Posted on October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 by 33rd Ward Staff

City Council is now entering the final stages of negotiations over next year’s budget. Alongside progressive colleagues and community groups from across the city, I’m continuing to push for more robust funding of mental healthcare, violence prevention, preservation of affordable housing and other issues, and we have made some headway. Today, the Council’s budget committee approved the addition of 29 new clinical positions in the city’s public mental health clinics, as well as additional funds for homeless outreach.

The fact that we started this year’s negotiations with many of these issues already on the table is a testament to years of organizing for a more just city. As we approach a final vote, I’ll be keeping you updated on the status of discussions and my ultimate decision. You can also follow along with the process on the City Clerk’s website, or sign up to give public comment. The next City Council session is scheduled for Monday, followed by a vote Wednesday.

In This Week’s Newsletter

Vote for your favorite 33rd Ward Halloween decorations
Participatory budgeting update
Covid-19 booster shots
Oct. 23 – 24: Fall fest at North Park Village Nature Center

Oct. 23: Northwest Brewfest
Oct. 23: Edison fundraiser with Stan’s donuts
Oct. 29: Bateman BOOsterfest
Oct. 31: 33rd Ward Halloween Celebration
Oct. 31: Candy kingdom at Tabor Lutheran Church
Nov. 1: Treatment Not Trauma town hall
Infrastructure and construction
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

Vote for Your Favorite Halloween Decorations

The submissions are in! Thanks to all the neighbors who sent in photos of their spooky decorations. You can see all the entries, and vote for your favorites at https://33rdward.org/halloweenin33. Voting will close Friday, Oct. 29, and we’ll announce the winners at our 33rd Ward Halloween celebration on the 31st. (More info on that below.)

Participatory Budgeting Update

We’re almost ready to open up our third year of voting on neighbor-proposed infrastructure projects in the 33rd Ward! We’re always looking for ways to engage more residents in the participatory budgeting process, both in-person and online.

The PB Committee, made up of 33rd Ward residents volunteering their time, is currently hard at work developing submitted ideas into final proposals. Voting will open Nov. 1, but in the meantime, we invite you to check out a new, virtual PB platform that allows you to engage directly with the 50+ ideas submitted by your neighbors this year.

Creating an account on the PB platform will allow you to comment, endorse, and read more about the PB ideas being developed by the Committee. Visit 33rdward.org/participatory-budgeting to learn more.

Covid-19 Boosters Shots

Many residents have been asking about the Pfizer booster. The city is following the CDC’s guidelines on eligibility.

While the City is not yet making boosters available for ward events, there are several clinics where Pfizer boosters will be available.

The clinic closest to the 33rd Ward where boosters are available will be held Sat., Oct. 23 from 9AM to 10PM at Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can register here.

To see additional dates and locations where the health department will offer Pfizer booster vaccines, please see the full list of flu/ Covid-19 clinics here.

You can also use the city’s vaccine finder.

Oct. 23 – 24: North Park Village Fall Festival

Looking to start your Halloween celebrations early? North Park Village Nature Center near the 33rd Ward has a fantastic, family-friendly weekend of events.

FALL FESTIVAL: Saturday, October 23 & Sunday, October 24.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED Timed-entry options each day: 10am | 12pm | 2pm.

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It’s the 30th anniversary of Fall Festival at the Nature Center! To keep your family safe in the parks, registration is required with 6 different timed-entries to choose from. Enjoy a fall walk along the trails, a farmer’s market, build your own scarecrow, children’s arts and crafts, and much more!

Oct. 23: Northwest Brewfest

Northwest Brewfest celebrates our amazing brewers on the Northwest Side of Chicago!

The Albany Park Chamber of Commerce and North River Commission are bringing together a dozen brewers together for your tasting enjoyment on We are excited to bring a dozen brewers together for your tasting enjoyment on Saturday, October 23rd indoors at Twisted Hippo Taproom & Eatery (2925 W Montrose Ave). o.

Get your tickets here.

Oct. 23: Edison Fundraiser with Stan’s Donuts

Edison RGC School is doing a fundraiser with Stan’s Donuts! Facebook event. Place your pre-orders which will be available for pickup Saturday 10/23 between 9:00 – 11:00am.Place your order here: https://foodtruck.pub/?id=5461. This is a pre-order only fundraiser, and Pre-orders cut off 48 hours before the event. A portion of the event sales will be donated to Edison RGC School Fundraiser.

Oct. 29: Bateman BOOsterfest

Come join in a fun-filled evening of costumes, games, raffles, food, a haunted house, and MORE! All students, parents, caregivers, staff, friends, and neighbors of Bateman are invited.

$2 per person, or $5 per family.
Food, raffle, and haunted house tickets for purchase.
Throw on your costumes, be there, be SCARED, and #BeBateman!

Oct. 31: 33rd Ward Halloween Celebration

You’re invited to celebrate Halloween in 33 with us! Join us on Sunday, October 31st, 4-7pm at Roosevelt High School’s parking lot for a free, family-friendly event. Facebook event.

We will host a costume contest for children, teens AND adults so be sure to ALL come dressed up. We will also be joined by several of our neighborhood partner organizations to connect neighbors to local resources, and we’ll be announcing our 2021 Halloween Decoration Contest winners at this event–so come by to see the winning houses!

You will also get a chance to see our 2022 Participatory Budgeting Ballots and cast an in-person ballot.

Oct. 31: Candy Kingdom at Tabor Lutheran

Stop by Tabor Lutheran Church, 3542 W Sunnyside, from 3 – 6PM on Halloween for some sweet fun!

Nov. 1: Treatment Not Trauma Town Hall

Join our office & Representative Will Guzzardi for a virtual town hall Nov. 1 from 6 – 8PM. We’ll discuss local and state policies around a mental health crisis response, including both the Community Emergency Services & Support Act (CESSA) and the Treatment Not Trauma ordinance. Register here.

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 Lining Project at N Whipple

Irving Park neighbors who live on Whipple from Addison to Cornelia should have received written notice at their homes of a sewer lining project now underway.

Here’s what you should expect:
During workdays, mobilization will start at 6:00 am. Actual work will begin at 7:00 am. Work is expected to be completed by 7 p.m. No Parking signs will be posted in the immediate area of work a day before any scheduled work. Residents are urged to move their vehicles away from the worksite to avoid being towed. It will be necessary to close lanes of these streets to ensure public safety during work hours. Equipment and materials will be on the street during the work. If necessary, detours and alternative bus stops will be posted.

A day prior to the main sewer lining, contractors will provide door hangers to inform residents of the work. During the main sewer lining work, to prevent odors in your home, please pour two to three cups of water into each basement floor drain. Please restrict your water usage as much as possible

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.

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.

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.

Free Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic