Friday, February 23, 2018

Chicago City Council’s Veterans Caucus Endorses JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton

Chicago, IL – In front of the half-completed Veterans’ Home on the Northwest side of Chicago, Chicago City Council’s Veterans Caucus endorsed JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton. Construction of the facility was halted by Bruce Rauner and its completion delayed for years because of his budget crisis. As this failed governor prevented this vital facility from being built, Rauner’s fatal mismanagement of the Quincy Veterans’ Home tragically took 13 lives.

Here’s what Illinoisans are reading and seeing in the news:

From WGN:

From WBEZ:

From WGN Radio:

From Chicago Sun-Times: City Council veterans caucus endorses Pritzker, urges reforms:

Members of the Chicago City Council’s Veterans Caucus endorsed J.B. Pritzker Thursday before taking shots at Gov. Bruce Rauner for what they call the “fatal mismanagement” of veterans healthcare.

At a news conference outside of the concrete shell of a new Illinois Veterans’ Home, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) said the caucus decided to “take a stance” by endorsing Pritzker because he is in tune with the issues and concerns of veterans.

“This project isn’t done and it’s been going on for years,” Villegas said. “We see what’s going on across the state as it relates to other veterans homes, like in Quincy, and the disregard for veterans.”

After conversations with others on the caucus, Villegas said they unanimously decided to support Pritzker, who, along with his lieutenant governor pick Juliana Stratton, called out Rauner for not doing enough to safeguard veterans from fatal diseases.

“When 13 veterans die, when 60 people get sick from a preventable disease, when our heroes and their families are needlessly suffering, then Rauner isn’t getting it right,” Stratton said. “Instead of taking charge and fixing the problem, Rauner has ducked accountability and let this issue fester.”

Rauner has come under fire for the spread of Legionnaires disease, a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. The outbreak, which began in 2015, has killed 13 veterans at the home and though there have been efforts to curtail the spread of the disease, there was a fourth case reported Tuesday. Rauner’s “fatal mismanagement” of the toxic situation at the home has led to the deaths of veterans, Stratton said. […]

Pritzker said he wants an independent investigation of the Quincy home, and for work to be completed on the Northwest Side facility.

“The obligation we have to these heroes and to their families is sacred,” Pritzker said. “To have that obligation so thoroughly neglected is an unconscionable moral failing. … This is what happens when a governor refuses to take charge.”

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