This year's budget is one of the most consequential in the modern history of our city. It is hard to overstate the importance of the federal aid we have received for the fiscal stability of Chicago.

The City has lost more than $1.9 Billion in normal revenue since the pandemic began. As you may recall, that loss required the City to enter in a dreaded "scoop and toss" borrowing scheme to avoid massive layoffs of personnel, which would have affected every department from police to Streets and Sanitation to social services.

And thank goodness our fiscal fiduciaries are more transparent than they were 15 years ago. The last time the City lost $1 billion in revenue - the 2007 financial debacle - the City sold the parking meters and used the money to fill that one-year gap.

Not this time. We borrowed about $465 million in 2020, and planned to borrow $500 million in 2021. Chicago, along with most of the nation, looked to the federal government to help fix the problems caused by a government-imposed quarantine. Rightly, the federal government responded, granting $1.887 Billion in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ("LFRF"). The City allocated $465 million of those funds to repay the loan it took out in 2020, and to replace the proposed loan for 2021, ending the scoop and toss program.

Those funds allowed the City to continue city services at the level previously set, and also to allocate funds to direct City Services to specific needs identified during this pandemic. The City has also received millions in federal grants and American Rescue Funding, which we will detail in future newsletters.

An essential part of our budget hearings is the opportunity to question City Department leaders about the quality of services. Based on feedback we have received in our Ward office, we posed questions to City Clerk Anna Valencia aimed at difficulties with the Residential Parking Permit system, which most 43rd Ward residents use.

Our office is one of only seven in the city that sells parking passes directly to residents rather than forcing you to go to the City Clerk's Office downtown or a currency exchange. As pointed out in the hearing, aldermanic offices purchase the equipment from the Clerk's Office, and continue to work with them to make the online process easier for residents.

More on questions asked to other departments in future newsletters.

We must continue to get more people vaccinated. Mayor Lightfoot has announced a goal of having 77 percent of Chicagoans 12-years-old and over vaccinated by the end of the year.

I am concerned and disappointed that our ward is not there yet. As of September 28, 69.2% of people over 12 have completed all required doses in the 60614 zip codes and 60610 zip codes. The rates are higher in Lakeview, where 76% have received both doses. You can see the data here.

Let's get our vaccine rate up to 77% and more! Our 43rd Ward neighbors at Instavaxx are once again partnering with our neighborhood farmers markets this weekend to provide shots and COVID-19 tests to those who need them.

There is free parking at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market event in the LPHS parking lot. Stock up on produce and products from local vendors and get vaccinated.

Register here.

For background, you can see the Assessor's full report about the North Chicago Township here. Register for the workshop here.

The Lincoln Park Conservancy just announced they are only $100,000 dollars away from reaching their $7.3 million goal to rehabilitate North Pond.

Please donate here to help support the Conservancy save the North Pond. The rehabilitation could start soon with your help at closing the funding gap. Learn more here.

Please join your local 019 District Beat meeting. For 019 District Zoom Links, please email CAPS.019@chicagopolice.org.

Personal PAC, Planned Parenthood, the Chicago Women's March and 90+ other organizations, will be rallying in downtown Chicago at the March to Defend Abortion Access in the opposition to the recent Texas abortion restriction bill.

We must fight city by city, state by state, to ensure that all people can still access the health care they need. We cannot allow the reality of Texas to become the reality of this country.

Join me at the March, which will start at 11:15 a.m. at the intersection of Clark and Randolph. For more information on the march and locations for similar marches across the country, please click here.

Chicago River Ecology and Governance Task Force will hold a development review meeting focused on the river edge treatment and open spaces planned for Lincoln Yards.

Typically, only members of the development review working group are invited to these meetings, but given the large scale and impact of this project, they are expanding the audience. If you would like to attend, please email CHarris@metroplanning.org.

Purchase tickets here.

This fall, Lincoln Park Uncorked – one of Chicago’s premier wine tasting events - returns to Armitage & Halsted! Enjoy curated samples of red, white, and rose wines while strolling through one of the city’s most famous shopping districts in the heart of Lincoln Park.

Purchase tickets here.

This annual wine happening transforms tranquil Jonquil Park into an open-air market featuring wine and food pavilions. The highlight is ticketed wine tastings where scores of varietals will be showcased.

Beyond samplings, wine connoisseurs will appreciate the on-site expertise of brand ambassadors and sommeliers. There will also be food-wine pairings and the products/services of wine-centric vendors.

The 43rd running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled to return to the streets of Chicago on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Event organizers are working closely with the City of Chicago, including the Department of Public Health, to safely produce a race weekend experience for event attendees and the community. Preparations for the 2021 race will align with local and state coronavirus guidelines.

For more information, please click here.

Edgar Miller Legacy seeks to preserve the art, design and architecture of Edgar Miller, who lived and worked in Old Town for decades. His distinctive houses and interiors reflect the intersection of hand-made crafts and modern design.

Fall Smash 2021 kicks off with a opening night party exhibition of Edger Miller's work at Floating World Gallery, followed by a week-long series of events. Come to the party or go see the exhibition, or do it all. To learn more, click here. Register here.

Bocadillo Cafe and Market (new!)

Daily Harvest (new!)

Ganbeii Asian Fusion (new!)

Himalayan Curry & Pizza (new!)

Jibaritos (new!)

Juno Sushi (new!)

King Chicago Indian Cuisine

Kizami Sushi (new!)

Ludlow Charlington's Coffee (new!)

Mesa Urbana (new!)

Pars Cove (new!)

Pure Green (new!)

Squeez Juice Bar (new!)

Toro Sushi (new!)

Verzaney (new!)

Yolk

Be safe, get vaccinated, and enjoy our early Fall weather,