School is just around the corner, so if you’re a parent or guardian of children age 12 or older, please make sure to get them vaccinated for Covid-19! There’s now another great option right here in the 33rd Ward: Roosevelt High School at 3436 W Wilson Ave has a walk-up vaccine clinic on Wednesdays from 9AM – 1PM, no appointment, ID, or insurance required.
New Covid infections are on rise again, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant. Statewide, hospitalizations from Covid have quadrupled in the past month. It’s important that we begin to practice more caution again. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends that everyone over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings. Masking remains optional in outdoor settings, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower. Cook County continues to have “substantial” community spread of Covid-19, so if you’ve been to large gatherings of festivals (like Lollapalooza), or have traveled to high risk areas (check the map here), please consider getting tested.
Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. As always, if you need help getting more information on where to get tested or vaccinated you can call us at 773-840-7880 or email us at info@33rdward.org
P.S. Don’t forget to join us tonight at another pop-up Albany Park Urban Market! Food, clothing, music, free zumba and more until 9PM.
In This Week’s Newsletter
- Last call! Submit your participatory budgeting ideas by Aug. 8!
- Resources for tenants & homeowners – federal eviction moratorium extended
- Small business highlights
- Construction updates
- Call for volunteers – Avondale neighborhood plan
- Aug. 7: North Branch Works bike ride
- Aug. 12: Rezoning meeting for 4500 N Spaulding
- Aug. 12: Milkweed & Monarch workshop
- Aug. 26: Flavors of Albany Park. Tickets now on sale!
- Aug. 31: Back to school resource fair
- Local School Council opening at Edison
- Summer markets & concerts in the 33rd Ward
- Community bulletin board – click here for more events, job listings, and resources!
Quick Links
Submit Your Infrastructure Ideas by Sunday
We’re still taking your ideas for participatory budgeting projects!
In 2019, we began using participatory budgeting in the 33rd Ward to allow neighbors to propose and decide democratically how they want to spend the $1 million in infrastructure funding allocated to our ward annually. We are one of nine wards citywide that uses this process, which allows any resident of the ward 14 or older to vote.
In the past two cycles, neighbors have come up with some truly creative ideas for projects to enhance the safety, beauty, and functionality of our ward for all of us. We can’t wait to hear your ideas this year! Read on for more details about how to submit them this month.
The Participatory Budgeting committee designs and executes a democratic process where neighbors help determine how $1 million are spent on repairs and upgrades in our Ward’s streets, alleys, parks, gardens, and more!
Our PB committee will be collecting ideas through August 8! Learn more and submit your ideas at http://33rdward.org/participatory-budgeting/.
Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended
Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended
This week, the Biden administration announced that it would extend the federal eviction moratorium for another two months in areas with substantial or high transmission of Covid-19. That currently includes all of Cook County and the city of Chicago.
This move came after an incredible showing of people power led by U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, who has herself experienced eviction three times. After Congress left for vacation without doing anything to address a looming eviction crisis, Cori and dozens of others spent three nights on the steps of the Capitol to demand action.
If you have been served an eviction notice by your landlord or fear that you may, you can use a tool developed by the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Better Housing and Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO): https://rentervention.com/. This tool creates an Illinois Moratorium Declaration to protect you and your household from eviction for nonpayment of rent. You can also visit EvictionHelpIllinois.org, or call (855) 631-0811 for free legal aid, landlord-tenant mediation services, and connections to rental assistance programs.
If you know that multiple tenants in your apartment building are at risk of eviction and you are interested in creating a tenants’ union to collectively negotiate with your landlord, you can contact the Autonomous Tenants Union at 773-657-8700 or housing.atu@gmail.com.
Dealing with an old eviction on your record that makes it difficult to find new housing? A new Illinois law makes sealing old eviction records less difficult for tens of thousands of tenants statewide. You can use the website https://rentervention.com/ to help with this process.
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.
Small Business Highlights
After a short hiatus, we’re bringing you more small-business shout-outs this week!
Q stop has been a staple in the community for the last 30 years. They have it all – a wide selection of wines, craft beer, and spirits from Mezcal to Sake to rums.
