|
A reminder that limited construction began this week on the Western Avenue bridge over Belmont. Please be aware of lane shifts and workers. Damen, Elston and Fullerton construction continues as well, with heavy work being completed south of Fullerton on Elston. Fullerton lanes may be shifted again for construction so be aware of the lane shifts and merging traffic.
I apologize for the late notice, but all City offices will be closed today and Monday, in observance of Presidents Abraham Lincoln's and George Washington's birthdays.
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend,
Alderman Scott Waguespack
|
| Oversight Changes in City Council |
Chicago's Office of Inspector General -OIG (Joe Ferguson) has been working with several aldermen for years to increase the oversight over programs and projects of the City of Chicago, and working together we have been finding ways to make Chicago government more accountable and efficient. The OIG has done great work auditing and reviewing programs like the Red Light Camera, the Parking Meter Deal, and TIF projects. Yesterday's vote would have expanded the oversight to reviewing, auditing or investigating waste and inefficiency in the Council processes and operations. The O'Connor/Burke substitute ordinance that won, removed committee oversight. Mayor Emanuel was silent and did not offer support for the stronger version.
We have been calling for expanded oversight for years, going back to 2009 when I first co-sponsored an ordinance with now County Board President Preckwinkle to give the OIG needed powers to root out waste and corruption in government. In the beginning of Mayor Emanuel's term we worked to codify necessary tools that the OIG needed, including subpoena power to audit and review the mayor's office. Those efforts met serious roadblocks, but we were able to pass several other tools that have helped the OIG do its job better after some time.
I'm glad to see that the OIG's authority has broadened, but it must go further. To place different City employees under separate levels of scrutiny is an inherently flawed method of oversight. What the new ordinance does do is eliminate the office of Legislative Inspector General (LIG Faisal Khan), opens the door to investigating city council members and staff on ethics violations, and gives the IG oversight of lobbyists in City Hall.
The passage of the watered down ordinance is slightly helpful but I agree with OIG Ferguson that Chicago's City Council oversight is still "separate (procedurally) and unequal (substantively), from the rest of City government."
WTTW Chicago Tonight with Carol Marin- Coverage of the Issue
and
Progress Illinois Roundup of the Action
PDF of Arena/Waguespack Workmans Comp Res |
| Daily Residential Parking Permit Changes |
 Effective February 15, 2016, the following change will be implemented by the City Clerk's Office regarding the sale of Daily Residential Permit Parking Permits at our office:
The
City Clerk has removed the option of residents paying for residential stickers with cash in our office. ONLY Credit and Debit Cards will be accepted for payment of Residential Parking Guest Passes. CASH will no longer be accepted by our office based on the new process. We apologize for this inconvenience and would prefer to continue to offer the service.
Also, we encourage you to have your drivers license/state id updated to your current address, as we will no longer have the ability to update information in the City Clerk's system. This may result in our not being able to immediately sell passes if you have an out of date license or identification that is different from what the Clerk has in their system.
|
| Fullerton/Milwaukee SBIF (Small Business Improvement Fund) Rollout |
Logan Square Chamber of Commerce is hosting a meeting concerning the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) program can help pay for capital improvements to commercial and industrial property located in the Fullerton-Milwaukee Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Grants of up to $150,000 are available to reimburse owners or tenants for as much as 75% of the cost of eligible projects. At the Rollout Meeting, representatives from Somercor504, the not-for-profit corporation that administers the SBIF Program for the City of Chicago, will be available to answer your questions and provide application materials. If you own a small business or commercial property in the Fullerton-Milwaukee TIF
(map here)
and are planning to make permanent improvements to your property, you need to attend this meeting!
Thursday, February 18th, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Hairpin Arts Center
2810 N. Milwaukee Av., 2nd Floor
For more information
click here
To register for the meeting
click here
To find out more about the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, please call them at 773-789-3222.
|
| Burley Elementary's 10th Annual Winter Party and Silent Auction |
On
Friday, February 19th
, the Friends of Burley will host its 10th Annual Winter Party and Silent Auction. Join
us for a fun evening of fundraising and socializing to
support our school.
The adult-only event requires tickets for entrance are available here.
Your ticket buys you admission, food, and drink
tickets. There will also be a cash bar at the event. Burley's famous "Sign Up Events" will be available at the
event only, while all other auction
items are available for bid online.
Donations of silent auction items (donate here
)
directly support Burley Elementary.
