Burr Ridge Mayor Demands Governor's Apology

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso on Wednesday demanded an apology from Gov. J.B. Pritzker over the migrant issue.

Last week, Pritzker's office suggested village officials showed "xenophobia" in reaction to the arrival of migrants.

On Sept. 7, Burr Ridge officials received vague reports that an unknown number of refugees were headed to Burr Ridge from Chicago, Grasso said. They were part of the hundreds of migrants sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

The village found out about the migrants after they arrived, the mayor said.

In a letter to Pritzker, Grasso said the state's lack of communication hurt the village's ability to prepare for the 64 Venezuelan migrants.

"At your press conference this morning, you excoriated Texas Governor Abbott for not being forthcoming about his plans to bus refugees to the Chicago region, which in turn impairs your own ability to plan for receiving them," Grasso said.

But the mayor said when he raised the same concern about lack of notice, Pritzker's office leveled the "xenophobia" charge. That insult, Grasso said, was "all because we sought the same basic information as your staff has sought from Governor Abbott."

"You disparage us for asking for basic courtesies and information and in the next moment issue an emergency disaster proclamation, activating the National Guard over the intermittent arrival of a mere 500 refugees from the southern border (while Governor Abbott daily deals with many thousands)," Grasso said. "That is the hubris and hypocrisy of a candidate for re-election, not a governor."

Pritzker is a Democrat; Grasso and Abbott are Republicans.

Burr Ridge, Grasso said, is a proud community with diverse backgrounds. The village has received scores of residents' requests to donate resources or provide work for the refugees, he said.

Burr Ridge residents deserve an apology from the governor and his press secretary, Jordan Abudayyeh, who made the charge of xenophobia.

"(Chicago Mayor Lori) Lightfoot has called me twice to offer apologies, offer assistance – and mend fences," the mayor said. "She (belatedly) showed our community respect and was professional enough to own up to shortcomings – you cannot?"

Grasso said earlier this week he expected no more migrants to show up in Burr Ridge.

Abudayyeh has not returned Patch's inquiries, other to say that Grasso has been in contact with a state agency.