Archives for 2020
Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce
Dear Business Owners and Operators,
There has been some additional information to share with you regarding stimulus and relief programs through our government entities:
FEDERAL RELIEF
The $2 Trillion stimulus package has a lot of information to digest and the full package has not been released or fully voted on just yet. Once we have the final version, we will pass it on to you. We do have some important information from this package that you can review regarding the Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act.
The Stimulus package will provide direct payments by mailing out checks:
$1,200 for those under $75,000 annual salary
(phase out up to $99,000)
families $500 each child
$2400 for married couples
independent contractors under review in this package
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has outlined some new relief for Hospitality and Small businesses. Emergency Loan funds and hospitality grant opportunities should be a available on their website on Friday.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements
Employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.[1] The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020. VISIT THE US LABOR WEBSITE for more information.
Governor Pritzker stated in today’s conference Fannie Mae has agreed to work with their customers on term mortgages. Many banks will also talk to you about a 90 day hold on your mortgage to be paid on the back end of your term.
Some businesses are still filing for business interruption insurance in hopes insurance companies may have to pay out. Insurance companies are currently denying these claims, however businesses are still making the claim.
The Chicago Police Department will begin ticketing any groups of people that are outside and not following the stay at home rules. If you see something, please call 911.
Our security will continue to work overnight until further notice.
Please be safe and please visit our website for the latest updates.
Pappas: Auction of delinquent Cook County property taxes postponed indefinitely
Chicago announces additional supports and services in place for seniors in Chicago
Definition of Essential Workers from Executive Order
The following is the definition of Essential Workers outlined in the COVID-19 Executive Order No. 8.
12. Essential Businesses and Operations. For the purposes of this Executive Order, Essential Businesses and Operations means Healthcare and Public Health Operations, Human Services Operations, Essential Governmental Functions, and Essential Infrastructure, and the following:1
a. Stores that sell groceries and medicine. Grocery stores, pharmacies, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of groceries, canned food, dry goods, frozen foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries, medicine, including medication not requiring a medical prescription, and also that sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and Essential Businesses and Operations;
b. Food, beverage, and cannabis production and agriculture. Food and beverage manufacturing, production, processing, and cultivation, including farming, livestock, fishing, baking, and other production agriculture, including cultivation, marketing, production, and distribution of animals and goods for consumption; licensed medical and adult use cannabis dispensaries and licensed cannabis cultivation centers; and businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals, including animal shelters, rescues, shelters, kennels, and adoption facilities;
c. Organizations that provide charitable and social services. Businesses and religious and secular nonprofit organizations, including food banks, when providing food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, individuals who need assistance as a result of this emergency, and people with disabilities;
d. Media. Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services;
e. Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation. Gas stations and auto-supply, autorepair, and related facilities and bicycle shops and related facilities;
f. Financial institutions. Banks, currency exchanges, consumer lenders, including but not limited, to payday lenders, pawnbrokers, consumer installment lenders and sales finance lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies, financial markets, trading and futures exchanges, affiliates of financial institutions, entities that issue bonds, related financial institutions, and institutions selling financial
products;
g. Hardware and supply stores. Hardware stores and businesses that sell electrical, plumbing, and heating material;
h. Critical trades. Building and Construction Tradesmen and Tradeswomen, and other trades including but not limited to plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, Essential Activities, and Essential Businesses and Operations;
i. Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services. Post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services, and businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, goods or services to end users or through commercial channels;
j. Educational institutions. Educational institutions—including public and private pre-K-12 schools, colleges, and universities—for purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This Executive Order is consistent with and does not amend or supersede Executive Order 2020-05 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 3) or Executive Order 2020-06 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 4) except that affected schools are ordered closed through April 7, 2020;
k. Laundry services. Laundromats, dry cleaners, industrial laundry services, and laundry service providers;
