After last week’s newsletter included information about a Monkeypox Vaccine clinic being held by TPAN next door to our office, we were contacted by a fair number of people who were frustrated by not being able to access the virus at the event due to serious supply shortages. TPAN’s event was clearly advertised as having limited supplies, but many people had to stand in line for 2 hours or more only to learn there wouldn’t be enough doses for everyone. We have since been able to get briefings at the state and city levels to gain insight into the local response to the outbreak and are working with our partners throughout government to determine how we can best provide support to our constituents and service providers who are navigating new territory with an emerging disease.

The current protocol for vaccine distribution is primarily focused on those at the highest risk for contracting the disease, which is spread via contact with lesions that can be mistaken for benign things like ingrown hairs or pimples before they’re obviously lesions. Locally, in addition to TPAN whose clinics are held every Monday from 2 pm to 5:30 pm at their location which is 5537 N. Broadway, other north side locations include Howard Brown Health Centers at their locations (4025 N. Sheridan, 6500 N. Clark, 3245 N. Halsted, & 1525 E 55th St.) and Steamworks Baths Chicago located at 3246 N. Halsted. One persistent concern we’ve heard is whether the vaccine is safe for those with compromised immune systems. The Illinois Department of Public Health clarified that the state is not utilizing the ACAM2000 vaccine which is a live replicating disease that isn’t safe for those with HIV or other immune system disorders and that the vaccine available here is a non-replicating vaccine that doesn’t carry that risk. While that’s reassuring, it also underscores that the supply issues are incredibly complicated given that only one of two available vaccines is actually appropriate for the community at the highest risk of contracting Monkeypox.

The vaccine is being distributed to local health departments in areas with active cases by the federal government through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). While supply has not been nearly enough to meet demand as the virus has been quickly spreading in cities, there are significant amounts coming in the days ahead, with more to follow. At the same time as we are struggling with vaccine supply issues, the organizations providing the vaccines, many of whom are still reeling from handling COVID-related issues, are struggling with adequate staffing and other supplies. Our office will continue to work with our service provider partners to identify the best ways we can provide support as they ramp up and address this latest crisis. To date, CDPH has distributed over 5,000 doses of the vaccine and reports they are expecting a delivery of an additional 15,000 perhaps as early as tomorrow. Both CDPH and IDPH are reporting that the strategy at this point to reach as many at-risk people as possible is to utilize existing public health relationships with providers focused on sexually transmitted infections and HIV as well as venues where outbreaks have occurred. If you need help finding a vaccine clinic or need more information on the city’s response to the outbreak, CDPH recommends using the city’s COVID hotline at 312-746-4835. The line is staffed Monday - Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.

On today’s Chicago Department of Public Health briefing, we were informed that as of 7/21/22 Chicago had seen 202 cases, largely concentrated among males who report having sex with men. Of those, a very small number had required hospitalization.  On yesterday’s briefing call with IDPH, they reported 212 cases statewide as of earlier this week with 86% of the cases in Chicago and all but one case in a male patient.  CDPH reported significant challenges with contact tracing, which hampers efforts to get post-exposure prophylactic vaccine doses into those close contacts within the ideal window on 4 days post-exposure and resulting in most PEP doses reaching patients within 2 weeks which while not ideal has been shown to mitigate the severity of symptoms for those who do develop the disease.

We have pushed for more extensive public education efforts from both the city and state and will continue to use every tool at our disposal to address supply chain issues as well as amplify public education efforts. This week, we were pleased to see Governor Pritzker urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Walensky to use the tools available at the federal level to immediately increase the availability of vaccines in at-risk communities. To view Governor Pritzker's statement click here.

For frequently asked questions please click here.

Our website will be undergoing a maintenance period and will be down for about a week. Check back in afterwards for a fresh, new look! While the website is being worked on, feel free to reach out to our office by phone at 773-874-2002 or by email at repcassidy@gmail.com for any questions or concerns you may have. 

We are hosting a back-to-school drive for CPS students in coordination with the offices of Alderman Harry Osterman and Alderwoman Maria Hadden!

We are collecting book bags and other school supplies for CPS students from now until August 19th before their new school year begins on August 22nd.

Please drop off any donations at:

Rep. Cassidy's Office -- 5533 N. Broadway

49th Ward Office -- 1447 W. Morse

Women & Children First -- 5233 N. Clark

R Public House -- 1508 W. Jarvis

Come out the weekend of July 29th through 31st for Andersonville's Summer Sidewalk Sale! Over 40 businesses will participate in the sale spanning the sidewalks from 4800 to 5800 N Clark. Check with your favorite vendors below to see what times they will be open.

For a list of all participating businesses, click here. 

Be sure to mark your calendars! Our office is sponsoring a document shredding event on August 27th between 10am and 1pm at 5533 N. Western Ave. Fill as many bags as your can! These guys can handle it! 

The Glenwood dance studio is hosting its annual summer dance festival this weekend at the Edge Theater (5451 N Broadway). Last year, both days were sold out so make sure to purchase your tickets early! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door if any are available. 

Purchase tickets here

Dog lovers mark you calendars for Andersonville's Dog Days of Summer on July 30th at 1500 W. Catalpa from 9am-1pm.

This event will feature experiences like "Doga" (yoga for you and your dog!) and Mutt Jackson Dog Wash.

Join Theatre Above the Law for its all-ages carnival on Sunday, July 31 from 12:00-4:00 pm in Jarvis Square. The carnival will feature booths and games that are fun for the whole family!