Walking by Markello’s Bakery and catching the smell of fresh baked bread is a magical experience. Visit them for the extensive selection of bread, pastries or order your next birthday cake from them.
Manuel awaits you at the Saborcito Ecuatoriano to delight you with traditional Ecuadorian food. Try the catfish and for dessert, figs with cheese, rice pudding or empanadas. They are also available for catering!
Construction Updates
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.
ComEd Conduit Installations
ComEd notified us this week of two conduit installation projects in the coming months.
The first, at the intersection of W Irving Park Rd and N Whipple St. will install conduits via open cut trench beginning in the alley N of W Irving Park Rd beginning at N Whipple St and heading West and will travel West along the alley. All cuts will be restored upon completion. ComEd is projecting this work will be completed Q3 2021.
At W Irving Park Rd and N Kimball Ave, 93LF of 2-5” Conduits will be installed via open cut trench in the alley North of the W Irving Park Rd and N Kimball Ave intersection and will begin at N Kimball Ave and head East. All cuts will be restored upon completion. ComEd is projecting this work to commence in Q4 2021.
Help Create the Avondale Neighborhood Plan
Avondale Neighborhood Association is looking for a diverse group of community stakeholders to serve on their CMAP steering committee to create an Avondale Community Plan!
The Project will be completed over 24 months and it is crucial the same team is available over this time frame for the success of our Neighborhood Plan.
Interested in learning more? Complete this survey.
Aug. 7: North Branch Works Bike Ride
Join North River Commission and North Branch Works for a leisurely bike ride on Saturday, August 7th from 10 a.m. to noon. $20, suggested donation.
The ride includes tours of the Morton Salt project and the Hideout as well as stops at Guild Row, Rockwell on the River, Green Exchange, and Ravinia Brewing’s new taproom. This is a great way to learn more about local businesses, their plans for re-opening, and how we can support them.
We’ll hear from business owners and talk about the area’s rich industrial history and future plans. For most of the roughly five-mile bike ride, we’ll use bike lanes on Elston Avenue. We’ll meet at the Morton Salt project site located at 1357 N. Elston Avenue. The ride will end at Ravinia Brewing Company’s new taproom in Logan Square (2601 W. Diversey Avenue) near the CTA’s #76 Diversey Bus stop.
Register here: northbranchworks.org/news/bike-the-north-branch-on-august-7th/
Aug. 12: Community Rezoning Meeting for 4500 N Spaulding
A community meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, August 12th at 6:00 pm for a proposed development project at 4500 N Spaulding. The developer has requested a zoning change from our office, which triggers our community-driven zoning and development process. To review the proposal, click here https://33rdward.org/zoning-proposals/
To keep health protocols under COVID, the 33rd Ward Office will host the meeting with the developer and community members via Zoom and not in person. Please register to join by following this link: https://bit.ly/4500NSpauldingPCM.
To facilitate transparency and participation, we’re collecting questions ahead of August 12th meeting. To register your question and speak during the meeting visit https://bit.ly/4500NSpauldingQuestion
Spanish verbal translation and closed captions will be available for this meeting. instructions will be provided prior to the start of the meeting. If you have questions about accessibility, contact Vicko at vicko@33rdward.org or call the 33rd Ward Office at 773.840.7880 ext 407. You can also call by dialing + 1 1361. 312 and entering webinar ID: 853 7668
Aug. 12: Milkweed & Monarch Workshop
Thursday, August 12th, 6pm-7pm @ Drake Community Garden NeighborSpace community gardens are partnering with the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Budburst Program to bring milkweed, monarchs, and monitoring to Chicago families this summer. Several community gardens are hosting community garden workshop and planting days in early August of 2021 — including the 33rd Ward’s very own Drake Gardens at 4643 N Drake Ave.
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM:
*This project is a part of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Budburst program.
*Participants will attend a community garden workshop, where the first part of the workshop will train participants on how to monitor monarchs on milkweed, using a specific phone app, called the Budburst app. (It’s a good idea to download this app in advance.)
*On the day of the workshop, participants will also help plant milkweed plants in the community garden (milkweeds will be planted in garden areas based both on recommendations from a horticulturist and with input from community garden leaders.)
