Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Clumns
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
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • 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
  • Toggle search form
  • Police Blotter
    Orland Park Police Department Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run accident
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities Events
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt breaking news
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN Blogger
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Threatening FEMA Employees and Law Enforcement Officers Crime
  • SeatGeek Stadium
    Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago Bridgeview
  • OFPD Trustee DJ Jeffers, COmmissioner Mohammed Jaber, Events and Safety Coordinator Betsy Dine and McDonalds Manager Doug Kwiatkowski join about 100 kids who participated at the Frozen with a Firefighter event Wednesday, July 9, 2025
    Frozen with an Orland Firefighter at McDonald’s Events
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Chicago dad’s court victory brought kidnapped daughter home Dads' Rights
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Leading members of State’s Gun Violence Prevention Community endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate elections
  • IAM Union Logo
    IAM Union Members at Arrow Gear Ratify Strong Contract After 9 Weeks on Strike Business
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago Chicago
  • Donna Miller
    Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Launches Congressional Campaign Chicago
  • Mohammed Jaber
    Mohammed Jaber takes Oath of Office for Orland Fire Commission Fire
  • The Orland Fire District responded at 6:51 pm to reports of  smoke coming out of the eves of a four unit townhome in the 10500 block of Illinois Court in the Eagle Ridge subdivision on Saturday August 10th, 2024. 
    Orland Fire District reports several 4th of July fires but no injuries accident
Orland Park Village Hall. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government

Posted on June 27, 2020June 27, 2020 By Ray Hanania 3 Comments on 2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government
SHARE THIS STORY
467           
 
  
467
Shares

Opinion: 2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government

Two days after revealing the first case of coronavirus to infect an employee in the beleaguered administration of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, a second confirmed Coronavirus case has been confirmed in the Village’s Recreation Department. The two cases are a political embarrassment for Pekau who is vacationing during this growing crisis in Colorado. Pekua has fueled skepticism about the virus through lawsuits and political rhetoric against restriction safeguards that are intended to protect residents from the contagion. Pekau has scheduled public concerts, demanded more public activities, and used taxpayer money to file a lawsuit against Gov, Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions

By Ray Hanania

A second confirmed case of COVID-19 has slammed the Village of Orland Park embarrassing Mayor Keith Pekau who only last week filed a lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker claiming restrictions imposed statewide to stop the pandemic have violated the constitutional rights of village residents.

Two days ago, this columnist exposed the first coronavirus case involving an employee working in the office of the Village Manager, George Koczwara, who refused to respond to requests for comment. The second confirmed case of COVID-19 among a Village employee this time was announced in the Orland Park Recreation Department, according to two sources who asked not to be identified.

Although many government agencies have reported confirmed coronavirus cases, Pekau’s high profile publicity, his demand that restrictions be eased, and his taxpayer-funded lawsuit against Gov. Pritzker’s coronavirus plan has made Orland Park the symbol of a growing movement of people who believe the virus is more of a myth than a threat. His scheduling of many public events in which thousands of Orland Park residents and guests from the surrounding community have been invited to attend raises questions about his apparent lack of concern for the spread of the virus.

Photo caption: Hassan Nijem and Mazen Dola and members of the Arab American community receive a donation of face masks from Dr. Willie Wilson and the Willie Wilson Foundation on Monday June 15, 2020 at the Palestine Club Center located at 7701 W 87th Street in Bridgeview.
Photo caption: Communities throughout Chicagoland and Cook County have been encouraging the public to wear face masks and to maintain social distancing, distributing face masks to residents and the public while discouraging high profile public events which might encourage the spread of the virus.

Pekau, who is reportedly vacationing in Colorado and has not returned to confront the growing pandemic spread among village employees, has told the public that employees have been given face masks and gloves to protect them. One source asserted, however, that no gloves or face masks have been provided.

The 2nd confirmed case, according to a copy of a memo purportedly released by Recreations and Park Department Director Ray Piattoni and circulated to employees on Saturday, June 27, 2020, involves “an individual in the Athletics Department.” Like his boss, Koczwara, Piattoni did not respond to an email requesting a formal comment.

After I disclosed the first case of the coronavirus infection by one of Kaczwara’s employees, and his failure to respond, the village released a press release confirming the infection eight hours later.

Coronavirus hits Orland Village Hall as Pekau challenges virus restrictions

In his memo, Piattoni reassured employees that everything is being done to protect their health, writing, “We understand concerns other employees in the workplace may feel and want to provide reassurance that we are acting prudently and safely to continue to ensure the workplace remains safe for continued operations.”

Piattoni urged “sick employees” to “stay home, practice social distancing, promote hand washing for 20 seconds or use of hand sanitizer, proper sneezing or cough etiquette, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and disinfecting of common surfaces.”

What is not addressed are the many public events that Pekau has insisted will be held including two concerts and a 4th of July celebration that have been promoted by the village in water bills mailed to every home in Orland Park.

