This week, I introduced three pieces of legislation that I worked very hard on the during the last few months: 

❤️ 1. Ordinance: The Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City Ordinance
The Bodily Autonomy Sanctuary City ordinance seeks to ensure that people who come to our city seeking or providing reproductive or gender affirming care or looking for refuge after receiving care elsewhere are as protected as possible from being criminalized. We are working with our colleagues at every level of government and with community and advocacy organizations like Chicago Abortion Fund, Planned Parenthood IL, Equality IL and so many others to ensure that our city is a safe haven for all people trying to exercise their right to control their own lives and their bodies 

💰 2. Ordinance: Amendment of Year 2022 Annual Appropriation Ordinance within Department of Public Health for Chicago Abortion Clinic Defense Fund
This ordinance will allocate $1 million in 2023  to establish the Chicago Abortion Clinic Defense Fund. This fund will: support direct services for reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological care, fund transportation, lodging, and follow up services, support grants for clinic escorts, and establish a legal defense fund to assist clinic staff or clients that are targeted with legal action. 

I’m grateful to my chief-co-sponsors on these measures: Ald. Carlos Ramírez Rosa, Ald. Matt Martin and Ald. Maria Hadden for working with with me and all the advocacy groups who helped us think through the first steps to create meaningful and comprehensive legislation to protect bodily autonomy in our city. 

Thanks to ACLU IL, Planned Parenthood IL, EqualityILL, Chicago Abortion Fund, Illinois Nurses Association, MidwestAccess and others. I am looking forward to shaping this legislation with these groups, my colleagues in the council and at the state level! 

🧠 3. Council Order: Calling on Chicago Department of Public Health to seek grants and funding to establish non-police mental health crisis response program
Lastly, I introduced a council order to instruct the Chicago Department of Public Health to apply for state and federal grants to assist in the creation of a non-police mental health crisis response model. The details of the model are outlined here. Thank you to my partners in the movement at the Collaborative for Community Wellness for their relentless work to make #TreatmentNotTrauma a reality in our city.

Lastly, I am so grateful for all of the people who spend their time and energy helping us to fight for the structures of care and support we desperately need!

In This Week’s Newsletter

Quick Links 

*Want more information on community opportunities and job postings? Check out our Community Bulletin!

*Block party applications are open! Read more under “Form” on the Neighborhood Services page, and apply here! 

33rd Ward Infrastructure Info Session, July 28th

*Want to submit questions? Fill out this form!
*Check our Facebook for streaming on July 28th

CPS Vaccination Clinics NOW OPEN

CPS vaccination clinics Chicago Public Schools has resumed COVID-19 vaccination clinics!  Many clinics have the vaccine approved for children aged 6 months+. Clinics will also be available at all Back to School Bashes.  

Book your child’s spot on line: http://cps.edu/vaccine.  

Neighborhood Events

1. Clean and Green, TOMORROW, July 23rd

*Volunteers will get FREE at-home COVID-19 tests.

2. Communities United CityKey ID Event, July 25th

3. Albany Park Lot Jams Concerts, Present-Oct 8th


4.  Red Cross Blood Drive, August 3rd

5. Dog Days of Summer Fundraiser for Horner Park Dog Park, August 4th 

6. Back to School Drive with Israel’s Gifts of Hope, August 6th

Youth Opportunities

1. Bateman Before and After School Care Registration is OPEN! 

Disability Pride Month: Join the CTA’s Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee

As a member of the Committee, you will be able to provide feedback and offer suggestions for disability accessibility regarding CTA’s mainline transit services.

-Download the application
-Download the application, text-only version
Applications are due no later than 5pm on Monday, August 1, 2022

Statement on City Council Speed Camera Vote 

Please read Alderwoman Rossana’s statement (in English and Spanish) on City Council’s decision to reject raising the minimum threshold to trigger citations at speed cameras. The rejected “ordinance would have required motorists to be observed exceeding the speed limit by 10 or more miles per hour before receiving a camera citation, rather than the 6-mph.”

From the statement: 

Business Spotlight: KBM Grill

KBM Grill opened this week! The owners are long-term Albany park residents and we are very excited to welcome their business into the neighborhood. Stop by soon at 4702 N Kimball Ave and check out their menu! 

Housing Support

1. Homebuyer 101 Workshop (English) July 25th, (Español) 28 de Julio 

Covid-19 Resources

1. Children as young as 6 months can now get a COVID-19 vaccine!

Upcoming family vaccination clinics at City Colleges of Chicago, 9am-2pm
*Reservations recommended but walk-ins accepted
*For ages 6mos-4 years old

• Saturday, July 23 – Kennedy-King College
• Saturday, July 30 – Richard J. Daley
  College and Wilbur Wright College

2. You are now eligible for 8 MORE free at-home COVID rapid tests!

Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for 8 free at-home tests on USPS.com.  

3. At-Home Vaccinations: Get your whole family vaccinated at home! CDPH is offering vaccination appointments at home for up to 10 family members. Click here to set up your appointment!

4. Vaccinations

CPS Students: 

– Permanent sites
– Mobile Events
– School-Based Health Centers
–  Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS

33rd Ward Vaccination Events

1. Theodore Roosevelt High School

2. Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome

* More information on City testing sites here!

Community Safety Updates

1. 17th District CAPS Meetings

The 17th District has resumed beat meetings in-person. 

Information about Beat Meetings here.

Please contact the 17th District Community Policing Office / CAPS, if there are any questions or concerns.

Email: caps.017district@chicagopolice.org

Telephone: 312-742-4588