MAYOR'S SUMMER TRACK PROGRAM
Kids ages 9-14 can sign up to join a track team this summer and have fun competing against other teams throughout the City of Chicago. The program includes an Olympic style track meet featuring running, jumping, and throwing. For more information, or to sign up for the program, please call our office at 773-278-0101.
HEAT RELIEF: CITY COOLING CENTERS
High Temperatures and humidity can pose a health and safety hazard. The City of Chicago has many servicves available to help residents cope safely with extreme weather conditions. City Cooling Centers, one of the many services, are air-conditioned facilities where residents can go to find relief from the heat. Residents can call 311 to locate the nearest Cooling Center, request a well-being check for someone who may be suffering from the heat, or register for the City's Extreme Weather Notification System.
HOT WEATHER TIPS
- Drink lots of water and natural juices; avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and colas.
- Avoid going outside in the blazing heat
- If you dont have air conditioning, keep shades and drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open
- Keep electric lights off or turned down
- Minimize use of the oven and stove
- Wear loose, light, cotton clothing
- Take cool baths and showers
- Don't leave ANYONE (including pets) in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
For more information, please contact our office at 773-278-0101.
THIRD THURSDAYS AT MAPLEWOOD PARK
The West Bucktown Neighborhood Association and the Maplewood Park Advisory Council are hosting “Third Thursdays” at Maplewood Park located at 1640 N. Maplewood through the month of August. This is an effort to encourage residents to get out and meet their neighbors. No formal activities will be planned but feel free to bring a brown bag lunch and friends and family. Board members from WBNA and the Parks Advisory Council will also be on hand to help you understand how you can get more involved in the
organizations.
ALGONQUIN PLAY LOT RENOVATION
Our office is pleased to announce that Algonquin Play Lot, located at 2941 N. Washtenaw, is currently undergoing a full renovation. Additional landscaping, soft surface material, and new play equipment is currently being installed. Any questions regarding the status of the construction can be directed to the 1st Ward Office at (773) 278-0101.
2009 SEWER LINING PROJECT
What is the Sewer Lining Project?
- Starting Tuesday, June 9, 2009, The Department of Water Management is scheduled to work on a sewer lining project in areas including the 1st Ward.
- The project will rehabilitate the existing sewer in the area without the conventional digging method.
- This rehabilitation will minimize, if not eliminate, street cave-ins due to sewer collapses and bring better drainage to alleviate flooding during heavy rains.
Where will the project take place?
- The sewer on N. Campbell Ave. from W. Wabansia Ave to W. Bloomingdale Ave. between the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
What should residents expect?
- It will be necessary to close lanes of these streets to ensure public safety during work hours. Detours and alternative bus stops will be posted if necessary.
- To prevent odors in your home, please pour two to three cups of water into each basement floor drain. Also, please restrict water usage during work hours as much as possible.
- A City Engineer will be on site during work hours to answer questions from residents.
If you have additional questions, please call 311.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
CITY COUNCIL PASSES CITY ASSET LEASE AGREEMENT DISCLOSURE ORDINANCE
The Chicago City Council today approved an
ordinance, introduced by Aldermen Manuel Flores (1st), Ed Smith (28th), Brendan
Reilly (42nd), and Rey Colon (35th) to publish and track documents pertaining
to previously approved, and all future, City asset lease agreements worth more
than $10 million, such as the leasing of the Chicago Skyway, the Chicago
Downtown Public Parking System and the Chicago Parking Meter System.
The ordinance will make all City asset lease
agreement documents available online in a searchable format and at a single
location to track the appropriations,
income earned, investments, and future budget distributions generated through
the leasing of City assets.
The ordinance will make this information accessible by creating a single accounting document, updated quarterly on the City of Chicago Department of Finance website, to track monies spent and generated in City asset lease agreements.
The ordinance can be viewed here.
CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCES ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH NEW REVIEW PROCESS FOR CITY ASSET LEASE OR SALE AGREEMENTS
Aldermen Manuel Flores (1st), Brendan Reilly (42nd), and Pat Dowell (3rd) today introduced an ordinance to establish a new City Council review process for the lease or sale of City assets.
The ordinance calls for a minimum sixty-day review period to allow for the Chicago City Council to properly assess, independently analyze and fully scrutinize the terms of proposed City asset lease or sale agreements before they are put out to bid.
The ordinance authorizes the City Council to hire a third-party, independent analyst and auditor for the purpose of considering and analyzing the terms of the proposed City asset lease or sale agreement. In addition, the legislation allows the City Council to request that the Inspector General serve as the Council’s independent analyst and auditor to review the proposed agreement.
The City Council Review Ordinance for City Asset Lease Agreements will be referred to the City Council Committee on Rules and Ethics for consideration.
The ordinance can be viewed here.
LA SALLE MAGNET SCHOOLS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
LaSalle II Magnet Schools is now accepting applications for 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th grades. Stop by the school at 1148 N. Honore for an application. For more information, please contact the school at 773-534-0490.