l. Restaurants for consumption off-premises. Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for consumption off-premises, through such means as in-house delivery, third-party delivery, drive-through, curbside pick-up, and carry-out. Schools and other entities that typically provide food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so under this Executive Order on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pick-up and takeaway basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site due to the virus’s propensity to physically impact surfaces and personal property. This Executive Order is consistent with and does not amend or supersede Section 1 of Executive Order 2020-07 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 5) except that Section 1 is ordered to be extended through April 7, 2020;
m. Supplies to work from home. Businesses that sell, manufacture, or supply products needed for people to work from home;
n. Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations. Businesses that sell, manufacture, or supply other Essential Businesses and Operations with the support or materials necessary to operate, including computers, audio and video electronics, household appliances; IT and telecommunication equipment; hardware, paint, flat glass; electrical, plumbing and heating material; sanitary equipment; personal hygiene products; food, food additives, ingredients and components; medical and orthopedic equipment; optics and photography equipment; diagnostics, food and beverages, chemicals, soaps and detergent; and firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security;
o. Transportation. Airlines, taxis, transportation network providers (such as Uber and Lyft), vehicle rental services, paratransit, and other private, public, and commercial transportation and logistics providers necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes expressly authorized in this Executive Order;
p. Home-based care and services. Home-based care for adults, seniors, children, and/or people with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, and/or mental illness, including caregivers such as nannies who may travel to the child’s home to provide care, and other in-home services including meal delivery;
q. Residential facilities and shelters. Residential facilities and shelters for adults, seniors, children, and/or people with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, and/or mental illness;
r. Professional services. Professional services, such as legal services, accounting services, insurance services, real estate services (including appraisal and title services);
s. Day care centers for employees exempted by this Executive Order. Day care centers granted an emergency license pursuant to Title 89, Section 407.400 of the Illinois Administrative Code, governing Emergency Day Care Programs for children of employees exempted by this Executive Order to work as permitted. The licensing requirements for day care homes pursuant to Section 4 of the Child Care Act, 225 ILCS 10/4, are hereby suspended for family homes that receive up to 6 children for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation.
t. Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries. Manufacturing companies, distributors, and supply chain companies producing and supplying essential products and services in and for industries such as pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, healthcare, chemicals and sanitization, waste pickup and disposal, agriculture, food and beverage, transportation, energy, steel and steel products, petroleum and fuel, mining, construction, national defense, communications, as well as products used by other Essential Businesses and Operations.
u. Critical labor union functions. Labor Union essential activities including the administration of health and welfare funds and personnel checking on the well-being and safety of members providing services in Essential Businesses and Operations – provided that these checks should be done by telephone or remotely where possible.
v. Hotels and motels. Hotels and motels, to the extent used for lodging and delivery or carry-out food services.
w. Funeral services. Funeral, mortuary, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services.
1 On March 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security
Agency, issued a Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During
COVID-19 Response. The definition of Essential Businesses and Operations in this Order is meant to
encompass the workers identified in that Memorandum.
CITY OF CHICAGO PROVIDES FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR TRANSPORTATION DURING STATE’S STAY AT HOME ORDER
Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Update
We have been closely watching the $2 Trillion dollar stimulus package for employees and businesses be held up from Congress and then now in the Senate. We will continue to monitor the changes and progress of this new stimulus package.The Democrats are trying to pass a new version of this Bill and you can read about it here.
LIQUOR LICENSEES
There is a request for liquor distributors to not blacklist liquor licensees who fail to pay their bills on time. This request is with the Governor and we hope to have some resolution so business owners do not fear the future of distributor relationships. Remember how they are treating you now so when you are back in business you have choices to make.
There is a petition going around to allow cocktails and mixed drinks to be added to the carry-out and delivery during the COVID19 pandemic. This could be a way to unload any of your open bottles or the liquor you can not return in time
CITY OF CHICAGO BACP UPDATES
The City has put together simplified information for you to review the $100 Million Resiliency Relief Fund. This will explain the SBA loans and how to apply and who is eligible.
