Posted on October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 by 33rd Ward Staff

I spent much of this week in hearings for the city’s 2022 budget. During hearings, City Council members have the opportunity to direct questions and concerns to the heads of each city department about the budget proposed by Mayor Lightfoot. It’s a key part of our role as an independent legislative body.

This week, commissioners from the Departments of Family and Support Services, Human Resources and Public Health (among others) discussed topics ranging from expanding supports for people experiencing homelessness to filling city vacancies faster to improving mental-health-related programs.

Next week will be a critical one: We’ll be hearing from the Chicago Police Department, the Office of Public Safety Administration, the Department of Housing and other key agencies. As a reminder, you can view hearings (and the recordings) on the City Clerks’ site: www.chicityclerk.com and view all of the 2022 budget documents on the city’s website here. A public hearing on the full budget is scheduled for our City Council meeting at 10AM on Thursday, October 14. I’ll be keeping you updated on these discussions.

P.S. Don’t forget to join us this Saturday for a free milkweed seed giveaway and planting lesson at the First Nations Garden (Pulaski and Wilson) at 2pm or 3pm. Residents can also enter a raffle for a free rain barrel at our event, RSVP here: https://fb.me/e/1OfX68DEm.

In This Week’s Newsletter

Community safety updates
Infrastructure and construction
Housing info + resources
Oct. 2: Milkweed giveaway at First Nations Garden
Oct. 9: Community blood drive
Oct. 12: Community zoning meeting for Addison/ California

Oct. 15: Free flu shot clinic
Oct. 21: Drive-through fundraiser for Von Linne
More resources for residents
Community bulletin board – click here for more events, job listings, and resources!

Quick Links

Request services	33rd Ward Calendar
ChiStreetWork construction portal	Senior Services

Review Zoning Proposals	Resources for Renters

Community Safety Updates

Watch this Week’s Public Safety Town Hall

I want to thank all the neighbors who attended this week’s virtual town hall on public safety. We had more than 300 people participate and engage in a productive discussion about how we can work together to build safe, healthy neighborhoods in an extraordinarily difficult moment.

If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here.

I also want to thank our speakers, including Inspector General Joe Ferguson and Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety Deborah Witzburg, Area 5 Deputy Chief Roberto Nieves and 17th District Commander Ronald Pontecore.

Our speakers from CPD asked for residents’ participation in reporting information they may have about shootings or other violent crimes in our area. You can contact the Area 5 Violent Crimes detectives at 312-746-6614, or the 17th district CAPS office at 312-742-4588 or CAPS.017District@chicagopolice.org.

You can also contact the 14th police district at CAPS.014District@chicagopolice.org or 312-744-8290, and the 19th at CAPS019District@chicagopolice.org or 312-744-8320. You can check which police district covers your home or workplace here.

All of our speakers at Wednesday’s meeting, including CPD, also stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach to building safer neighborhoods. I’ll be continuing to advocate in City Council for resources for violence prevention and interruption, as well as programs that address the root causes of violence.

Neighbors who want to play a proactive role in violence prevention and community engagement can also get involved in our ward’s Transforming Community Safety working group. E-mail communitiesofcare@gmail.com for more info on upcoming meetings and events.

Thank you again for your engagement in this critical issue. I look forward to continuing the discussion and our work together.

Police District Strategic Planning

The police districts covering our ward are hosting public conversations about their 2022 strategic plans. You can check which police district covers your home or workplace here.

17th District Join the 17th Police District virtually on Wednesday, Oct 6, 2021 at 6pm. for public input on the draft of the 2022 Strategic Plan. You must register in advance for this meeting: 17th Police District Community Conversation.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

14th District Join the 14th District for a virtual community meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 6pm – 8pm. Register now through EventBrite here. Zoom meeting ID: 898-6544-6978 / Passcode: 658885. Call: 312-626-6799, if you are unable to join virtually. For more information contact the 14th District Community Policing Office by phone:312-744-1261 or by email: caps.014district@chicagopolice.org

19th District The 19th District will hold a two-part virtual community conversation starting Monday, Oct. 25 from 6pm – 8pm. Info below.

