Last month, the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against DoorDash for a host of claims that are at best misleading.
Let me make a few things clear: This lawsuit is wholly without merit, the Tribune Editorial Board’s response to it was misinformed, and DoorDash has been a good partner to Chicago, through and through.
The city should know better than what it alleges in this lawsuit. DoorDash does not keep restaurants on our platform without their consent. Nor did we try to pass off the “Chicago fee” that we implemented to cover the cost of services we provide as something instituted by the city. We will fight these claims, and the others contained in the lawsuit, in court — and we will win.
Throughout these challenging times, DoorDash has remained committed to our mission to grow and empower local economies. From June 2020 to this past June, Dasher earnings in Chicago increased 50% overall. On the South and West sides, earnings increased 64%. In the first half of 2021, Chicago Dashers earned $61 million through our platform.
And the odds of staying in business during the pandemic are eight times better for restaurants on DoorDash compared to all U.S. restaurants. We’ve led the industry in creating a menu of options and pricing plans that put local restaurants in charge.
We’re especially proud of our work supporting the Chicago community during the pandemic. DoorDash has been empowering and supporting local organizations: We provided over $500,000 in direct grants to restaurants before the shutdown last winter and over $110,000 in community credits to help community organizations feed those in need. In addition, DoorDash has helped incentivize vaccinations in the communities that need them most, and launched another $500,000 in innovative grants and programming to support Black-, Latino- and women-owned restaurants.
The city’s suit is nothing more than an attempt to deflect attention away from the real issues this administration should be tackling.
DoorDash will not be a scapegoat. We will continue to connect people to the best this city has to offer, help restaurants expand their business and empower Chicagoans to earn more for their families.
— Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, vice president of communications and policy, DoorDash
Mental health responses
The slaying of 24-year-old Jessica Vilaythong, an employee at a Chase Bank in the Near North neighborhood, is what is called a preventable tragedy. We initially see a violent encounter that left one woman dead. But she did not have to die this way.
The person who killed Vilaythong has been identified as a man with mental illness. At a minimum, there were 11 instances when this man could have been helped, as he has been charged with 11 felonies in the past. In 2014, he was charged with attacking two women at Navy Pier. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
One might ask, why didn’t he just get help? It’s because there is no system in place to truly help individuals with mental illness. When something tragic like this happens, we throw up our hands in horror and default back to the criminal justice system.
I am not demonizing individuals with mental illness nor am I excusing violence of any kind. But as a mental health professional, I have seen and heard about these situations for years. At some point, we are going to have to find a viable and sustainable solution.
Recently, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation improving emergency responses to mental health crises, and also, Chicago is dispatching mental health clinicians to answer emergency calls in two neighborhoods as part of a pilot program. These measures have the potential of steering people toward receiving mental health care, but we can’t stop just yet. We must continue to build a robust mental health care system that provides adequate treatment to individuals who experience mental illness, so that we can prevent tragedies like the one that befell Vilaythong.
— Rosemary Callahan, Chicago
Children’s clinical trial
Thank you to Juliana and Gabriel Gometz for their bravery and willingness to participate in a clinical COVID-19 vaccine trial to gain authorization for giving shots to children under 12. It warms my heart to see them and so many other kids stepping up to be part of the greater good for our country’s health and safety.
I’m glad that they are proudly telling their friends about their participation. I hope they can appreciate what a significant contribution they are making. These young participants are truly heroes.
— Michael Dunghe, Chicago
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