|
Dear Neighbor,
Over the past few weeks, I have continued to implement my plan with Commander(s) Phillips and Harris to keep the 31st St. Beach safe. Following the initial success of our bag checks and parking enforcement, I have pushed to keep 31st St. Beach a safe space. I have been working closely with the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, the Park District, and the Chicago Police Department to come up with a more permanent solution to maintain safety at the beach.
On July 1, I submitted a safety request to the Park District and the Chicago Police Department calling for more security at the beach, as well as barriers, bag checks, and parking enforcement for the upcoming holiday weekend. We were expecting the beach to be crowded for the 4th of July, and we didn't want to prevent the community from gathering there, but we needed to make sure that it remained a safe space. We were able to expand the residential parking permit area around the beach to help prevent illegal parking and loitering in the residential areas.
Much of the violence around the beach occurs after the beach closes. People loiter in the parking areas and fights tend to ensue. Our heightened parking enforcement has been one way of addressing this, but over the holiday weekend, we also instituted an earlier curfew. Starting on the 4th of July, we closed the beach at 9 p.m. daily. Our enforcement of an earlier curfew and new parking rules was successful in preventing violence over the holiday at the beach!
Following this successful weekend, my office is working to find a more permanent solution including new infrastructure. Part of this permanent solution has been addressing the large teen takeovers that have often led to violence at 31st St. Beach. My office recently hired one of the organizers of past meetups, and he told us that the teen trends have taken a turn and are no longer what he envisioned. Now, he is helping us reach out to teens to encourage them to gather for beneficial and productive events, like our PeacePalooza festival next week, which aims to provide a fun, safe space to gather, help young people find jobs and volunteer opportunities, and have workshops that teach potentially life-saving first aid techniques.
Thank you to the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, the Park District, and the Chicago Police Department for helping to enforce these measures to maintain safety at the beach this past week! Also, thank you to all of the community members who came out to the beach for the holiday and followed our new regulations! Change is necessary in order to keep residents safe and I am prepared to make those changes. Enough is enough. The violence needs to end.
| |
|
Extended Parking Permit Vicinity for Lake Meadows
For community safety purposes, we have extended the summer parking restrictions in the in the vicinity of Lake Meadows. Permits and guest passes are available at our office at 928 E. 43rd St. We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
| |
|
Notice - Oakwood Beach Closure
This weekend, the Miche Fest music festival is occurring in our ward. The festival is happening at Oakwood Beach on July 13 and 14, and festival setup has already begun. Because of this, the Oakwood Beach parking lot and the beach itself will be closed to the public this weekend.
| |
|
PeacePalooza
On July 19, join me and special musical guests including Vic Mensa, Joey Purp, The Holiday, Eddy Mack, and more for PeacePalooza, a concert and community event on Oakwood St. Beach to promote safety for our youth and connection in the ward. You don't want to miss it. I look forward to seeing you then!
Get your tickets here before they run out!
| |
|
Save The Date - Back-to-School Bash
On August 24, I will be hosting my second Back-to-School Bash as Alderman. Last year, over 1,000 residents attended the event as we passed out backpacks and free resources, along with free food and games. Paper shredding will also be available. All are welcome!
| |
|
Save the Date - Community Blood Drive
I am pleased to announce that my office is partnering with the Versiti Blood Center and the Aldermen of the 3rd and 5th Wards to host a community blood drive. The blood drive will be hosted on July 29 at 5101 S. Wentworth Ave., from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Make an appointment to donate here. Every donation is needed to meet the high demand from hospitals in your community. People like you can make a difference. We hope to see you soon!
| |
|
Juneteenth Baseball Tournament
This Juneteenth, the Armstrong Park Advisory Council held a baseball tournament and softball clinic to connect communities and celebrate black baseball in Bronzeville. I'd like to extend a thank you to the event organizers for having me and to the community members for coming out and enjoying the games. It was great to celebrate with you all and see all of the talented young players!