*Participants will be invited back to monitor the monarchs over the summer- each family will receive a $25 gift card and a planting kit at the workshop as a thank you for future monitoring activities. (Participants should plan on monitoring as much or as little as their schedule and appetite allows. Once a week is a great goal, and the monitoring takes approximately 15-20 minutes.)
*We ask that participants sign up AS SOON AS POSSIBLE- spaces are limited!
SIGN UP HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP
Aug. 26: Flavors of Albany Park
We are excited to bring back Flavors of Albany Park on Thursday, August 26th, and support our diverse local restaurants. Tickets are now on sale!
For more information and to purchase tickets starting on Eventbrite: flavors2021.eventbrite.com
Experience the diverse, international cultures, and cuisines by tasting the delicious “Flavors of Albany Park” at our neighborhood restaurant crawl on Thursday, August 26th, from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Albany Park is “Chicago’s Gateway to the World” reflected by the diverse ethnic cuisines from 40+ participating restaurants. Restaurants will offer a sample of their food, a sweet treat, or a unique drink to all attendees.
Flavors of Albany Park explores THREE routes, 40+ restaurants!
1) Lawrence / Kimball
2) Kedzie
3) Montrose
Safety considerations: Flavors of Albany Park is an outdoor event, but we encourage you to bring your masks. You may need them for waiting in a short line or when you step inside a restaurant to pick up your sample. All together, Flavors will follow CDC, Chicago Department of Public Health, and Illinois Department of Public Health COVID19 guidelines.
Aug. 31: Back to School Resource Fair
Save the date for our back-to-school resource fair at Avondale-Logandale School! We’ll have free backpacks, Covid-19 vaccines and flu shots, food, and more.
LSC Opening at Edison
The Edison Regional Gifted Center Local School Council (LSC) is currently seeking a community member to serve on the LSC until the end of this LSC’s term in June of 2022. Interested parties should contact Dr. Karen Valentine, Edison’s principal (kevalentine1@cps.edu), or John Martini, LSC Chairperson (johnamartini-ergclsc@hotmail.com), to obtain more information as well as to submit candidacy forms.
A community member is eligible to serve as a community representative if they:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Reside in the attendance area or voting district of that school
- Are not the parent or legal guardian of a child currently enrolled at that school; and
- Are not an employee of the Chicago Board of Education
Please see the map below showing the voting district of Edison Regional Gifted Center. You must live within these boundaries in order to be eligible to serve as a community representative.
Summer Concerts & Markets in the 33rd Ward
Albany Park Urban Market
Have you checked out our area’s newest pop-up market yet? Join us again tomorrow, this time with food vendors and a DJ!
Markets will be here for the rest of the summer! Here’s when you can catch them:
July
Saturday the 31st – 11am-3pm
August
Friday the 6th and the 20th – 5pm – 9pm
Saturday the 14th and 28th – 11am-3pm
Night Out in the Parks
This great tradition has returned for 2021! We compiled a list of the events in the 33rd Ward–including at Brands, River, and Horner Park–here. Check out the full list of events at www.nightoutintheparks.com.
Lot Jams
Join us this summer for evenings of free, family-friendly entertainment in our community. Mark your calendars and check back for more details soon! ALL SHOWS take place between 7:00pm-9:00pm. Thanks as always to the North River Commission for coordinating this great series of events, and to our local businesses for hosting. Find more info on the line-up here.
Next lot jams is this Thursday, Aug. 5!
Farmer’s Markets
The Horner Park Farmers Market has now kicked off its 7th season! The market will be at the corner of California and Montrose every Saturday, open from 9:00am-1:00pm. Come by for fresh produce, baked goods, coffee, meat, live music and more! For more information, check out the Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and on Instagram, or go to the webpage. The HPFM is every Saturday morning through October 2.
While you’re there, explore the flora and fauna of Horner Park with a great audio tour for families! From Block Club Chicago:
Monday: 12:00 PM – 7 PM
Tues – Thurs: 10 AM – 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 4PM
️E-mail info@33rdward.org anytime for service requests or general queries
️ Call us at 773-840-7880 during business hours
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter
Check out our ward website for info on services and events: https://www.33rdward.org/
Best,
Rossana Rodriguez