Chicago public health nurses feel they were shortchanged by city leadership with coronavirus relief funds.
The city of Chicago received roughly $1.2 billion in CARES Act funding, but only $18 million went to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
“It wasn’t altogether shocking — it was certainly disappointing,” Julia Bartmes, executive director of the Illinois Nurses Association, said Tuesday. “It’s a clear demonstration of the lack of priorities that have been placed on public health efforts in Chicago.”
More than half of the city’s $470 million of discretionary spending went to Chicago Police Department payroll costs. Mayor Lightfoot said criticizing that decision is “dumb,” given that taxpayers benefited.
Registered nurse Paul Pater countered: “Is it dumb to call on elected officials to prioritize public health during the greatest public health crisis in the last century?”
The Nurses Association hopes the new federal COVID-19 relief package currently being debated in Congress will make public healthcare a top priority.
The Illinois Nurses Association represents nurses employed by the Chicago Department of Public Health as well as the Chicago fire and police departments.
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