Community Zoning Meeting for Proposed Development at California and Addison

In the 33rd Ward, we follow a community-driven zoning and development (CDZD) process that developers must go through whenever they seek a zoning change from our office. The goal is to give residents power over development decisions that impact their everyday lives. When developers file paperwork to pursue projects in our ward, they have the right to a City Hearing, but we make it clear that they must go through our community process and engage directly with the neighbors who would be impacted.

As many of you know, the developer Lexington Homes has proposed a six-story, 269-unit apartment building and 88 riverfront townhomes 3601–3737 N. California Ave.; 2722–2758 W. Addison St. More than 300 neighbors have already sent their feedback during our first round of outreach, and we are now ready to hold a public meeting with the developer. The Public Community Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6pm. We will also be conducting outreach through physical notices and flyering near the site and surrounding areas.

In order to maintain health protocols under COVID, the 33rd Ward Office will be hosting the meeting with the developer and with community members over Zoom and not in person. In order to facilitate transparency and participation, we are collecting submissions for questions ahead of the meeting on October 12th.

Submit a question

Review the developer’s proposal

You can also call in by dialing +1 312 626 6799 and entering the Webinar ID: 871 7350 4175.

If you have any further questions please contact vicko@33rdward.org or leanna@33rdward.org.

Infrastructure and Construction

Summer is construction season, and we know residents want to be able to plan ahead for street closures and parking disruptions. As a periodic reminder, we keep a map of the ward updated with all the information we’ve received to date from city agencies, utility companies, and other project managers. You can check out the construction map here.

You can also use the city’s ChiStreetWork portal, where you can search by address.

Street Closure at Sacramento There will be a full street closure on Sacramento Ave for People’s Gas work as they make their last connections to their mains. Here’s what you need to know: The closures will be on Sacramento, north AND south of Irving Park until the alley. Irving Park will NOT close. There will be no Parking or thru traffic on these sections of Sacramento during work hours (8AM-3PM) The alley will be accessible, therefore, neighbors should expect to see increased traffic in surrounding alleys during work hours. The streets will reopen to traffic daily after work hours (approx. 3PM) If you are planning your visit to our office, there is meter parking along Irving Park except at the bus stop outside our door.

Sewer Cleaning on N Troy from Addison to Eddy

This rehabilitation work includes cleaning the sewers and the installation of CIPP (Cure in place pipe). The installation of CIPP consists of lining the existing sewers and generally does not require excavation except when repairs are required prior to lining of the sewer main, catch basin lateral connections, catch basin structures or manhole structures.

The work is scheduled to be completed by February, 2022. It is performed in staggered stages, therefore crews will not be on-site every day for the extended period described. As they begin lining the main sewers, residents will be provided with a letter/flyers with notification of the work for each project location. No parking signs will be posted in the immediate area a workday prior to the start of any scheduled work. It will be necessary to close some lanes, but the streets will remain open to traffic.

Lead Service Line Replacement Program

The Department of Water Management has started Phase 1 of the lead service line replacement program and has provided the following information on two programs for qualifying homeowners who want to replace their lead service lines. If you are interested in participating, please visit www.LeadSafeChicago.org for more information:

Homeowner-Initiated. The City will waive up to $3,100 in permit fees for any resident homeowner who wishes to replace their lead service line. The fee waiver will not be available if the request is made in conjunction with a structural renovation.
Equity Program. To offer assistance to those most in need of lead service line replacement, residents whose water persistently tests over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Action Level of 15 parts per billion of lead and have a household income below 80% of the area median income, may qualify for a free lead service line replacement. For the Equity LSLR Program, residences must be owner-occupied and either a single-family or two-flat home.

If you have not yet had your water tested using the free lead testing kits that are provided by the city, please contact my office at 773-887-3772 or 311 to request a free water test kit.Street Resurfacing

West Irving Park Road from North Ravenswood Avenue to North Kolmar Avenue.