The city of Chicago is also providing further relief to small businesses by extending the due dates for tax payments until April 30th for the following City taxes:
- Bottled Water Tax
- Checkout bag tax
- Amusement tax
- Hotel Accommodation tax
- Restaurant Tax
- Parking Tax
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
For a quick Q&A for filing for unemployment insurance, please visit IDES. Also, please check with your insurance companies for any type of business interruption or lost income provision that may be part of your policy.
SECURITY
Please make sure you don’t cover your windows completely so security and the Police can see inside your business. We currently have overnight patrols and the 19th District is making checks throughout the district for retail corridors. Set alarms, cameras and make sure you register your business with the 19th District so they can contact you if an emergency occurs.
Our Marketing Team continues to promote our businesses with virtual and innovate new ways of marketing. Please send your promos or ideas to sammi@lakevieweast.com
Deuce’s is giving our free meals from 3PM-7PM for the bar and hospitality industry. Please pick up curbside.
Although it may make no sense to pressure wash sidewalks at this time, an anti-bacterial solution was added to help disinfect the commercial district. They will be finishing their applications over the next week.
We will continue to update everyone when more information becomes available. Please continue to visit our website to review information that has been distributed to date. We are in close communications with the City departments who are relying on us all to work together to get us through this horrific time. We also want to thank the Illinois Restaurant Association who have shown great leadership to help the hospitality industry. We are working with BACP, City Departments, the Chicago Police and our local elected officials to help navigate our next steps in recovery.
Thank you to all the business owners and operators who continue to email us and share information to get us to the next steps. We are here for you.
Be safe; we will get through this together and be stronger for it.
CACC Services During “Stay-at-Home Order” – Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is committed to caring for Chicago’s at-risk animals through the evolving COVID-19 crisis. As this situation changes, we will continue to update our website Chicago.gov/CACC and this FAQ with the latest news on the shelter and how you can help.
WILL YOU CONTINUE TO CARE FOR SHELTER PETS?
We continue our commitment to saving animals’ lives, reuniting lost pets with their families, and finding loving homes for abandoned and orphaned animals. Be assured that we will have Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) staff available to feed, clean, and provide exercise and enrichment for the animals in our care. The shelter population is constantly changing, and we are still placing animals in adoptive and foster homes, and reuniting animals with their families by appointment.
In addition, Animal Control Officers will respond to emergency calls such as vicious animals, animal cruelty, and calls about injured and stray animals. While we’ll continue to provide these services, non-essential shelter personnel have been asked to work remotely. If you are interested in helping a shelter pet during this difficult period, please consider adopting or fostering (see details below).
WHY WERE SERVICE CHANGES MADE?
On March 18, CACC changed the way most of its services are accessed. Residents now will need to make appointments by emailing VisitCACC@gmail.com or calling 312-747-1414 (line answered daily from 12 – 6 p.m.).
We are making this change and requesting your help to keep staff and visitors safe while avoiding overcrowding at the shelter and helping our pets find new, loving homes. The change mostly impacts owners giving up their pets to the shelter, since about 40% of pets entering CACC are owner surrenders.
CAN I STILL ADOPT A SHELTER PET AT THIS TIME?
Yes! CACC needs to get as many pets as possible into good homes. If you are considering adopting, please visit Petharbor.com/Chicago or CACC Adoptable Pets and CACC Cat Transfer Team on Facebook to view photos and bios of the animals. If you find a dog or cat of interest, please email VisitCACC@gmail.com or call 312-747-1414 with your name, phone number, and the name and the ID (A#) of the animal. A volunteer or staff member will follow up with you with the next steps. We will note that there is an interested party, but adoptions and transfers will be honored on a first-come first-served basis.
Adoptions are approved after the applicant meets the pet.
HOW DO I FOSTER A SHELTER PET?
The shelter is looking for emergency foster homes, who can take home a pet if CACC reaches critical capacity. CACC will need fosters for all types of pets, but housing for medium and large dogs are needed most. CACC provides vet care and food. People can sign up to be an on-call emergency foster by emailing VisitCACC@gmail.com or calling 312-747-1414. We will get back to you when we need your help. You can also contact one of CACC’s partner organizations to learn about foster opportunities with them. Find a list of these organizations at: Chicago.gov/CACC.