Orland Park is in the heart of Illinois’s coronavirus pandemic in suburban Cook County where the state has reported nearly 140,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 7,000 deaths. About 37,000 of the confirmed cases are in suburban Cook County along with nearly 2,000 deaths.

One infection can dramatically multiply and cause dozens of other infections as symptoms often do not appear for up to 14 days after initial contact. Meanwhile, individuals who have been infected can easily spread the infection during this two week asymptomatic carrier period.

Orland Park, which has a population of 58,000 has had 530 confirmed coronavirus cases (zip codes 60462, 60467), based on only 5,105 tests, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, a one percent infection rate compared to an average of 3 to 6 percent in other communities where population density is greater.

Critics have said that Pekau is pandering to a public frustrated by the statewide restrictions and dissatisfaction with Gov. Pritzker’s leadership in order to bolster his own political standing as he turns the corner to re-election.

But Pekau has been hampered by a series of recent public controversies that undermine his popularity including his order to close a service office run by Secretary of State Jessie White that provided an array of services that was popular with Orland Park residents because it offered conveniences for basic services.

Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady announced Friday, June 26, 2020, that he had reached an agreement with White’s office to re-open the popular services at the Orland Township building at 14807 S. Ravinia Drive in Orland Park. Pekau attacked the move asserting that the issue is protecting the interests of taxpayers incredulously asking about the cost the Township agreement will have on taxpayers. But what Pekau did not mention are the lawsuits he has filed at the expense of Orland Park taxpayers including against Governor Pritzker, similar to other municipal lawsuits that differ in that they are funded by private sources and not by taxpayers.

Much of the criticism is reflected in a column by award winning Southtown/Chicago Tribune columnist Ted Slowik that was published this weekend.

Pekau also filed a lawsuit to close a one-night a week homeless shelter that was opened at Hope Covenant Church last year, rather than negotiate with the church leaders.

And, after signing an agreement forcing the retirement of former Village Manager Joe LaMargo, in which both sides agreed not to disparage each other, Pekau let loose with a series of vicious and personal attacks against LaMargo weeks after the agreement was signed, forcing LaMargo to file a lawsuit against Pekau.

The question now is, how many Village employees have been exposed to the two individuals who are confirmed coronavirus cases?

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 rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Orland Park Police Department Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run - July 12, 2025
  • Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities - July 12, 2025
  • Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt - July 12, 2025
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
467           
 
  
467
Shares
 
467
Shares
 
 
 467         
Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes Tags:2nd confirmed case, concerts public gatherings, Coronavirus infections, COVID-19, easing restrictions, failed leadership, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Keith Pekau, lawsuits, Pandemic, Recreation Department, social distancing, village of Orland Park, virus

Post navigation

Previous Post: Orland Township to House New Secretary of State Facility
Next Post: Remembering our fathers and the past

Related Posts

  • Lyons Mayor Chris Getty at fundraiser Feb. 23, 2023 at Gibson's Restaurant
    Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons Cook County
  • SafeHome Safest Cities Logo
    Five Southwest and West suburban communities named among state’s safest Crime
  • Bill Foster Democrat 11th District Illinois
    Congressman Bill Foster thanks voters for their support Cook County
  • No shortage of big stories News
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo
    Congresswoman and Illinois native Lucy McBath endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate during Gun Violence Prevention Month Crime
  • Prayers answered in Lyons News

More Related Articles

Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Essential Practice Strategies to Best Represent Clients in Complex Family Law Cases Arthur Kallow
Sam Savage and Company entertain at the dinner dance hosted by Orland Township and Supervisor Paul O'Grady July 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of Orland Township. Motown comes to Orland Township Baby Boomers
Lyons to demolish old firehouse News
Summit wants new water meters Government
Smokestacks from a wartime production plant used during World War II. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Rejecting the Cloudy Logic of EPA Ozone Rules Blogger
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 roar back from behind to defeat Iowa Wilds in overtime game Sunday Chicago

Comments (3) on “2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government”

  1. Pingback: Feeling sorry for failed Mayor Keith Pekau - Suburban Chicagoland
  2. Ray Hanania says:
    June 29, 2020 at 4:57 am

    What no press release this time?

    Log in to Reply
  3. Pingback: Coronavirus hits Orland Village Hall as Pekau challenges virus restrictions - Suburban Chicagoland

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN
    July 12, 2025
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Chicago parents and other community leaders must work together to make sure this summer isn’t deadly for our children
    July 3, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    How Technology Changed the Cook County Treasurer’s Office
    June 27, 2025
  • Attorneys Jeffery Leving Arthur Kallow
    Honoring Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection
    June 13, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners
    June 13, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Two Guys on Politics Podcast on Elon Musk, Trump’s Parade, LA Riots, and Middle East ban
    June 12, 2025
  • NEWS
  • Police Blotter
    Orland Park Police Department Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run
    July 12, 2025
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities
    July 12, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule
    July 12, 2025
  • SeatGeek Stadium
    Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago
    July 12, 2025
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Taste of Orland Park 2025
    Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities
    July 12, 2025
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt
    July 12, 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