Chicago City Wire

Ammie Kessem says she’s grown adept at reading between the lines when it comes to the way Gov. J.B. Pritzker operates.

“I think it’s just a scare tactic,” Kessem told Chicago City Wire of the governor's recent threats to have law enforcement “take action” against state businesses that defy his stay-at-home order and move to reopen their businesses sooner than he has outlined in his new Restore Illinois Plan.

“I don’t think I’ve seen any law that gives any jurisdiction to take action like this,” she added.

Kessem, vice president of the Northwest Side GOP and now running for 41st Ward Republican committeeperson, said she wonders what the governor expects small business owners to do given the impossible position his COVID-19 pandemic policies has put them in.

“I do believe business owners are justified,” she said of some of the drastic steps many of them are now contemplating in getting their businesses back up and running.  “It’s absurd, that one single man determines what is essential and what’s not.”

Kessem said she worries about how much longer small business owners are going to be able to survive given all they’re being forced to endure.   

“It’s time that the economy opens up and people are allowed to get back to their daily routines,” she said. “The state needs to focus on areas that are being most impacted and those are the nursing care facilities. For those with compromised health issues, they should continue to take proper precautions.”

As for everyone, Kessem said it’s time to bring the state economy back to life.

“It’s time,” she said. “To wait much longer may be too late for it to really matter.”