| |
|
Michaels Organization Winners
I'd like to congratulate all of the winners of the Michaels Organization Scholarship! This year, 34 residents were awarded more than $220,000 in scholarship funds. Of these 34 winners, four were from our very own 4th Ward. Congratulations to all of you! I can't wait to see all of the great things you will be able to achieve with these scholarships!
| |
Oakland Museum Hyde Park Jazz Fest
Congratulations to the Oakland Museum for being picked to host a Hyde Park Jazz Festival artist corps performance! This FREE event will be on July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. I hope to see you there!
| |
Tree Planting Near You
The Chicago Bureau of Forestry is ramping up its Climate Action Plan, and they need assistance from us. Use the QR code below to get to the Chi311 application, where you can fill out a tree-planting request.
Once the planting location has been inspected and confirmed, residents will be notified via a flyer on their door. If you do not want a tree to be planted near you or if you'd like to request a specific species, please call 312-742-8733 within 60 days.
I am excited to see the beautification and environmental improvements that this tree-planting initiative will bring to our ward!
| |
Permit Parking Community Meeting
On July 29, my office will be holding a community meeting to consider permit parking for the 4500 Block of Greenwood Ave. This meeting will be a chance for residents of that area to share any opinions related to permit parking down that block. The meeting will be on Zoom at 6pm. I hope to see you there!
Register for the Zoom here.
| |
Front Porch Summer Series
Come out to the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum on Saturday, July 13, for some great music! Jimmy Burns will be playing a FREE concert from 2-4pm as part of the Front Porch Summer Series. I hope to see you there!
| |
Dearborn Park Construction
My office recently had a meeting with the community to discuss improvement proposals for Dearborn Park. We presented your proposals to the Park District, and they are working to address the most urgent and financially viable requests. They have completed trimming the trees, and they are working to improve the grass landscape. They are also making plans to build or refurbish the 4-foot-wide walking trail in the park with crushed stone, improve drainage near the southeast side of the park, install a new bench on the concrete slab in the center plaza area, and remove the existing east stairs at the center plaza and replace them with a concrete access ramp. I look forward to seeing these improvements completed!
| |
Senior Landscaping Requests
I am pleased to announce that my office is partnering with ProSocial Chicago to help support our senior community members. If you are a senior in need of support maintaining your yard or garden, please fill out this form, and we will work to help you out as soon as possible! If you are interested in volunteering to help out with yard maintenance, please fill out this form. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!
| |
Youth Leader Activation Summit
I am thrilled to announce that registration for the Youth Leader Activation Summit is now OPEN! Hosted by the Mayor’s Youth Commission, this year’s event will take place on Saturday, August 3, at UIC (750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607).
The Youth Leader Activation Summit aims to empower Chicago's youth, ages 14–19, to take action and positively impact their communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from various youth leaders, engage with local organizations and programs that promote youth leadership, and connect with peers from across the city.
|  | |
Small Business Fund Webinar
On August 1, new Small Business Improvement Fund applications will open for the 43/Cottage Grove TIF and the Bronzeville TIF. Applications will open starting at 9 a.m. on August 1, and they will close at 5 p.m. on August 31. Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. To learn more, check out this website and/or register fothis webinar.
|  | |
Construction Notice
CDOT is pleased to announce that the Notice to Proceed for construction of the 47th Street, Prairie to Cottage Grove Streetscape project has been issued, and work on site will start in the next couple of weeks. Weekly construction review meetings will be scheduled, and members of the public are invited to attend to keep up to date on the schedule, coordinate construction work, and discuss any concerns. Please be on the lookout for a meeting invitation once the location and time of the meeting are determined!
|  | |
DNC Toolkit
The Democratic National Convention is approaching! It will take place from August 19 to 22 at the United Center and McCormick Place. The city of Chicago and the organizers of the DNC hope to minimize impacts and disruptions to local residents, businesses, and organizations in advance of the convention, so they have put together this toolkit to share with the community. This addresses frequently asked questions and provides information on areas that will be impacted. For more information, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications website (Chicago.gov/OEMC) is serving as the hub for local information and impacts and will be frequently updated.
|  | |
Community Impacts of the Lollapalooza Festival
Lollapalooza will be returning to Grant Park during the
first weekend in August. As a courtesy to the Grant Park community, the festival organizers shared with us some details for this year’s festival.
