As we get closer to our scheduled adjournment date of May 19th, deadlines are looming, amendments are being negotiated at a rapid fire pace, and budget discussions are continuing. In the meantime, the process of creating districts for the Chicago elected school board which will be on the ballot in 2024 has begun. On Monday night, there will be a public hearing at Lane Tech High School. Details are here.

This week brought more infuriating news out of states seeking ever more creative ways to attack vulnerable populations and stifle democracy. On the heels of the Tennessee Three, three members of the Tennessee House who faced an expulsion vote for participating in a protest against that chamber’s refusal to consider gun safety and regulation legislation in the aftermath of a horrific mass shooting. Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled (and quickly reinstated but face a special election) while Rep. Gloria Johnson was spared by 1 vote. When a reporter asked her why she thought she was spared, she replied “it might have to do with the color of my skin.”

Just days later, my friend Rep. Zooey Zephyr of Montana was censured by her Republican leadership after her speech on the floor in opposition to a gender affirming care ban. Zephyr, Montana’s first trans lawmaker, used her time to tell her colleagues that they would have the blood of trans youth on their hands if they persisted with the ban. Declaring that a breach of decorum, Zephyr was informed that she would not be permitted to speak for the duration of the session. When protestors descended on the Capitol demanding her rights be reinstated, her leadership doubled down and scheduled a vote to have her barred from the chamber. The vote prevailed and while she will be permitted to vote remotely, she can not present legislation or speak on any bills. On the first day of her expulsion, they actually attempted to prevent her from being in the public areas of the Capitol, but she has been allowed to stay, setting up on a bench outside the chambers where she is doing her best to continue to represent her constituents.

If there weren’t enough attacks on democracy for one week, Nebraska jumped into the fray when a prominent Omaha attorney filed an ethics complaint against Senator Megan Hunt alleging that her vote against a gender affirming care ban is a conflict of interest because she has a trans child. This one is particularly galling: should someone with a child with diabetes refrain from voting on access to insulin? The consequences of this particular slippery slope boggle the mind.

Watching this play out across the country as legislators fight back against overwhelming odds protecting reproductive health care and gender affirming care and arguing for sensible reforms of gun laws remind me of the great good fortune of living and serving in Illinois. Our Speaker, in stark contrast to the leadership actions described above, has embraced empowering members to lead our efforts to craft legislative responses to these attacks. Our working group model has been a great success, both in crafting legislation based on collaborative study of best practices and in elevating the voices of members and building multiple leadership voices on critical topics.

Next week, I expect that we’ll start hearing Senate bills on the House floor. On a personal note, our twin sons are graduating from high school this spring, so I will be missing session on Tuesday to be with Daniel at his senior tribute baseball game. This school year has been a series of these “last” moments and for the most part I’ve been able to focus on being excited for the adventures ahead for them both, but I’m guessing there might be a tear or two as we get closer to the big day. Never fear, I’ll be back at it bright and early Wednesday morning in Springfield.

Medicaid Redeterminations

Rogers Park Township Property Tax Appeals

Rogers Park Township is now open for property tax appeals through the Cook County Assessor’s Office. The assessment of your home is one of the most important factors in determining how much you will pay in property taxes. The good news is that you can appeal your valuation and potentially lower your taxes.

Rogers Park Township encompasses the area of the 49th & 50th Wards that are north of Devon. The appeals period is open until May 25. You can file an appeal online at www.cookcountyassessor.com/online-appeals.

If your appeal is accepted, changes to your property's assessed value will be reflected in the second installment property tax bill you receive next year in 2024.

For any questions, please contact my office at (773) 784-2002 or contact Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita’s Office at (312) 603-6383.

Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth Newsletter Signup

Mother's Meander & Meal

In the District

Free Self Defense Seminar

This Sunday, April 30 at 3PM, EKF Martial Arts will be doing a FREE Self Defense seminar! It’s open to everyone in the community and gym members. Bring yourself, friends, family, lovers, frienemies, coworkers, etc. and stop by to try something new.

The 40th Ward Big Shred Event

Edgewater Yard Sale

The Edgewater Yard and Sidewalk Sale will be Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 9am to 5pm. Shop over 200 household and business yard and sidewalk sales; you never know what treasures you will find!

Participating households and businesses will be found between Foster to Devon and Clark to Sheridan. Don’t miss out on this long-running Edgewater tradition. If you are a resident and wish to participate, please fill out the online form HERE.

The deadline to register is 5/26/2023 to be on the printed map. Registrations received between 5/27-6/2 will be included on the online map only. Please visit there Facebook page where you can share the event with interested neighbors. 

30th Annual Artists of the Wall

The Loyola Park Advisory Council is pleased to share this year's 30th anniversary poster, designed by teen artist Maude Hovey-Bradshaw! You'll see this poster promoting the 30th annual Artists of the Wall Festival.  Pre-order posters and t-shirts here! 

REGISTRATION - Registration will open on May 1, 3, and 5 at 8AM at this link. Please only purchase one space per household. This year's event will be on June 17 and 18, 2023 from 9AM-3PM with music from 12-3 each day.

VOLUNTEER - Volunteer for AOTW and the Loyola Park Advisory Council by filing out this form.

SPONSOR - Join us as a sponsor before May 15 to be on promotional materials.  Information here.

Important Loyola Park Dates

May 1 - Next LPAC meeting at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse at 6:30

May 20 - Loyola Dunes workday from 9:30am-12:30PM

June 3 - Join us from 10AM-12PM for It's Your Park Day!

