Ticketing for City Sticker and Residential Permit Parking Suspended

Ticketing enforcement for compliance-related violations for City Stickers and Residential Permit Parking is suspended through July 15, 2020.

In an effort to provide some relief for those who are unable to purchase or renew their stickers during this time, The Office of the City Clerk will be waiving late fees on certain City Stickers from March 19, 2020 until July 15, 2020 for residents whose stickers were up for renewal or who purchased a new vehicle from January-June of 2020.

CPS Playgrounds Remain Closed

As Chicago cautiously begins to reopen parts of our city, please note that all CPS playgrounds will remain closed in alignment with Park District guidance. CPS is looking forward to the day when our communities can use our playgrounds again, but these gathering spaces pose a risk for COVID-19 transmission and it is critically important that everyone do their part to keep our communities healthy. 

Street Sweeping Enforcement Starts July 1

Starting on July 1, 2020, the City began enforcement of residential street sweeping. For the full street sweeping schedule, please click here.

Meeting for Proposed Cannabis Dispensary at 1420 S. Michigan Ave.

Pursuant to the requirements outlined by the City and State, Midway Dispensary is hosting a public meeting on a proposed new cannabis dispensary planed for 1420 S. Michigan Ave. The meeting is schedule for Thursday, July 23rd from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Venue 1420 (1420 S. Michigan Ave.). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting will be presented in an open house format, with 10 people allowed inside at a time for no longer than 20-minutes per group, in order to ensure proper social distancing. To eliminate lines forming outside, guests must register ahead of time at  www.midwaydispensary.com/open-house. There will also be a 30-minute remote presentation given starting at 7:30 pm. A link to the presentation will be provided at a later date. To submit comments or questions for the presenters, email sara@sambankslaw.com. 

This meeting is taking place as part of the standard Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) process that all cannabis dispensaries must go through to win approval. The Zoning Board of Appeals is an independent Chicago commission that reviews land use issues that pertain to the Chicago Zoning Ordinance, including proposed variations from the zoning code, special uses permit applications and appeals of rulings made by the City's Zoning Administrator. The ZBA, not the Alderman or City Council, has the authority to approve or deny cannabis related-business proposals in zoning districts such as the one covering 1420 S. Michigan Ave.  If you would like to share your thoughts on this proposal, it is critical that you engage in the process immediately, first by participating in the open house on Thursday, July 23rd and then by testifying or submitting written comment to the Zoning Board of Appeals once the item is scheduled for a hearing. For updated information on the project, please visit  www.ward03chicago.com  or email ward03@cityofchicago.org.

3rd Ward Census Response

The 2020 Census is still accepting online responses. It's important that everyone be counted, as each additional person counted in Chicago means approximately $1,400 more dollars that can be used on parks, schools and infrastructure improvements. So far, the 3rd Ward's response rate stands at 52.1%, which is just below the City's overall response rate of 55.2%. If you or someone you know still needs to complete the census, go to  2020census.gov.

Aldermen Dowell and King (4th) Host Youth Summer Opportunities Town Hall

Alderman Dowell and neighboring Bronzeville and South Loop Alderman Sophia King (4th) co-hosted a virtual Town Hall meeting in June focusing on opportunities for youth over the summer. The meeting featured presentations from providers like One Summer Chicago, After School Matters, the Chicago Park District, and many more. Thank you to everyone who joined this informative meeting. A full recap of the town hall can be found here.

Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, there are many great options for youth this summer. Organizations like One Summer Chicago and its partners are hosting virtual summer sessions. The Chicago Park District will be running in-person activities, though in order to maintain social distancing, offerings are severely limited. If you or someone you know needs help with summer programming, please start with onesummerchicago.org or email onesummerchicago@cityofchicago.org with your specific questions. 

Alderman Dowell Hosts Navigating the Insurance Claims Process Meeting

Businesses impacted by looting and vandalism can learn how to navigate the insurance claims process by watching this video of a town hall meeting hosted by Alderman Dowell.  Topics include: best practices, issues to consider and process expectations as the businesses manage their way forward. Thank you to Bronzeville developer Eric Dantzler and State Representative Lamont Robinson who presented at the meeting. Special thanks to Robert Charles who helped me to organize this event.

