It's Time For Chicago's Mayor To Go It Alone On Pandemic Policy Read full article January 17, 2021, 6:20 PM·5 min read CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to insist his benchmarks for pseudoscience metrics must be met before there's a rollback of coronavirus lockdowns, like the complete ban on indoor dining that's killing Chicago's once vibrant restaurant industry. On Friday, Pritzker publicly denied Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's request for the state to reconsider social-distancing restrictions set during the pandemic's early stages. The mayor called on the governor to throw dying restaurants a lifeline by allowing some indoor dining to resume, a move that a Northwestern University study shows lessens the risk of spreading of COVID-19 while helping keep the hospitality industry alive.