Lollapalooza will open each day at 11:00 a.m. beginning Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4. The venue closes each evening shortly after 10:00 p.m. There will be various street and sidewalk closures that can be found here.
At the request of Chicago public safety authorities, Grant Bark Park will remain closed from Wednesday, July 17 through Monday, August 10. During that time, there will be a temporary dog park available for use southeast of Grant Skate Park.
The Grant Park tennis and pickleball courts will close on Monday, July 29 at 5:00 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday, August 6 at 6:00 a.m. Beginning Wednesday, July 17, courts can be accessed from the 11th Street bridge walking north, along the west sidewalk of Columbus Drive. Courts will not be accessible via Balbo from the north as the sidewalk between Balbo and the 9th Street yard is closed.
If you need assistance with anything related to Lollapalooza, any questions answered, or any information provided, please contact info@lollapalooza.com. To report a concern during the event, please use the following Neighborhood Answering Service: (312) 500-2646.
|  | |
Free Dog Vaccine and Microchip Clinic
I am happy to partner with Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry and Chicago Animal Care & Control for this free event. The event is free and open to the first 100 dogs. All dogs must be leashed or in a carrier. No RSVP is required.
| |
Ice Cream Social
Summer is here! On July 18 at 5 pm, come out and enjoy a free ice cream social sponsored by the South Loop Neighbors and the Printers Row Park Advisory Council. The ice cream social will be followed by the Printers Row PAC Meeting.
| |
Visit the DPD at Sundays on State
On July 14, come talk to the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. Their Central Team will be hosting a booth at the Sundays on State event to gain public feedback for the Central Area Plan Update Initiative.
| |
Health and Fitness Fair
On August 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join State Senator Mattie Hunter for the 20th Annual Family Health & Fitness Fair. There will be free physicals, giveaways, and more! I hope to see you there.
| |
|
Construction on Harper Ave.
This Friday, July 12, there will be construction on Harper Labs that will result in the closing of S. Harper Ave. between Hyde Park Blvd. and E. 52 Pl., as demonstrated by the highlighted area below. The road is set to reopen on Monday, July 15. Please plan alternate travel routes to avoid this area for the next few days.
| |
Upcoming Sewer Lining Project | |
New Crosswalk at State & 8th St
I am excited to announce safety improvements at State and 8th St. After residents alerted us that the south leg of the intersection was a common pedestrian crossing but that there was no crosswalk, I requested that CDOT study the intersection to see what improvements could be made. Now that I have heard back from CDOT, I have approved funds for a new crosswalk and ADA curb cuts at the intersection. Keep a lookout for construction to begin soon.
| |
|
Construction Updates at Ida B. Wells and S. Plymouth Ct.
After residents alerted me to the concerning state of a deteriorating building on S. Plymouth Ct., I reached out to the owners to see if they could arrange maintenance on it. They agreed to help, and scheduled maintenance to begin in June. This project began a few weeks ago, and was scheduled to finish in 4 weeks, but due to unforeseen conditions, its completion has been delayed. I am thankful to the owners of the building for being so communicative with my office about construction updates, and I look forward to seeing the completed project.
| |
|
Street Sweeping
Please keep an eye out for no parking signs, and please move your car to allow the Streets and Sanitation staff to clean the streets. Streets and Sanitation will do their best to hang signs at least 48 hours before sweeping begins. A full calendar of planned sweeps is below. If you would like to sign up for email updates on when your block will be swept click here.
| |
|
Parking Passes Available for Oakenwald and Lake Meadows
Seasonal parking passes for the Oakenwald and Lake Meadows parking zones are now available for pickup at 928 E 43rd St. Season-long stickers and one-day guest passes are available. Residents can get up to 10 guest passes. Ticketing of cars without seasonal parking passes is now being enforced in these zones. Ticketing of cars without seasonal parking passes is now being enforced in these zones.
