Chicago has numerous challenges including, but not limited, growing crime and other public safety threats. Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago must clearly understand her priorities as a local elected official, and govern accordingly. Putting Wisconsinites on a COVID-19 quarantine list should not be on her list of things to do.
According to her recent comments, Mayor Lightfoot may add Wisconsin to Chicago’s emergency travel order list. The order, if implemented, would require anyone traveling to or returning to Chicago from Wisconsin to quarantine for 14 days.
An order that cannot be enforced fully is an invalid order. Who would be in charge of enforcing the order to quarantine? Some might say – the Chicago police. I do not believe that it is the job of law enforcement officers to enforce a blanket coronavirus quarantine order, including for those who may not even have the virus.
Furthermore, the Chicago Police Department is already stretched thin, given the rising crime and unrest in the city. And on top of that, there are calls from anti-police activists to “defund the police”.
As a mayor, Lori Lightfoot must show her strong support for the men and women in blue. She must provide them with all the tools they need to protect the people of Chicago and fight crime in the city. Just yesterday, there were 10 people shot in the city, including 2 fatally. Before that, in recent weeks, there were many dozens shot, including children, in Chicago.
In addition to violent crime, there are many other problems in the city that threaten the health and economic safety of people – corruption in government, zoning issues, poor quality of education, pension crisis, etc. Mayor Lightfoot must focus her energy in addressing those pressing problems, rather than spending time crafting an order to put people from Wisconsin in quarantine.