December 22, 2022

To follow-up on the “Missing Neighbor Alert” that we sent out earlier this week, our hearts break to share that the search for 43rd Ward Resident Peter Salvino ended on Tuesday evening when his body was found during a marine search of Diversey Harbor. It is a devastating loss, and Peter’s family issued a statement asking for privacy and noting their thanks for the support received from friends, family, local residents and businesses in their search for Peter. Alderman Knudsen personally thanks our strong community for banding together to provide camera footage, information and time canvassing, as well as our partners in Chicago’s Area Three Detectives and 19th District CAPS Office for their hard work during the search for Peter. May his memory be a blessing. 

Today, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued a Winter Storm Watch in effect from Thursday evening, December 22 until Saturday, December 24 at 6 a.m. Impacts include falling and blowing snow resulting in white out conditions with zero visibility at times, making travel extremely difficult, if not impossible. Power outages will also be possible as a result of strong damaging wind gusts up to 55 mph

Severe cold temperatures, strong winds and snow can cause additional hazards, whether home or traveling, so it’s important to stay informed. OEMC issues several alerts and notifications to keep people up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.

• Notify Chicago: Sign up for emergency alerts at www.NotifyChicago.org
• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices including flooding, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
• CHIBIZ: Business updates, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3

Warming Centers

The Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) activates warming areas at the City’s six community service centers when temps are at 32 degrees or below.

• The warming areas are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• On evenings, weekends or holidays, city-operated facilities including libraries and park facilities might also serve as warming areas, if needed.
• Residents must wear a face covering while in the warming areas.

Cold-Weather Tips

• Motorists should take extra precautions to winterize vehicles and have necessary supplies on-the-go. Keep in mind, disabled vehicles or distracted driving can cause accidents, impact traffic and others or requiring emergency services.
• Residents should know the signs and care of frostbite and hypothermia. For Winter preparation information visit, Chicago.gov/OEMC for details and links to other local, state and federal resources.
• Avoid unnecessary trips outside-if you must go out, limit the time you stay outside.
• Wear several layers of loose, warm cloth.
• Keep your head, hands and feet covered when outdoor.

Tips to Prevent Freezing Pipes

• Make sure that warm air is circulating throughout the home and keep a trickle of water running.  
• If pipes freeze, do not use candles or any open flame to thaw them. Use a hair dryer or heating pad.  
• For more info visit www.chicago.gov/water 

Tips from the Chicago Fire Department 

• The Chicago Fire Department does not recommend using space heaters; however, if used, be sure they are UL certified and at least 3 feet from anything that can ignite.
• Use of a space heater in children’s rooms should be monitored closely as children sometimes move them close to or into the bed with tragic results.
• Those seeking access to warming centers and/or experiencing insufficient heat are encouraged to contact 3-1-1 for immediate assistance. Also, be sure to keep smoke detectors in working order.

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

The 43rd Ward office will have amended hours this holiday season. Please see below for the schedule:



December 23: 10am-2pm

December 26: Closed

December 27-30: 10am-2pm

January 2nd: Closed

The office will reopen with normal 9am-5pm hours on Tuesday January 3rd. Happy Holidays!

While no one can guarantee any of our safety in all cases, we can all make it more difficult for a would-be thief or attacker to victimize us.

At Home: Lock It Up

Keep your doors locked when home alone and lock your windows too when leaving the house or any long period of time. Open doors and windows are an invitation that you don’t want to send. Turn your porch lights on at night and illuminate your backyard to ensure that anyone lurking there will be easily seen.

In Your Car: Secure Your Ride.

Lock your doors and be sure to store your purse, wallet or other valuables beneath your seat -- not on the seat next to you where they are easy and inviting targets for theft. Park in a well-lit area for the safety of your car and yourself and always lock your car. If you notice that the street lights are out, call 311 or your Police District’s Community Policing Office to make sure this “condition for crime” is remedied.

On the Street: Be Alert

Make sure you are not an easy target for crime on the street. Carry your purse in a manner that makes it hard to get -- across your chest or under your arm where more than a simple grab is needed to snatch it. Men should carry their wallets in their inside coats or side pants pocket, never in your back pants pocket where it is easy to grab. If you walk to and from work or public transit stations, particularly at night, use well-lit and populated streets. When possible, walk with friends.

On Public Transit: Be Prepared

Have the exact fare ready before you leave home so that there is no need to open a purse or wallet. During late night or early morning stay near the agent on duty in subways and when possible sit on the aisle seat where you will have more mobility should trouble to occur.

Going Home: Be Ready.

Always carry your keys in your hands so that you are ready to open the door. If you know you will be coming home after dark, make sure to leave some lights on.

Finally, Wherever You Are:

Remember -- A crime-free city requires that everyone reports suspicious activity by calling 911 and report conditions that make crime possible by calling 311. 

If you call 911 and do not get an immediate response, do not hang up and call again. This will only further delay your call in the queue.

• Calls to the Police Department are answered on a priority basis. Situations that involve threats to life, bodily injury, or major property damage or loss are the highest priorities.
• It is important to provide as much information on your situation as possible. Operators ask questions regarding the persons or autos involved, all while police are being dispatched. The more information you provide, the easier and faster it is for dispatchers to get services to you.
• When calling 911, if you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate that at the beginning of your call.
• You should use 311, the City’s non-emergency line in situations that do not involve a crime in progress or an immediate threat to life, bodily injury, or major property damage or loss.

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.

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

Our office is partnering with Commissioner Bridget Degnen to bring a tax appeal workshop to constituents.

Sign up here for a time slot to come to our office (2523 N Halsted) to meet with a staffer from Commissioner Degnen's office. They will assist you by answering questions, and help file your property tax appeal.

Please note that appeals for Jefferson and Lakeview Township closed on November 29th.

Click Here to access the Department of Streets and Sanitation Plow Tracker. This is a useful too to locate plows in your community during winter storms with significant snowfall.

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.