Operation Clean at 52nd St. and Union Ave

Thank you to all the city departments (Streets and Sanitation, Transportation, Water Management, Buildings, Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Fire Department, and the 9th Police District), as well as the the Park District and Safer Foundation who met early in the morning at 52nd St. and Union Ave. to take on cleaning and maintenance tasks as part of Operation Clean. A 3 square block area surrounding the intersection was the focus. Thanks to Glen Brooks, CAPS Director and Thomas L. E. Stovall,  3rd Ward Superintendent for making this effort a success. And a huge thanks to all the neighbors who came out to help!

SLES Teaches Students, Community About Racial Injustice

South Loop Elementary School students put their thoughts on paper about the murder of George Floyd, racial injustice and their hopes for the future. Those works are now posted in the school windows at 16th St. and Dearborn Ave. In addition, a 2 minute moment of silence was held for Mr. Floyd. Thanks to Lisa Barroso for organizing this poignant moment and important learning experience.

Serving the Community During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all aspects of life in the City of Chicago. In response, countless community groups have banded together to offer assistance. This month, two local churches hosted successful food giveaways for those in need. South Park Baptist Church (3720 S. King Dr.), under the leadership of Pastor Craig Williams, handed out bags of food. In addition, Greater Harvest MB Church donated food, non-perishables, paper products, and hygienic goods to the community at their own giveaway. Thank you to 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman who came to Greater Harvest with a van loaded with goods and staff to assist in this effort. Also thank you to Josephine Wade of Josephine's Southern Cooking for providing hot dinners to many of our seniors.

Quinn Chapel Restoration Update

Quinn Chapel (2401 S. Wabash Ave.) is continuing with its renovation project, which were made possible by an Adopt-A-Landmark grant the church received.  The grant is helping to pay for tuck pointing the limestone, repairing the archways at each door entering the church, restoring the exterior wood panels, restoring the doors at each entry, and replacing the steps that lead into the building. As the work continues, the 3rd Ward Office will update residents regularly on the project's progress.

Community Responds to Fire at Door of Hope

Tragically, a fire severely damaged Door of Hope located at 5313 South Indiana Ave. in late June. This service provider for the homeless has been in Washington Park since 1975. It was an accidental fire unrelated to the unrest going on in the city. Thanks to all who have reached out to help with clean up efforts. If you would like to help with clean up or provide monetary donations to this important organization, please contact Exec. Director David Pendleton at 773-624-0585. Thank you so much to the m embers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Pi Psi Sigma Chapter and Brian Kachinsky of the South Loop who participated in the Door of Hope clean up. Thanks for the extra hands!

Chicago Resiliency Fund Local Partner

The United African Organization (UAO) is a local partner organization for the Chicago Resiliency Fund. Through the program, eligible Chicago households that were excluded from receiving COVID-19 stimulus aid can access cash assistance. If you think you may be eligible for this program please contact UAO by phone on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at 773-800-0837. 

Budget Committee & City Council Pass Federal COVID-19 Response Funds

The Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, which is chaired by Alderman Pat Dowell, had the important responsibility of considering $1.13 billion in federal COVID-19 response funds during the June meeting. Chairman Dowell convened members of the Office of Budget and Management and the many City Departments affected by this funding to walk committee members through the massive ordinance. The funds are being allocated as follows: $470 million for direct COVID-19 relief costs, $376 million for the Department of Aviation, $189 million for the Department of Public Health for lab capacity and contact tracing, $40 million for homeless services, $25 million for small business assistance, $20 million for rental assistance, $11 million for community healthcare infrastructure, $10 million for workforce assistance, $10 million for violence prevention, and $10 million for improved mental health services. $40 million is being reserved in case of a potential surge in Covid-19 cases later this year. 

Importantly, no COVID-19 response funds can be used for police overtime or non-pandemic response costs. That means police department costs related to things like the recent protests can not be covered using these federal funds. The ordinance successfully passed committee and was approved by the full City Council on June 17, 2020.

