In Illinois, 2022 will feature for the first time since 1998 an open seat for the statewide office of Secretary of State. Most American states have such a position and in most states it's an elected position. When I hear this title sometimes I think of the US Secretary of State who is basically in charge of foreign affairs for the federal government however some duties of the US Sec. of State is similar to a state Secretary of State.
Here in Illinois most of us know the Secretary of State as the office that primarily issues driver's licenses and license plates of course there are other functions involved with this office which is currently held by Jesse White since 1999. White is a longtime political figure who's name is attached to the group known as the Jesse White Tumblers.
Check Secretary White out in video below discussing organ donation. Bear in mind that when you renew your drivers license you can also indicate whether or not you wish to be an organ donor. [VIDEO]
Just at random I subscribed to a number of streaming services over the holidays.
Right now I'm watching the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams on HBOMax. Actually this is a cool series for history nerds as it's set during the colonial era of American history. The series shows John Adams defending British soldiers against charges of murder in the Boston Massacre, to his service during the American revolution - and just so you know he wasn't just a founding father, he was a lawyer also, and ultimately to when he's elected the 2nd President of the United States. We don't see much of Adams we might see more of Thomas Jefferson or even George Washington in popular culture. [VIDEO]
Another series I'm following is a mini series about a man I often liked to refer to as OUSTED governor Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich's federal sentence was commuted by then President Donald Trump in 2020 and thus he was released from prison. We see what Blagojevich does now that he's out of prison and there is certainly a lot of focus on his political career and how he rose so quickly.
Let me tell you a little secret - actually it's no secret. To become a state representative to a Congressman to the Governor of Illinois the fifth largest state in the union it certainly helps to be the son-in-law of a Chicago alderman who's known as a kingmaker. Of course there is coverage of how Blagojevich became OUSTED governor, he was arrested during his second term as governor by federal authorities for essentially attempting to sell then President-elect Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat. He was later impeached and ousted or removed from the governorship.
And he was convicted of charges related to his December 2008 arrest and served time in federal prison before being released from custody last year. The mini-series which you can find on another service I have recently subscribed to Hulu is called Being Blago and I noted that on this blog last year.
[VIDEO] Since I shared Amtrak's response, what about the response from the Chicago Transit Authority. Unfortunately many Chicagoans have a love hate relationship with their public transportation provider.
I don't often see CTA workers giving the "spit-shine" to at the very least the CTA trains especially when they get into their respective terminals. To be honest it's probably hard to do when say a train get into its final destination and it has to go right out and you have passengers coming around and taking their seats.
Another thing I've noticed on trains during the heat of this pandemic is that increasingly you see homeless people riding the trains. Unfortunately they're just as vulnerable to the coronavirus and I get the idea less likely to seek out medical help for this very dangerous illness. So unfortunately there's that the content with on CTA at all hours.
It's great to see this b-roll footage of CTA workers sanitizing even train stations from handrails to Ventra card machines. It's great to see workers get on the buses and deep clean once their in their respective garages. Indeed, this is also occurring to CTA trains once they're in the yard.
There could be more CTA could do to insure passengers are in a very clean and safe environment on public transportation during this pandemic. Perhaps make more of an effort to keep the homeless from using CTA as a shelter for example - although granted I hear a lot of the shelters are crowded right now.
Another odd thing that has been going on with CTA right now is their attempt to protect their employees, especially bus drivers. CTA riders will have to board the back of the bus now.
To help #KeepTheDistance and better protect you and our frontline workers, beginning today, we’re implementing rear-door boarding on all buses and allowing some buses to run as “drop-off, only” to avoid crowding.
While this had in my mind conjured up images of the Montgomery Bus Boycott - and its not really something I've seen discussed in the media - I realize these are not those times. There are reports of CTA bus drivers being diagnosed with coronavirus and have little issue with ensuring their safety. Getting on the bus through the back doors are something we have to get used to for now for the safety of the transit workers.
Not that I advocate for this, however, at least until we get back to normal if you pay cash fare to board a bus CTA isn't collecting your fare. Reportedly, however, they plan to place Ventra card readers at the back of the bus though so far most buses don't use this feature yet.
I originally posted this information over at The Sixth Ward on January 6, 2013 during the first "polar vortex" episode. So this information remains important. Please remember if you need transportation to or information on the nearest warming center call 311.
State Rep. Elgie Sims (District 34) provides some more resources with regards to the weather in a recent email
Please use the following resources to keep you safe and warm:
A
website aimed at identifying warming centers around the state and other
information necessary to assist with keeping warm during the cold months of the
year.
The
website will provide residents and motorists with information regarding the
status of our roads.
ComED
energy assistance
Customers are encouraged to
notify ComED as quickly as possible if they experience an outage.
Customers can text OUT to
26633 to report any outages and receive restoration information, or
they can contact ComED by calling
1-800-EDISON-1.
And as always this:
Please check on elderly neighbors and make sure that you and any
children under your care are sufficiently bundled up if you must go outside.
Please do not forget pets and keep them indoors during these extreme
conditions.
Be careful out there everyone! Stay safe and warm!