In order to pick up your pass, please bring proof of residency, either an ID with a current address or mail to your address with your name and the license plate number of your vehicle(s). One individual can pick up all the passes for their household, but you cannot collect passes for neighbors. My office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. If you have any questions, please email ward04@cityofchicago.org or call 312-744-2690.
| |
|
Government Services Dashboard
The Office of the Inspector General has a new website that shares all the government services and government districts for every address in the city. You can find contact information for your elected officials, police beat, zoning information, and more all at one convenient site. To access it, visit: https://igchicago.org/information-portal/data-dashboards/city-services-by-address/
| |
|
Construction on Your Block
Construction on your block, and you don't know why? Check out ChiStreetWork.Chicago.Gov for a full list of permitted construction projects on your block and surrounding areas. You can also sign up for alerts when new projects are announced.
| |
|
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow me on Instagram by clicking here or on Facebook here to stay engaged in the 4th Ward.
| |
PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION | |
|
Police Beat Meetings
The Chicago Police Department holds regular beat meetings for residents to learn about their local crime statistics and to share ideas with local officers. To find which beat you live in, click here. If you live in the First District, you can find the meeting calendar by clicking here. For a calendar of Second District beat meetings please email caps.002district@chicagopolice.org.
| |
Community Emergency Response Team
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program through the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area. These free classes train volunteers in basic disaster response skills to support first responders when professional services are overwhelmed. Click here for more information.
| |
|
CPD Operationalizing Community Policing Initiative
As part of the process to operationalize community policing and work towards Superintendent Larry Snelling’s vision that “all people in the City of Chicago know how to engage with the Chicago Police Department and know that every Chicago Police Officer is a Community Policing Officer there to support them”, the Chicago Police Department is seeking 6-8 CBOs who have credibility and reach across diverse geographies and populations to co-design and execute community input sessions and gather feedback on the current state and future implementation of community policing in Chicago. Please note that selected CBOs will be compensated $35,000 for their time and effort and the final deliverables from this process will not only help shape the future of community policing, but also be shared more broadly with the public. Additional details about the initiative and application process can be found here. Applications should be submitted via email to community@chicagopolice.org no later than July 28 at 11:59 PM CST.
| |
BUSINESS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES | |
|
Chicago Department of Public Health Requests Proposals
The Chicago Department of Public Health has recently released a new $3 million request for proposals for qualified hospitals and community-based organizations to deliver hospital-based violence intervention programming and wrap-around services to victims of violence who are at risk of repeat violent injury. The full request for proposals is attached here.
| |
|
Small Business Fund Grants
On July 1, applications opened up for Small Business Improvement Fund grants in the 24th and Michigan TIF districts. Funds can be used for repairs or improvements to commercial and industrial properties. To learn more about the program and to apply click here.
| |
|
Chicago Department of Public Health Job Opportunities
The Chicago Department of Public Health is hiring! Available jobs include Medical Director, Building Construction Inspector, Administrative Assistant, Public Health Nutritionist, Behavioral Health Assistant, Director of Program Operations, Director of Administration, and Laboratory Technician. Interested candidates can apply here.
| |
|
South Side Pitch
There are four more weeks until applications close for the 11th annual South Side Pitch! South Side Pitch is a shark-tank style pitch competition where small businesses from all over the South Side compete for cash prizes totaling over $34,000! To be considered a contestant, you must apply by Monday, August 5, by 11:59 pm CT.