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, bus pad construction, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed November 30, 2021.North Sacramento Avenue from North Elston Avenue to North Milwaukee Avenue

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pedestrian refuge island, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

Housing Info & Resources

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.

Apply for Rental Assistance

On Sept. 7th, All Chicago opened an online application for rental assistance under the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) through the Illinois Department of Human Services. For more info and to apply visit http://rentrelief.com/allchicago/.

For tenants/landlords who need help with the application, All Chicago has partnered with Catholic Charities, Heartland Human Care Services, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, Phalanx Family Services, and Spanish Coalition for Housing to provide assistance. Eligible households can apply online, by calling 311 or 312-744-5000 and asking for short-term assistance, or by contacting one of the partners listed above.

Chicago Families Forward Fund for Students in Temporary Living Situations

Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS) may qualify for a new program called The Chicago Families Forward Fund. Temporary living situations refer to a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including students/families who are doubled-up or couch surfing due to loss of housing or economic hardship, or staying in an emergency or transitional shelter.The Chicago Families Forward Fund

WHAT: Eligible students can receive a $500 check to help with back-to-school and everyday household expenses.
WHY: These funds are intended to remove barriers to the start of school and student learning during this phase of COVID-19 recovery.
HOW: This program is funded by the City of Chicago through federal stimulus dollars from the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
To receive this funding, please fill out this short program enrollment form by Friday, October 1, 2021. Paper copies are also available upon request and can be picked up at your student’s school.

After the form has been submitted, the City and CPS will notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) when funds may be picked up from the main office at their child’s school.

Tax Delinquency Sale Nov. 5

The Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office will be conducting a delinquent property tax sale on November 5th.

Delinquent taxes that are sold put a lien against the property – the first step in a process that can end with loss of the property. It’s possible that owners may be unaware their properties are headed to the tax sale because the U.S. Postal Service has returned bills and subsequent notices on 17,702 properties.

To avoid the tax sale, property owners can do a Delinquent Property Tax Search here to see if their taxes are delinquent. You can search by Property Index Number (PIN) or Search by Property Address.

Mortgage Assistance Program – Applications Ongoing

The Mortgage Assistance Program, provides assistance to low-to-moderate-income homeowners who have suffered an economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are having difficulty paying their mortgage.

The maximum amount of assistance available is $3,300. Grant amounts awarded will be based on the amount needed to bring your mortgage current.

Please note: Eligible homeowners will have the assistance paid directly to their mortgage servicer. If you received assistance in 2020 you are not eligible for this round of funds.

To be eligible you must:

Be a resident of the City of Chicago
Live in the home (single-family up to 4 units) for which you are applying for assistance. It must be your primary place of residence.
Demonstrate your total household income was 120% or below the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to March 1, 2020. (Click to see table)
Have a mortgage on your home that was current as of March 1, 2020, and is now delinquent. You may be on a forbearance plan.
Have experienced a change in your financial status after March 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis

If you need assistance applying for mortgage assistance, you can also contact Neighborhood Housing Servicesat 800-831-7949 or email EmergencyAssistance@nhschicago.org.

Business & Development Updates

Oct. 2: Milkweed Giveaway at First Nations Garden

Help save our monarch butterflies by planting Milkweed! Milkweed is one of our native plant species in Illinois and the only plant species able to host Monarch butterflies.

Join us, 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Josina Morita for FREE milkweed seeds, soil, and a tutorial on how to maintain your plant at the First Nations Community Garden (corner of Wilson and Pulaski) on Saturday, October 2nd from 2 pm – 3:30 pm. RSVP here on Facebook.

Oct. 9: Community Blood Drive

Our community partners at Christ Lutheran Church will host another blood drive from 10AM – 3PM on Sat., Oct. 9 at 4541 N Spaulding.

Oct. 15: 33rd Ward Flu Shot Clinic

With new Covid cases still high, it’s so important to get your flu shot this year. Join our office and the Chicago Department of Public Health for a free flu shot event Friday, Oct. 15 from 11am – 3pm at Roosevelt High School, 3436 W Wilson.