Weekly Update

Not a day after I unpacked from last week’s whirlwind of White House briefings, I was thrilled to be invited to attend the signing of the federal Respect for Marriage Act on the South Lawn of the White House. Tuesday, my oldest son and I headed back to DC to share in the historic action that protects our family in the event that fallout from the Dobbs decision results in a challenge to the Obergefeld decision. It was great to connect with friends and colleagues from here and around the country. Josh and I felt lucky to literally run into so many of our friends, including Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod, Kentucky State Representative Keturah Herron whom I’ve gotten to know through our work with the LGBTQ Victory Institute, and colleagues from home including Brian Johnson, Mike Ziri, and Miles Brady-Davis from Equality Illinois, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison and activists including Precious Brady-Davis, Eric Wilkerson, and the recently engaged Justin Koziatek & Tom Long. It was a fantastic afternoon with performances by several musical artists including Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper. Lauper performed her hit “True Colors,” which has long been an anthem in the LGBTQ community. When she couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, she invited the crowd to join her to help finish the song. There already wasn’t a dry eye on the south lawn before that moment, but if anyone had held it together until that moment, they couldn’t after that. The ceremony featured plaintiffs from landmark cases across the country, and the sight of so many families lining the historic stairways down to the lawn was incredibly powerful. My gratitude to these trailblazing leaders is bottomless. Getting to share the experience with Josh was incredibly special. He and his brothers spent a lot of time during Illinois’ run-up to the passage of marriage equality hearing in the media and often directly that their family wasn’t real and we weren’t worthy of protection, so it felt right that the now grown-up little boy who used to comfort and reassure his little brothers get to witness the President of the United States emphatically declare that love makes a family.

This week also brought two hearings in the House Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee on the work of the House Gun Violence Working Group led by my colleague Rep. Bob Morgan. We heard from many gun violence survivors from all over the state, activists for sensible gun policy, and opponents who feel that a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would infringe on their rights. I didn’t need to hear from multiple people who have either been shot by one of these weapons or who had to identify the mutilated bodies of loved ones who were to be convinced that weapons of war have no place in our communities, but their powerful testimony certainly hit home. There is a third committee scheduled on Tuesday the 20th at 10 am that will be live-streamed via the General Assembly website at www.ilga.gov.

On a happy yet sad note, Friday was the last in-person day for Taylor Ortiz, our Constituent Advocate. While we are truly sad to see her go, we are incredibly excited for her new adventure as a Staff Assistant with Congressman Mike Quigley where she’ll start after the first of the year.

As we move into the holiday with COVID cases and other illnesses surging, we are moving to a fully remote schedule until the first of the year. During this period, we will reach out to you as we keep our usual office hours M-F 9-5. If there is an urgent need for an in-person meeting, we will do our best to accommodate you safely. This week, we will be closed Friday the 23rd and will reopen on Tuesday the 27th to allow our team to recharge.

Representative Bob Morgan, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, and Highland Park City Manager Ghida Neukirch testify about their experience on July 4th and the aftermath of the shooting.

Some shots from a truly magical day.

Here’s a shot with Taylor earlier this year as we protested the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs. This isn’t goodbye, but we all wish Taylor the best of luck in her new adventures and thank her for her dedication to our constituents.

Neighborhood Shoutouts

Gale Community Academy Coat Closet

Our office has been collecting winter gear for Gale Community Academy Care Closet. A resource for students who need winter clothing, hygiene products and formal wear. Please make sure to launder items before dropping them off to the Care Closet at 7650 N Marshfield Ave. Annex Door from Mon-Thurs 10a-4:30p.

Porkchop Opens in Edgewater

Porkchop is a restaurant and bar that dishes out an urban interpretation of a Southern backwoods experience. It is an unapologetically unpretentious neighborhood party spot serving gourmet Southern comfort food and BBQ and featuring an innovative bar program with some of the world's top whiskeys.

