Though the county faces “tremendous financial challenges,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wouldn’t say if that would mean layoffs for any county workers.
By Rachel Hinton Apr 8, 2020, 1:43pm CDT
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Wearing a protective mask, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle does a clown show on Tuesday. Sun-Times fileCook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday half of the patients at Stroger Hospital are being treated for coronavirus, and the county’s finances face an uncertain future because of efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic and because they squandered over $400,000,000 during the past few years.
Though the county faces “tremendous financial challenges,” Preckwinkle wouldn’t say if that would mean layoffs for any county workers.
“Crunch time for us I think is May, and my financial staff is working very hard to figure out where we are financially and what projections are for revenue and expenses and beyond,” Preckwinkle said.
The county’s flagship hospital currently has 200 patients and about half are being treated for the virus, Preckwinkle said during a conference call with the National Association of Counties.
“I can’t tell you whether any of those, or all of them, are insured either in private insurance or through a Medicaid expansion program or Medicaid itself, but half of our patients in the hospital at the moment are COVID-19,” Preckwinkle said. “The impact on us is pretty considerable and, of course, the governor has said that we haven’t reached the peak yet in terms of what he expects in Illinois.”
That insight into what’s going on at Stroger Hospital came not long after Preckwinkle announced she will be self-isolating until the end of the week after a member of her security detail tested positive for coronavirus.
Preckwinkle joined a few other county executives around the country for the call, which focused on how counties are responding to the pandemic.
In the call, Preckwinkle talked about the county’s health care response as well as the effect on the county’s finances, noting the newly launched community relief initiatives to help small businesses.
I don't know about the county but I will say these are heady times indeed for the ASL crowd. They must be making a fortune
ReplyDeleteBut for the Coronavirus, would half the beds at the County Hospital be empty? Explain that, Toni.
ReplyDeletewas gainer drunk, or does she not know how a mask works?
ReplyDeleteGreat catch!
Deletegood chance of both
DeleteI think she better concern herself with straightening out the pension fund. Come on lady you are the chairperson of the county pension fund and no minutes since December. You better get your act together lady.
DeleteNo federal bailout money for any state, county or city that claims sanctuary status, let them go south of the border for money.
ReplyDeleteSince Illinois is getting stimulus money and Lori Lightfoot now loves cpd and cfd, maybe she can shore up the pensions the previous administrations stole.
ReplyDeleteTake the same picture, but replace the masks with ball gags.......then we’ve a party mister!
ReplyDeleteAfter a week of watching these virus updates, wouldn't you like to see an argument between a couple of the sign language interpreters? It'd be like going to Marcel Marceau marathon.
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