Kitizen Science

Join Kitizen Science for our third year of monitoring the outdoor cat population in a section of Chicago! This study will allow us to learn whether targeted spay/neuter programs are successful at humanely reducing cat populations in these areas.

The project: Working in pairs, you will complete a walking survey on an assigned route along public sidewalks and alleyways. Our smartphone app includes a map showing your route and where you are located. Any time you see an outdoor cat, you will photograph the cat and submit the sighting via the app. Surveys take place in the late afternoon and evenings and should be a fun way to contribute to important cat welfare research while getting some fresh air. Cat survey pairs will be working independently, but someone will be available by phone if any questions arise during your survey.

Who we need: Adults over 18 who like cats and feel comfortable with technology/smartphones and walking for about 2 to 2.5 hours from about 5:30-7:30pm (timing varies based on your own walking pace). Our app works on Apple and Android (running 6.0 or later). Each volunteer needs their own smartphone. We prefer to recruit volunteers who can commit to volunteering on multiple evenings or even each evening for an entire week for ease of scheduling, but even a single shift helps. There is no previous experience needed with citizen science or research, but an eye for spotting cats is a major plus. Feel free to volunteer with a friend or partner, or we can put solo volunteers into pairs.

Required preparation: This is a structured volunteer position where you need to sign up for shifts ahead of time, be assigned a cat survey route, and do about half an hour of homework beforehand. After viewing an online orientation video and downloading our app, you will need to register and send a test submission from your phone to make sure everything works before your first cat survey. While our app has been tested on many devices, there could be bugs we haven't found yet, and we want to discover those before you're in the middle of conducting a cat survey. On the days of your surveys, you'll self-start at an assigned location with a partner, log into the app, and complete your survey route.

What to bring: A fully charged smartphone with a data plan, water, and sun protection in the form of a hat or sunscreen. If you have an older phone that does not hold a charge well, we recommend bringing an external battery bank. We ask that volunteers comply with current local masking and social distancing guidelines.

Sign up: On Tree House Humane Society's volunteer scheduling page.

LIHEAP Program

Until May 31, 2023, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will accept applications for its next cycle of utility-bill assistance. LIHEAP provides a one-time grant, per program year, with no payback required, based on a household's income and size. Homeowners, renters, and subsidized housing tenants are eligible to apply for assistance, and customers do not have to be behind on their bills to receive a grant. 

For more information, to check eligibility, and to apply, residents of Cook County can call the LIHEAP hotline at 800-571-2332 or visit this website. You can also call our office at 773-784-2002.

Chinese Mutual Aid Association Classes

Refugees, Rights, & Resilience Event

Youth & Teen

Spring Blooms in the Park

The Chicago Park District offers an extensive array of programs for all ages this spring. You'll find a variety of in-person programming options along with our popular virtual programs. Get out and be active, or go online and be active - whatever you choose, we have you covered.

For more details please click here.

CIADC Youth Pathway Program

Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center is kicking off its Youth Pathways Program for kids in grades 6-9. The program exposes students to hands-on, industrial arts including woodworking, metal casting and CNC Fabrication. Students will work on guided projects that focus on learning the fundamental skills in a safe, non-intimidating and fun environment. 

The next 5-week program begins on May 8. Tuition assistance is available!

Job Resources

Ald. Vazquez is Hiring

Position: Administrative Coordinator

Alderperson Andre Vasquez

40th Ward, City of Chicago

Description: The part-time Administrative Coordinator works with the Chief of Staff largely on clerical tasks to ensure the office runs smoothly. This role will be focused on day-to-day operations of an office by doing tasks such as filing paperwork, billing/budgeting, answering phone calls, greeting constituents, preparing documents for meetings, and managing calendars. The role will also include processing constituent service requests.

Responsibilities: 

• Report directly to the Chief of Staff and supervise department volunteers and interns as applicable.
• Work with 40th Ward team to address and resolve incoming phone, email, and walk-in constituent service requests. 
• Billing/budgeting
• Maintaining Alder and Office calendar/schedule
• Working with the Alder to develop communications from the Ward Office (newsletter, social media, etc.)
• Flyering and ward surveying
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Resident of Chicago, IL.
• Very strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills. 
• Able to hold conversations on sensitive, critical matters while being empathetic, respectful, and honest. 
• Resourceful, responsive, and service-minded. Willing to go the extra mile and seek creative solutions.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends; maintain a flexible schedule for events. 
• Highly organized

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

• Experience in using AirTable and/or Salesforce
• Experience with Mailchimp and Canvas/Graphic Design software
• Experience with Social Media platforms
• Knowledge of the 40th Ward
• Billing/Budgeting Experience
• Bilingual (Spanish or Hindi/Urdu)

Compensation: 

• Position is part-time: 28 hrs/week
• $22/hr

Fill out the application here 

Clark St Mural Opportunity

Rogers Park Business Alliance, the service provider for Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area #24, is seeking proposals for a single artist or artist team to paint a mural on Clark St. in Rogers Park.

Proposals must be emailed to Ana Bermudez, abermudez@rpba.org no later than Friday, May 12, 2023. Proposals received after this date will not be accepted. Preference will be given to artists from Rogers Park and those with bicultural backgrounds.

More information Vision Mural RFP.

One Summer Chicago Program

Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy

State Representative, 14th District



Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

1507 W. Morse Ave

Chicago IL 60626