Pit-to-plate smoked meats, seafood, and veggie options are offered with a full cocktail bar, specializing in over 70+ whiskies. Come support this business, and learn more here!

In the District

Recycle Old Holiday Lights at the 48th Ward Office

Holiday Pop-Up at Mission Control

Mission Control Arcade Bar, located at 1408 W. Morse, is hosting Holiday Pop-Up events this month. Sop by to shop through a unique selection from local artists and makers. Also enjoy a variety of arcade games and drinks while you shop.

Winter Bryn Mawrkets

Get to See Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Holiday Market at RP Social

Drives in the District

The 50th Ward office is accepting new, unopened Christmas gifts during normal business hours throughout the holiday season.

All Christmas toys will be donated to Chicagoland Toys For Tots to be distributed to less fortunate children. Please drop off Christmas gifts by December 21. For more information, visit chicagolandtft.org.

The office also participated in a Chanukah toy drive. The deadline has since passed. However, to learn more about their partner organization the Chicago Chesed Fund who worked to distribute the gifts to Jewish families in need, you can visit www.chicagochesedfund.org.

COVID-19 Updates

December 16th Update

Friday, December 16th Update:

Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 IL residents: 183
Daily new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 IL residents: 26.2
Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by IL COVID-19 patients: 7.3%
Statewide Totals: 3,930,135 confirmed cases and 35,632 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

Resources

City Warming Centers

Chicago Rental Assistance Program

The Chicago Department of Family Support Services is currently offering rental assistance through their Rental Assistance Program (RAP) for Chicagoans who are at risk of becoming homeless due to loss of income or other eligible emergency which prevents them from paying rent.

For more information and how to apply, visit http://chicago.gov/fss/RAP. You can also visit the DFSS North Area Community Center, 845 W Wilson Ave, open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, to file your application in person.

Emergency Heating Repair Program

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open to new applicants. This program provides grants for income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or replace their furnace or boiler heating system. Limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is available to Chicagoans who own and occupy one-to-four unit residential buildings. Households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible to participate in the program.

Enrollment will be accepted until April 1, 2023, or until all funds have been exhausted. For more information and how to apply, visit www.chicago.gov/ehrp or call 312-744-3653 to speak with a customer service representative.

Black-Owned Restaurants Grant Opportunity

The U.S. Black Chambers and Grubhub have partnered to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants through the Grubhub Community Fund. The USBC Restaurant Grant program helps restaurants receive funding to seize business opportunities and address current challenges. This program offers over $500,000 in grants to Black-owned restaurants and culinary-based businesses in select cities, including Chicago.

For more information and to apply, visit https://usblackchambers.org/grubhub.

BLM Organizes Student Relief Fund

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation launched a new relief fund Monday aimed at Black college students, alumni, and those who have dropped out of college programs who are overburdened by mounting education costs and the student loan debt crisis.

The foundation said it set aside $500,000 for the fund and plans to award more than 500 recipients with relief payments ranging from $750 to $4,500. A public application process opened on Monday, and recipients will receive their money as early as January if selected, so apply now.

For more information, you can read this article. The relief fund's public application can be found here.

Northwestern Patient-Centered Hearing Trial

The Patient-Centered Hearing Trial at Northwestern University is recruiting participants now. Hearing loss is very common among American adults. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to many other health conditions, including cognitive decline. To improve access to hearing healthcare, the FDA has approved over-the-counter hearing aids. Northwestern's study is a national trial to understand how individuals can best select and fit their own hearing aids, purchased at a highly discounted rate of $650.

Northwestern is looking to recruit individuals between 50 and 79 years old who have not tried hearing aids before but are experiencing mild to moderate hearing difficulty. For more information about the study, including federal funding, IRB approval, and the impacts of hearing loss, visit https://p-chat.soc.northwestern.edu.

To view its study in the National Clinical Trials Registry, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

Chinese Mutual Aid Association Computer Class Info Session