What was two years of pandemic time in Chi?
By Sidney Madden | @sidney_madden_
🕑 COVID RETROSPECTIVE
Two years ago today, Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home order began. For more than two months, non-essential businesses were closed, gatherings were limited, and social distancing was required.
We’ve been revisiting COVID-19 anniversaries this month. It feels like everyone has their own day that was a turning point.
On today’s podcast, we hear from listeners and readers who share the last normal thing they did before shutdown in March 2020.
But we’re not just looking back at the last of the Before Times™️, we’re also revisiting what’s happened in these two years.
Schools have closed and reopened.
The Chicago Teachers Union and CPS have been at odds over safe in-person learning that reached a days-long standoff during the omicron surge in January.
Months before that, teacher Norma Noriega shared her fears about going back to the classroom.
Bad actors have emerged and been caught.
Loretto Hospital executives gave vaccines away to friends and family, taking the doses away from West Side residents.
Testing sites like the Center for COVID Control duped tons of people — including me.
Businesses have had to adjust — again and again.
Workers told us how the short-lived proof-of-vax mandate at bars, restaurants, and live music venues was like asking customers “for a fight.”
The mask mandate is donzo — for now. The City Cast crew compared notes on Chi’s first maskless weekend.
Mandates have come and gone.
Workers told us how the short-lived proof-of-vax mandate at bars, restaurants, and live music venues was like asking customers “for a fight.”
The mask mandate is donzo — for now. The City Cast crew compared notes on Chi’s first maskless weekend.
On a more individual level, our lives have changed, too, from graduations to newjobs to cross-country moves.
❓ We want to know how YOUR life has changed. What was the last normal thing you did before shutdowns? Reach us at chicago@citycast.fm or (773) 780-0246.
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📰 NEWSFEED
▪️ Trans advocate Elise Malary was found dead on the Evanston lakefront. She had been reported missing for a week. A vigil was held for Malary in Andersonville Sunday. [Windy City Times]
▪️ Take a look at CPS’ $4 billion budget at the district and school levels. [Chalkbeat Chicago]
▪️ Besides Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, the rest of the “Griffin Slate” haven’t reported donations from hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin. [Chicago Sun-Times]
▪️ Chicago Park District town halls start today to discuss the new watchdog office. This comes in the wake of the decades-long sex abuse scandal at the city’s beaches that ousted top leaders at the district. [WBEZ]
▪️ Head to a fundraiser in Irving Park to support Twisted Hippo employees tonight. The Albany Park brewery burned down last month.
▪️ The Fighting Illini are officially out of the March Madness tournament, and my bracket simply isn’t going to recover 😥 [The Daily Illini]
🏳️ FUN WITH FLAGS
ICYMI: Cook County has a flag — and it’s about to get a facelift. (As it should, the current flag is not it.)
The student design competition started years ago, and six finalists from across the county have been picked from over 300 submissions.
It’s now in the hands of the Cook County Board of Commissioners to decide, but I thought we could take a vote. Just for funsies.
What should the new county flag be? Read about each design and vote now, and I’ll share the results later this week!
But tbh, can anything really compete with the Chicago flag? It’s a masterpiece.