Admission to the event is FREE! Tickets for the raffle, booths, and games are $10 for 10 on carnival day. If purchased in advance through Eventbrite, you can take advantage of a special deal: $20 for 25 tickets! That's 5 tickets FREE!!

Purchase advance tickets by clicking here. Questions about the event can be directed to tony@theatreatl.org.

Join the Edgewater Environmental Coalition for their Creative Climate Action Planning Workshop at Uncommon G on August 4th at 6pm to plan a creative, sustainable, vision for Edgewater. 

The Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) has dedicated public space ready for you to use for community events and programming at Jarvis Square and Glenwood Ave Alfresco Plazas and the Clark Street People Spot! Want to hold an open mic? Interested in meeting with your book club or knitting circle in an open environment? Want to host a card tournament? Teach a class on your favorite hobby? RPBA is excited to be able to provide public spaces for community programming. We are looking forward to experiencing the creativity or our community and transformation of our pubic plazas.

Keep in mind that times are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and that the public spaces are only available for events between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends).

July 22nd Update:

• Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 IL residents: 253
• Daily new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 IL residents: 3.8
• Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by IL COVID-19 patients: 6%
• Statewide Totals: 3,528,282 confirmed cases and 34,309 deaths

For more details regarding the status of COVID in Illinois click here.

Please click here to see the status of COVID in our zip codes.

Being vaccinated and boosted is critical to limit the major impacts of future pandemic waves we are to face as new variants come along. Please be up to date with your vaccines and continue to test when needed.

To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.

For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.

If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the

Illinois Department of Public Health:

Hotline: 800-889-3931

Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:

Hotline: 312-746-4835

Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov

We are starting to see an increase in monkeypox infections. Monkeypox is a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). According to Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Arwady "The city has already received 5,409 doses. Distribution has targeted those in close physical contact with people diagnosed with monkeypox, as well as people who may be at higher risk of contracting the disease because of their sexual activity."

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on your face and other parts of the body

Illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

In August of 2021, House Bill 2784 was signed into law passing the historic Community Emergency Services and Support Act or CESSA. This bill I crafted in partnership with Access Living and coalition partners would allow mental health professionals — not police — to treat citizens experiencing mental health crises. Calls to 911, 311, and other emergency response centers that are seeking mental and behavioral health support are transferred to the State's new 988 number, unless there is ongoing criminal activity or a threat of violence. CESSA will be instrumental in bringing meaningful changes to how authorities respond to mental health emergencies, while also ensuring that people who require immediate mental health services are treated by trained professionals. 

The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health will begin implementing its 9-8-8 number beginning Saturday, July 16th. As the chief sponsor of the CESSA bill, I am thrilled to get to see the beginning of its implementation.

To learn more about 988, see the IDHS' fact sheets attached below. For more information about CESSA, you can visit Access Living’s website.

Applications for the Bike Chicago Program open July 18th and are available through August 4th! Apply for one of the 5,000 available Fyxation Pixel single-speed bikes available. Bikes are equipped with fenders, chain-guards, and front+rear carrying racks to serve the everyday needs of Chicago commuters. The program also provides selected applicants with maintenance and safety equipment to keep you riding!  

Eligibility: 

* Be a Chicago resident age 14+

* Have a household income at or below the area median income 

* Do not already own a bicycle 

* Face high mobility hardship

To apply click here 

For more information click here 

The University of Chicago's Center for Radical Innovation for Social Change launched its Community Utility project to help Chicagoans seek help with paying their utility bills. Users can visit the website and post their need for assistance, and others can by making a financial contribution toward those bills. Individuals may contribute, either wholly or partially, to help cover those costs.

The Center for Radical Innovation for Social Change developed the website after speaking with CEDA and community service organizations that serve as CEDA partner intake sites. These conversations helped them better understand the LIHEAP program and where gaps exist. The goal of Community Utility is to help fill those gaps by providing people with financial relief to cover their most urgent utility bill needs. These needs include bills that fall above the $200 LIHEAP cap or those who may not be eligible for LIHEAP.

To learn more, visit Community Utility's website. 

C24/7 is hosting its second annual Great Giveaway event. The event will take place on Saturday, July 30, from 2-6 pm at Willye B. White Park, 1610 W. Howard. There will be bikes, toys, carnival games, and activities for all to enjoy. 

Want to donate to the event? Consider making an online cash contribution to C24/7 to go towards gifts and prizes.

Chicago Public Schools has released their full back-to-school bash schedule. The bash connects families with their local school communities, provides the opportunity to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and offers much needed school supplies.

Mark your calendars for the bash on August 5th at Eugene Field Elementary (7019 N Ashland Ave) between 2pm and 5pm. 

Chicago Methodist Senior Services provides important resources and opportunities for senior citizens in Chicago. Click on the image above for more information. 

Chicago Seniors Connected is a series of programs offered by the city of Chicago to keep seniors socially engaged and healthy in their communities. Click on the image above for more information.

The CTA and ATU are hosting a bus operator and bus mechanic career fair on Saturday, July 23 from 9am to 3 pm at 3850 S Wabash Ave. Registration is required, and parking is limited at the event. 

To register click here:  

The CyberNavigator, a computer and technology tutor, will be returning to the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library! The CyberNavigator is a whizz at helping you set up your email, navigating your cellphone, and even in applying for jobs online. Resume coaching is also available. 

The CyberNavigator's hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 2-6 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-4 p.m.; Fridays 9-1 p.m. Appointment are limited to one, one hour sessions per week for each patron. Call the Edgewater Branch Library at (312) 742-1945 or visit them at 6000 N Broadway to schedule an appointment. 

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

5533 N Broadway

Chicago IL 60640