How Do Darien Leaders Feel About Reopening?

DARIEN, IL — Darien City Council members said this week they generally favored reopening businesses. Mayor Joseph Marchese called on all member to give their opinions on the issue at a council meeting.

A few days ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker spelled out an approach to reopening the state's economy on a regional basis.

Here's what City Council members said about the issue:

• Mary Sullivan (Ward 5): She said people are getting conflicting information about the progress in fighting the coronavirus. She said she was open to the idea of reopening businesses, while keeping social distancing protocols in mind and leaving it up citizens to determine their risk factors. "If you're of an older age, you should let younger people do your shopping," she said.
• Joe Kenny (Ward 3): He said he "waffles" on the issue, saying he would like businesses to open up but that he fears the effects on public health. He said his wife is on the front lines as a nurse.
• Eric Gustafson (Ward 6): He said he was torn on the issue, but agreed with the governor that the issue must be looked at on a regional basis. He noted East Peoria was defying the governor's order by phasing in the opening of businesses. "It's time for us to move forward," Gustafson said. "People who are at risk can seclude themselves. People who aren't high risk need to make a living. People are going to lose their homes and their apartments if we don't start opening things up. That's a tragedy in itself."
• Ted Schauer (Ward 1): He said it was time to open businesses. "As soon as the businesses open up, people think everyone is going to rush back to the businesses and it will be overwhelming. My gut is that if we open businesses, people will start trickling in and businesses will be able to build up," Schauer said. He noted the idea behind the stay-at-home order was to prevent patients from overrunning hospitals. That has not happened. And the proof of that, he said, is the governor's closure of the emergency hospital at McCormick Place.
• Tom Belczak (Ward 7): He said a structured reopening makes sense. "You've got to do it slow," he said. If the problem worsens, he said, businesses may have to close again. "Until we have a vaccine, all we're doing it guessing," he said.
• Tom Chlystek (Ward 4): He said he favors a reopening, but the city should make sure businesses meet CDC standards. "We should take all precautions to prevent the spread," he said.
• Lester Vaughan (Ward 2): He backed a slow reopening, saying businesses are hemorrhaging cash and that people need to get back to work. "It's important to have a process holding businesses to a certain standard," he said. He suggested the city provide surgical-type masks for senior citizens.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update May 8: 70,873 Cases, 3,111 Deaths

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