November 4, 2022

Finally, I want to highlight that in the coming weeks, GI Clifton Property, LLC, 1800 North Kingsbury, LLC, and Heneghan Wrecking Company, Inc. will be taking steps to demolish buildings located on the site of the former General Iron recycling facility. This demolition is classified as a “complex demolition,” meaning the removal is required to adhere to environmental and public health safety controls set forth by the City of Chicago. Click here to learn more about complex demolitions and these safety controls.

While not within our 43rd Ward boundaries, I know it directly affects our community, so I’ve partnered with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) in asking the City to host a community meeting to inform the public about the demolition and oversight plans. Join us on November 18th from 6-8 p.m. at the DePaul Student Center (2250 N. Sheffield Ave, Room 120 AB on the ground floor). ASL interpreting will be provided and the meeting will be recorded. If you are attending and require other support, please email communityengagement@cityofchicago.org before Monday, November 14th. To learn more about the safety procedures ahead of the meeting click here.The City has agreed to provide individual points of contact for residents from the Department of Buildings and Department of Public Health. That way, residents can reach out with additional questions before and throughout the demolition.

Many residents in our 43rd Ward believe that this location is an ideal site for a future park, and I strongly agree! As we saw throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our neighborhood is in need of more spaces for recreation and engagement. Parks are also a powerful tool for reducing crime, increasing community openness, and flood reduction in our area. To promote a green option for this site, I look forward to partnering with community leaders and advocating for the project. This demolition is an important step towards the future of the site, so I invite you to join me at the community meeting to make sure it is a step that is completed safely.

Sincerely,

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P.S. below are some pictures from around the Ward this week.

Daylight savings ends this Sunday at 2am. Clocks will fall back an hour, so we have more sunlight in the morning. Plan accordingly!

The 2023 Residential Parking Passes are now available to purchase at our office. The 2023 passes, which are now green, can be used immediately and are valid through December 31, 2023.

Please note that the 2022 blue passes can still be used until they expire on December 31, 2022. 

In observance of Veterans Day the 43rd Ward office will be closed Friday November 11th and will reopen at 9am on November 14th.

Below is a list of Mental Health resources that are available locally here in the City of Chicago.

• City of Chicago Mental Health Centers 

• NAMI Helpline

• Illinois Department of Human Services

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988

If you live in or operate a business in Chicago you can now apply to receive reimbursement for your security cameras and other security devices. Since the offer is "first-come, first serve," we encourage people who want to buy cameras to do so now.

The rebate includes: 

• Up to $225 per camera for a maximum of 2 cameras
• Up to $150 per one year of subscription costs for cloud-based video storage systems 
• Up to $100 per light for a maximum of 2 lights
• Up to $50 per vehicle GPS tracking device for a maximum of 2 devices
• Up to $120 per one year of subscription costs for GPS tracking applications 

To get reimbursed, you must provide:

• Proof of address
• Proof of purchase
• Photo of installed device

Learn more here.

This year I am co-sponsoring a Women's clothing drive with Commissioner Bridget Gainer's office. We will be collecting clothing donations for inmates at Cook County jail throughout the month of November. Stop by the office and drop off new or lightly used donations!

Most needed items include:

• Professional Clothing
• Winter jackets and coats
• Sizes L, XL, XXL, XXXL

Are you interested in creating a more local, more sustainable, and more accessible food system in Chicago? Then apply to join Green City Market’s Associate Board! Members serve as ambassadors of Green City Market’s mission to secure the future of food by deepening support for sustainable farmers, educating our community about where food comes from and why it matters, and expanding access to locally-grown food. The GCM Associate Board is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and strongly encourages folks working in the service or food/beverage industries, People of Color and LGBTQ+ individuals and all interested candidates to apply. Applications will be accepted through November 7th.

Learn more and apply here.

The last day of street sweeping for the year will be Wednesday November 16th! Check the schedule below for location information.

November Street Sweeping Schedule

For other questions regarding garbage collection, rodent control and recycling contact our office at yourvoice@ward43.org. 

I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:

• Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
• Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
• Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street.