Friday, February 19
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted St
|
|
Audubon After Dark
|
Friends of Audubon invites you to join us for Audubon After Dark, a fundraiser for Audubon School on Saturday, February 20, 2016
Stan Mansion - 2408 N. Kedzie, in Logan Square
|
| Neighborhood Events |
|
| 2016 World Chicago Youth Homestay |
WorldChicago seeks short-term homestay hosts for the 2016 U.S. Department of State Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program, beginning March 17-25, 2016 with our first delegation of 16 students and 4 teachers from Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Students are ages 15-18, proficient in English, and selected for this distinguished program through a competitive, merit-based process. WorldChicago will also host Pan-African delegations in May and July-August 2016, as well as students from Iraq, Cuba, and the UK.
Home hosts provide a bed, meals, and a glimpse into every life in America. Youth take part in educational programming weekdays from approximately 9 to 5, with evenings and weekends free to spend with their hosts.
Homestay hosts include families of all shapes and sizes, single professionals, retirees, returned Peace Corps volunteers, travelers, teachers, city dwellers, suburbanites, and more - all united by a common interest in learning about the amazing diversity of the world's cultures, while sharing a piece of their own.
2016 Youth Homestay Hosting Opportunities
-
March 17-25: Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program with Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, & Uganda -16 students, 4 teachers
-
May 19-27: Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program -16 students, 4 teachers
-
July 21-Aug 4: U.S.-Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program -10 Iraqi & 2 American students
-
July 28-Aug 5: Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (Francophone) - French-speaking hosts
-
Aug 2-11: London, UK Youth Dialogue Programme -12 students
-
Aug TBD: Cuba Youth Leadership Program - Spanish-speaking hosts
|
| Business Workshops for February |
|
All workshops are free and are located at the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection - City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, Room 805.
2/17: Understanding Employee Classification: Hourly vs. Salaried & Contractors vs. Employees
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Charles Krugel, a Management Side Labor, Employment & Human Resources Attorney
There are changes coming to the definitions of hourly & salaried employees (overtime eligible vs. not) & independent contractors vs. employees (W2 vs. 1099). Over the next few years, fewer businesses will be able to avoid overtime & classifying workers as W2 employees. Management side labor & employment attorney Charles Krugel will discuss these proposals, including enforcement, & answer any of your questions concerning these topics.
2/19: Setting the Groundwork
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid, LLC
There are many legal considerations to keep at the forefront of your mind before starting your new business. This presentation explores different sources to fund your business venture, basic principles of how to protect yourself in the claws of litigation, employment laws, lease agreements and how to implement a solid intellectual property plan.
2/24: C Corp, S Corp, LLC - Which Is Right for My Business?
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Presented by The Law Project
The Law Project's Small Business Program offers legal support to entrepreneurs who are starting or have their own small businesses as a strategy to create financial independence. Since most entrepreneurs operate on a shoestring budget, obtaining legal advice is often unaffordable. This workshop will provide entrepreneurs with information about choosing the correct corporate structure for their business.
2/26: Tax Issues for Self-Employed Individuals & Businesses
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Presented by Eric Sternberg of the Center for Economic Progress & Yolanda Ruiz of the Internal Revenue Service
This workshop will give an introductory understanding of common tax issues that self-employed individuals often encounter. Participants will learn when they must file a tax return, how to identify worker classifications, how to prepare for an IRS audit, how to make quarterly estimated payments, and how to navigate the IRS website. Participants will benefit from the perspectives of both the individual taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service.
|
| Remember to register to vote or update your address for the Presidential Primary on March 15, 2016! |
|
February 16th is the last day for standard voter registration. If you need to update your address or want to double check your voting status, or even register for the first time, make sure to do so as soon as possible. If you have young people in your house, please remember that those who are 17 now and who will turn 18 by Nov. 8th, may register now and vote in the March 15th Primary.
|
Chicago Housing Authority is HIRING!
|
 |
|
| |
|
| 32nd Ward Office |
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR OFFICE & CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVATION OF THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS:
Friday, 2/12 Lincoln's Birthday
Monday, 2/15 President's Day
2657 N. Clybourn, 60614
Please email or call us with any requests.
|
| Garden Walk 2016 Volunteers Needed |
| Online Voting Registration |
| Free Senior Enrichment Seminars |
| Disabled Veterans Homeowner Exemption |
| Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) |
| Meet Your Volunteer Match at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Annual Volunteer Expo |
| Chicago's Annual Clean and Green |
|
|