ARE PARTNER RESCUES STILL ABLE TO TRANSFER OUT ANIMALS?
Yes! Transfer hours and procedures are still the same at this time. Rescue partners should visit CACC Dog Transfer Team and CACC Cat Transfer Team on Facebook and email CACCrescue@cityofchicago.org as usual to place hold requests and for more information.
WHAT IF I CAN’T KEEP MY PET?
We are asking owners who are not facing an immediate crisis to keep their pets for at least four weeks. We must maintain space for the pets that need us now. For any pet owners who must surrender their pets, they must make an appointment by emailing VisitCACC@gmail.com or calling 312-747-1414. Owners should also try to re-home their animals with friends or family. Our partners at the Anti-Cruelty Society offer a Home-to-Home Shelter Bypass service to help people take responsibility for rehoming the pets themselves. If you are interested, please contact akulla@anticruelty.org.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FIND A STRAY ANIMAL?
If you find a stray animal, you can take it to a vet clinic to check for a microchip and try to find the owner. Then, go to helpinglostpets.com to create a lost pet profile. Please consider fostering the animal to give the owner time to find the pet or until the shelter resumes normal operations. Lost pets typically stay close to home so fostering them where they are found helps get pets home. The pets also avoid the stress of the shelter. In addition, you can help to find the pet’s owner via social media by posting flyers on pages like LostDogsIL LostCatsIL or other community sites. More information: humanesociety.org/resources/how-help-stray-pet.
If you can’t keep the pet, please email VisitCACC@gmail.com or call 312-747-1414 with your name, phone number, and a brief description of the animal, and a staff member will follow up with you. Please note that we are unable to accept community/feral cats and kittens at this time unless they are orphaned and unweaned or injured. In this case, call 3-1-1 or visit 311.Chicago.gov to request pick-up.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I LOST A PET?
If you lost your pet, visit Petharbor.com/Chicago to view all the stray animals in the facility. Other helpful sites include Lost312.com and helpinglostpets.com as well as Lost DogsIL and LostCatsIL on Facebook and many community pages. If you think that one of the animals at CACC is your lost pet, email VisitCACC@gmail.com or call 312-747-1414 with your name, phone number and the animal ID (A#) from the Petharbor site, and a staff member will follow up with you with the next steps.
HOW DOES COVID-19 EFFECT ANIMALS?
We understand that you may have questions about whether it’s safe to be around pets. Please visit the WHO and CDC for up-to-date information https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO HELP?
Donate!
We always need shelter supplies! Please visit our Amazon Wishlist here.
Prepare Your Pets for Emergencies Every pet parent should put together a kit for their animal, including:
- Bottled water
- Cat carrier
- One-to-two weeks of your pet’s food
- Collapsible food and water bowls
- Blankets
- Cat litter and pan
- Leash, collar and harness
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Basic pet first-aid kit
- Vaccination records and medical history
- Veterinarian’s contact information
- List of medications
- Emergency contacts
- Photos of your pet in case of separation
- Feliway/Adaptil spray for carriers or toys
WHY WAS THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SUSPENDED?
To ensure the health and safety of our volunteers and staff, CACC had to make the hard decision to suspend the Volunteer Program, including the Doggie Day Out Program, until further notice. We hope to bring volunteers back as soon as it is prudent to do so.
SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!
The more people we reach, the more animals we can help! Please share posts on Facebook from Chicago Animal Care and Control, CACC Adoptables, CACC Dog Transfer Team and CACC Cat Transfer Team.
Letter to CTA Riders: Ventra pass credits and account tips during COVID-19
As people stay home and practice social distancing in response to COVID-19, we want you to know that CTA is continuing to run bus and rail service for those who need to get to critical jobs or need to travel for essential purposes.