FREE WIFI AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WEST TOWN SSA; VOLUNTEER ROOFTOPS NEEDED
The Special Service Area (SSA) #29 FREE Wireless Internet Program is available to businesses, residents, and visitors along Chicago Ave. from Halsted Street. to California Avenue. and is also available in Eckhart Park. The Wireless Internet Program is a great way to help reduce costs to run your business by providing FREE WiFi to your business, customers, and any residents near your building.
A limited number of volunteer rooftops are needed! The program works by placing a small WiFi node on your rooftop for best/fastest signal (minimally invasive). You are then free to use WiFi at no cost.
The hardware, internet service and increased awareness of your business (we promote the hotspots) are free to you and anyone who logs on using the SSA Gateway homepage. Your browsing is safe and secure. This program has been piloted over the last year with multiple business rooftops to great success.
You can contact Matthew Westfallen, SSA #29 Program Manager, for instructions on accessing the wi fi along Chicago Ave., to check if you property is eligible, or with questions and comments. Please call the Chamber at (312) 850-9390 or visit http://www.westtownssa29.org/
City Council Passes TIF SUNSHINE Ordinance
Over the last two months, Alderman Waguespack (32nd Ward) and I have been working on passing the TIF Sunshine Ordinance, legislation that makes documents from Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district agreements available online on one site in a standard searchable format for every Chicagoan to see and review. This law will make the way the City uses taxpayer dollars more transparent and accountable to the public. The documents will be available on the Chicago Department of Community Development’s website by July 30, 2009.
The ordinance was passed thanks to the editorial support it received, and the support registered by everyday Chicago citizens. Alderman Waguespack and I are grateful for the help, and heartened that the city rallied behind this cause. The testimony, consent, and support of private citizens and organizations helped move our proposal through committee and into law. We are confident that this ordinance will help the City better serve its citizens, and is a strong step in the direction of more open, accountable government.
INFORMATION ABOUT CTA STIMULUS FUNDED BLUE LINE RENOVATION
Funds from President Obama's federal stimulus package will finance a much-needed CTA capital improvement project, part of which is in our ward. The CTA will improve the Blue Line subway tracks that run roughly from Paulina Street to Halsted by installing new rails, replacing old rail ties, and repairing the concrete walls. The improvements will eliminate "slow zones" in the subway, reducing commute time and allowing for more trains to run on the lines.
The first leg of the project will begin on April 17th, 2009, and will be the one that primarily affects our ward. Construction vehicles will utilize properties on North Moorman Street. There will be street closures on the 1300 block of North Moorman Street, North Paulina Street from Milwaukee Avenue to 1238 North Paulina Street, and the northern half of the 1200 block of North Hermitage Avenue between 9:00 pm Friday and 5:00 am Monday on the following dates:
April 17-20 May 1-4 May 15-18
April 24-27 May 8-11 May 22-25
May 29- June 1
During these times, heavy construction equipment will make considerable noise. However, there will be no demolition, and no dust from the work. Additionally, Blue Line service will be disrupted during these weekends. Trains will share a single track, increasing travel time, during the April weekends, and in May and June, the line will be cut completely. Free shuttle buses will take commuters between the Clark/LaSalle and Western Blue Line stops, where Blue Line service resumes during these weekends.
The CTA has established a community hotline (312-681-3091; Jeff Wilson is the community affairs liaison to speak to) for this project, which you can call starting April 8th, 2009 with questions and complaints. Our office is also a resource. You can contact Conor Gaffney at (773) 278-0101 with any questions or concerns.
$8,000 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT AVAILABLE FOR SELECT HOME PURCHASES
As a part of President Obama's Economic Stimulus Package, an $8,000 tax credit is available for qualifying first-time home purchases in Chicago. Unlike a tax deduction, which only lowers the amount of taxable income, a tax credit is an absolute reduction of one's income taxes. Those who buy a home in the qualifying Find Your Place neighborhoods by December 1, 2009 can actually subtract $8,000 from the amount that they would owe the federal government in income taxes for the year. Visit http://www.findyourplaceinchicago.com/ to learn more about the tax credit and to browse a list of qualifying properties and neighborhoods.
GET INVOLVED IN THE POLISH TRIANGLE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT!
The Polish Triangle, a public space bordered by Milwaukee Avenue, Division Street and Ashland Avenue, was designated earlier this year as one of two inaugural "placemaking" projects in Chicago. Placemaking is an approach to improving public space that involves extensive community participation. Aldermen Flores, Waguespack, and Burnett, as well as the Metropolitan Planning Council and a number of community organizations, have been brought on board to help design a great public space.
Individual input, however, is by far the most important element of the placemaking process. Please take a survey here to let us know your ideas for the Polish Triangle and give us feedback on the planning process.
Please contact Raymond Valadez at (773) 278-0101 or send us an email (ward01@cityofchicago.org) to find out more information about the project, how you can get involved, and for a schedule of upcoming community events at the Polish Triangle.