spring and find more spring safety information at kidde.com/home-safety.
