General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow a frantic trek to a McDonald's parking lot shows the scramble states are facing for supplies
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/18/coronavirus-creates-ppe-bidding-war-states-like-illinois-new-york/5144652002/How a frantic trek to a McDonalds parking lot shows the scramble states are facing for coronavirus supplies
Courtney Subramanian
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON As the coronavirus crisis tore through the country last month, Illinois Comptroller Susan Mendoza knew she had to act quickly to clinch a deal for 1.5 million masks from China to protect healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
The vendor needed a $3 million check within hours and Mendoza was worried she might lose out to a Russian competitor who had offered cash for the masks.
So Mendozas aide, Ellen Andres, jumped in her car and sped down the expressway to meet the vendor in the parking lot of a McDonalds in Dwight, Ill. 126 miles from Springfield, the state capital. After scanning the make and model of the vehicles, Andres found her contact and handed over the check.
"You feel like you have a gun up against your head and if you don't get it done, you're going to lose one and a half million masks," Mendoza recalled. "You feel like you're doing some kind of sketchy drug deal but you're really working hard to try to save people's lives."
The transaction underscores the challenges states have been facing to obtain masks, gloves and other protective gear for healthcare workers as they also try to get their hands on ventilators and test kits. The process has led to tensions between President Donald Trump and governors such as Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York who have been urging the federal government to take the lead role in ordering equipment, a request Trump has rejected.
"Who would have ever thought that the state government, in order to acquire something that keeps people alive, somebody would have to speed down a highway and meet somebody at a McDonald's?" Pritzker said in an interview with USA TODAY.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)Could you imagine being responsible writing a $3MILLION check to some vendor in a parking lot??
Thanks, trump you ass!
GoCubsGo
(32,088 posts)He had to rush people over to O'Hare Airport to make sure they got to a shipment of PPEs that he ordered from China--before FEMA found out and confiscated them. WHAT. THE. FUCK???? I really cannot fucking believe that this kind of shit is happening, let alone being allowed to continue.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I read here at du that supply companies are removing descriptive labels from boxes so supplies won't be stolen by fed.
This is harder for me to wrap my head around than the reality of the vurus. 🤬
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Ridiculous! Good for Pritzger! Must have infuriated shitstain to be outsmarted!
Who are these FEMA workers doing his bidding stealing from states? 🤬
dalton99a
(81,570 posts)It wouldn't surprise me if they took Russian money
Two days after the transaction at McDonald's:
The same day, the comptroller's office again deployed another aide to a roadside meeting to close a deal on equipment. Director of Administration Cortez Gillespie drove more than 100 miles and pulled off the highway to hand over another $3 million check for gloves and goggles at the Road Ranger gas station in Minonk, Ill.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)dump is stealing from states & likely sending "home" to Russia. 🤬
mopinko
(70,208 posts)she is a true pistol.
pritzker has done a great job. as has the mayor, and cook county does public health better than any county in the country, imho.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,194 posts)they have to compete against Dear Leader's FEMA. Heckuva job, Jared, you incompetent ass.