Alderman Dowell Introduces Ordinance to Strengthen MBE/DBE Contracting Transparency

During the June City Council meeting, Alderman Dowell introduced an ordinance that would require the Department of Procurement Services to update the City's Minority Business Enterprise/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE/DBE) registration website to include the specific type of MBE/DBE certification achieved by the company on the site. This would allow developers and master contractors to select MBE/DBE certified companies that truly reflect the demographic makeup of the community they are working in. Previously, the type of MBE/DBE certification a company achieved (African American, Women-owned, Hispanic, etc.) was not indicated on the website, so choosing a representative company involved either a lot of guess work or extra investigation by the prime contractor that few had the ability to diligently preform. 

Alderman Dowell Teams with Chairman Smith and Taliaferro on Joint Hearing on JISC

Committee on the Budget and Government Operations Chairman Dowell partnered with Ethics and Government Oversight Chairman Michelle Smith (43rd) and Public Safety Chairman Chris Taliferro (29th) to host a hearing on the Chicago Juvenile Intervention Support Center (JISC). Ideally, the JISC is a diversion program for youth that have been touched by the criminal justice system, allowing low-level youth offenders to enter rehabilitation programs instead of going to jail. Unfortunately, as it is currently operated, the JISC is not as effective as it should be, and the hearing featured speakers from the Chicago Police Department (which runs the JISC facility), the Department of Family and Support Services (which helps operate and fund the JISC program), a representative from the successful Miami-Dade County youth diversion program, and others to explore the issues related to the JISC and how to fix them. 

As part of the hearing, the Department of Family and Support Services informed members that it is terminating the contract of SGA, the program administrator of the JISC, and is re-imagining both the operations and funding of the center. This new focus, along with a better understanding of what makes other youth diversion programs successful, like the one operated in Miami-Dade County, will hopefully lead the program to achieve its intended goals. Follow-up meetings on the issue are planned.

Concrete Cap Complete - 50th St and Calumet Ave., Calumet Ave. from 45th St. to 51st St., 46th St. from Indiana Ave. to King Dr.

Through the "Building a New Chicago" infrastructure improvement program, the Department of Water Management (DWM) recently installed a new water main in your area. The new pipe has been pressurized, disinfected, tested and is now servicing you with water. DWM also completed the temporary restoration of the street with a concrete cap so that traffic is no longer impacted by the construction.

Weather permitting, the next step is to fully restore the street over the course of the next few weeks. ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps will be repaired or installed where needed, along with repair of damaged parkway and sidewalk. The final restoration of the street will include milling the surface, placing new asphalt, and painting the street markings.

The restoration schedule is subject to change and may be impacted by adverse weather conditions.  If you have questions about this project or the project notifications program, please email  Helpdesk .

Problem Business - Shenxinling Nail and Spa

Shenxinling Nail and Spa 1460 S. Michigan Ave. Date of Inspection: March 4, 2020

Violations: offering or agreeing to touch the genital area of a patron, massage establishment obstructed view and operation violation Resolution: $2,000 fine and a three (3) day suspension of operations

47th/King Drive and 43rd/Cottage Grove SBIFs Open in August

The Chicago Department of Planning and Development will accept applications for the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) for the 47th/King Drive and 43rd/Cottage Grove TIFs in August. SBIFs assist retail and industrial businesses who may need to fix property damage brought on by the recent unrest or make other improvements to their business.

DPD will be hosting webinars to provide an overview of the SBIF program and application process. Webinar dates and promotional materials will be distributed on a later date.

Applications for SBIFs that open in August will be open on Monday, August 3 and must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 4. Interested businesses and property owners can visit somercor.com/sbif to find the application and more information. 

Spinning Home Movies is back for a special two-part Summer Jam Edition, starting with Jamila Woods on Thursday, July 2nd! Tune into Facebook Live with Arts + Public Life to experience a 30-minute set of vintage home movie footage from the South Side Home Movie Project digital archives, curated and soundtracked by Chicago's own singer, songwriter and poet Jamila Woods. This special summer edition of Spinning Home Movies features a new themed film collection accompanied by soulful summer vibes, including some of Jamila's original work, to warm your heart and spirit. Presented with support from the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (CSRPC).

Where:  RSVP and Share on Facebook

When: Thursday, July 2, 2020 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm