Posted on January 8, 2022January 8, 2022 by 33rd Ward Staff

This has been an extremely difficult first week of 2022 for our Chicago Public Schools families and staff. As the mom of an elementary student at one of our neighborhood schools, I share in the frustration and anxiety of this moment.

As of Friday evening, the district has not announced whether or not classes will again be canceled citywide on Monday. The Chicago Teachers Union is continuing to negotiate with the school district over Covid-19 safety protocols, including more robust testing to detect asymptomatic infections among students and staff.

At present, fewer than 10 percent of Chicago Public Schools students have opted into the district’s existing testing program and less than a quarter of students under age 12 are fully vaccinated. During the first two days of in-person classes this week, we heard from teachers whose classes had already had a Covid exposure, or who struggled to safely staff classes with multiple colleagues already in isolation after testing positive.

We need to do better. Large school districts including Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles are taking steps to test all students before they return to classes and to implement ongoing screening. Alongside my City Council colleagues, I will continue to push the school district for a comprehensive testing and vaccination plan so that we can safely reopen our schools as soon as possible.

If you’re the parent or guardian of a Chicago Public Schools student, you can opt in to Covid-19 screening here.

Meanwhile, as we deal with cold temps and icy streets, I want to remind residents that you can submit a snow and ice removal request to 311 if your street needs salt. If you’ve submitted a snow and ice removal request that hasn’t been fulfilled, please let our office know so that we can follow up and keep our streets safe for drivers and pedestrians.

In This Week’s Newsletter

Indoor vaccination requirements
Shared cost sidewalk program opening soon
Rental assistance programs closing soon
Saturday 10AM – 3PM: blood drive at Christ Lutheran
Holiday tree recycling
Calling 33rd Ward seniors – introducing the Sage Brigade!
33rd Ward holiday pop-up shops
Protect yourself from energy scams
Winter weather tips and assistance

Resources for residents

Quick Links

Request services	33rd Ward Calendar
ChiStreetWork construction portal	Senior Services

Review Zoning Proposals	Resources for Renters

Chicago Indoor Vaccine Requirements

This week, the new vaccine requirement for certain indoor spaces went into effect. Any individual 5 years of age or older is required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to dine indoors, visit gyms, or enjoy entertainment venues where food or drink are being served. Learn more about the Chicago Vaccine Requirement here.

This new requirement is in response to an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, driven in part by the Omicron variant, and is similar to requirements already in place in other large cities, including New York City and Los Angeles. In addition to proof of vaccination, patrons 16 and older must show a valid ID that matches the vaccination record. Businesses seeking more information and guidance should go to Chicago.gov/reopening.

Get vaccinated: Booster doses for everyone 16 years and older are now available at all CDPH clinics and even at home! Getting boosted helps keep you and your family protected from the virus. Make a plan for your family at chi.gov/covidvax. Some easy, nearby options for all 33rd Ward residents age 5 and up to get vaccinated include: Theodore Roosevelt High School
3436 W Wilson Ave
Mondays-Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Anyone 5+ Pfizer
Also 18+ Johnson & Johnson
Walk-ins welcome, appointments can be made online. Click this link to IDPH registration
Additional information available on the CPS COVID vaccination page.

Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please note: The Vaccine Clinic has moved to the Professional Plaza,2740 W. Foster Ave. Suite 108 (building directly across from our Emergency Department).www.swedishcovenant.org/covid/covid-19-vaccine Get tested: Anyone, including people who are fully vaccinated, should consider getting tested before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household. Find testing locations here.

Shared Cost Sidewalk Program

The 2022 Shared Cost Sidewalk Program will be opening for applications on January 10th from 6AM – 10 PM. Applications are taken on a first-come first-served basis.

Learn more about the program here.

Applications will be accepted through 311 by either calling 311 or visiting https://311.chicago.gov. You may also call our office at 773-840-7880 if you would like help submitting your application.

Apply for Rental Assistance

There are currently two open programs to receive assistance if you or your tenants are behind on rent due to COVID-19.

If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of homelessness due to missed payment of rental costs due to unforeseen crises, they may be eligible for the Department of Family and Support Services Rental Assistance Program. The deadline to apply has been extended through January 31, 2022. Learn more and apply here or call the North Area Community Service Center, 845 W. Wilson, at 312- 744-2580.

Applications for the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s (IHDA) Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) closes Sunday, January 9, 2022. If your household or your tenant has experienced hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for rental assistance. Grant amounts will vary and will be matched to the tenant’s specific needs.

Saturday, Jan. 8: Community Blood Drive

Tomorrow, Christ Lutheran Church will be hosting a blood drive 10am-3pm at 4541 N Spaulding. There is currently an acute need for blood donations. To donate please register by calling (800) 7TO-GIVE or (800) 786-4483. You can also by visiting https://donate.illinois.versiti.org/…/drive…/5595437. Walk ins will also be accepted!

Calling All Seniors – Introducing the Sage Brigade

The newly formed 33rd Ward Sage Brigade, made up of senior citizens in our community, is looking to provide information and resources that would be helpful to fellow seniors.

They plan to share details on how to get a reduced fare CTA pass, help with lower utility bills, access to meals, tax filing assistance and more.

Could you or someone you know benefit from this information, or would you like to connect with other seniors in the community?

Fill out this form with your contact information. Also let us know if you’re interested in volunteering!

Chicago Holiday Tree Recycling

Getting rid of your Christmas tree? Starting Saturday, you can bring your live tree to be recycled at one of 26 city sites listed below, including North Park Nature Village at 5801 N Pulaski. Trees can be dropped off anytime during normal business hours. Your recycled tree will be turned into mulch, which people can pick up for free on a first-come first-served basis at six of the recycling sites starting Jan. 12. Before dropping off a tree for recycling, make sure to remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, stand and bags if one was used for transport. Garlands, wreaths and trees with flocking will not be accepted.

33rd Ward Holiday Pop-Ups

Even though the holidays are over, these special pop-up shops are continuing through January! Check them out and support local businesses and artists.

Urban Market (4730 N. Kimball Ave) Hours: Thurs-Fri 4p-9p, Sat 11a-6p, Sun 11a-5p, and Mon-Wed by appointment only Bonus: Workshops for children will be offered starting next Thursday (12/9) evening – stay tuned for more dates!

Fine Arts & Goods (4747 N Sawyer) Hours: Fridays 2pm-7pm, Saturdays 11am-6pm, and Sundays 12pm-5pm & by appointment Open through December 23rd Special Holiday Train Hours: Wednesday 12/1: 3pm-6pm; Thursday 12/2: 3:45pm-6:45pm; Friday 12/3: 3pm-6pm, and Saturday 12/4: 12:45pm-5pm

After School Special: Tuesday 12/7 1:30-7p (% of sales will be donated to local schools) Pop Art + Modern Design (4637 N Kedzie Ave) Hours: Fridays 3pm-7pm, Saturdays 11am-6pm, and Sundays 12pm-5pm

Protect Yourself from Energy Scams

Our office has had reports this month of individuals posing as ComEd technicians going door-to-door and soliciting personal information from residents.

Please be aware of the below tips from ComEd and alert our office if you and your neighbors experience this.

ComEd will never call or come to your home or business to:

Sell you electricity
Ask for your account number
Ask you to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or third-party electronic banking app such as Cash App, Zelle, QuickPay or Venmo
Ask for your personal information such as Social Security number, Tax ID, or bank information

Please be aware of potential email and web scams:

Carefully review messages originating from outside your organization’s network
Check the name of the sender and business in the email and make sure it matches the name and business in the email address. Look for misspellings and zeros in place of the letter O.
Do you recognize the sender? Don’t hesitate to make a phone call to verify a message is being sent from a trusted source. Use a phone number from your own records or the company’s official website and not the number provided in the email.
Confirm the contents of the email look legitimate especially when a request can have financial impacts, such as transferring money
Hover over website links before clicking to confirm legitimacy of the site

If at any time you are uncomfortable, or you feel you are experiencing suspicious behavior, call ComEd immediately at 800-EDISON1.

Winter Weather Preparations

It’s getting colder outside! See below for tips about staying warm this winter and keeping heating bills lower.

Higher Gas Bills Anticipated This Winter As we head into winter, Peoples Gas is informing customers that their heating bills will likely rise as the temperatures fall due the price of natural gas, which has more than doubled this year. The increase is due mainly to tight supplies and a worldwide increase in demand for natural gas. An analysis done by Peoples Gas predicts the typical residential customer will pay $60 more a month this winter compared to last winter.

In order to help customers in the greatest need, bill payment assistance is available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Share the Warmth program. To see if they are eligible and apply, Peoples Gas customers can call the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) at 800-571-2332, or go to cedarorg.net. Peoples Gas will also work with any customer to arrange a payment plan that best fits their needs, and to set up Budget Billing that keeps bills stable from month to month. Customers can call Peoples Gas or go to peoplesgasdelivery.com to discuss options.

Customers can take steps to manage their energy use by turning down their thermostats, using programmable thermostats, sealing gaps around windows and doors, and scheduling an annual furnace tuneup. Peoples Gas also offers free energy efficiency consultations. For more low and no cost energy-saving tips, go to peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings. Residents who purchase an Energy Star smart thermostat through December 31, 2021 can receive a $100 rebate from ComEd. For more information on receiving this rebate, go to the ComEd Smart Thermostat Rebates page. Click here to read more about your rights as a utility customer and ways to save on heating costs this winter courtesy of the Citizens Utility Board.

Chicago Residential Heat Ordinance Chicago’s Heat Ordinance requires that buildings keep residential units at or above 66 degrees overnight (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 68 degrees during the day (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Violations of the heat ordinance are taken very seriously. Please call 311 to file a complaint and arrange for an inspector to investigate.

City Warming Centers When temperatures are at 32 degrees or below – warming areas are available at the City’s six community service centers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. City-operated libraries and park facilities also may activate warming areas, if needed, including during evening hours, weekends and holidays. View locations and more information here.

Emergency Heating Repair Program The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) Emergency Heating Repair Program provides a grant up to $24,999 to low-moderate income, owner-occupied residential building of one to four (1-4) units. Interested homeowners can download an application package through April 1, 2022 at www.chicago.gov/ehrp. Funding is limited and available on a first-come-first-service basis. Homeowners can call the Department of Housing’s customer service line at 312.744.3653 for more information.

Resources for Residents

Eviction Support for Tenants

The eviction moratorium entered by Governor Pritzker is scheduled to end this Sunday, Oct. 3rd. The City of Chicago Department of Housing is working to support Chicagoans who will no longer be protected by the moratorium. Even though the eviction moratorium is coming to a close, there is help, both legal and financial, to keep residents in their homes.

Here are some key things to remember when facing an eviction.

Don’t self-evict. A notice of eviction from your landlord does not mean you need to leave your home right away. Only the Sheriff can legally remove you from your home.
Get legal help. Free legal assistance is available to Chicago renters. Go to www.Rentervention.com , which is provided by the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, a Department of Housing delegate agency.
Get financial help. The Department of Housing maintains a current list of places residents can apply for emergency rental assistance at Chicago.gov/RentHelp.

You can find more details on renters’ rights and other resources at Chicago.gov/Eviction.

Free Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic