Burr Ridge Mayor Says Pritzker Being 'Unfair'

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso is becoming increasingly vocal about his desire for the governor to reopen DuPage County quicker than Chicago. He even called for the county to "break away" from the region that includes Chicago in the governor's reopening plan, a comment he later clarified.

Grasso, who appeared in a TV interview this week with Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley, has become one of the high-profile suburban voices on the issue. On Monday, Morley sent a public letter to the governor, which called for the state to quicken the pace of reopening.

Since the crisis began in March, Grasso has been writing daily updates on the crisis. In recent days, he has expressed frustration with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan, which calls for reopening Illinois in regions. Burr Ridge and the suburbs are in the Northeast Illinois Region. Grasso and other suburban leaders say Chicago and Cook County's slower pace of recovery will hold back the suburbs from reopening their businesses.

Illinois Coronavirus Update May 13: 84,698 Cases, 3,792 Deaths — Don't miss updates in Burr Ridge as they are announced — Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

On Monday, Grasso reported to residents that the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference agreed unanimously to "break away" from the Northeast Region and follow the DuPage County Board of Health's metrics to determine when to move to the next phase of reopening.

The next day, though, Grasso said in his daily bulletin that he had "a bit too exuberantly" stated the conference's position.

"I used the phrase 'break away' from the Northeast Region," he said. "That was too strong. DMMC wants to be respectful of the Governor's authority but hopes it can show changed circumstances in DuPage ... that will convince him to let us open earlier than Chicago."

He also criticized the state Legislature, specifically House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Don Harmon, for not returning to work. Lawmakers have since indicated they will go back to Springfield next week.

"Where in the H--- is our Legislature?" Grasso wrote, using the dashes. "Our Legislature is sitting on the proverbial bench when we need it to step up for us. It's what they are supposed to do in times of need."

Grasso is asking his constituents to become vocal in their desire to reopen the economy in DuPage County.

"Tell your friends and neighbors that the Governor is being unfair to his non-Chicago constituents," he said. "Tell the pollsters you do not approve of the Governor's actions on this issue: J.B. represents me too."

Grasso is a Republican; Pritzker and the legislative leaders are Democrats. The mayor has not mentioned party affiliations in his public communications. The majority of Burr Ridge is in DuPage County. The remainder is in Cook.