I wanted to give everyone an update filled with optimism for our summer!
Tuesday, I recorded a video which talked about a few different topics. Largely, I spoke about our need to re-open our economy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9wLWu6SlfI&t=5s
In my first COVID update, I said that the CDC looks at 4 things. Morbidity, controlling the spread, impact on the health care system and the economic impact. I also said that the CDC made clear that they were already focusing on the trade-offs for the last 2 because this was going to be a pandemic and there are no known cures. Flattening the curve, was not about less cases, it was about spreading them out to keep the hospital system from being overwhelmed. The good news is that this appears to be working. However, there has been a tremendous cost as it has crushed our economy.
Since the beginning of the crisis, there have been people saying we didn’t do enough and people saying that we have done too much. At the end of the day, there will be studies done using all of the data available to determine what we have done right and what we have done wrong. Some states and countries have been more aggressive than others and we will at some point be able to see those results.
I think history will find that some of our actions were appropriate, and some of our actions were not. Typically, measured approaches to our problems provide better solutions than extreme approaches.
I agree with our many of my fellow mayors that our approach to re-opening should be regional and the governor should engage with us to develop a plan for this re-opening.
Just yesterday, President Trump unveiled his plans to re-open our state economies in phases and Governor Pritzker announced a partnership with Midwest governors to reopen the region’s economy.
I am optimistic, as is the majority of our village board, that we will be returning to near-normal this summer and will be able to host most of the events that our residents love! Of course, we will adapt as necessary, but it is important to move forward with our plans. It is relatively easy to “turn events off” but it is very difficult to “turn them on”.
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce our summer event schedule and the acts for our three-concert series beginning in July! https://youtu.be/SmKAAKX1U9Y
Tickets go on sale May 1st. Residents will have the opportunity to buy discounted tickets ($65 for all three concerts – normal price $90) until May 22nd. Please call the village at 708-403-5000 or 708-403-6170 to order tickets. Additionally, if the buildings are open, you can purchase tickets at the Sportsplex or the Village Hall.
We will, of course, continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and make informed decisions on events on a case-by-case basis. If events are cancelled, full refunds will be offered.
I look forward to seeing all of you at these events this summer and getting back to some sense of normalcy!
