Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves announce 2025-2026 Training Camp Roster Entertainment
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast on James Comey, ICE Agents, Government shutdown, Gaza Peace Plan, Ukraine and long range missiles, and New York mayoral race Bill Lipinski
  • Five Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago With Assaulting or Resisting Federal Agents Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • The Chicago Wolves rallied to defeat  the Iowa Wild 4-3 in overtime Sunday Feb. 25, 2024 at Allstate Arena. The Wild led the game 3 to 0 going in to the 2nd period, but the Wolves rallied and tied in the 3rd period forcing the 5 minute sudden death overtime.
    Wolves broadcasts return to WPWR-TV for 2025 – 26 season Chicago
  • Orland Park Trustee Jim Dodge
    Secretary of State Drivers Facility Moving to New Orland Park Location Baby Boomers
  • Fighting for Duped Man’s Freedom and Future
    Fighting for Duped Man’s Freedom and Future Dads' Rights
  • OFPD Lt. Zachary Zweizig Lt. Dan Ritchie and Lt. Mark Hogan. Photo courtesy of the OFPD
    Orland Firefighters receive awards for battling flooding during Texas deployment Features
DuPage County Government Center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Municipalities Remain in Limbo Without Ruling from Attorney General on FOIA

Posted on April 13, 2020November 9, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Municipalities Remain in Limbo Without Ruling from Attorney General on FOIA
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Municipalities Remain in Limbo Without Ruling from Attorney General on FOIA

With reduced staffing, focus must remain on providing essential services and public health

Nearly 200 mayors across the state have joined the Illinois Municipal League (IML) in urging Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office to issue an advisory opinion to grant public bodies additional time to respond to public information requests amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to avoid costly fines and legal fees. For three weeks, municipalities across Illinois, including the City of Chicago, have operated in limbo without clarification or action regarding FOIA.

The requests to the state’s chief legal officer come as public bodies large and small strive to maintain essential services and protect the health and wellbeing of employees and residents during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Stay at Home Order. Operating with reduced or no staff, cities, villages and towns are finding it difficult and sometimes impossible to respond to Freedom of Information Act Requests within the statutorily required time frame.
DuPage County Government Center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
DuPage County Government Center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Municipalities have asked the Attorney General’s office, which oversees the enforcement of the state’s public access laws, to issue an advisory opinion recognizing the COVID-19 pandemic presents exceptional circumstances that should earn public bodies additional time to comply with requests without the burden of financial penalties that would ultimately be shouldered by taxpayers.
“We believe in transparency and the public’s right to access information about their government. We are not asking to halt public access to municipal information, but we are seeking a common-sense solution that would simply provide cities, villages and towns more time to respond to these requests during this historic challenge,” said Brad Cole, IML Executive Director. “Communities across Illinois are already being forced to make excruciating decisions as they work to maintain vital services with fewer resources. They should not have to worry about facing costly legal challenges related to information requests as well.”
In some municipalities, there simply is no staff available to process these requests as employees work remotely and do not have access to public records from home. Meanwhile, in larger cities, workers are focused on implementing measures in order to best respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and are being pulled away from their vital duties in order to respond to requests. Municipal leaders are not asking the Attorney General’s office to unilaterally void public access laws, but to use the authority of his office to extend response deadlines until the Stay at Home order is lifted and staffing levels are restored.
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
The Illinois Municipal League is the statewide organization representing local communities throughout Illinois. Founded in 1913, IML has worked continuously for the benefit of all 1,298 municipalities in Illinois to provide a formal voice on matters involving common interests.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders - October 6, 2025
  • Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations - October 5, 2025
  • The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes - October 3, 2025
NPV: 22
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, DuPage, Government, Illinois Legislature, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Coronavirus, COVID-19, FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, government, Illinois

Post navigation

Previous Post: Several pets killed in single family Orland Park Home fire on Easter Sunday
Next Post: La Grange’s Virtual Pet Parade

Related Posts

  • Coffee & Conversation OFPD on Senior life saving strategies, heart attacks and strokes April 17, 2024
    Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation for seniors on lifesaving strategies for seniors Baby Boomers
  • Ray Hanania on Politics podcast logo
    Podcast: A preview of the upcoming battle for the 3rd Congressional District Blogger
  • Thirteen talented seniors have been chosen to compete for the title of 2021 Orland Township Senior American Idol! Join Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Board of Trustees for an evening of dinner, dancing, and jaw-dropping performances this October. Photo courtesy of Orland Township
    Orland Township’s Senior American Idol Returning This Fall Baby Boomers
  • Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia
    Two women cited for fighting over car door incident in Tinley Park Cook County
  • Peter Gariepy
    Gariepy: Protect Taxpayers from Frivolous Petition Challenges Chicago
  • Orland Township Resident's celebrating the specially themed Kentucky Derby Day drop-in for Older Americans Month 2019.
    Orland Township Celebrates Older Americans Month Baby Boomers

More Related Articles

Face mask signs posted by businesses in Orland Park that are demonstrating concern and leadership is helping to suppress the spread of the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Should you wear two face masks or one in confronting COVID-19? Blogger
Pope has Lyons needing win for playoffs News
Senior homecare dominik-lange-VUOiQW4OeLI-unsplash A bipartisan fix for America’s looming homecare crisis Baby Boomers
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Former Secretary of State Jesse White Endorses Paul Vallas for Mayor Chicago
Democratic endorsed candidate Marie Newman at rally Sept. 4, 2020 hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and American Palestine Club. Photo courtesy of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce Marie Newman Appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chicago
Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving Children taken out of state returned to father by Dads’ Rights attorney Chicago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders
    October 6, 2025
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 5, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes
    October 3, 2025
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders
    October 3, 2025
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield
    October 2, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme