Orland Park To Vote On Suing State If Reopening Not Allowed

ORLAND PARK, IL — Trustees in Orland Park could vote Monday to seek legal action against the state if businesses and "civic life" aren't reopened in Illinois by June 1.

Section 3 of a resolution on the agenda for Monday night's virtual village board meeting, if approved in its current wording, would grant "the commencement of legal proceedings by the Village Attorney in the event that the General Assembly does not act to provide for the reopening of businesses and civic life, with reasonable and specifically targeted public health guidelines, or otherwise act to address the COVID-19 pandemic."

The resolution's title claims the stay-at-home orders issued by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have created an "economic emergency." During the most recent board meeting two weeks ago, the board passed a resolution requesting the state's General Assembly meet and effectively speed up the reopening of the economy. Trustee Dan Calandriello was the only trustee to vote against the measure.

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With a majority of the village board usually voting in line with Mayor Keith Pekau, the resolution scheduled to be heard Monday night is likely to pass — but not without some pushback from the community. Organizers from a few local activist groups have planned a drive-by protest for just before the meeting begins outside village hall.

"The mayor is trying to insinuate that Orland Park is a little safety bubble and that we should all be back out shopping and buying running shoes," said Hannah McCorry, one of the protest organizers and an Orland Park resident.

"But many people who live in Orland commute to work and many others come into Orland to shop," she said. "What this would do is really create a hotbed of people spreading COVID-19."

McCorry said the groups protesting — which she said will consist of about 20 cars, all properly social distancing — include Indivisible, a progressive coalition, South Suburban SSIL3, a coalition for change, and the Southwest Suburban Activists based out of Western Springs.

"We want to ensure that people who work at the mall and other retail stores, and the shoppers in Orland, are safe," she said. "Instead of phasing in a plan to open all businesses right away, the mayor should instead be focused on putting forth plans to get these workers paid time off."

The meeting will be broadcast live beginning at 6 p.m. on May 18 on the village of Orland Park YouTube channel.