Apply here!
| |
|
Chicago Star Award
The Chicago Treasurer's Office recently announced the Chicago Star Award, an initiative dedicated to recognizing and uplifting small businesses that play a pivotal role in shaping the economic and cultural landscape of Chicago. Nominations for the Chicago Star Award are open NOW and remain open until 11:59 p.m. Central on September 2, 2024. Submit a nomination or learn more here.
| |
|
Full List of City Contracts Open to Bid
There are many City of Chicago contracts that are open to be bid on by vendors. To access the list click here.
| |
|
City Law Department is Hiring
To learn more about open full time positions click here. For information on the Department's various clerkship and internship opportunities click here.
| |
|
Mise en Place Culinary & Hospitality Workforce Program
Looking to start a career in the hospitality industry? Enroll in Mise En Place culinary training program in Bronzeville. Our 4-week kitchen and classroom program provides a range of skills to prepare individuals for success in the industry. All applicants must be 16+ years of age, be unemployed or underemployed, provide valid ID, income and residency documents. To apply email jasmineew@romesjoy.com or click here.
| |
|
HR Jobs with the City of Chicago
The Chicago Department of Human Resources is hiring for a wide variety of jobs in May and June. To see open positions and the job descriptions click here.
| |
Summer Jobs for Young Adults | |
|
Chicago Department of Aviation Jobs
The Chicago Department of Aviation is hiring. Positions they are looking to fill include Airport Operations Center Coordinator, Information Security Manager, and Financial Analyst. For more information on these positions, follow this link.
| |
Chicago STEAMbassadors is Hiring | |
Chicago Parks District is Hiring | |
CTA Second Chance Program | |
Chicago Youth Centers is Hiring | |
|
Farmers Market Schedule
Chicago Farmers Markets sell fresh seasonal produce, flowers, prepared foods, unique Chicago-made products, and rare finds. Visit Chicago’s longest-running farmers market on Daley Plaza, the historic Maxwell Street Market, and community markets in neighborhoods across Chicago.
- South Loop Farmers Market (632 S. Dearborn St.): Saturdays, starting May 18, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Insight Farmer's Market (2525 S. Michigan Ave.): Saturdays, starting August 17, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Bronzeville Farmers Market (4700 S. King Dr.): Sundays, from July 14–October 20, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
| |
|
Local Tennis Club is Fundraising for New Courts
The Chicago Prairie Tennis Club (CPTC), which was founded in 1912, is one of the oldest African American tennis clubs in the country. Now CPTC needs our help to reach their $50,000 to resurface their courts in the Lake Meadows area. To learn more and to donate click here.
| |
|
Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Vendor Fair
The Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Outreach Ministry is hosting a vendor fair! Available products will include cosmetics, hair care, health services, food, Tupperware, paintings, clothing, jewelry and more. To participate as a vendor, please contact Maxine Toliver at 773-995-1119.
Where: Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (4501 S. Vincennes Ave.)
When: Saturday, August 3rd from noon to 4:00 pm
| |
Chicago Seniors Connected Brochure
Attached is the Chicago Seniors Connected brochure for the summer. Read more of it here!
| Chicago Park District July Calendar | |
|
City College Invites You to Explore Careers Utilizing the Metaverse
Kennedy-King Colleges’ Dawson Technical Institute is excited to offer the Metaverse Intro to Construction Virtual Reality class this summer using Interplay Learning tools.
Designed for young minds aged 9 to 14, this course offers an immersive dive into the Metaverse's impact on the construction industry. Through interactive lessons, hands-on projects, and eye-opening field trips, students will unlock the secrets of construction's many stages. They'll also explore the vast array of careers within the construction industry, from architects and engineers to project managers and skilled tradespeople.
To register, you must have a CCC Student ID, which can be obtained here.
Register for the class here!
| |
|
Healing Arts Chicago Summit
Get Involved with Healing Arts Chicago's Summer Celebration on July 27th at Malcolm X College! DCASE is looking for Volunteers to help on the day of the event and Community Partners to participate in the Resource Fair.
Register HERE to Attend
| |
Free Tennis Lessons from the US Tennis Association | |
Harper Court Music Series | |
Harper Court Jazz Series - Noon Performances | |
HIV Testing and Treatment for Black Women, By Black Women | |
|
Summer EBT from The Greater Chicago Food Depository
This summer, Illinois will be implementing Summer EBT, a new federal program that provides a grocery debit card to eligible families with school-aged children. For the most up-to-date information about eligibility and enrollment for children, follow the link here.
| | | | |
