16th Ward Weekly E-Newletter

16th Ward Weekly E-Newsletter

May 27, 2020

De ar Resident and Neighbor,

On Tuesday, Mayor Lightfoot, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), industry leaders, labor leaders, and public officials from around Chicago, released industry-specific guidelines for businesses, employees, and customers to follow as the city prepares to begin safely reopening in early June. Dates will be announced soon.

These are challenging times, but there are ways in which we can do simple things to help one another. Try to check-in on your neighbors, give a friendly wave from a distance, look out for one another. Remember, this is new for all of us, but we will get through this together.

Very truly yours,

Stephanie D. Coleman

Alderman, 16th Ward

In This Issue

Infrastructure Improvements

Mayor Lightfoots Re-Opening Plan

New COVID-19 Testing Sites

COVID-19 Resources

Block party Update

Community & Employment

Youth & Education

16th Ward Infrastrucure Improvements

Water Main Replacement Project #1901011

On May 26, 2020 the Department of Water Management (DWM) and Benchmark Construction Company crews will begin to install 1,985 feet of new 12-inch water main in S. Ashland Avenue, from W. Garfield Boulevard to W. 58th Street.

The old water main dates back to 1890, and needs to be replaced to create a more reliable and efficient system.

For More Information

ReOpening Plan

Industry-specific guidelines include details such as how businesses can engage in healthy interactions between workers and customers, how to maintain safe working spaces and conditions, and how to design and monitor workplace operations to create flexibility and maintain safety for employees and customers. The guidelines are aligned with the State-issued guidelines, with specificity included for Chicago’s context.

Guidelines for the following industries, which will open the earliest in phase three in Chicago, can be found at www.chicago.gov/reopening:

Education & Childcare
Buildings & Real Estate
Food Service
Accommodations & Tourism
Retail
B2B
Healthcare
Transportation

At this time, the guidelines do NOT include the "open streets" concept that we discussed in our recent survey. The City is allowing restaurants with windows that open to use that seating. We expect responses from the City soon on those concepts. In tomorrow's newsletter, we will discuss the results of our survey - well over 1,000 people participated!

Businesses Will Need Personal Protective Equipment to Re-Open Safely

As the city prepares to enter the next phase of reopening, organizations will need access to personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect workers from contracting or spreading COVID-19.

To support a safe and efficient reopening, the City of Chicago has launched the Chicago PPE Market. This online platform was developed by local startup Rheaply with the partnership and support of World Business Chicago.

Buyer registration is now open. Register for the Chicago PPE Market and then check your email for a link to access the online platform. The PPE Market provides Chicago's small businesses, community-based organizations, and not-for-profits with transparent pricing and direct access to local PPE suppliers. Organizations can purchase PPE in three steps:

Browse available listings for reusable face coverings, hand sanitizer, and protective shields
Request to purchase specific PPE based on your desired quantity and the advertised price
Communicate directly with the supplier through the in-platform messaging feature to agree on payment and pick-up or delivery details

For more information, visit www.chicago.gov/reopening.